Episode
Beverly Hills, 90210: A Competitive Edge
Overview
Brandon joins the track team, bumping Steve from the sprint relay. Many of his teammates dislike Brandon because he wrote negative articles about the football team. Brandon considers quitting the paper because he is tired of tearing people apart. Several of the athletes are taking steroids to improve their performance. They ask Steve to participate in their ""program,"" which causes him to develop mood swings. Brandon and Andrea decide to conduct an investigation, and Kelly's friend Kyle provides them with details. The track coach cancels all practices until the steroid users come forward. The other guys suspect that Steve was Brandon's source, and threaten to beat him up unless he takes the rap. Brandon allows Brenda to drive his car, but she gets into an accident. The other driver claims to have developed whiplash, and files a lawsuit. Brenda foils her plans when she catches her dancing in her living room. Music: ""Dancing in the Street"" by The Mamas and the Papas (?)
Details
- Series
- Beverly Hills, 90210
- Season
- Season 2
- Episode
- Episode 20
- Air date
- 1992-01-23
- Runtime
- 47 min
Episode context
A Competitive Edge is Episode 20 in Season 2 of Beverly Hills, 90210. It aired on 1992-01-23. The runtime is 47 min.
Previous / Next
Episode 19: Fire and Ice
Jim coaches a hockey team that includes Brandon, Steve and Dylan. After a practice, Brandon meets aspiring figure skater Trisha Kinney. They take a liking to each other, and Brandon gets up at 5:00 every morning to come to her practices. Trisha considers giving up the sport after a poor showing in her sectional meet. Her coach shows up during her date with Brandon and announces that she was given an exemption to compete at nationals. She bars Brandon from practice because he was affecting her concentration. Brenda's boss, Deidre, encourages her to become a more persuasive salesperson. Brenda convinces David to buy Donna $190 perfume as a belated birthday present (her birthday was Christmas day). Deidre steals a large commission from Brenda, but Cindy helps Brenda plot revenge.
Music: ""(I've Had) The Time of My Life"" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes (#1, 1987)
Episode 21: Everybody's Talkin' 'Bout It
Andrea is outraged when the school refuses to allow students to take part in a health survey that includes questions about sex. She goes before the school board and introduces a proposal to distribute condoms at West Beverly.
More episodes from this season
Episode 18: A Walsh Family Christmas
Steve arrives in Albuquerque and tracks down his grandfather, a diner owner. Al explains that his daughter gave up Steve because she was very young and wanted him to have a good home. He sadly reveals that Karen died in a car accident. Steve leaves flowers at her grave, and convinces an eccentric Santa-like charter pilot to fly him home for Christmas. Cindy is depressed about her first Christmas in Beverly Hills. She invites the kids' friends and their families for Christmas Eve dinner, but everyone has other plans. Brandon visits Emily in a psychiatric hospital, where she is doing very well. Brenda begins work at an upscale clothing store. She feels bad when her boss throws out a cheerful old man dressed as Santa Claus. She stops the police from harassing him and invites him over for dinner. Dylan goes to see his father in prison, and talks with the same Santa. Jackie is furious when Mel backs out of Christmas Eve plans because his estranged wife asked him to come over with David. Sam
Episode 22: Baby Makes Five
Kelly confides in Brenda and Donna about her mother's pregnancy, but they can't keep a secret. David tells Donna that Mel is planning to propose, then learns about the pregnancy. He doesn't share the news with his father, who is clueless about Jackie's condition. Jackie assumes that Mel only wants to marry her to fulfill his obligation, so she dumps him. Music: ""All 4 Love"" by Color Me Badd (#1, 1992);
Episode 17: Chuckie's Back
Chuck Wilson, Samantha Sanders' old sitcom co-star and Steve's childhood nemesis, transfers to West Beverly after being kicked out of private school. Steve is depressed when Kelly agrees to go to a dance with Chuck. Samantha orders Steve to be nice to Chuck in the hopes of persuading him to appear in a reunion movie. Chuck taunts Steve about being adopted, and reveals that he knew about the adoption nine years before Steve. Steve punches him, but takes all the blame for the fight so that Chuck will sign the movie deal. He is hurt that his mother has again put her career ahead of him, and decides to search for his biological parents. Samantha backs out on the film after learning that her agent told Chuck about the adoption. Kelly stands up Chuck and brings Steve to the dance, but a teacher kicks him out because he is suspended. Steve's friends see him off as he catches a bus to Albuquerque to search for his mother, Karen Brown. Everyone teases Donna about going to the dance with David,
Episode 23: Cardio Funk
Dylan's friend Sarah comes to an AA meeting. He offers his support, and she begins to rely on him. She seeks his help in throwing her abusive boyfriend out of the apartment. Music: ""We Want the Funk"" by Gerardo (#16, 1991); ""Do Wah Diddy Diddy"" (Manfred Mann - #1, 1964), performed by the cast; ""Your Cheatin' Heart"" (Hank Williams), performed by Patricia Michel; ""Be Bop-a-Lul
Episode 16: My Desperate Valentine
Emily refuses to accept the fact that Brandon no longer wants to see her. She slashes her own tires and pretends that her parents are out of town so that Brandon will invite her to stay over. She sneaks into his bedroom and tries to seduce him. After he makes it clear that he is not interested, she begins to make crank phone calls. Andrea discovers that Emily is the person who has been sending menacing letters to the school paper. Emily shows up at Brandon's house and douses the gang's homecoming float with gasoline. Brenda and Dylan find her sitting on the float with a lighter, but Brenda is able to calm her. Emily agrees to seek help. Brenda and Dylan attend cultural events because she fears they spend too much time making out.
Music: ""Baby I'm Yours"" by Barbara Lewis (#11, 1965)
Episode 24: The Pit and the Pendulum
Brandon participates in a teen review committee that provides input to one of Jim's clients, who is building a gigantic new mall. Marcie, the developer's college-age daughter, aggressively pursues Brandon. Brandon is incensed to learn that the project would require the demolition of the Peach Pit. He squares off with Jim, who promises to stand up for Nat's interests. Brandon takes Marcie to the Peach Pit in the hopes of gaining her support, but realizes that she only cares about her father and his business. The gang (except Brenda) tries to stage a rally, but Nat has already agreed to sell. Brandon becomes jaded, and refuses to listen when Jim explains the financial realities associated with adulthood. The deal eventually falls through, allowing Nat to keep the Peach Pit.
Episode 15: U4EA
Emily invites everyone to join her at an underground club. The location is a secret; the gang must exchange an egg at a convenience store for this information. The others leave without Steve and Andrea, who end up going to the wrong store and embarrassing themselves. Kelly is mortified when David drinks an entire bottle of whiskey, but Donna dances with him and has a good time. Emily slips a drug called U4EA into Brandon's drink to get him to loosen up. He is too wasted to drive, and vandals trash his car when he leaves it at the club overnight. Brandon does not expose Emily's deed to his parents, but breaks up with her because he no longer trusts her.
Music: ""Hold on to Love"" by T'Pau
Episode 25: Meeting Mr. Pony
The gang stays at the Peach Pit after hours to study for midterms. Brenda is left alone while Brandon and Dylan take out the recycling. A gunman enters through the unlocked door, holds a rifle to her head, and forces her to empty the cash register. Brenda puts on a brave front for family and friends, but suffers nightmares and behaves erratically. She has a flashback during a midterm, screams, and runs out of the classroom. A psychiatrist helps her begin to deal with her fears. Brenda reluctantly views a police line-up, resulting in the arrest of the 17-year-old gunman.
Music: ""Let the Good Times Roll"" by Shirley & Lee (#20, 1956)
Episode 14: The Next 50 Years
The students of West Beverly unearth a time capsule from 1941, and put together a capsule of their own. Mrs. Scanlon organizes a surprise party for Scott's birthday, and pushes David to round up the guests. Donna is the only person who wants to attend. Kelly, Steve, Brenda, Brandon and Emily reluctantly come to the party, but act like jerks and refuse to participate in the activities. David tries to save the party by getting everyone to dance, but Brandon and Emily sneak upstairs to make out in the bedroom of Scott's little brother. Mrs. Scanlon throws them out, and the others act really indignant and walk out on the party. Scott goes to his father's den to get matches for the cake, and finds a gun in a locked desk drawer. He tries to twirl it for David, but accidentally shoots himself in the stomach and dies. David's friends and teachers annoy him by constantly asking about his well-being, while Mrs. Scanlon keeps trying to give him Scott's belongings. Donna takes offense when David c
Episode 26: Things to Do on a Rainy Day
On a rainy Saturday afternoon, Brenda, Kelly, Donna and David head to the Bel Age Hotel to meet Donna's favorite pop group, Color Me Badd. David rents a room so that the foursome can get into the hotel. Donna sees her mother, supposedly at the hotel for a conference, and fears that she will get in trouble. Kelly lifts a key to the penthouse and gets to hang out with the group. Donna, fearing reprisal, jumps out of the elevator on an earlier floor. She sees her mother come out of a room and kiss a man in the hallway. When Felice later confronts Donna about being at the hotel, Donna forces her to admit that she is having an affair. Donna is devastated, but Cindy explains that her parents' marital problems do not have anything to do with her. Kelly attends the Color Me Badd concert with a free pass, and brings the group to the Peach Pit to serenade Donna. Steve, Brandon and Dylan hire a stripper, but their plans are complicated when Andrea shows up at the house. The stripper turns out to