Locklear Turned Melrose Place From Flop to Hit

Melrose Place achieved significant success primarily due to the pivotal inclusion of Heather Locklear, according to her former castmates. The show, initially struggling after its 1992 debut as a Beverly Hills, 90210 spinoff, reportedly faced cancellation until Locklear joined as Amanda Woodward in 1993. Co-star Courtney Thorne-Smith recalled that the writers "figured it out" once Locklear was on board, making the series more engaging for both the cast and viewers.

Heather Locklear, who was just 30 when she joined the cast, believes audiences were drawn to the show's dramatic "catfights" and the relatability of its characters. She suggested viewers enjoyed seeing a reflection of themselves and their desires, albeit sometimes exaggerated, in the characters' actions. The series, with Locklear as a regular, soon captivated millions, peaking at 14 million viewers and concluding its run in 1999.

Show creator Darren Star previously corroborated this, noting that the ratings were poor until Locklear's presence, which he attributed to her "Dynasty cred" and ability to imbue every line with intent. While a reboot remains unconfirmed, Locklear speculated that her character, Amanda, would have moved to Hollywood, developed a successful show about her life, and possibly reconciled with Peter Burns on a golf course.