Melrose Place Secrets Exposed: Who Was the Show’s BEST Kisser?

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It’s now three full decades since the premiere of “Melrose Place” on Fox, and Mondays remain as tough as ever. They’re still quite challenging.

Starting from last July, the cast members Courtney Thorne-Smith, Daphne Zuniga, and Laura Leighton have been gathering weekly (not just on Mondays) for their podcast called “Still the Place“. On this podcast, they reminisce about their days at 4616 Melrose by reviewing and discussing past episodes from the show.

Since last July, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Daphne Zuniga, and Laura Leighton have been meeting up (not just on Mondays) for a podcast called “Still the Place“. In this podcast, they talk about their past experiences at 4616 Melrose by discussing old episodes from the show.

Before the era of cell phones and streaming, it was all about appointment television – gathering with friends to watch a TV show, creating memories linked to specific moments in your life and the people you shared them with. This experience is something we no longer encounter as frequently with modern television.” (Leighton)

The travels they undertake frequently involve open discussions with past co-stars such as Thomas Calabro, Andrew Shue, Grant Show, Vanessa Estelle Williams, Doug Savant, Jack Wagner, Rob Estes, Josie Bissett, and Heather Locklear. Additional guest stars are being planned, and Thorne-Smith revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that Lisa Rinna has already agreed to participate.

As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but feel drawn to the captivating podcast about my favorite show, where we get an intimate look at what really goes on behind the scenes. Just like how Williams bravely shared her character’s writing challenges, or Savant opened up about his groundbreaking role as Matt Fielding, the openly gay character, it’s these honest moments that keep us hooked. Even the script secrets revealed by writer Chuck Pratt and producer Chip Hayes are a treasure trove for fans and cast alike. It’s like we’re getting a VIP pass to the making of this iconic 32-episode first season, and I can’t get enough!

I can’t wait to reminisce with my friends,” expresses Thorne-Smith. “I want us to share memories and insights, for it’s astounding what details we recall about that chaotic day on set. What else transpired? It’s fascinating how much comes back once I revisit those moments.

Every episode provides a revealing and frequently amusing retrospective on the show’s plotlines, iconic ’90s fashions (Thorne-Smith often highlights the wardrobe choices, including her character wearing a white negligeé and an uncomfortable bra), backstage gossip, relevant societal issues from that era, production secrets, scrutiny of actor line deliveries, as well as occasional virtual tours to swim in the courtyard pool.

Leighton muses, “How did three decades slip by so quickly, and how have we advanced so significantly in reality to now find ourselves reminiscing about the past, observing our much younger counterparts?” Leighton reflects on the distinctiveness of such an opportunity. It’s almost a double-edged sword to be able to continually watch your younger self frozen in time through film. Whether it’s for good or ill, you get a glimpse into your youth. And it’s also extraordinary and precious that we can experience this shared moment together.

Discussing old memories from the past seems to have strengthened the bond between the three ladies, says Zuniga, who played Jo Reynolds, the first newcomer to reside in the building following Amy Locane’s departure. While Zuniga confesses that she wasn’t particularly familiar with her fellow cast members during filming, she now values their unique traits.

During our last ‘Melrose Minute,’ Zuniga thought, ‘These two hosts are simply fantastic.’ He admires Laura for her cooking skills and the fact that she’s managed to raise four children. Every time he phoned her, she was either on her way to a water polo match, a baseball game, or juggling multiple tasks. It’s been truly enlightening learning more about who we are as women now, because we didn’t have the opportunity to do so in the past,” Zuniga said.

Zuniga reveals that the trio has started attending dinner gatherings, and she was moved by their attendance at her improv performance. Moreover, she expresses fondness for collaborating with Thorne-Smith on the podcast.

Courtney’s enthusiasm and delight for the podcast is truly a treasure. Unlike me who often think ‘Alright, let’s complete this task,’ she consistently encourages me by saying, ‘Daphne, let’s have some fun with this!’ Her energy to simply enjoy the process has been incredibly refreshing.

Leighton discusses the lasting bonds between the cast members, revealing that catching up after three decades and collaborating on the podcast has brought them even nearer.

She shares that we used to be friends in the past, and indeed, we all had our hands full with work. It was an extraordinary period, devoid of major conflicts. There was no ongoing feud or cold shoulder among us; instead, it was a harmonious, supportive circle. Our affection for each other was genuine.

She reflects on how that foundation made reconnecting years later feel effortless.

She notes that the mutual respect and kindness they shared made parting ways for 20 to 35 years effortless. They occasionally crossed paths at auditions or gatherings during this time, but reconnecting after such a long span felt just as comfortable. The discovery of each other on a deeper level now has been an incredibly precious experience for her.

Thorne-Smith agrees with her co-stars, saying they’ve made real friends from Still the Place.)

It’s fortunate, isn’t it? We might have decided to keep our relationship casual after this encounter, thinking, ‘Perhaps it would be better if we just remained acquaintances.’ But surprisingly, we’ve developed a genuine friendship instead, and that’s turned out to be quite endearing,” she remarks.

She additionally discusses the rarity and worth of friendship as one grows older, stating: “Establishing fresh friendships isn’t always straightforward at this stage in life. Thus, the fact that we have reignited our connection and created something more profound now – it feels incredibly meaningful.

Reflecting on past performances from each actress has been quite enjoyable, and there’s even more excitement ahead as the plot twists become increasingly wild. At present, Billy Campbell (Shue) and Alison Parker haven’t shared an on-screen romance yet, while Michael Mancini (Calabro) is on the verge of embarking on a passionate relationship with Dr. Kimberly Shaw, played by Marcia Cross. Estes continues to portray Mancini’s college friend, Sam, who has since evolved into another character, Kyle McBride within the series. Sydney was initially introduced in a few episodes but is set to reappear in a more significant role on the show, involving her involvement in prostitution, being held captive by Shaw before she explodes a building, and unwittingly joining a cult.

Leighton shares that there are numerous entertaining storylines in our recaps yet to be explored, which she’s eager to delve into. Initially, the show presented as a delightful series about eight aspiring individuals, each episode concluding tidily. However, once the mood changed – and particularly when her character was introduced – it transformed into something completely different. The scripts started unfolding wild, dramatic plots, and she felt fortunate to be a part of such an experience. Reading some scripts, especially those requiring disrobing, left her questioning, ‘Really? I have to do that?’ At the time, she was uneasy. But reflecting on it now, she values the opportunity to portray a character undergoing such outrageous and amusing twists. It was far more thrilling than the predictable narratives at the beginning.

When asked if there were any narrative changes she would prefer, Zuniga contemplated the portrayal of her character being victimized throughout the series. This included instances such as being deceived and narrowly escaping death at the hands of James Wilder’s Reed, to having her child taken away, only to be brutally mistreated by Dan Cortese’s character, Jess, who is Jake Hanson’s brother in the show.

She found herself in numerous unhealthy relationships, yet I wished she could have experienced greater self-reliance and professional advancement. Towards the finale, it became monotonous – not just for my character, but for all involved. This is often the case when a series runs extensively,” she notes.

Re-watching the episodes has further deepened the actresses’ admiration for their co-stars, and if asked about swapping roles, they express this desire without any hesitation.

Thorne-Smith expressed that she would have relished playing the role of Amanda due to having the best lines and often finding herself exclaiming ‘Oh, oh’ in character. It would have been delightful to deliver the witty retorts as well,” (or simply) “Thorne-Smith shared that she wished she could have played Amanda because she thought she had all the great lines and it was her character’s habit to say ‘Oh, oh’. It would have been enjoyable for her to deliver the zingers instead.”)

Zuniga mentions that among all the characters, Calabro’s Mancini would have been the most enjoyable to take on, if given a chance to switch roles.

Amanda delivered some fantastic lines, and I believe Michael could have been an exciting character to portray – if he were a female character,” she expresses. “Perhaps even Kimberly. She was so audacious and unabashedly bold. It would have been thrilling to bring her to life on stage.

Leighton expresses, “I’ve had a soft spot for Sydney, but if given a choice: I’d pick Alison, to share a kiss with Andrew.

Quips Zuniga, “You mean in your trailer — between scenes?”

Speaking of kissing — this is Melrose Place — which guys were the best kissers? 

Thorne-Smith remarks about her numerous onscreen love interests – Shue, Show, David James Elliott, Brian Bloom, William R. Moses, Parker Stevenson, Perry King and others. She exclaims, ‘There were so many! Oh, so many!’ She admits she didn’t realize it was a unique experience and that they were providing her with opportunities to kiss charming young men. If only she had known, she would have cherished it more.

Zuniga, known for sharing on-screen kisses with Show, Wilder, Cortese, Patrick Muldoon, and Brad Johnson during the show, remains coy about his personal feelings, stating, “I had fondness for every actor I kissed. They were all wonderful. There’s one particular kiss that wasn’t my favorite, and I won’t reveal who it was because I don’t disclose such information, but I did enjoy kissing them all.

Leighton, who shared a smooch with Calabro, Show, Lowe, Estes, and Charvet (to name a few), mentions: “It’s simpler to recall the ones I disliked least. However, the one I didn’t get to kiss on the show was my on-screen husband (Savant).

Indeed, the actors’ personal lives intersected significantly within the setting of Melrose Place. Shue and Thorne-Smith were romantically involved, while Leighton previously dated Show before their marriage, followed by a relationship between Locklear and Wagner post-show.

Leighton mentions that they watched seasons five and six, then skipped to specific episodes that had them laughing hysterically due to a crossover. She explains that her character had storylines intertwined with Josie’s husband, while Josie was involved with Grant, whom Leighton was dating at the time. Courtney was in a relationship with Grant but used to date Andrew, and there were multiple real-life romances happening, which were reflected in the crossover. Additionally, Heather and Jack were a couple on the show, and they eventually got together off-screen as well.

Thorne-Smith comments: “Others discussed it with me and said, ‘It wasn’t quite like that.’ However, we agreed, it was remarkably close to what actually happened.

Currently, there’s buzz about a possible revival of the TV series Melrose Place, which is under consideration by CBS Studios. In this hypothetical scenario, Austin Reynolds, the son of the original character, might be searching for his birth mother who was put up for adoption. Meanwhile, in the here and now, all three actresses are reminiscing about their past experiences on the show.

Zuniga says that reminiscing about the past when you were younger creates a gentler perspective on life. It provides a momentary escape from the challenges of the present, even though the past may not have been completely trouble-free. The sense of relaxation comes from temporarily stepping away from the reality of the current situation.

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2025-04-14 19:25