It was a “Beverly Hills, 90210” reunion on Monday night's “Dancing With The Stars” performance show.
Ian Ziering had a strong support team in the audience, as former “90210” castmates Jennie Garth, Tori Spelling and Jason Priestley all came down to cheer him on.
“I knew that Ian had some moves," Garth told “Access Hollywood’s” Shaun Robinson backstage. “I've seen him boogie and cut a rug before, but the things that he's been learning to do … this is phenomenal. And his body’s in amazing shape, and he’s just so happy — he loves it so much.”
Spelling said that it was no surprise to her that Ian could dance, because he was such a free spirit in the “90210” days.
“When I heard he was doing this, I was like, ‘Oh perfect,’ ” Tori said. “He just, he's so funny and he's always dancing. We would go out dancing, and he's a great dancer to dance with. He would always add goofy movements to it. ‘90210’ was a drama, he couldn't really break loose — and here I feel he gets to break loose. It’s the true Ian.”
Jennie agrees wholeheartedly about Ian. “You know, I saw in Ian — and I continue to see — his great, fun spirit,” she said. “He is so fun to hang out with and be with, and he always keeps you laughing and happy. And tonight he really let that shine, and the real Ian came out, and he was having so much fun ... and I lived it!”
Tori recently gave birth to a baby boy, and confessed that it was hard for her to leave little Liam at home. “My friend Brandy is at home babysitting, and I’m really anxious because it’s my first time leaving him at home,” she said, but added that a special occasion like this was well worth it. “Being on the show for 10 years, Ian's been like family to me. It’s really important that when any of us do something else, that we are there for each other. So it was important that I was here tonight.”
Ian admitted to being “flattered” that his old friends came, and echoed Tori's sentiments on the gang being like family to each other. He joked about her leaving her new baby at home: “You know, I would do the same for (Tori), and obviously I’m sure there's someone taking care of the baby. It’s not like the kid’s home alone smoking stogies and playing Nintendo, right?”
With the three stars rooting for Ian last night, and “90210” alumni Brian Austin Green and Gabrielle Carteris in the audience the week before, Ian is definitely feeling the love.
“I tell you, this is a big family,” he gushed. “If and when we get into the finals — knock on wood — the whole cast will come. I may even see if I can find Nat from the Peach Pit!”
Ian will find out if he’s one step closer to the finals tonight. Though he scored an impressive 27 out of 30 from the judges last night, he faces stiff competition from Apolo Anton Ohno, who received a 28, and Laila Ali & Joey Fatone, who both received perfect 30s. John Ratzenberger and Billy Ray Cyrus bring up the rear with scores of 22 and 21, respectively.