Rolling Stone: The Nasty Thrill of Gossip Girl

18 03 2009

The April 2nd issue of Rolling Stone has Leighton Meester (Blair) and Blake Lively (Serena) on the cover.

gossip-girl-mag-cover

Inside are some sexy pictures of the cast and a multi-page story with the headline Dirty Pretty Things: Why the beautiful cast of television’s most sexily subversive show, Gossip Girl, may be the last people in America living the fabulous life.

Here are some highlights:

The article’s initial premise is to contrast the Gossip Girl lifestyle with today’s recession-plagued society.  This doesn’t last long, though, as the article morphs into an in-depth profile of Leighton, Blake and some of the other cast members.

Though the main inside photo includes Taylor Momsen (Jenny) and Jessica Szohr (Vanessa), they aren’t given more than a few lines in the whole piece.

Meester and Lively insist that they’re “very close” and “friends.”  Says Meester: “I can’t even remember a reason why people would say we’re not.”

The author says “technology truly defines” GG from similar shows that came before like Beverly Hills, 90210 and The O.C.

Lively says the cast members  all “live within a five-block radius of one another” in New York City.

Leighton says her background is a “pretty cool story” and recounts how she found out her mom was in prison while pregnant with her.  “It’s exciting stuff that should be in a movie,” she says.

Leighton also says she had to fight to get the role of Blair, and wouldn’t audition for Serena, even though the producers asked her to.

Lively says she resisted going the acting route like most of her family did, including her dad Ernie and older brother Eric.  She also didn’t want to do Gossip Girl because, “I thought ‘I don’t want to do a TV show, becaue you have to commit six years of your life to one character.”

Lively also says she’s okay with tabloid coverage of her because she’d “much rather have them make up lies than tell them the truth, because that’s the one thing I have.”

Ed Westick (Chuck) says he has a “deep love” for his co-stars.  “If I’m drunk and I’m about to fall asleep int he street, I can knock on Penn’s door and he’ll let me in.”

Westick almost couldn’t be part of Gossip Girl because he initially had trouble getting a visa to come over from London.

Westwick and Chace Crawford (Nate) still live together and deny they’re anything more than friends.  “It’s funny because I love this fucking dude dearly,” Westwick says.  “I would die for this fucking dude.  He’s my brother.  But, by god, we are so into our fucking women it’s ridiculous.”

Crawford says Jason Priestley (Brandon, Beverly Hills 90210) is “like, the coolest guy ever.”  He shares some advice Jason gave him: “‘At the end of the day, you’re going to look back and realize what those years were, and you’re always going to have nostalgia for them.”

Penn Badgley adds, “Ideally, we want our careers to continue to the stars.  But regardless of where htey go, we’re nver going to be in this position again.”  To which Westwick says, “Until next season.”

Meester, Westwick and Momsen are planning to have music careers as well.  Westwick’s band is called Filthy Youth.  Momsen says her upcoming record is “badass rock and roll” and “not what people are expecting.”

The cast currently has seven-year contracts, but they can renegotiate before the next season stars.  Badgley says seven years is “a long time” and Crawford says “Four is a good number.”

You can see some online-only content, including photos and a video, here.





Spoiler: Mega Buzz

18 03 2009

RELEVANT QUESTIONS–DON’T READ IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW!!!

I love Gossip Girl, but I think this Eyes Wide Shut storyline is the single stupidest thing the show has done, and Elle is the worst character ever. Please tell me she’s never coming back! — H.C.
MICKEY: Never say never, H.C.! But it’s a pretty safe bet that Monday’s double-cross marks the narrative end of that Pretty Woman. In the meantime, remember when we asked how to fix Gossip Girl? Well, I have it on good authority that these final episodes will address two of our problems directly, which means some fun work coming up for both Blake Lively and Chace Crawford.





News Roundup: Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, 90210 and More

16 03 2009
  • Blake Lively (Serena, Gossip Girl) is one of the stars on the cover of the March 13th issue of Entertainment Weekly.  Inside there is a picture of Blair (Leighton Meester) and Chuck (Ed Westwick), as well as blurb previewing the rest of the GG and 90210 seasons.
  • Josh Schwartz says the Gossip Girl spin-off is NOT titled Lily.  In fact, no name has been chosen.
  • Mark Schwahn (creator, One Tree Hill) always gives good interviews and this one is no exception.  Lots of great stuff revealed!
  • There’s a really short but super cute video of Hilarie Burton (Peyton, One Tree Hill) and Austin Nichols (Julian, One Tree Hill) on the Southern Gothic Productions blog.
  • Bevin Prince (Bevin, One Tree Hill) says she wouldn’t mind seeing where her character’s gone since high school.
  • Kellan Lutz (George, 90210) had the “best year ever,” according to the New York Post.
  • James Van Der Beek (Dawson, Dawson’s Creek) will star in an NBC miniseries this summer.




News Roundup: 90210, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill and More

10 03 2009
  • Michael Steger (Navid, 90210) says he’ll get more air time as Adrianna’s (Jessica Lowndes) pregnany progresses but he doesn’t what his other storylines, if any, will be.
  • Kellan Lutz (George, 90210) says he doesn’t know if AnnaLynne McCord (Naomi, 90210) will be joining him in the Twilight sequel, New Moon.
  • Blake Lively (Serena, Gossip Girl) says she’s “the happiest I’ve ever been” and won’t follow Britney Spears in her (now over?) downward spiral.
  • Matt Barr (Psycho Derek, One Tree Hill) has been added to the cast of the Gossip Girl spin-off.  Since his character’s last name is van der Woodsen, he could be Lily’s future husband and Serena and Eric’s dad.  Or they could be trying to throw us.  Maybe she ends up marrying his brother or cousin or something?  And where does Rufus play a role in this if he’s supposedly the great love of her younger life??
  • Kate Voegle (Mia, One Tree Hill) is working on a new album in addition to filming OTH episodes.
  • Madchen Amick (Catherine, Gossip Girl; Nicole, Dawson’s Creek) has been cast in an ABC pilot.
  • SoapNet has acquired all the seasons of Gilmore Girls but no word yet when it will air or if this will break up the daily and weekend blocks of One Tree Hill, The O.C., and Beverly Hills 90210.




News Roundup: 90210, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill and More

9 03 2009
  • Shenae Grimes (Annie, 90210) is on the cover of Teen Prom 2009.
  • Aimee Teegarden (Rhonda, 90210) and Kelly Rowan (Kirsten, The O.C.) are on CSI tonight.
  • The Insider has a short article on Kassius Green, son of Brian Austin Green (David, Beverly Hills 90210) and Vanessa Marcil (Gina, Beverly Hills 90210) catching the acting bug from his parents.
  • The March 16 issue of PEOPLE has a small box on Ed Westwick (Chuck, Gossip Girl) and Jessica Szhor’s (Vanessa, Gossip Girl) romance.
  • A New York Times journalist wrote about his upcoming Gossip Girl cameo and actor Adhir Kalyan says he would love to work with Leighton Meester (Blair) or Blake Lively (Serena) if he ever guested on the show.
  • You can vote for Dan, Lucas and Nathan ( all One Tree Hill) as well as Chuck (Gossip Girl) and Joshua Jackson’s Fringe character in the first-ever Alpha Male Madness.
  • Portrait Magazine did a profile of Sophia Bush (Brooke, One Tree Hill).  She’s also quoted in the 3/16 issue of PEOPLE as loving the Oscar-nominated film, The Wrestler.
  • Austin Nichols (Julian, One Tree Hill) has a very funny post up at the Southern Gothic Productions blog.
  • There’s a special feature/preview for next week’s all-new episode of One Tree Hill.
  • The Observer has a really in-depth look at Michelle Williams’ (Jen, Dawson’s Creek) career.
  • The Seattle Times has a story about Bianca Kajilich’s (Natasha, Dawson’s Creek) career.
  • Ausiello is reporting that Ashlee Simpson joined the cast of the new Melrose Place but not in the role Mischa Barton (Marissa, The O.C.) reportedly auditioned for.  Still not known, however, if Barton got it.
  • Barton took her to her blog to announce she’s no longer dating musician Luke Pritchard.
  • The positive outlook for the future of The CW is discussed in this article.




News Roundup: One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl, The O.C. and More!

12 02 2009
  • A ton of teen drama stars made Forbes’ first-ever list of Hollywood’s Most Bankable Actors.  Included are: Katie Holmes (Joey, Dawson’s Creek), James Van Der Beek (Dawson, DC), Michelle Williams (Jen, DC), Joshua Jackson (Pacey, DC), Busy Philipps (Audrey, DC) Mischa Barton (Marissa, The O.C.), Benjamin McKenzie (Ryan, OC), Rachel Bilson (Summer, OC), Adam Brody (Seth, OC), Peter Gallagher (Sandy, OC), Tate Donovan (Jimmy, OC), Chad Michael Murray (Lucas, One Tree Hill), Sophia Bush (Brooke, OTH), Blake Lively (Serena, Gossip Girl), Leighton Meester (Blair, GG), Penn Badgley (Dan, GG), Ed Westwick (Chuck, GG), Chace Crawford (Nate, GG) and Michelle Trachtenberg (Georgina, GG).  With so many, it’s possible I missed a few!
  • Daily Intel has info on two upcoming one-time guest stars on Gossip Girl
  • In honor of Valentine’s Day, TheWB.com has a special collection of episodes from The O.C. and other shows.




News Roundup: 90210, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill and More

5 02 2009
  • Tuesday night’s 90210 scored in the ratings by achieving double-digit growth in all the key demographics.
  • PEOPLE confirms that Shannen Doherty (Brenda) will be back on 90210 later this season but no clue as to what the storyline will be.
  • As teased during last night’s episode, the Jonas Brothers will give a sneak peak of their new movie during next week’s 90210 and give a special performance.  Jessica Lowdnes (Adrianna) says she hopes the Jo Bros will actually be on the show at some point.
  • The New York Post has an interview with Aimee Teegarden (Friday Night Lights) about her new role as Rhonda on 90210.
  • E!Online is reporting that AnnaLynne McCord (Naomi, 90210) could be cast in the Twilight sequel.
  • Ed Westwick (Chuck, Gossip Girl) is the new face of K-Swiss sneakers.  You can see one of the ads here.
  • Ausiello is reporting that, in an Anne Hathaway-like storyline, Serena (Blake Lively, Gossip Girl) will fall for a European guy who turns out to be less than genuine.  This will eventually lead to Georgina’s (Michelle Trachtenberg) return.
  • Hilarie Burton (Peyton, One Tree Hill) has cast Austin Nichols (Julian, One Tree Hill) in a movie she’s making, and he hijacked her blog to tell you all about it.
  • Instead of watching the Superbowl, one writer created Dawson’s Bowl 2009 after, yep, Dawson’s Creek.
  • Closing The Ring, starring Mischa Barton (Marissa, The O.C.) has been released on DVD.




News Roundup: Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill and The O.C.

2 02 2009
  • CW couples dominated Portait Magazine’s poll of the Top 10 Young [Relation]Ships.  Blair and Chuck (Gossip Girl) take the top spot but One Tree Hill’s Brucas, Naley and Leyton are numbers 2, 3 and 4, respectively.
  • PEOPLE has a photo of a very dressed-down Blake Lively (Serena, Gossip Girl) and Penn Badgley (Dan, Gossip Girl) at DirecTV’s Celebrity Beach Bowl.
  • After almost a month of searching, I finally found a promo for Benjamin McKenzie’s new show, retitled Southland, on NBC.  Coincidentally, the audio track–Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch–was featured on The O.C. (and Dawson’s Creek!) once or twice!




Leighton Meester on Seventeen Cover

28 01 2009

Leighton Meester (Blair, Gossip Girl) is on the cover of the  March issue of Seventeen.

You can read excerpts of the cover story here.

Among the highlights: she doesn’t like to gossip, she’s still dating Sebastian Stan (Carter, Gossip Girl) and she loves “bad boys.”

In case you missed it, Blake Lively (Serena, Gossip Girl) was on Seventeen’s cover during the summer–while I was interning there!  You can see that cover here.





News Roundup: The O.C, 90210 and Gossip Girl

27 01 2009
  • Marissa (Mischa Barton, The O.C.) and Alex’s (Olivia Wilde, The O.C.) break-up is ranked number 9 on a list of the worst lesbian break-ups in TV history.
  • Jennie Garth (Kelly, 90210) says she wants to show the “real side” of her character.  Um, isn’t that what we saw on the 10 years of the first show?  Though I do agree that we should see more of her and Sammy…
  • More people watched 90210 on DVR this week than any other show.
  • Michelle Trachtenberg (Georgina, Gossip Girl) says she doesn’t know what her storyline will be when she returns to GG but she loves playing a “nasty bitch.”
  • Blake Lively (Serena, Gossip Girl) and Penn Bagdley (Dan, Gossip Girl) will appear on the DirecTV Celebrity Beach Bowl, airing Saturday.