Behind the Scenes of Melrose Place: Daphne Zuniga, Laura Leighton, and Courtney Thorne-Smith Dish on Wild Plot Twists, Nostalgic Rewatch Moments, and the Show’s Most Charismatic Kisser

Liam James1 day agoLast Updated: 14 April 2025

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‘Melrose Place’ Stars Daphne Zuniga, Laura Leighton and Courtney Thorne-Smith Reflect on Crazy Story Lines, Rewatching Their Younger Selves and the Show’s Best Kisser

It has been three decades since *Melrose Place* first aired on Fox, and the drama of Mondays remains unchanged—they’re still a challenge.

Since last July, although not exclusively on Mondays, *Melrose Place* stars Courtney Thorne-Smith, Daphne Zuniga, and Laura Leighton have been reuniting weekly for their iHeartRadio podcast, *Still the Place*. Each episode offers a nostalgic journey down memory lane as the trio revisits and recaps their former episodes.

“It was pre-cell phone, it was pre-streaming, it was appointment television. It’s when you gathered with friends to watch a show, creating memories tied to your life and those you were with,” Leighton explains. “That’s a unique experience we no longer have with television.”

Their discussions frequently feature candid conversations with former castmates, including Thomas Calabro, Andrew Shue, Grant Show, Vanessa Estelle Williams, Doug Savant, Jack Wagner, Rob Estes, Josie Bissett, and, of course, Heather Locklear. More guest appearances are on the horizon, with Thorne-Smith confirming that Lisa Rinna is already scheduled to join.

Thorne-Smith, who played aspiring advertising executive Alison Parker (fun fact: the fictional D&D Advertising Agency is the former home to a well-known publication), highlights the behind-the-scenes honesty—such as Williams sharing the challenges writers faced with her character, Rhonda Blair, and Savant discussing his groundbreaking role as Matt Fielding, who was openly gay—that makes the podcast, currently exploring the series’ first season of 32 episodes, so engaging for both fans and cast members alike.

“We want to have conversations with our friends,” Thorne-Smith states. “We want to discuss what they remember and what was happening, because it’s fascinating how much you retain when you revisit old moments.”

Each episode provides an insightful—and often humorous—retrospective on the show’s storylines, iconic ’90s fashion (Thorne-Smith often highlights wardrobe choices, including her character’s white negligee and uncomfortable bra), behind-the-scenes gossip, topical issues of the time, production insights, and examinations of fellow actors’ line deliveries, along with the occasional virtual splash in the courtyard pool.

“How have 33 years passed, and how did we leap so far ahead in life to now look back at our younger selves?” Leighton wonders, who portrayed the vivacious Sydney Andrews/Mancini/Field. “I’m struck by the uniqueness of that gift. It’s both a blessing and a curse to see your younger self forever captured on film. For better or worse, you witness your youth, and it’s special that we get to share this time together.”

Reflecting on their shared experiences has brought the three women closer, Zuniga shares. She played photographer Jo Reynolds and was the first new character to move into the building after Amy Locane’s departure. Although Zuniga admits she didn’t know her co-hosts well during filming, she now appreciates their unique qualities.

“Even during our last ‘Melrose Minute,’ I thought—these two are incredible hosts,” Zuniga remarks. “Laura is an amazing cook, has raised four kids, and every time I called her, she was either driving to a water polo game, baseball, or juggling something else. It has been wonderful to get to know who we are as women now, something we didn’t have the chance to do back then.”

Zuniga, who mentions that the trio now enjoys dinner parties together and was touched by her co-hosts’ support during her improv show, speaks fondly of working with Thorne-Smith on the podcast.

“Courtney’s passion and joy for this podcast have been such a gift. I tend to approach things as tasks to complete, but she always reminds me—‘Daphne, let’s have fun with this!’ I love that she brings an energy that encourages enjoyment, which has been refreshing.”

Leighton discusses the lasting friendships among the cast, noting that reconnecting after 30 years and collaborating on the podcast has strengthened their bond.

“We were friends back then, for sure—but we were all busy with work,” she explains. “It was an amazing time, without any significant drama. No feuds—just a friendly, supportive group. We genuinely cared for one another.”

She reflects on how this foundation made reconnecting years later feel seamless.

“Having that mutual respect and kindness made it easy to lead our separate lives for 20 or 30 years,” she says. “We occasionally ran into each other at auditions or events, but coming back together after all that time, we still really liked each other. Now, as we get to know each other more deeply, it feels like a gift.”

Thorne-Smith agrees, noting that real friendships have blossomed from *Still the Place*.

“That’s fortunate, right? We could have come back together and thought, ‘Maybe we should’ve just stayed friendly from a distance.’ But instead, we’ve genuinely become friends—and that’s been really sweet,” she shares.

She adds that friendships can be rare and valuable later in life: “At this stage, making new friendships is not always easy. So, the fact that we’ve reconnected and built something deeper feels truly special.”

Looking back at the old episodes has been an enjoyable experience for each actress, and there’s more excitement ahead as the storylines are about to take wild turns. Currently, Billy Campbell (Shue) and Alison Parker remain apart, while Michael Mancini (Calabro) is about to embark on a steamy affair with Dr. Kimberly Shaw, portrayed by Marcia Cross. Estes continues to play Mancini’s college friend, Sam, and Sydney is set to return with more significant storylines, including her forays into prostitution, being held hostage by Shaw, and inadvertently joining a cult.

“There are so many fun storylines we haven’t even touched on in our recaps yet, and I’m really looking forward to it. The show started as a sweet series about eight young people trying to make it, with each episode wrapped up nicely. But once the tone shifted—especially when my character joined—it became something else entirely,” Leighton notes. “We delved into dramatic storylines, and I felt lucky to be part of that. I remember reading scripts, especially the ones where I had to strip, thinking, ‘Wait, I have to do what?’ I was definitely uncomfortable at the time. But looking back, I appreciate playing a character who experienced such outrageous and exciting twists. It was much more thrilling than the neatly packaged stories from the beginning.”

When asked if there are any storylines they wish had been different, Zuniga reflects on her character’s victimization, from being conned and nearly murdered by James Wilder’s Reed to having her baby kidnapped and facing abuse from Dan Cortese’s character, Jess, the brother of Show’s Jake Hanson.

“It was easy to portray her as a victim of bad relationships, but I wish she’d had more independence and career growth. Toward the end, it all felt repetitive—not just for my character, but for everyone,” she laments. “That’s often what happens when a show runs for a long time.”

Rewatching the episodes has also deepened the actresses’ appreciation for their castmates, and when asked if they’d swap roles, they eagerly respond.

“I would’ve loved to play Amanda because she had all the great lines while my character often went, ‘Oh, oh,’” says Thorne-Smith. “It would have been great to deliver those zingers.”

Zuniga adds that if she could swap characters, Calabro’s Mancini would be the most fun.

“Amanda had some fantastic one-liners, and I think Michael would’ve been a blast to play—if he were a woman,” she says. “Maybe even Kimberly. She was bold and unapologetic. That would’ve been exciting.”

Leighton shares, “I’ve always favored Sydney, but if I had to choose: Alison—so I could make out with Andrew.”

Zuniga quips, “You mean in your trailer—between scenes?”

Speaking of kissing—this is *Melrose Place*—which guys were the best kissers?

“There were so many. Oh, so many,” Thorne-Smith replies, recalling her onscreen romances, which included Shue, Show, David James Elliott, Brian Bloom, William R. Moses, Parker Stevenson, and Perry King. “I didn’t realize that would be the only time in my life when cute boys would be brought in for me to kiss. I wish I had appreciated it more.”

Zuniga, who kissed Show, Wilder, Cortese, Patrick Muldoon, and Brad Johnson on the show, adds, “I liked all the guys I kissed. They were all great. There was one guy I didn’t enjoy kissing, but I won’t disclose who that is because I don’t kiss and tell. I did enjoy kissing all the others.”

Leighton, who shared kisses with Calabro, Show, Chad Lowe, Estes, and David Charvet, remarks, “It’s easier to recall your least favorite. But the one I never got to kiss on the show was my husband (Savant).”

Indeed, real life intertwined with *Melrose Place*. Shue and Thorne-Smith dated, Leighton dated Show before marrying Savant, and Locklear and Wagner later connected after the series ended.

“We were watching seasons five and six and jumped to those episodes, laughing at the crossover,” Leighton describes. “It’s like I’m involved in a storyline with my friend Josie’s husband while she’s involved with Grant, whom I dated at the time. Courtney is now in a relationship with Grant, but used to date Andrew, and all this drama was unfolding. Heather and Jack are together on the show, and they ended up together in real life later on.”

Thorne-Smith adds, “People would talk to me and say, ‘No, it wasn’t like that.’ But we’re like, yeah, it really kind of was.”

While there is speculation about a *Melrose Place* reboot in development with CBS Studios, the trio is currently enjoying their shared past.

“When you revisit your younger days, it’s a softer version of life,” Zuniga reflects. “It provides a break from the present. Life may not have been trouble-free, but there’s something soothing about stepping away from the reality of today for a little while.”

Stay tuned for more updates from HiCelebNews as we continue to explore the stories behind your favorite shows and stars.