The Place to be

Violet (Ashley Simpson-Wentz) discovers something untoward floating in the pool. Photo / Supplied

Ah, 1992. Bill Clinton was elected US President. There were riots in LA, and Boys II Men topped the charts. And on TV, the hit show was Melrose Place. This was the prime-time soap opera that provided happy moments of escapism in a pre-Sex and the City era. You knew you were in for an hour of deliciously mindless relaxation when you saw that long shot through the gateway into the Santa Fe-style courtyard of MP. All those very good-looking 20-somethings leading glamorous, titillating but reassuringly problematic lives in their unrealistically large apartments.

Fast-forward almost 20 years. Barack Obama is US President. Black Eyed Peas top the charts. But the guilty pleasure on television is a new incarnation of Melrose Place, debuting this Wednesday on C4. More good-looking 20-somethings leading glamorous, titillating but reassuringly problematic lives in unrealistically large apartments.

Both shows focus on the unfeasibly exciting lives of a group of young professionals living in a plush apartment complex in Los Angeles. Alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity abound.

Despite the seedy plot points and noir-ish shaky camera angles, there is still an Aaron Spelling air of innocence that marks this show as a modern-day spawn of kidult Beverly Hills, 90210. The latest wave of modern television mght want you to think, but Melrose Place dares you to suspend disbelief and disengage your brain. What struggling teacher or medical student lives in a swanky apartment complex in central LA with its own pool? Also, don't health and safety regulations demand pools are fenced these days? See, it spoils the fun if you involve your grey matter. Just sit back and enjoy the view.

You don't have to have been a fan of the glorious escapism of the original series to get hooked on the second - although some of the cast of the first series are back just to make us oldsters feel even more nostalgic.

I don't think I'm giving anything away if I say dimple-chinned Sydney Andrews (Laura Leighton) - the former hooker with a heart of steel - makes a brief reappearance before her sudden exit. It's a shame she departs so early as she gets all the best lines. "If it wasn't for me you would still be wearing Juicy sweats, with French tips and a bad dye job," she tells up-and-coming minx Ella (played by Katie Cassidy, Harper's Island's ill-fated bride).

Sydney's ex, Michael Mancini (Thomas Calabro), also puts in an appearance as the father of one of the next generation of Melrose residents, bad boy David (Shaun Sipos).

Like the previous incarnation, the characters are good (schoolteacher Riley, wannabe film-maker Jonah) and bad (mysterious chef Albie, druggie David) but not ugly. Violet (Ashlee Simpson-Wentz) is billed as a homely girl, but that is Hollywood "homely" - which is a completely different breed to us civilians. And like the original, this revisited Melrose Place depends heavily on the techniques of music videos to add atmosphere to a pedestrian storyline. When in doubt, just cue a song and show some of the talent in slow-mo. It worked in 1992, and it still works now.

* Melrose Place debuts on C4 Wednesday at 7.30pm.