The Worst Made for TV Movies Starring Jennie Garth

Jennie Garth rose to fame throughout the 90s for her role as Kelly Taylor on the popular teen-themed series, Beverly Hills, 90210. Kelly Taylor was initially introduced to the series as a “spoiled teen vixen.”  However, as the show progressed her character became more well-rounded.  The show, which focused on a group of young friends who lived in Beverly Hills, California, aired from 1990 to 2000 and helped launch the careers of several young stars.  Garth was among the show’s stars who received critical acclaim for her role.  According to TV Guide, Kelly Taylor was”sensitive, seductive, and tortured,” and “tapped into the very essence of teenage angst and brought her a huge cult following.” Unfortunately, when the show ended, Garth was not one of the stars who easily found success outside of 90210.  Although she appeared in a few episodes of Melrose Place, a spin-off of 90210, her career seemed to be slowing down significantly.  However, refusing to let her career fall into total obscurity, Garth took several roles in made-for-TV movies.  Unfortunately for Garth, many of these small-screen films did absolutely nothing to boost her career.  Here are five of the worst made-for-TV movies starring Jennie Garth.

5. A Loss of Innocence

In this 1996 film, Jennie Garth plays the role of Chelnicia ‘Chel’ Bowen, a young Mormon girl living in 1920s Utah. Chel, who has a passion for playing the piano, meets a man named Erik Eriksen (Rob Estes),  who offers to give her lessons.  As the bond between Erik and Chel grows, it becomes clear that they have developed feelings for each other although Chel is already married.  Erik attempts to persuade Chel into running away with him, and she considers.  However, after a young Native American dies in an accident, Chel takes it as a warning sign for her sins and decides to remain with her husband.

4. Star

The 1993 made-for-TV movie, Star, was based on Danielle Steel’s novel of the same name.  The story follows Crystal Wyatt (Garth), a young woman who is forced to face the reality of her world after her father passes away. After his death, Crystal’s mother begins to mistreat her, and allow her to be sexually abused.  When Crystal meets Spencer Hill (Craig Bierko), an American soldier returning from Vietnam, she quickly develops feelings for him.  Although both Crystal and Spencer experience a series of turbulent events, the film ends on a happy note with the two ending up together.  However, even with its happy ending, the film still didn’t seem to please viewers or critics, and movie critic Andy Webb referred to much of the story’s initial story as “pretty ordinary.”

3. Lies of the Heart: The Story of Laurie Kellogg

Based on the true story of the murder of Bruce Kellog, Lies of the Heart follows the story of the circumstances that eventually led to his death.  In the film, Garth stars as Laurie Kellog, who is put on trial for the murder of her husband and must convince the jury that she is a victim of domestic violence.  Although the film seemed to have potential, it was met with mostly negative reviews and Entertainment Weekly gave it a D+.  Critic Ken Tucker stated: “Obvious and clumsy, Lies benefits only from the way Garth manages to make Kellogg a believably naive young woman.”

2. Without Consent

Originally aired in 1994, Without Consent stars Garth as a rebellious young woman named Laura Mills.  After spending most of her time drinking, doing drugs, and hanging out with boys Laura is involved in a drunk driving accident.  After the accident, Laura’s parents decide that she needs to seek help.  After being admitted to a psychiatric hospital, Laura quickly realizes that patients at the hospital are being mistreated by staff.  She attempts to escape from the facility; however, she is unsuccessful and is drugged by the staff.   Eventually, Laura’s parents realize that she is telling the truth and request to have her sent home.  However, the hospital refuses to honor their request and Laura’s parents take the case to court.  Entertainment Weekly gave the film a “C+” rating and stated: “Tim Kring’s script is deft at exposing the banality of recovery-movement jargon about addiction and ”denial.” But Consent is also a standard melodrama, the umpteenth variation on The Snake Pit — the asylum as a place where patients are doped into a stupor and abused. Garth is fine as both brat and victim, and Roseanne‘s Johnny Galecki turns in an excellent performance as a gentle but paranoid patient, but both actors are trapped in a predictable genre movie.”

1. An Unfinished Affair

Starring Jennie Garth, Tim Matheson, and Leigh Taylor-Young, An Unfinished Affair hit the airwaves in 1996.  In the film, Sheila Hart (Garth) begins an affair with Alex Conner (Matheson) whose wife had been recently diagnosed with cancer.  When Alex’s wife goes into remission he decides to end his affair with Sheila.  However, Sheila refuses to take no for an answer an embarks on a mission to get Alex’s attention.  Movie critic Andy Webb gave the film a negative review and stated: “…well they start with the characters who are nothing more than stereotypes and over the top ones at that…The characters are not the only issue as the cinematography whilst occasionally a little eye-catching is mostly ordinary as is the movies pacing. What isn’t ordinary is the dialogue which is full of cheesy lines which are never said in the real world…What this all really means is that “An Unfinished Affair” ends up familiar and mediocre and a movie which ends up relying on the actor’s like ability.”

(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly)