A Dramatic Deep Dive into our Darling Donna

So we decided, because Jenny's not here, we wanted to take this opportunity to do a Donna deep dive because it's like, okay, wait, this is like really the time to do it. Oh my god. So I wore the right altfit, Oh my god. First of all, you on point. Tori is full sunflower sweatshirt literally could match the hat perfectly, and a crop. Well okay, so this will bring me. What's a Donna deep dive? It's we're digging into Donna to dissect her and to dig into everything Donna. So okay,

some Donna super fans. But but first I have a few Donna questions before we bring on everybody, Wait, the superfans are coming on. So we did the Brenda versus Kelly debate. Yes, and so we thought, oh, this is like the perfect time. We've never done a deep dive into Donna, like we do little things. And I always talked about like Donna gets sort of forgotten sometimes or she's like the story of my life. Donna and I

are so similar. Okay, So I have some Donna questions and some you've answered, but I want to refresh, you know, everyone's memories and we have some new people. So it's like, first of all, how did Yeah, I know how you got the part, but tell everybody how you actually became Donna and the challenges of convincing your dad to let you be Donna. Okay, So I got the part of Donna because I pretended to be someone else and they had no idea who I was, and I magically just

got the role because I'm such a great actress. I am a guide actress. But that aside, I totally got the role because of my dad, obviously, but I think it's sixteen. I truly believed, I truly believe that I got that part on my own. So here's the thing. I had an agent. I had my own agent. I had done Saved by the Bell, Tonic Saved by the Bell part Nerdy Tory. I had had my first co star role on a show on CBS called The Wizard,

and I was feeling real good about myself. I'd started a couple of school plays, and then I was a school I was. I was at Westlake School for Girls, which is now Harvard Westlake. Um. So yeah. So I would always go through my dad's briefcase because I wanted to be a producer, loved what he did. On the weekends, he would have me go in and I'd be like, click, click his old school briefcase, take out all his scripts,

bring them out to him at the pool. He would sit there and go through every script and dog ear the pages and um and with not a sharpie, a bic pen, not a ballpoint. Yes, he would make notes and rewrite lines by the end fill. Yes, he would change everything. And then I would go back and put him in his briefcase. So one day I opened it up and it's aid Class of bever Hills and I was like, oh, interesting, and he said, yes, I'm doing this show and it's all about teenagers. Um, and they

go to school in Beverly Hills. So I went through it, which I always did see anything from me anythink for me? Do you think inspired? I don't think I inspired it because Darren Starr created it and we didn't know each other. But definitely there was some experiences put layered throughout the years. So Darren went to your dad and then they continue

to develop it, I believe. So I don't know that exactly. Okay, somehow they do each other, yes, or he my dad wanted Fox to want to do something with my dad and continue that relationship. Maybe they had found Darren. I'm not sure who came first. Um, the Darren North the Fox so um. So I went through and I didn't say anything to my dad. I called my agent, Irish Burton, who was like the big like Hollywood kids agents, and I said, my dad has the script. I want to

go in and read. I don't want to tell him. So when she was like she had, she was like, oh, honey, they're gonna know it's you. And I was like no, but I, oh honey, come on um and I was like no, no, no, Let's make up a name so it won't be Tori. Spelling, and I was like, it'll be Oh my god, I blinked down the name I always used, was it Tory Richards. Richards is a good name, which happened to be the name of Heather Lockler's character in Hollywood Wives that my dad had just done and

I just seen on TV. So again, no one would know. UM loved Heather. Heather, she his lucky penny. He would call her, and she was very lucky. So I went in and read for the part of Kelly Taylor. Um, and then my dad came in and said, Um. By then he knew I had gone in and auditioned, and he said, babe, he said, ironically, sounds like Irish Burton right now. But uh, I think you're you're going to be on the show. And I think I got the part of like friend one or something. Okay, So he said, okay, yes,

I will let you do this. You'll be on. Yes, but you were not Donna. I don't believe, but I could be wrong. Um, and someone else will know the answer to this. I don't even know if Donna had a name in the very first How did Donna get her name? I don't know how many people call you Donna on the street. Um, the three things I turned

to in life, it's Tori, Donna, and Mom. Yeah constantly. Yeah, and even like I'll go to people's houses for a dinner party and it's like someone who's having the chic dinner party and they totally slip and will open the door and say hi Donna, and I don't say anything. I'm like hi, and then they're like, oh my god, I'm so sorry. I'm like, it's okay. I respond to both. It's fine. I get it because I've definitely had my moments where I have to like somebody, but it's okay,

we're interchangeable. But um, yeah, I remember when they did assign the name of Donna. I was like, oh man, that's the dorkiest name ever. What I did I don't know, because it was sort of my fifties ish like yes, yeah, okay, so I felt like an old school housewife and I was like, oh man, like this isn't a cool name. But I couldn't say anything. I was just like, you guys, just get a script, like the first script, or do you get like a page like a biography of like

who they envisioned Donna to be. No, so you create from the script who Donna is. I did, because at the time Donna wasn't anybody. She was just you know, friends, and there were there were like two others. There was me and two others. In the pilot. Oh wow, Okay, there's an o G picture of like the cool girl gang and it's Jenny like leading it, and then there's me and two other girls surrounding her. And we were all supposed to go on to be like the cool

girls at school. And then after the pilot it kind of did other two girls whoa So when in the trajectory did you sort of realize, Okay, Donna is going to be the virgin? Or was that something your dad really wanted? Man, I don't know. I it didn't come from me. I don't know where it came from, because I feel like that wouldn't come from my dad. Maybe it was I had to do with the religion and were Jewish, so it wasn't that. So someone came up with him. My dad was probably like, great, you know

she's gonna be a character that's gonna have a boyfriend. Great, let's keep for the virgin. When did you learn that David and Donna would be for the long haul essentially, or did you could they have broken up at any time? You know, throughout and I know there were things there were I was never told like this is the ultimate, like when the show goes for ten years, would no one anticipated like David and Donna will get married in the finale? Like so it was never like a planned

endgame from the beginning. I don't think so maybe I don't know. I mean, that wasn't something. And we were so young, we didn't have the mindset to be like, where's my character going? Like how do we were just like in it going so okay? And then I mean, I know I have mine, but what do you feel are the most iconic moments for Donna? Like what stands out when you think about the ten years who what

stands out the most about Donna? For me, it was all about the comedy, just because, like I said, I didn't I didn't have a character, and in my mind, um, I felt like I couldn't keep up with Jenny and Shannon and you know, Gab kind of had her own storyline. So I never put myself in that category. But it was always Brenda, Kelly and Donna. So I was like in my mind, I was like, I'm not as pretty as them, I'm not as cool as them. Um, they can do drama. Oh my god, that's Tori thinking that.

But Tori creates Donna. So in my mind, I'm like, uh, you know, it's hard when you're sixteen and you don't feel good about yourself. Um. I felt good enough about myself to be like, I got to do something to set myself apart and take charge here. So obviously somewhere deep down I pulled it together. But um yeah, and I was like, drama wise, well, they can cry and do these emotional scenes. I didn't know if I could

do that, but I knew I could do comedy. That's what always I used to entertain people at school and I and my friends and family. So I was like, Okay, I'm just gonna start doing like funny stuff. The writers were like, oh, okay, she can do that, and then that's what led them to be like, okay, let's start writing that direction. So if you were to describe Donna in five words, yes, who what are those words? Um? Sweet, funny, fashionable, um, loyal, Oh man, I need a fifth um mm hmm help me. No,

I want you to do it, uh, indecisive. Indecisive because the thing that I that you didn't say, but that I always notice, is that Donna is the peacemaker. Donna is the moral compass. Donna is sort of that helping guide these guys. And I think, I don't know if that was intentional or now I'm seeing it so much

more now. But it's like I think about all the episodes we've watched, the you know, the Christmas episode on the bus when everyone's fighting, Dylan's dad passes away, and you're like, this is the right thing and you need to all get your leap together. So I think she is much stronger and a leader than you Tori ever give her credit for, or myself for how much? So how much of Donna is tor and how much of

Tori is Donna? Um? I feel like Donna is all Tori except then, like Tori came into her own, but Donna stopped because we stopped when I was twenty six and I was just starting to come into my own and I really didn't hit my stride until my thirties, where I was like, look out, I got something to say. You know, I can have a voice to you guys. Um,

and that's when that happened. And I didn't say what you think of Donna as the peacemaker because those were the scenes that were hardest for me to do because it put the spotlight on me and I just wanted to like be funny, entertained, fin in. I didn't want to be in a little bit more. Yeah, So when I had those lines, I would literally like sweat before we had to do a take. I was like terrified because it was it was so un me. I would have like a little voice and just be like do

what everyone else wanted to do. So for me to stand up and take charge of everybody was not in my wheelhouse and it was really hard. Do you think that of all the characters and the actors, Donna and Tory are the most similar, the most like whatever. I don't know a fancy word to say, they are the most the same. Mm hmm, I don't know. I mean, Jason is kind of Brandon like he is. Jason is like the opposite of Brandon. He is nice and cool,

but it's just so Kelly. It's just like Mr Good like two shoes, Goody two shoes, and like Jason's very different. But I guess in the same likeness that Donna's so sweet, but like I have a body side to me like Jason would be that version are not the same they have like the character, they're not the same. No, I don't think so Steve and I and are like not the same. Um, I mean like the goofy side is iron scoofy side. So yes, and that wasn't originally instinct

put that in. He's not like assy, like like he doesn't have that d wordy jerky thing at all. No, he's like the sweetest words. Um okay, I know that everybody, all the you know, Donna fans want to come in, but I can't do a Donna deep dive without at least mentioning Donna Martin graduates. Because we're getting there, we're getting closer to that when you were, and we'll dig more into it when we do the episode. But like, did you ever think that that line would live really

beyond t shirts thirty years later? No way, No, No, I had no idea, and it was probably a lot of focus when we got to that script on me that I was just like, oh, it makes you uncomfortable again, so you kind of whole. So I cringe because like I, at least I didn't have to be there and hear my name out loud, my name, her name. But it's the same thing. It's as if they were all did a walk out and chance at Tory spelling graduates and I was in a corner like, oh, my name is

being said. It's the same thing. Is that what people say to you the most? Like? Is that the most iconic line? Yes, and every single fan always asked me to say it to them, yet Donna never said it. Wow, I love it. Okay, So the deep dive into Donna continues. Misunderstood like sweating, No, it's so good. Is there anything that's misunderstood about Donna before we go? Like something that fans or the audience thinks, but you were like, I

never intended Donna to be that. I mean, she was originally written I think to be dizzy, but I don't think she is ditzy. Like she's very sheet at all and had learning challenges, but she was not. She was smart, smart, but I think she always believed she wasn't smart. That was her thing. But she's exactly like me. Oh my god, I'm realizing even that more today. How close Donna and

I are. And do you think that that was over time, like the writers just sort of put more of you into it, or do you think you put so much of your own like insecurities into her. I think it was a full on combination. And I don't know. Maybe my dad, I don't know, maybe when they said described tor to us, so we have like maybe he said the stuff that I never even thought he notice, but

maybe he did. I don't know. I don't know that they wrote everything that was exactly me, And unless they were like literally like watching us on video camera behind the scenes, I don't know how they can know all that. When you watch it back now, do you like Donna? Yes? Yes, When I watched it back now, I think she's adorable.

I think I would be friends with her. Um yeah, sorry, no, No, I just like I feel like I was such an insecure girl, and I look back now and I'm like, oh my god, Like she was pretty and strong and like a leader and like took chances and when I thought like I was too insecure and didn't fit in, like even the outfit she wore, like I chose to wear that, Like I made choices that made me a leader. And yet I didn't even know it. And it took like thirty years of looking at myself back on camera

to realize I wish I knew that then. Yeah, oh my god, Tori, So is Donna just like does she just hold such a special place in your heart? I mean I can see because you're emotional and crying. It's like she means so much to you. And I think now you see it so differently. Wow, definitely, I mean do you miss her? Um? I don't miss her because I feel like I am her. So I feel like I'm like I live with Donna every single day and

I'm proud of that. And um, you know, it's it's like when people do series and movies that are so near and dear to fans hearts, and then they don't want to be known as that afterwards. That never crossed my mind. Like Donna is everything to me. It's like Tory and Donna and together we're just one. And I'm so proud of that character, everything she stood for. Um And yeah, I wish I do, wish we could go

back and like see where they are now. And like it's a bummer that b H and I too didn't go on because people, like a lot of the fans loved it. A lot of the fans were like, we wanted a straightforward reboot, and we're like, well, we were going to give you the best of both worlds. If he got the season two, if the opportunity came, would you do it where it's not kind of how you guys did b H, but where it's like a real like here or where these characters are now? And what

would you like to see in Donna? Like is she career woman? Does she have kids? Like? Is she happy? What is she? Well, we left off with her, although sometimes we say like it doesn't count. But the nine o two and OL that was on c W, like we did get to see a peek at where Donna was now. But I got some input, like they said what do you want her to be? And I said, she's still a fashion designer. Um, they live, you know, they live in Japan, Like David is a music producer

and they have they had a kid. We should do those episodes like we did Melrose play. Oh my god, we really should. But I wasn't happy that we left off with Donna, that she and David were separated and they were thinking about getting into fource. So then the last time we saw Donna, and I'm like, I just had the craziest idea. Literally, I just had the craziest idea that I need to text. I don't want to say it right now because I also think it's like

so good. I'm gonna text and a way that we could find out where they are and what they're doing. I'm like, okay, I'm in. I didn't stay tuned. We have like Donna super fans, and I can't wait to hear what they want to ask and know and what they think. Oh my gosh, wait, who's supposed to do the Jenny part. We're gonna go to a break and then we'll come back. You're just just kidding? Hey, Am I supposed to ever do that? No? Okay, I normally

ever do the break Never? Are you kidding? It's me If it was just see if it were just you and me, and it is you and me, We'll just keep talking. That's so good. Breaks, we'll be back with all the Donna details. Oh hi, Hi, how are you? I'm good? How are you good? Thank you? I'm Stephanie, Stephanie, Hi, Stephanie, I'm Tori. You what you want to say, yeah, I

not watching you for years. Oh my gosh, thank you. Well. Um, well, my producer co host Amy Sugarman surprised me today and we're doing a Donna deep dive, which I'm not good with all the focus on me. But since you're here, Um, do you have any questions or anything you want to

say about Donna? Um? I had a question. I was curious about if you or Jenny or anyone else had seen that unauthorized and I know to a no story that came out a number of years ago, and what you thought of the actor portrayals and how accurate the storyline was or not accurate. So that was on Lifetime, and UM, it was interesting because I was at it before I came out. I was at a party and a girl came up to me and this is sorry,

this is before I knew it was being made. A girl came up to me at a party and she said, I just auditioned to play you in a nine O two and oh movie. And I was like, m hmm, what But I had to play it cool and I was like, oh, great, great, and I didn't know there was one being made. But she was super cute. And bubbly, and I was like, oh, she would be a good Donna. Um when I saw it. She didn't go on to be the part, but um, yeah, that's how I found out about it. And I thought it was well done.

I thought all the actors were adorable. I think it's super hard to play somebody else, especially when I guess when I'm not close to all those people, to ever be like, oh, they nailed it. It's just a tough thing. But um, I really really liked the actress that played Donna or Tori, Tori and Donna. Um. There were some inaccurate stories and I remember thinking, oh, I wish they had reached out to me at the time, because I would have I remember details like no other and I'm like, oh,

I would have told them how that story actually went. Um. So there were some like hints at truths of some stories, but then they like, we're wrong. So whoever told the stories didn't know them correctly. Okay, interesting, but I thought it was well made. Yeah. What was your favorite storyline for Donna through all ten seasons? Oh, that's a tough one. Um. It was any time I got to do comedy, like

physical comedy. Um, I'm a big is love Lucy fan so UM reminding some of the episodes reminded me of that, like Spring Dance with the Big Red Dress, UM, Halloween when I was the Mermaid and I couldn't move. UM. I also loved like I got to do, like dramatic stuff like Donna almost not graduating at prom UM. Obviously in Donna Martin graduates UM. And then the season finale marrying David, Donna and David's wedding, I love, It's really

special to me. That's a good episode. And then between UM, David and Noah trying to remember who else was your love interests on this series? Did you have a a favorite one outside of David. I'll tell you David, I will. It gets personal because I really loved working with Jamie Walters, even though he played Ray Pruett and it was a great relationship. And then they turned into a not great relationship and he was abusive, so that wasn't good, but

we were like best friends. We became best friends, we started working together, so I loved working with him. UM. And obviously, yes, David and Brian my number one, and that UM. I loved Donna's relationship with Joe and I think I loved her relationship with Joe because for me, like at the time, when I was young, I always picked the bad boy in real life, and so I finally got to see through my character what it was like to have a nice relationship with someone that was

really just a good guy and good to her. And that's what Joe represented to Donna. UM. So it was nice that one of us got to have that, even though I never did at the time. Yeah, how is UM Your relationship with Katherine Cannon who played your mom? Amazing? UM, she was so amazing to work with. I loved working with Katherine. She was such a great mom. Even though Folice was questionable, Katherine was nothing like that. She was super nurturing and supportive UM, and was always there for

me on a mother level throughout the years. So, UM, I loved working with her. I think we have to move on to the next call. But your question is very amazing. Oh my god, thank you for taking the time to talk with me. This was Thank you so much. Thank you. Hi Daniel, Oh my goodness, this is crazy. Hey do you love my my Dylan hair? Um? Really good job. How much tears prayed? Did that take? UM? It's all about the blow dryer. And then I just do,

oh wow, nice, well played. Um, where are you calling from. I'm from Connecticut, Connecticut. Nice. Do you have any questions for me? Um? Yes? So, as a huge fan of nine Oh Twoe Oh, I've been watching literally since it started with my mom. Nice. Yeah you guys, and then Party five was right after. I love Party of five. Now I've been a Party of five. I know, I love following you. Thank you. Yeah you're welcome, but yeah,

your family is beautiful, so you're welcome. So my question is because I love hair, um, and there are so many hairstyles throughout the ten seasons of and I was one, know, so I'm dying to know, like which ones were your favorites of your own like haircuts, color styles, and like which one was like your least favorite or like you're like you look back and you're like, oh what was

I think? Yeah, Okay, I got some answers for you. So, I mean, obviously I love like Donna's iconic do like kind of before I went platinum, like where she I did that hair myself where I would literally take hair spray, take my fingers, like pull out like from my temples my hair spray it. Go to the other side. I pull out, like, break my fingernails through my temples, through my hair spray it, take my beans, put them up, spray it and go. Um. I love that one. And

then I decided to go platinum that one. I actually that that was a decision I made on a Friday night with a box of hair color in my bathroom with my best friend, and uh, it turned totally like kind of orange, so then we had to get a color corrected. Um. And then I was platinum. And then I decided I wanted a bob because they were in

but I went to someone and they cut my hair. Um. So first I had the bob, and then I wanted to go like kind of a line, and then I wanted to go a little shorter like the bob, and someone cut it really short. So I ended up with almost like a short hair do and long in the front. And that made me miserable because my hair was my identity and I had nothing to hide with. So when

I look back on those episodes, I like cringe. Um. And at the time time, the red hair was what I thought was a good choice, But looking back thirty years later, I'm very sad that Donna married David with red hair, because I know not Donna. Like I don't know, I just can't handle it. Like we're gonna get to it in the show in nine MG where we're like talking about Donna and she'll have red hair, and I'm just gonna be like, that's not you, girl, Like it's

not you. So anyway, I know, I actually loved though season six your your guys junior year of college when you when you had the platinum but it was like parted in the middle and it was a little like longer in front and then shortened back. I like, love, I thought you were on point that whole season. Like I was just about to say that your outfits, like and when you were dating Joe the football player, Like I just thought that whole season you were on point.

Thank you. Like I feel like, besides being the iconic initial Donna, that was my favorite look um the down the middle, perfect hair length, dark lip. That's why I wear it today, Like yeah, you have like flip line or something going on like a gloss sometimes. I don't know. It was just you looked great and hot. Thank you so much. I remember I used to wear um nails. Like I would be in the in the makeup trailer changing my nail color in between scenes. We used to

have this um polish. It was called hard candy and they put like the gel like rings on the polishes and they sent it to us and it was all different colors. And I remember at the time all the other girls were like, who would put colors on their nails? That's crazy? And I was like, I'll do it, And so then I became obsessed with it. So if I was wearing a yellow outfit, I would come in and paint my short nails yellow and then I would be purple. And I just remember all the girls being like, what

is she doing? And now I look back and I'm like, on point, But you can't not talk about the curls. When I thought that was the coolest hair. And I also thought all the episodes where you were supposedly in France, Donna looked amazing. That was like kind of her o G hair, Like three seasons. That is true. That is true, And it was shot during the summer and it was

on the back lot of Universal. I just remember it being like over a hundred degrees because it's like in Burbank and it was like, is that Burbank now close to it? And it was so hot. I think it was frizz a lot of it, but it gave me very a lot of volumes. So that was good. Those parachutes. You know, we're in the back lot of Universal. A little bit of both sorry to disappoint and mostly disappoint myself because I saw that script and I'm not gonna lie.

I'm like, Shannon, We're going to Paris, and I'm like, nope, We're going to Universal Studios. Okay? Um? And oh the curls Amy's referring to. So those curls Donna would have, like the almost spiral like sausage curls and yeah, and then you make your hair like super stick straight at the top and put like a bobby pin and then those curls. So that was inspired because I love Drew Barrymore at the time, and I people would always say like, oh,

you guys kind of look alike. And when she was in Um Boys on the Side, Yes, the best movie, Oh my gosh, and she had those curls in that. And so next season I came to work and I was going to wear those curls. I know you had those curls in the episode where Slade attacked you in the apartment and David came and saved the day. Oh my gosh, I forgot about that episode, but you'll get to it. I know every episode I've seen this year. I've watched the series over and over like dozens of times.

Is it fair to say I think I love you? I love you more periods of my life. You're awesome. Oh my gosh, thank you. This was great. If you want to follow me smooth jazz one zero zero seven. Okay, I got you, wonderful, I got you. And that's my boyfriend too in the photo. Oh really yeah, Oh my gosh, Jess is adorable. Okay, I love you, Daniel, I love you too. Thank you so much. Bye bye. Hello. What's your name? My name is tairo Hi. Where are you

calling from. I'm from Japan. Hi. Japan is on my bucket list number one place in the world I want to go to. I've never been. I want to go so badly. You should come. It's a really pla Oh my god, I think I would love it. Oh my gosh, I look all the stuff behind you. You have a stab T shirt. You're blowing my mind and I have your thank you son. Oh my gosh, I love it. Oh my gosh, I gotta find that stab T shirt.

That is amazing. This is so cool. Oh my gosh. Yeah, they're making scream stix now and I'm like, oh my gosh, please put a cameo of me in it. I want to be in it so bad. Do you have a question for me? Yes, I do. My Christian is this is my favorite look on you. And I was wondering if you ever do that style again? M hmm. I actually really did like that hairstyle. So so that's when I had dark hair, and then I made it a little funky with some blonde in it. I don't know.

Do you think I'm too old to do something like that. I don't think so. I know. I just wanted to hear you say it. And so that outfit I was always like adding things like I would be like, oh can we add like little like pearls or and butterflies. I loved butterflies back then. I still do, and so we would put like butterflies in my hair, and so we put butterflies on that dress. So I was always d I ying that was your original dress. It was wardrobe bought the dress and then I wanted to add

butterflies to it. That's cool. But like always on the show, when I'd wear like little braids or little clips all over my hair, that was always me being like, what can we add? What can we do? Let's do something more different, Let's take a chance, because like fashion, like fashion, hair and makeup, that was like one area I could really like go for it and take a chance. That's what I love about. You know something? Were you born and raised in Japan? Yes? I was going and raised.

How did you discover nine O two one oh? Like? When did it come to you? I don't know how old you are or did you discover it later on DVD streaming? How did you become a fan? Uh? Nine oh two on old started to started airing a few years and eight it did in the States, And when I first watched, I was like eight nine and I at the time I didn't know any That's what I was gonna say. Was it in English subtitles? What was it translated? How did you Japanese stub Japanese doubling Japanese dubbing?

Oh my gosh, I wonder, really, yes, have you rewatched it again? I wonder if, now that you speak English, if there were jokes or things that lost in translation that we're very American, you know what I mean? Whoa, what a? What a fascinating experience. Um. Sorry, You're the reason I started earning English, really, yes, Oh my gosh, because I wanted to watch your movies and genres with your real, real voice and understand what you're saying. Oh

my gosh, that means so much. Um, how different? Like how different the girl that did the voice of Donna? How different was it than my voice? It's very different? But her voice was good too. Well I like yours better, Thank you. That's like one of my dreams is to meet whoever did the voice of Donna in every language, because obviously we were all over the world. So I would love to meet the actresses that did it for you know, ten seasons. They all had to do it.

So well. Do you have any the questions? Oh? Yes, Uh, during you changed a lot. Uh you changed your hairstyle and colored a lot. Was that your choice? That was totally my choice? Um, but we definitely had to get clearance from the producers to change our hairstyles, color cuts, um more So they just wanted to know because they

always wanted to write it into the script. So if you notice, like anytime there's a major hair change on anybody, like one of the other characters will say like, oh nice haircut, or oh you got your hair color done, like oh yeah, I just did my hair. They wanted to make sure it was like very consistent. But yeah, it was totally any hairstyles on the show. We're all our choices. You have good choice, thank you. I like to mix it up. Well, I'm so glad we could

do this. This is amazing. Thank you so much, thank you so much to thank you. I love you. I love you too. Hi Adra, Hi, how are you? I'm great? How are you? It's nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. Where are you calling from West Virginia? Hi? How is it in West Virginia? Well, unfortunately, right after someone contacted me to do this, my power went out. So it's the lighting is not so good in here, and it's going to get hot this afternoon. But other

than that, good I'm sorry. Well you look you look great, so well. Thank you. And good news is it's a podcast, so don't worry so it's all good. I'm the only one seeing you and I think you look fantastic. Thank you. Do you have any questions for me? I do have a few questions. Um. So the first one I have, which I feel like I already know the answer to this, but is will we ever get to see Donna and then Gang again on TV? The answer from me is I really really hope. So, um, yeah, I really hope.

So you know, we did our best with b H nine two one to bring everyone back together and to do something new and refreshing and and while giving the fans what they wanted. Um, because you know season two, we were going to do a hybrid of back with the Gang in nine two and is their characters and behind the scenes as the real life alter egos obviously, but um, that didn't go on. So I hope somehow someday we get to do something altogether again and kind of see where the real Gang kind of left off.

That would be great. AT would definitely I would definitely change in Thank you. Okay. Um, so my next question is, um, other than David, who would if you would like to see Donna end up with on the show? Um? I mean I always say like it depends, because I feel like same is in real life. Like we have different relationships in our life that are meant to be at different points in our life, and when you evolved, maybe

it's not, you know, the right thing for you. I always say I really loved Donna's relationship with Joe, just because he was so good to her and so kind and just such a great guy. And I think she needed that, you know, even though David was her soul mate, like he had cheated on her, you know, like she needed kind of that self confidence booster. Um. But other than ending up with David, I don't know. Maybe. I mean, I don't know. I think I was always meant to

be David, So I can't picture her with anyone else. Um. I mean right before David, she was with Noah, I like as well Joe. I think Joe, I don't know. I guess their timing was just off. They were young, Like maybe maybe I don't know, maybe if it hadn't worked out with David, maybe like in her thirties, she would have met up with Joe again and been like,

oh what was I thinking? Now I'm ready for him? Yeah. Um, any story lines that you really disliked for Donna disliked, Yes, Um well, I literally was best friends with Jamie Walters in real life, so when they turned that storyline around. As an actress, it was very compelling for me to be able to act those moments and um, and go

through that relationship, that abusive relationship on TV. But UM, I was really sad because I knew once that was happening, that there was no going back and that you know, was true. The audience couldn't accept him even if he became good. So, UM, I didn't like that storyline. Um any others I didn't like, I don't know. It was

such a fun ride. I kind of went into it like every time I got a new storyline, Like I mean, I guess technically, like I didn't like when Donna was like on pills and stuff like if I had to think about it now, but like at the time, it was a challenge for me as an actress to do those different storylines. Um, like the storyline where she was being stalked and then she was held up in the in the radio station. Um. I did like being the

weather girl though, um. But but things like that, I always thought of Donna as like the fun like comedy relief. So when she got like dramatic storylines early on, I was nervous about doing. But once I got into the series and it found my confidence, you know, halfway through, then I was like, oh, bring them on. They were really exciting for me. Yeah. I love the um Paris scene when you're eating the brains and spit it out real quickly. Thank you, I added that, thank you, um.

And then the last question I have is, um, you as Tori, did you ever feel slighted in the early years, um that like the bigger stories kind of went to Shannon and Jenny or were you okay with that? You know, how'd you feel about that? I never felt slighted because I never went into nine two thinking that I would

be a lead Kara her or expecting it. Um. I think being the producer's daughter, I always undersell sold myself because I wanted to fit in and I didn't want anyone to think like I expected, you know, to be the lead. I expected to have scenes. So that was so like innately a part of me that it was always this pleasant surprise when I got any lines, you know, Um, But it did make me work harder because I've always had this thing. I'm like the and this continues my story,

my journey in my lifetime. Like I'm definitely the little engine that could. Um. I think no is the first word towards yes. So um. Whenever I didn't get something, I was like, oh, I'm just gonna show them that I could do it, that you know, I could do this and make the most of what I did have, and that inevitably lead to bigger and bigger things. And that's still my belief in life. I'm a huge fan

of the show. I started watching like I think I was like ten or eleven when the show came on, and I've watched it probably six or seven times over since then. And I listened to the podcast all ten seasons six or seven times, so probably probably so yeah, you're amazing. I started watching them again, like I was listening to the first few seasons without rewatching them, and then one season three head I started I'm following along again. So I love that we drew it back in time. Well,

thank you so much. Oh my gosh, Addre, thank you so much. Wait, can I ask you what is the print that's behind you? Sorry? It's um, Yeah, my stepdaughter is an artist. She's only fifteen and she probably made that like a few years ago. I love it. Sorry, I was just drawn to it the whole time we were talking, so I wanted to ask you before you went. A lot of people are when they come in. This was a most lit place I could find in the house. So you get you get that as well. It's a beauty,

a full Tell her I love it. Well, I'm trying to get her started on it. Like I said, she's fifteen and she's all the time asking for new shows to watch, and so it's on my list No. Two when I was on my list for her to start. Oh my gosh, Well tell her I loved her artwork and maybe she'll join you in the rewatch next week. Thank you as by Adra. Bye. Okay you guys. Um. That was pretty unexpected and totally amazing. Those were some unbelievable callers and I loved it. Ie currently loved it.

This was all about Donna on my age. My heart is beaming, so thank you guys, and my better half will be back next week, so join us. Do your homework though, and we are gonna be going through episode twenty four from season three, perfectly perfect. I can't wait. Um and I'll see you guys and talk to you next week. Love you,