Melrose Place is an American primetime soap opera that ran between 1992 and 1999, created by Darren Star for the FOX network and executive produced by Aaron Spelling for Spelling Television. It is the second series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise, and is set in a small apartment courtyard complex in the West Hollywood district of Los Angeles, where several young individuals reside, each with their own dreams and drives.

Like its predecessor, the show struggled in its first season with low ratings. However, with the arrival of new characters and more extraordinary story lines, ratings increased.

Seasons

Main article: Seasons of Melrose Place

Cast

• Thomas Calabro as Michael Mancini (1992-1999)Calabro was the only original cast member to remain on the series throughout its entire run.
• Josie Bissett as Jane Mancini (1992-1997, 1998-1999)
• Andrew Shue as Billy Campbell (1992-1998)
• Courtney Thorne-Smith as Alison Parker (1992-1997)
• Grant Show as Jake Hanson (1992-1997)
• Doug Savant as Matt Fielding (1992-1997)
• Marcia Cross as Kimberly Shaw (1992-1993, 1994-1997)
• Daphne Zuniga as Jo Reynolds (1992-1996)
• Vanessa A. Williams as Rhonda Blair (1992-1993)
• Amy Locane as Sandy Harling (1992)
• Heather Locklear as Amanda Woodward (1993-1999)
• Laura Leighton as Sydney Andrews (1993-1997)
• Jack Wagner as Peter Burns (1994-1999)
• Kristin Davis as Brooke Armstrong (1995-1996)
• Patrick Muldoon as Richard Hart (1995-1996)
• Rob Estes as Kyle McBride (1996-1999)
• Kelly Rutherford as Megan Lewis (1996-1999)
• Brooke Langton as Samantha Reilly (1996-1998)
• Lisa Rinna as Taylor McBride (1996-1998)
• David Charvet as Craig Field (1996-1998)
• Alyssa Milano as Jennifer Mancini (1997-1998)
• Linden Ashby as Brett Cooper (1997-1998)
• Jamie Luner as Lexi Sterling (1997-1999)
• John Haymes Newton as Ryan McBride (1998-1999)
• Rena Sofer as Eve Cleary Burns (1998-1999)

Guest roles

• Cassidy Rae as Sarah Owens (1994) (4 episodes; season 2)
• Priscilla Presley as nurse Benson (1996) (3 episodes)

GALA Committee

A group of artists and Melrose Place producers formed the GALA Committee, headed by artist Mel Chin, in order to bring artworks out of galleries and into nighttime television. GALA artists designed artworks that were used as props by Melrose Place characters in the fourth and fifth seasons, often with hidden political messages:

• When Alison is pregnant, her quilt is decorated with the molecular structure of RU-486.
• A bag of Chinese take-out food is emblazoned with two opposing ideograms translated from Chinese as "Human Rights" and "Turmoil"; both terms were used by the Chinese government to justify a restriction on student protesters of June 4, 1989.
• Bottles behind the counter at Shooters bar are decorated with ads and documents chronicling the history of alcohol.
• As Alison quits D&D Advertising, a framed ad in the background features a bombed-out building. The damage to the structure is in the shape of a liquor bottle, and the words "Total Proof" appear on the poster.