90210 Thinks of Laura

Laura Leighton, last seen as Melrose Place's dearly departed Sydney Andrews, is making a blockbuster return to TV with a high-profile, megabucks guest-starring role on Beverly Hills, 90210.

Leighton has signed on to 90210 for six episodes, starting with the season premiere in September. She'll play Sophie Burns, an aspiring actress who will stop at nothing to achieve fame and fortune.

It sounds as if Fox and Spelling are pumping up the vixen population since our pal Val � played by Tiffani-Amber Thiessen � will only be making limited appearances next season. A Spelling Entertainment insider hinted to Dish that Leighton was signed after a plan to bring back Shannen Doherty collapsed.

Sources tell Dish that Aaron Spelling himself recruited Leighton, and that she will be making an unprecedented amount of money for her six-episode stint. Leighton's representatives would not comment on her salary, but say that her 90210 gig is strictly short-term. "This is not something that will become recurring," says a Leighton spokeswoman.

In other 90210 news, former executive producer/writer Steve Wasserman died Friday in a boating accident. His former wife, Jessica Klein, who held the same positions at 90210, was aboard the boat at the time of the accident. � Jonathan Reiner