Spoiler: Ask Ausiello

10 06 2010

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

Question: Please tell me that Gossip Girl is not going to play the amnesia card with Chuck next season. —Simone
Ausiello:
Gossip Girl is not going to play the amnesia card with Chuck next season. But the little Bass-tard will emerge from his near-death experience a very changed man.

Question: Any Gossip Girl scoop regarding Nate and Serena? Are they really finished? —Kayla
Ausiello:
The fact that producers are casting a new love interest for Nate should answer your question.

Credit: EW.com





Second Annual Teen Drama Evaluation Results

6 06 2010

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Second Annual Teen Drama Evaluation as well as the individual show polls.

I noticed the One Tree Hill evaluation had the most votes, with Gossip Girl having about half and 90210 half of Gossip Girl’s. I didn’t know whether that reflected the break-down of my readership–that I have more One Tree Hill fans, for instance, than Gossip Girl and 90210 fans–or if it was more demonstrative of the ratings each show gets or if it was simply poll fatigue or indifference. Participation in this evaluation was back up to the Gossip Girl level and, well, One Tree Hill dominated.

FAVORITE CHARACTERS

Winners: Brooke, Nathan

Noteworthy: Brooke received more than double the votes of Blair and nearly five times as many as Annie. Nathan had approximately the same amount of votes as Brooke, but there was a wider margin between him and Chuck and a smaller margin between him and Liam, compared to Brooke and her second and third place match-ups.

Last Season’s Winners: Brooke, Lucas

Thoughts: That’s two years in a row for Brooke, and with Nathan’s win, One Tree Hill takes this category again.

FAVORITE COUPLE

Winner: Haley and Nathan

Noteworthy: Naley earned 69 percent of the vote to Chair’s 21 percent and Navianna’s 10 percent.

Last Season’s Winner: Peyton and Lucas

Thoughts: More One Tree Hill readers/voters or not,, I completely understand this result given Chair’s relationship in the last few episodes of the season and Navianna spending most of the season apart.

WORST CHARACTERS

Winners: Jenny, Dixon

Noteworthy: Switching things up a bit, the One Tree Hill option, Alex, came in last place with 14 percent of the vote. Naomi received only 11 percent more with Jenny getting 61 percent total. One Tree Hill came in last again on the male side, though this poll had the smallest margin thus far, with Dixon getting 55 percent to Dan’s 23 percent and Clay’s 21 percent.

Last Season’s Winners: Annie, Ethan

Thoughts: Gossip Girl’s first win came in a negative category, but it doesn’t surprise me as I’ve seen the strongest hatred for any character on any of the shows directed towards Jenny. This was 90210’s first win, too, albeit a negative one, but I could’ve seen any of the guys taking this category.

WORST COUPLE

Winner: Vanessa and Dan

Noteworthy: Danessa received 54 percent of the vote to Liomi’s 27 percent and Clay/Sara’s 18 percent.

Last Season’s Winner: Vanessa and Nate, Brooke and Owen

Thoughts: Completely expected this, as I’m still surprised Clay/Sara even “won” this category in the One Tree Hill Evaluation as I do think a few people do like them and Liomi has its fans as well. Danessa, on the other hand, well, I rarely–if ever–hear about people liking them.

FAVORITE SUPPORTING CHARACTER

Winner: Jamie

Noteworthy: Jamie received almost double the amount of votes as Dorota, and Dorota received almost double the amount Ivy had.

Last Season’s Winner: Jamie

Thoughts: Our second two-years-in-a-row winner is again a One Tree Hill character. I can’t say I understand the Jamie love and I expected Dorota to win. Who doesn’t love Dorota? Apparently some people.

BEST STORYLINE

Winner: Lydia’s return and death from cancer

Noteworthy: A low in terms of winning percentage, with Lydia getting 51 percent of the vote. Blair and Chuck’s relationship received less than half that, 30 percent, and Annie and Liam’s friendship had 19 percent.

Last Season’s Winner: Peyton and Lucas’ relationship

Thoughts: Strongly disagree with these results, with Lannie taking the cake for me, then Chair and then Lydia. But, of course, Lydia never would’ve been my pick in the first place.

WORST STORYLINE

Winner: Jenny all season

Noteworthy: And the low continues with Jenny garnering 43 percent and the smallest margins yet: Psycho Katie had 32 percent of the vote and Naomi’s false then real harassment and Annie/Jasper’s relationship received 24 percent.

Last Season’s Winner: Nanny Carrie’s return

Thoughts: I wasn’t surprised Jenny came out on top (but really the bottom) here, considering her win above. And I thought 90210 would come in last because of the tied option. If you only agreed with half of it, you might not pick it.

BEST CLIFF-HANGER

Winner: Clay and Quinn getting shot

Noteworthy: This evaluation’s first and only tie came here with both Georgina telling Dan she’s pregnant with his baby and Naomi seemingly about to be raped by Mr. Cannon each receiving 22 percent. Clay and Quinn earned a little more than double that amount, 56 percent.

Last Season’s Winner: Peyton’s pregnancy health scare(s)

Thoughts: I really thought Georgina was going to win, because it outperformed the other options in the individual evaluations and because unlike Clay and Quinn or Naomi, it wasn’t clear what was going to happen. I think it was pretty obvious that Naomi was going to be raped and if you follow One Tree Hill casting news, you already knew that Robert Buckley and Shantel VanSanten had contracts for season 8. So the only one with a true element of surprise and an unclear resolution, in my opinion, was Georgina.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TEEN DRAMA BASED ON THIS PAST SEASON?

Winner: One Tree Hill

Noteworthy: This poll received more votes than any other (and I don’t quite understand why people didn’t vote in every category) and had large margins: OTH earned 66 percent of the vote to 90210’s 18 and Gossip Girl’s 16.

Last Season’s Winner: One Tree Hill

Thoughts: Expected One Tree Hill to win, given the results of the other categories and its individual polls having the highest participation. But I didn’t foresee 90210 beating out (even just barely) Gossip Girl.

Here’s how things stacked up overall: One Tree Hill-6 wins, Gossip Girl-3 wins and 90210-1 win

Thanks again to everyone who participated in the evaluations and in other ways throughout the teen drama season.





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

4 06 2010
  • Have you voted in the Teen Drama Evaluation yet?
  • In case you missed it earlier, Chace Crawford (Nate, Gossip Girl) was arrested today for possessing marijuana.
  • There is a new trailer for Twelve, starring Crawford.
  • Gossip Cop and I again busted rumors that Ed Westwick (Chuck, Gossip Girl) and Jessica Szohr (Vanessa, Gossip Girl) are back together as a couple. They are just hanging out as friends, people.
  • Westwick will be a presenter at the CFDA Fashion Awards on Monday.
  • Aaron Tveit (Tripp, Gossip Girl) will appear in the Hollywood Bowl production of RENT.
  • Kevin Zegers (Damien, Gossip Girl) is currently filming the movie Vampire.
  • Examiner.com has an interview with Gossip Girl author Cecily von Ziegesar.
  • Drop Dead Diva, which is co-executive produced by Michael Lange (director, BH90210, DC, The O.C. and OTH), has its second season premiere Sunday night on Lifetime.
  • Persons Unknown, featuring Jason Wiles (Colin, Beverly Hills 90210), premieres Monday on NBC.
  • Jana Kramer (Alex, One Tree Hill) has a concert in Nashville later this month, where she will do a meet-and-greet and also have a “special One Tree Hill surprise.”
  • E! Online has an interview with Joe Manganiello (Owen, One Tree Hill) about True Blood.
  • Gossip Cop busted a false Life & Style story about Katie Holmes (Joey, Dawson’s Creek) being pregnant.




Second Annual Teen Drama Evaluation

3 06 2010

Below are a set of polls based on the results of the One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl and 90210 evaluations.

The winners of each poll in each evaluation are now facing off against each other to determine what you thought was the best of the 2009-2010 teen drama season.

You have until Sunday at 9am eastern to answer the polls.





Gossip Girl Evaluation Results

30 05 2010

Thanks to all who voted in the second annual Gossip Girl Evaluation.

The winners of each of these will face-off against the winners in the One Tree Hill and 90210 polls.

FAVORITE CHARACTERS

Winners: Blair, Chuck

Noteworthy: Each essentially creamed the competition, with none of the other girls even able to get double-digit percentages, though the boys fared a bit better. Still, they were a long way behind Chuck’s 64.8 percent.

Last Season’s Winners: Blair, Chuck

Thoughts: Fully expected this given the loud fanbase I see on nearly every site covering Gossip Girl. But I expected Chuck to totally destroy the competition as Blair did. Guess she really still is Queen Bee.

FAVORITE COUPLE

Winner: Blair and Chuck

Noteworthy: The only couple to come close–and by “close,” I mean not close at all–was Serena and Nate. Serena-Tripp and Vanessa-Scott were the only couples not voted for at all.

Last Season’s Winner: Blair and Chuck

Thoughts: If you didn’t see this coming, I don’t know what to tell you. And that’s not to say the couple doesn’t have its detractors (see below).

WORST CHARACTERS

Winners: Jenny, Dan

Noteworthy: Vanessa narrowly “lost,” receiving just five votes less than Jenny. There was a smaller margin on the male side, with Chuck actually getting a decent percentage of vote.

Last Season’s Winners: Vanessa, Dan

Thoughts: Personally, I think the different between Jenny and Vanessa–this season at least–is that Jenny some people have hatred for and no respect, whereas Vanessa simply doesn’t entertain. Similarly and dissimilarly, with Dan and Nate (who came in first and second, respectively), I think it’s just a case of who bores and annoys more, as opposed to actual disgust or exasperation with the characters.

WORST COUPLE

Winner: Vanessa and Dan

Noteworthy: Vanessa and Dan didn’t win by much at all. They were closely followed by Serenate, Serena-Tripp and Dan-Georgina. All couples received at least one vote, with Blair and Chuck getting four.

Last Season’s Winner: Vanessa and Nate

Thoughts: Can’t say I’m surprised V/D won but I could’ve seen the title going to several other couples since there were so many pairings (and lackluster ones at that) this season, in my opinion. Serenate clearly divides people. I imagine there’s more dislike for Blair-Chuck out there than people are willing to admit (even in an anonymous poll), or perhaps it’s just, as I feel most of the time, indifference.

FAVORITE SUPPORTING CHARACTER

Winner: Dorota

Noteworthy: Dorota and Georgina were neck-and-neck last year but a fair distance apart this time around. Dorota’s competition was actually Eric, although he still only had half the votes Dorota got. After Eric, Lily had the next strongest showing. Quite a few didn’t receive any votes, but Cameron, K.C. and Maureen each received one. Really, folks?

Last Season’s Winner: Georgina

Thoughts: I think Dorota is the “break-out” character of the show, a semi-hidden gem if you will, and am eager to see what they do with her next season given she has a child now. I was quite surprised by Eric and Lily doing so well, mostly since they are seen pretty off-and-on throughout the season (though nearly all of the supporting characters are) and I don’t think I’ve ever really heard someone say they like Lily. Good to know now that some people do! Jack also received one vote, which surprised me, as I assumed he would do well under the “character you love to hate” theory. I realized I probably should’ve included Gossip Girl her/himself as an option.

BEST STORYLINE

Winner: Blair and Chuck’s relationship

Noteworthy: “Chair” or “Bluck” (whatever you prefer) had the most votes by far, with about equal numbers voting for them overall or focusing on the break-up/Jack storyline. Much to my surprise, the next highest amount was for Dan and Olivia’s relationship. Serenate’s relationship followed closely. There were a few votes for Georgina’s storylines, particularly in the beginning of the season, as well. The most blunt answer: “Jenny GONE (at least for now). Nothing else this season was all that good.”

Invalid Others: None

Last Season’s Winner: Blair and Chuck’s relationship

Thoughts: Kudos to people following the stipulation of focusing on this season only. Boo to those who selected the wrong option (though it happened significantly less than in the OTH evaluation). While the storyline with Chuck and Evelyn/Elizabeth received more than one vote, I expected to have more support.

WORST STORYLINE

Winner: Jenny

Noteworthy: Strong dislike for Jenny all around this season, from the character in general to specific storylines, such as trying to be Queen Bee, messing with Serenate and, of course, sleeping with Chuck. Example answers: “Only 1? There were a few… Anything involving Jenny for sure,” “Damien and Jenny The Drug Dealer – what a useless waste. and i LIKE Kevin Zegers” and “the chuck and blair break up 😦 and well..everything with jenny.” The next highest vote-getter was the season-long storyline with Serena and William.

Invalid Others: None

Last Season’s Winner: Multi-way tie due to all single votes

Thoughts: Can’t say I didn’t see this coming, though I expected it to be rivaled by votes for Blair and Chuck’s break-up, which didn’t even end up coming close. On the flipside, I know there are lots of Jenny fans out there, especially Jenny-Nate fans. Guess they just don’t read TDW!

BEST CLIFF-HANGER

Winner: Georgina telling Dan she’s pregnant with his baby

Noteworthy: This one nearly toppled the competition, although Chuck getting shot wasn’t far behind. Together, they had a significant majority of votes. There were three other single responses: whether Blair and Chuck will reunite, Chuck finding a woman at his father’s grave and “none.” Most interesting responses: “Georgina’s pregnancy, fo’ sho’,” “Chuck being shot even though he is not dead,” “Georgina! Holy Crap!” and “chuck getting shot and georginas pregnancy, although cwtv.com ruined it!”

Invalid Others: None

Last Season’s Winner: Serena finding out where her dad is/Georgina requesting to room with Blair at NYU

Thoughts: I wasn’t surprised here, either, as the Georgina reveal and Chuck shooting essentially came out of nowhere in the final minutes (seconds?) of the finale. Not sure what the “cwtv.com ruined it!” comment is referring to.

RATE THE SEASON OVERALL

Winner: 7.5

Noteworthy: There were equal votes for 7 and 8, so I thought it was fair to average them. All values were voted for, with the next highest value being 5.

Last Season’s Winner: 8

Thoughts: Critics and fans alike have complained of a drop in quality this season, though I was kind of expecting an even lower rating to win, especially given the decisiveness the finale has caused.

RATE THE SHOW OVERALL

Winner: 10

Noteworthy: Again, all values received at least one vote with 7 and 8 again faring well. But 10 came out on top, just as it did for One Tree Hill. Will 90210 pull off a perfect score as well?

Last Season’s Winner: 9

Thoughts: So much for that drop in quality. Or perhaps the increase in value for the show as a whole is just a product of more people–or different people–voting this year.

Don’t forget to vote in the 90210 Evaluation if you haven’t already.





Second Annual Gossip Girl Evaluation

27 05 2010

With the One Tree Hill evaluation now complete (results will be posted later today), we move on to Gossip Girl.

You have until Saturday at 11:59pm eastern to vote in these polls.

**Please remember your answers should be based solely on the season that just ended, except for the last question, which is about the show overall.**

Note: The format is wonky for the open-ended questions.  Please put your answer in the “other” space.





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

26 05 2010
  • I am deeply saddened to report that Disney has decided to cease operations of SoapNet beginning in 2012. The network is being replaced with Disney Junior. As you are all aware, SoapNet currently airs reruns of One Tree Hill, Beverly Hills 90210 and The O.C. I do not know what this means for the syndication deals currently in place for those shows. Quite frankly, I am still trying to process this development. In the meantime, I have four things to offer: the press release from Disney, a post from SoapNet and articles from the New York Times and Entertainment Weekly, the latter of which makes some very interesting points. Thank you to Daniel and Gloria for alerting me to the news.
  • In the last Weekly Poll, all three questions had results with large margins. Sixty-three percent believe Quinn and Clay aren’t dead on One Tree Hill, though 5 percent believe it’s quite possible. Another 17 percent have no idea but hope not while 15 percent have no idea but hope so. The Jenny-Chuck storyline on Gossip Girl made 64 percent of voters feel disgusted while just 17 percent were entertained. Nine percent were torn while 10 percent are still trying to process it. Lastly, 71 percent believe 90210’s Naomi was about to be raped by Mr. Cannon. Nineteen percent don’t think that’s happened while 10 percent had no idea. The Weekly Poll will be on hiatus during, um, the hiatus. In the meantime, we have the show evaluations and soon I’ll be resuming weekly trivia on Twitter.
  • Korbi has the next part of her interview with Mark Schwahn (creator, One Tree Hill). Here he discusses whether he wants the show to continue past an eighth season.
  • Registration has opened for Christy-Anne’s second One Tree Hill fan reunion, which will be held this July.
  • Shannen Doherty (Brenda, Beverly Hills 90210) performed during last night’s Dancing With The Stars finale. I haven’t found YouTube video of it yet to link to.
  • Gossip Cop and I busted a false National Enquirer story about Brian Austin Green (David, Beverly Hills 90210) and Megan Fox.
  • The Huffington Post has an interesting interview with the band Rooney, and there’s some references to their appearance on The O.C.
  • Josh Schwartz (executive producer, Gossip Girl; The O.C.) and Stephanie Savage (executive producer, Gossip Girl; The O.C.) will produce the film Fun Size with their new company Fake Empire.
  • ESPN has a short interview with Ron Machado, who appears with Blake Lively (Serena, Gossip Girl) in her Vogue spread.




Spoiler: The Big Tease

25 05 2010

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

Does the new CW schedule mean that both ‘Life Unexpected’ and ‘One Tree Hill’ got full-season orders? – fatherdowling via Twitter
No, it does not. CW entertainment chief Dawn Ostroff wouldn’t specify the episode count for each, but indicated they are likely starting off with 12 or 13, then seeing how the ratings fare.

I need some great news about ‘Gossip Girl’s Chuck and Blair. The finale was so sad for them. – Fernanda
I don’t know if this is great per se, but it’s certainly hopeful: The CW’s surprisingly spoilery fall press release says that as Blair and Serena cavort in Paris, “Chuck mysteriously arrives in town with a new girlfriend and a new identity. Blair swore off Chuck forever but will this changed man woo Blair into having a change of heart?” My only quibble: Paris is a town?

How will ‘90210’s hit-and-run storyline be wrapped up? – Susan
The question may not be how so much as when. I asked Tristan Wilds for the scoop on his “sister” Annie finally shaking this albatross, and he said, “I don’t know how soon it will come to a close…. It’s very smart how they have kept that story going.” Tristan at least joins me in wanting that Jasper dude gone, and quick, agreeing, “He’s too weasely!”.

Credit: Fancast





Second Annual One Tree Hill Evaluation

24 05 2010

After the television season ended last year, I conducted three sets of polls to evaluate what readers thought of One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl and 90210.

The results of each then formed one more survey to see which teen drama really had the best season.

With last week’s conclusion to the 2009-2010 TV season, it’s time to do it again.

We’ll kick things off with a set of polls about One Tree Hill’s seventh season.

You have until Wednesday at 11:59pm eastern to vote. I’ll post the results and the next set of questions the next day.

**Please remember your answers should be based solely on the season that just ended, except for the last question, which is about the show overall.**

Note: The format is wonky for the open-ended questions.  Please put your answer in the “other” space.





Spoiler: Ask Ausiello

20 05 2010

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

Question: Was Vanessa’s absence in these final Gossip Girl episodes a creative decision or a contractual issue with Jessica Szohr? —Jessica
Ausiello:
E.P. Stephanie Savage says it was the former. “The big story at the end of the season was the [William] story, and we wanted Dan to be available to really be in that story with everyone else,” she explains. “And it felt like it was nicer to give Dan and Vanessa their own ending to their story rather than try and thread that through that [Williams] story.”

Question: Loved the Gossip Girl finale! But regarding your asterisk quiz from last week, the possible fatality was Chuck, not *a*e, so that was very misleading. —Janice
Ausiello:
Chuck isn’t male?! A spoiler alert would’ve been nice!

Credit: EW.com