Cast of characters:

The new Jake and Amanda are... David Patterson and Ella Flynn. He's Melrose royalty, the now-grown son of the original Jake, with the taut abs and thick black book to prove it. She's his omnisexual sometime lover, a PR whiz whose tongue is as sharp as her stilettos.

The new Billy and Allison are... Jonah Miller and Riley Richmond. He's a Kevin Smith wannabe whose obsession with his movies is unlikely to give him a happy ending with his sickly-sweet schoolteacher fiancee -- especially when she takes a shine to the glamorous life he loathes.

The new Matt is... Auggie Kirkpatrick. A hunky hippie, this recovering alcoholic is willing to give everybody the benefit of the doubt. No word on whether the word sucker will be tattooed on Debbie Downer's forehead, but come on…

The new Jane is... Lauren Bishop. Sort of an anti-Michael, this straight-arrow med student falls on such hard times that she's forced to pull a Sydney and trade sexual favors for financial ones.

The new Sydney is... Violet Foster. Though she's fresh off the turnip truck, this small-town teen already has a worldly-wise m.o.: play the sex kitten till you're ready to bare your claws.


David Guggenheim is directing (or producing ... I can't remember) the pilot, and he's married to Elisabeth Shue ... sister of Andrew Shue, who played Billy.


Katie Cassidy has been cast as Ella Flynn, while Michael Rady has been cast as Jonah Miller

Rumors had Mischa Barton testing for a role about a week or two ago, while Michael Ausiello of EW.com claims that Heather Locklear is a "lock" to reprise her role of Amanda Woodward.

Also, Lisa Rinna has shamelessly been begging to be on the show, while Kelly Rutherford danced around it (although she is committed to Gossip Girl), as did Grant Show, who initially said he wouldn't, then really wouldn't give a definite answer, and had some weird interview where he said he would if Jake and Kelly (Jennie Garth) got back together, or some crap like that.

Mischa Barton, who was up for a role on Melrose has instead joined "A Beautiful Life", the CW's soap about pretty models in NY.

Jessica Lucas, who was in "Cloverfield" and "90210" (as undercover cop Kimberly), has been cast as Riley Richmond, a 24-year old inner-city school teacher, who is engaged to Jonah (Michael Rady).