SOD Q&A'S WITH BRIAN

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SOD: After 9 years of doing Beverly Hills 90210 , how do you keep things fun and fresh?
BAG: It's because of the group of people we have. Real positive energy.

SOD: How has Aaron Spelling proven to be more than a boss?
BAG: He's been like a best friend. He calls me when I'm in a bad mood. I call him when he's in a bad mood. Or when one of us is sick. He's not a guy who hides behind his office door, leaving you hoping to get calls returned. He takes you call anytime. He makes me feel as important to him as he is to me.

SOD: Spelling entrusted you with taking his daughter's virginity, so to speak, when Donna (Tori Spelling)  finally gave herself to David two seasons ago. That's some show of faith.
BAG: He was actually on-set that day. It was the last scene we were shooting for the season. He didn't say anything, thank God. He saved me by not saying anything.
SOD: Did his presence make you nervous?
BAG: A little bit. I know it was such a big deal for him. And it wasn't just my co-star's father, it was my boss.

SOD: Have you had a chance to talk to Shannen Doherty (ex-Brenda, now Prue on Charmed) no that she's back in the Spelling family?
BAG: I saw her about a year ago when she was shooting a TV movie for NBC. I stopped by to say hello, and we ended up hanging out for the day .I'm sure Ill see her soon now that we're all working for Spelling again.

SOD: Is all the bad blood in the past?
BAG: I always loved hanging out with her. I was one of the only people who didn't have problems with Shannen. I thought she was a real important part of the show, and we really missed out on something once she was gone. Luckily, we've been able to keep the show together--and now, we have Luke {Perry-Dylan} Back.

SOD: What's it like with Jason Priestly (ex-Brandon) gone as well?
BAG: It's one less dressing room (laughs). With our schedules and the way we shoot, we spent so little time seeing each other, except when we were in a scent together. I took it more as a business decision than anything personal. It was upsetting, the last day he was here, seeing him pack up all his stuff and go. But I know he had the best intentions. I love Jason to death, and solid everyone else it the cast and crew. I hope everything comes to him that he's dreamed of.

SOD: Are you getting a little restless yourself?
BAG: I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying where the money is.

SOD: Does the cast want the season to be the grand finale?
BAG: Aaron and I talk about it a lot. He know my feelings, and I know his. I've also been talking to the writers. Nobody's sure if it is going to be the Last season, but we have some really strong new cast members this year. Daniel Cosgrove (Matt: ex-Scott, All My Children) and Vanessa (Marcil, Gina" ex-Brenda, General Hospital) are both exceptional actors.

SOD: Any chance of the writers pairing you with Vanessa?
BAG: I know Luke is starting with Vanessa. She's coming in as the bad girl, and he's stepping right back in as the bad guy. But they're not going to stay together. There's been talk of my character getting with Vanessa's , but we'll see where that goes.

SOD: What's in store for David this season?
BAG: David is the steady ship this year. He's been through so much-drug problems, drinking, manic depression- that now he is  the one who's finally made sense of his life. He has a head on his shoulders. He's become sort of a leaning post for everybody. They came to him with their problems. But I'm sure he'll mess up again.

SOD: What about your own social life? Are you still a party animal?
BAG: I've become somewhat of a hermit. I was promoting clubs when I was15. By the time I turned 21, I was like, "I don't really want to drink anymore. I don't want to go out." The funny thing was, when I first started dating Tiffani-Amber Thiessen (ex-Valerie), she was real anti-club. So I quit promoting and all that stuff. And now that we're broken up, she's out at the clubs every other night and I'm home alone. We both did a complete 180.

SOD: During the run of the show, Jennie Garth (Kelly), Ian Ziering (Steve), and Luke (Dylan) all got married. You're still single. Any plans to change that status?
BAG: Not that I particularly enjoy it, but I'm still single. And I hate the single life. I hate the whole dating thing. It's rough for me because I never go out anymore.

SOD: What else are you up to professionally?
BAG: I'm producing music and producing the show this season. I'm trying to shift more to the producer side of everything.

SOD: Have you ever recorded in Randy Spelling's (Sean on Sunset Beach) home studio?
BAG: I actually set up his studio. It was a gift from his dad for his birthday. Aaron knew I was into music, so he called me up. And Randy and I have known each other since we were real young. I went out and got all the stuff and surprised him with it. So he has his own studio, and I have a studio at my house. I'm working hard to put out artists.

SOD: What about your own music?
BAG: I'm mainly producing now. It's kind of nice not to be on-camera or on  a record vocally. I can just sit back and be and artist creatively, (focusing on) writing, producing and helping someone else take off and take the spotlight.

SOD: Do you see yourself giving up acting and becoming the next Quincy Jones?
BAG: I'd love to be Quincy Jones, but I still love acting. It's all a different way of expressing myself. I want to do it all.