By Nellie Andreeva

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The most popular zip code on television is back.


The CW network is developing a contemporary spinoff of Aaron Spelling's seminal 1990s teen soap "Beverly Hills, 90210," sources said.

Details on the project -- including which if any of the characters on the original series will make the transition to the spinoff -- remain sketchy.

The spinoff, which is close to getting a writer, has been put on the fast track by the network. It is expected to decide whether to order a pilot by the end of the month.

According to sources, "Beverly Hills, 90210" creator Darren Star is not involved.

This would be the second spinoff from the series about privileged teens living in Beverly Hills, which aired on Fox from 1990-2000. The first one, the Star-created "Melrose Place," had a successful seven-year run on Fox. It didn't feature any major characters from "Beverly Hills."

A teen soap set in posh Beverly Hills would be a perfect companion to the CW's buzzworthy freshman drama "Gossip Girl," which revolves around rich teens living in Manhattan.

Spinoffs are hot this development season. Fox is developing two: "Cleveland," centered on the henpecked character from the hit animated comedy "Family Guy," and a "Prison Break" offshoot set at a female prison.

Last year, ABC spun off its medical juggernaut "Grey's Anatomy" into "Private Practice."

The CW also has a spinoff on its schedule, the "Girlfriends" offshoot "The Game."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
© Copyright 2007 Reuters.

Photo:
The cast of the hit television series "Beverly Hills 90210 (L-R) Luke Perry, Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth and Jason Priestley pay tribute to producer Aaron Spelling, at the 3rd annual TV Land Awards in Santa Monica, California March 13, 2005. REUTERS/Fred Prouser