The question is whether this is a really smart or really stupid decision by The CW’s boss Dawn Ostroff. A contract controversy is preventing Tori Spelling from joining that so-called “edgy, contemporary spin-off” of the ’90s hit 90210 on the network this fall as planned. Insiders say that Tori was hired to reprise her role as fashion boutique owner Donna Martin for just “$10,000-$20,000″ per episode. But then Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty were signed for “$35,000-$50,000″ a show. When Tori found out her former co-stars were getting paid way more than she was, she got pissed and demanded equal pay. But the network suits have refused. So now sources say that Tori has pulled out of the series, which premieres with a 2-hour special on September 2nd. “She thought she deserved parity, and she’s got a point,” an insider said.

That’s because, for some bizarre reason, Tori is a reality show ratings hit by Oxygen’s low standards. (Last Tuesday’s Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood was the most watched telecast in the history of that execrable women’s cable channel as 1.4 million viewers saw the episode where Tori gave birth to her 2nd child — which actually took place 5 months ago.) And Spelling wrote a bestselling book besides.

As for Tori, she has told the media only that the timing didn’t work out for her to appear in the 90210 pilot because she was giving birth. “So we’ll see what happens later in the season,” she said last week on CBS’ The Early Show. One insider said it wouldn’t be surprising if Tori and the show eventually agree to bring her onto 90210 as a November sweeps stunt.

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