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Gossip Girl is an American teen drama series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007. Narrated by the omniscient yet unseen blogger "Gossip Girl", voiced by Kristen Bell, the series revolves around the lives of privileged young adults on Manhattan's Upper East Side in New York City.
The series begins with the return of Upper East Side "It" girl, Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) from a mysterious stay at a boarding school in Cornwall, Connecticut. Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester), whom creators describe as the queen at the center of their chess game, is a longtime friend and occasional rival of Serena's, and the Queen Bee of Constance Billard School's social scene. The story also follows Chuck BassEd Westwick), the bad boy of the Upper East Side; "Golden boy" Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford), Chuck's best friend and Blair's ex; and other characters of the turbulent Manhattan scene: Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley), Nate's friend and Serena's on-again, off-again ex; Vanessa Abrams (Jessica Szohr), Dan's best friend; and Dan's sister, Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen)
Cast and characters
Main article: List of Gossip Girl characters
The first episodes of the first season included the original concept from the books, mainly following the lives of the five teenage characters in their high school years. Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) is often described as the 'it girl'. It is revealed that she has had a scandalous past that continues to haunt her, she is known for her many off-again relationships with the male characters and is known for rebellious drive outs. Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley), an outsider who becomes a part of the turbulent Manhattan scene, an aspiring writer and fairly straight-arrow guy with a good heart and morals. Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) is the beautiful Queen Bee of Constance Billard School's social scene, as well as Serena's best friend and occasional rival. Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford) is the perfect "Golden Boy" of the Upper East Side, always being fought over by the prominent female characters. Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick) serves as the show's antihero, being a womanizer and party lover with a troubled life and past that provide a hidden vulnerable side.Beside the five regulars cast members mentioned above, three more characters appeared in the pilot episode. Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen) is Dan's younger sister, who desperately tries to become the next Queen Bee, a goal that makes her realize the true values of life; Lily van der Woodsen (Kelly Rutherford) and Dan's father Rufus Humphrey (Matthew Settle).They share a romantic past that follows them throughout the show, and eventually leads to marriage. The Humphrey family is centered upon as they explore life on the 'Upper East side', Dan trying to look after his little sister as she discovers the party scene.
Vanessa Abrams (Jessica Szohr), enters the show in its first season as Dan's past love, and becomes a series regular after the 14th episode. Other characters include Eric van der Woodsen (Connor Paolo) Serena's kind and compassionate brother, who comes out late in the first season and becomes very close with Jenny. Georgina Sparks (Michelle Trachtenberg) is an occasional antagonist in the show, with a recurring role. Carter Baizen (Sebastian Stan) appears as Chuck's enemy with a romantic interest in Serena.
Many characters appear as guest stars as parents and other relatives of the main cast. Eleanor Waldorf-Rose (Margaret Colin) and Harold Waldorf (John Shea) appeared as Blair's divorced parents, with Cyrus Rose (Wallace Shawn) as Eleanor's husband and Blair's stepfather. Dorota Kishlovsky (Zuzanna Szadkowski) is Blair's loyal maid. Anne Archibald (Francie Swift) and Howard "The Captain" Archibald (Sam Robards) are Nate's estranged parents, while William van der Bilt I (James Naughton) and William "Tripp" van der Bilt III (Aaron Tveit) are Nate's manipulative grandfather and cousin, respectively. Bartholomew "Bart" Bass (Robert John Burke) is Lily's late ex-husband and Chuck's demanding father, and Jack Bass (Desmond Harrington) is Bart's brother and Chuck's uncle. Celia "CeCe" Rhodes (Caroline Lagerfelt) is Serena's grandmother and Gabriela Abrams (Gina Torres) is Vanessa's mother.
Series overview
Main article: List of Gossip Girl episodes
Season One: 2007–08
Main article: Gossip Girl (season 1)
The first season's main focus is Serena's sudden return to the Upper East Side following her mysterious disappearance. Initially, Serena's one night-stand with Nate Archibald, lover to Serena's best friend Blair Waldorf, was considered as Serena's reason to leave. However, near the end of the season, the cunning Georgina Sparks, Serena's former friend, arrives on the Upper East Side, revealing that the night Serena slept with Nate didn't end there — Serena went to Georgina's apartment and a man died in her presence under the influence of drugs, while being taped. The season also revolves around Serena's relationship with outsider Dan Humphrey; Blair's relationship with Nate and her affair with his best friend Chuck; brief romance between Serena's mother and Dan's father; Blair and Jenny's mentor-protege relationship; and the arrival of Dan's former best friend Vanessa Abrams. The season ends with the revelation of Serena's mystery, and Chuck leaving Blair at the airport, before leaving for Europe.Season Two: 2008–09
Main article: Gossip Girl (season 2)
The second season mainly explores the senior year of the characters with the premiere at the Hamptons and primarily focused on the relationship between Blair and Chuck, who were labeled "the heart of GG" by People magazine.[38] At first, both characters negate their feelings for one another, and go through random schemes and manipulations.The first half of the season deals with Serena's growing prominence as a socialite which draws the attention of Blair as their friendship is tested when the character of Poppy Lifton, portrayed by Dirty Sexy Money cast member Tamara Feldman, a secretive socialite who inadvertently drives a wedge between Serena and Blair after inspiring Serena to take her place in the spotlight during the early episodes of the season.[39] Nate faces the aftermath of his father's criminal past and pursues a relationship with Vanessa, who becomes further entangled into the world of the Upper East Side. Jenny reignites her rebellious nature by pursuing a career as a fashion designer, thereby challenging Rufus' skills as a parent while Dan's friendship with Nate and relationship with Serena slowly transforms him from a social outcast to an insider. The show finished its first half during the first week of December, with the shocking death of Bart Bass.
An early January episode reveals the impact of Bart's death, causing a significant change of character direction for Chuck that subsequently leads to the growth of Rufus and Lily's relationship followed by the revelation of the two having a son together and contributing to the decline of Dan and Serena's relationship. John Shea reprised his role as Harold Waldorf during a Thanksgiving episode and becomes entangled in Blair's striving ambition of attending Yale. Desmond Harrington entered the series as Chuck's manipulative uncle, Jack Bass. Feldman returned to the season with Armie Hammer as Serena's new love interest, Gabriel Edwards.[40] Michelle Trachtenburg returned to the role of Georgina Sparks and filmed her scenes during February, also adjoining her character's return to the second season mystery.[41]
A backdoor pilot for a spin-off premiered in May but was not picked up by The CW to the limited number of spots available on their fall line-up.[42]
As the storylines progressed, the role of "Gossip Girl" is slightly decreased. She continues to run her blog, but she keeps the ultimate information for herself, sending it in the final episode as the last blast, where Serena decides to find out who "Gossip Girl" really is, but ultimately fails. The season finale ended with a well-received kiss between Blair and Chuck.
Season Three: 2009–10
Main article: Gossip Girl (season 3)
The third season focuses on Blair, Dan & Vanessa getting into NYU along with movie star Olivia Burke (Hilary Duff),[43] whom Dan starts dating; Nate getting into Columbia University; Serena taking a year off from school; Jenny becoming Queen Bee at Constance; and Chuck running the Bass family company, along with now adoptive mother Lily van der Woodsen. The first couple of episodes feature part of the summer vacation, respectively the week before the start of University and School. The role of "Gossip Girl" is slightly decreased throughout the season.Many guest stars were cast throughout the season including Joanna García as Bree Buckley, a love interest for Nate; America's Next Top Model creator Tyra Banks as Ursula Nyquist, a larger than life actress whom Serena served as a publicist for a short time; William Baldwin as William van der Woodsen, Serena and Eric’s father, Lily’s ex-husband and Rufus’ long-time rival; and cameos by Lady GaGa, Tory Burch, Jimmy Fallon, Plastiscines, Georgina Chapman and Sonic Youth.[44][45][46]
The tenth episode of the season caused a significant amount of controversy. Parent groups urged the CW not to air the episode that contained a threesome. The preview for the episode revolved around an "OM3" theme. CW ignored these requests and announced that it was going to air the episode as planned.[47]
Robert John Burke, who played Chuck's father, Bart Bass, returned for A Christmas Carol themed episode in December, while Desmond Harrington returned as Chuck's uncle Jack Bass with a major storyline involving all Upper East Siders late season, affecting Chuck and Blair's relationship again revolving around Jack and Chuck's estranged mother Evelyn Bass Fisher (Laura Harring) about their plan on getting the Empire Hotel from Chuck. He eventually had to relinquish it because of false rumors made up by his uncle, Jack Bass, about having had affairs with the employees.[48][49]
The season focused hugely on Jenny Humphrey's development and downward spiral. She spends a good part of the season alienating herself from Eric, her former best friend, and chasing after Nate, who has his heart set on Serena. At the end of the season, due to her one night stand with stepbrother Chuck Bass and new drug dealing habit, her father and Lily send her to Hudson, New York, to live with her mother. Other story lines include Blair and Chuck's attempt and ultimate failure at having a successful relationship, Dan and Vanessa moving from friends to something more, and Serena's attempts to find herself through a new job and brief love affairs with Carter, Nate's married cousin Tripp, and eventually Nate himself.
Season Four: 2010–11
Main article: Gossip Girl (season 4)
Season four's main mystery revolves around Juliet Sharp (Katie Cassidy), a secretive girl with an agenda against Serena. The second half of the season builds on the complications of Serena's new found relationship with her former teacher Ben, Chuck trying to regain control of Bass Industries from Russell Thorpe (Michael Boatman), and Dan and Blair's growing relationship. The season also focuses on Lily's past betrayals coming back to haunt her; Serena, Blair, Nate, and Chuck attending Columbia University; and Chuck and Blair's tumultuous relationship after their break up.The first two episodes of the season took place with Serena, Blair, and Chuck in Paris.[50]
Taylor Momsen, who plays Jenny Humphrey, has been absent for the majority of the season but made appearances in "Easy J", "Juliet Doesn't Live Here Anymore", "The Witches of Bushwick", and "Gaslit".
Gossip Girl spoilers
Gossip Girl Spoilers Season 2 Episode 18: Blair Waldorf’s Day Off
I can’t believe that Gossip Girl won’t be back until March! The next episode, Blair Waldorf’s Day Off, goes like this:
Chuck is having trouble dealing with the mystery that was his father and the way in which his spare time was managed. Meanwhile, Nate catches Vanessa flirting with another guy, and at a moment of desperation, reluctantly turns to Blair for help. Dan purposely ignores Serena’s calls and tells Miss Carr that things are beyond a little complicated between the two of them right now. Miss Carr chooses not to take her job back and spends most of her time in an empty apartment with her new fling, who doesn’t seem to be quite grieving from his recent break-up. At the same time, Lily and Rufus question where their relationship is going and talk casually about merging their households, Chuck however, is against the idea, and does everything in his power to stop it.
source : tengossip.com
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