Claim: Beverly Hills, 90210 addressed numerous topical issues such as date rape, gay rights, animal rights, alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence, sex, antisemitism, racism, teenage suicide, teenage pregnancy, and AIDS.

Beverly Hills , 90210 is an American drama television series that ran for ten seasons -- originally airing from October 4 , 1990 , to May 17 , 2000 , on Fox , and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States -- and subsequently on numerous networks around the world . It is the first of five television series in the Beverly Hills , 90210 franchise . The show follows the lives of a group of friends living in the upscale and star-studded community of Beverly Hills , California as they make their way through high school to college and into the adult world .   The show was created by Darren Star and executive producers Charles Rosin -LRB- originally -RRB- followed in later seasons by Aaron Spelling , E. Duke Vincent , Paul Waigner , Steve Wasserman , and Jessica Klein . The `` 90210 '' in the title refers to one of the city 's five ZIP codes .   The initial premise of the show was based on the adjustment and culture shock that twins Brandon -LRB- Jason Priestley -RRB- and Brenda Walsh -LRB- Shannen Doherty -RRB- experienced when they and their parents , Jim -LRB- James Eckhouse -RRB- and Cindy -LRB- Carol Potter -RRB- moved from Minneapolis , Minnesota to Beverly Hills . In addition to chronicling the friendships and romantic relationships of the characters , the show also addressed numerous topical issues such as date rape , gay rights , animal rights , alcoholism , drug abuse , domestic violence , sex , antisemitism , racism , teenage suicide , teenage pregnancy , and AIDS . Beverly Hills , 90210 was named one of the Best School Shows of All Time by AOL TV .   After a poor start in the ratings during its first season , the series gained popularity during the summer of 1991 , when Fox aired a special `` summer season '' of the show while most other series were in reruns . The series became one of Fox 's top shows when it began its next season that fall . Viewership increased dramatically and the cast members , particularly Jason Priestley and Luke Perry , became teen idols , while the series would make actresses Shannen Doherty , Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling household names in the US . The show also had many cast changes , with Garth , Spelling , Ian Ziering and Brian Austin Green being the only actors to appear during its entire run .