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: You Ask, I Answer

12 03 2009

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

Korbi, You said that Nate and Blair would be a blip in the Gossip Girl time line, but now I hear that Nate is gonna ask Blair to move in with him. No hope for Chuck and Blair this season? Please, answer me, I really would like to know. I feel like giving up Gossip Girl. -Fernanda
Don’t give up, woman. There is always hope for Chuck and Blair. Always. The writers fully understand that C.B. and Blair belong together, but they can’t just couple them up and be done with it. You’d get bored, don’t you think? Instead, they have to throw roadblocks like Nate Archibald, Carter Baizen (played by Leighton Meester‘s real life boyfriend) and that Gentleman’s Club chick in the way. Yes, not only will Blair and Nate be a thing, but Blair will give it up to Carter even before that, and Chuck will fall for the shady lady he was stalking last we saw him. The good news is, there are a few quality Chuck-Blair scenes on tap for the March 23rd episode. Chuck’s affection for Ms. Waldorf will rise to the surface once again. It’s just too little too late for the time being.

If Blair and Nate are going to be together, what happens to him and Vanessa? I like them together. -Cat
Me too. And they will be together when we jump back into the Gossip world next Monday. Actually, they’ll be together the following week too. But issues between them will begin to flare up, and ultimately, it seems their lack of common interests and disparate backgrounds will be the death of them.

What’s up with Dan and the teacher on Gossip Girl? Will they get caught? -P
Affirmative. Rufus finds out what’s going on and he’s not happy. However, Rachel has a dark side that we haven’t yet seen. Seems she has more in common with Blair than we were led to believe.





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: Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, 90210 and More

26 02 2009
  • Entertainment Weekly and Zap2it have detailed lists of the air dates for all the major upcoming teen drama guest stars, like Michelle Trachtenberg (Georgina, Gossip Girl), Tori Spelling (Donna, 90210) and Nick Lachey (One Tree Hill).
  • Trachtenberg says Georgina will be “reformed” when she returns to GG.  The article is followed by several GG promo clips.
  • TVGuide.com readers said Leyton (OTH), as well as Ethan & Annie (90210), are among the “worst TV couples.”  The site included Dawson & Joey (Dawson’s Creek), as well as Ryan & Marissa (The O.C.) and Vanessa & Nate (GG), on their own list.
  • Lindsay Price (Janet, Beverly Hills 90210) will have a job even if Lipstick Jungle doesn’t get renewed.  She’s been cast in an ABC pilot.
  • Joshua Jackson (Pacey, Dawson’s Creek) says he repeatedly goes through crises in his life.
  • Eddie Mills (Ty, Dawson’s Creek) talks to the Winston-Salem Journal about getting to go the Oscars.




News Roundup: One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl and More

23 02 2009
  • You can take part in a charity auction by bidding on two tickets to a Kate Voegele (Mia, One Tree Hill) concert and meet & greet.
  • Danneel Harris (Rachel, One Tree Hill) plays a lesbian in the new cheerleading movie, Fired Up.  AnnaLynne McCord (Naomi, 90210) stars as a rival head cheerleader.
  • There’s a trailer on YouTube for S. Darko, featuring James Lafferty (Nathan, One Tree Hill) and Ed Westwick (Chuck, Gossip Girl).
  • Futon Critic has an article on how the creators of Privileged purposely tried to make it not like Gossip Girl.
  • The March 2, 2009 issue of PEOPLE features Jessica Szohr (Vanessa, Gossip Girl) in an article about detox diets.  Szohr says they “make you feel really refreshed.”
  • The same PEOPLE issue shows you where you can get the same scarf AnnaLynne McCord (Naomi, 90210) has been seen wearing.
  • Logan Marshall-Green (Trey, The O.C.) was in the front row at the Oscars, sitting next to girlfriend and supporting actress nominee, Marisa Tomei.
  • John Driscoll (Blossom, Dawson’s Creek; guest star, One Tree Hill) was let go from Guiding Light.  His last air-date was last week.




News Roundup: 90210, Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill

11 02 2009
  • Jason Priestley (Brandon, Beverly Hills 90210) will star in a miniseries for the BBC.  Not sure if it will air in the US.
  • Aimee Teegarden (Rhonda, 90210) says her character could return to the show, since they’ll leave the storyline open-ended.
  • AnnaLynne McCord (Naomi, 90210), Lindsay Price (Janet, Beverly Hills 90210) and Jessica Szhor (Vanessa, Gossip Girl) all took part in a recent AIDS fundraiser.  PEOPLE has a cute pic, and a quote from Szhor on her maybe relationship with Ed Westwick (Chuck, Gossip Girl).
  • Hilarie Burton (Peyton, One Tree Hill) has a video up on her blog where she explains how she met her friend, Nick, who is the writer of the film she’s making.




Spoiler: Watch with Kristin

10 02 2009

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

Bella in Austin, Texas: Do you know if David will return with Donna when she heads for 90210?
There’s a chance Mr. Silver (Brian Austin Green) will eventually head back to the infamous ZIP code. He’s currently in Japan, but Tori Spelling tells us, “His lady Donna is in L.A., so maybe he’ll come on over.” For you hard-core original 90210 fans, don’t worry, David’s not hitting the speed anymore. He’s clean and “he’s a papa now,” adds Tori.

Margaret in Seattle: I still cannot believe that Nate and Blair are hooking up! What will happen with Vanessa?
Jessica Szohr
tells us, “Obviously, Vanessa’s a little bit hurt because that’s her boyfriend, but what comes around goes around, so I’m sure Vanessa will be all right.” Looks like Queen B may be getting yet another lesson in karma. Will it humble her or cause her claws to retract? Of course not!

Frances in Boston: Will Dan and Serena’s half brother make an appearance?
I’m told the tentative plan is to make him a major character next season. So that may put a big ol’ nail in the coffin of what was once our beloved Derena. Anyone care?

Leslie in Hattiesburg, Miss.: Now that Ty’s sticking around on 90210, will he be going after Annie?
That’s what I’m hearing. Now that he’s freed up from the baby-mama drama, Adam Gregory tells me, “He’s the kind of guy who’s going to take what he wants. He’s not going to let anyone stand in his way!” And it sounds like Ethan won’t see it coming either, since he’s got a new somethin’-somethin’ blooming with Rhonda (Aimee Teegarden). Dustin Milligan tells me, “It’s looking like there are going to be some drastic turns for everybody’s character? Ethan Ward gets to kiss everybody, remember that.”





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

4 02 2009
  • E!Online has video of Tori Spelling (Donna) filming with Jennie Garth (Kelly) and Jessica Stroup (Silver) on the 90210 set.  Nothing revealing.  They also have semi-revealing scoop about Gossip Girl (but nothing new if you read the spoiler post from earlier today!).
  • Don’t usually post tabloid gossip but this is interesting, considering there’s been rumors for months: US Weekly has a photo of Ed Westwick (Chuck, Gossip Girl) and Jessica Szohr (Vanessa, Gossip Girl) kissing.  Or at least it seems to be Ed.  Honestly not 100 percent sure it’s him.
  • But if you want to spot Chuck himself in real life (or someone like him), you should read this post from Jossip.
  • Or you can see Westwick at the upcoming Comic Con, where he’ll promote S. Darko.  The film also stars James Lafferty (Nathan, One Tree Hill).
  • Maureen Ryan from The Chicago Tribune has a cool interview with Josh Schwartz on the role music will play in the Gossip Girl spin-off.
  • I don’t watch Big Love but apparently it improves upon what The O.C. got right in–and only in–the show’s first season.  (For more on what The O.C. got right and then got wrong, as alluded to in the article, check out my own piece here!)




Spoiler: Watch with Kristin

27 01 2009

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

Georgia in North Dakota: I love Toni Collette‘s new show The United States of Tara! What can you dish? I’ll take that or Gossip Girl.
I’ll give you both. At the premiere party for the show, Brie Larson (Tara’s daughter) showed up with a familiar Gossip Girl face. Her real life boyfriend is none other than Serena van der Woodsen’s ex-flame Aaron Rose (John Patrick Amedori). Kooky, right? When asked if she’s jealous that John was making out with Blake Lively Brie tells me: “You know, I don’t care. I think she kind of looks like me, so I don’t really take offense to it. I just envision that it’s myself…Whatever! He’s still my boyfriend!”

Randall in Miami: What’s the latest on Gossip Girl?
A former bigtime couple that some of you (though, admittedly, very few of you) love will be getting back together and who it is certainly surprised the pants off of me! Also, Nate’s grandfather makes him an offer that’s too good to pass up, which leads to Vanessa feeling out of place, and the dynamic of that relationship shifting. Basically the whole rest of the season is relationship roulette.

Wanda2Saints: Who is the GG couple getting back together?
Not Jenny and Nate, despite the purposely misleading photo at right. (Shhhhh!) And yes, right now you Chuck and Blair fans should be weeping, ’cause this old couple reconnecting totally means that Bluck or Chair (or whatever your name of choice) will not become a real couple any time soon this season.

Margaret in Tallahassee: What’s next for Rufus and Lily?
Rufus and Lily continue to play house, which continues to sicken the kids…and continues to seriously trigger my morning sickness. This baby is not a Rufus and Lily fan.

Any word on Tori’s comeback to 90210?
I’m hearing Donna (Tori Spelling) comes back to  Bev Hills and reveals she’s having problems with David (paging Brian Austin Green!). Seriously, have any of these women been lucky in love?! I feel for the old school 90210-ers! The upside, though, is that their careers all appear to be going well (and global). Word is, Donna is thinking about opening a clothing store in Los Angeles and she’s already a huge success in Japan.

Emily in Rapid City, S.D.: Have you heard any details on the new Dylan on 90210?
Yes, Matt Lanter soon joins the cast as the new Dylan McKay, and AnnaLynne McCord tells me she’ll be the first to get in on that action, “He is the bad boy and Naomi starts to love herself some bad boy…He] just throws her so off her Naomi world and off its axis, that it kind of intrigues her, so she feels challenged. He gets her into trouble.” And it looks like Shenae Grimes may also get into the mix., “I feel like there’s going to be a triangle somewhere there,” she tells me, “and I wouldn’t complain if I was apart of said triangle.”

Katrina in Auburn, N.Y.: Kristin, please tell me Josh Henderson will be back on 90210!
The maybe-he-is-maybe-he-isn’t, long lost Wilson kid might not be finished with Beverly Hills just yet! Josh tells me that the fate of Sean Cavanaugh has yet to be determined. ” I don’t think he’s done by any means. There are still things up in the air where I might be the son. It’s worth watching, I’ll just say that. My guy’s still bouncing back and forth.”

Gregory in Eugene, Ore: Anything you can share on One Tree Hill?
Looks like Lucas’ movie is going to get shut down.

***

Wow, this was so jam-packed with scoop that made me mad that I just have to comment!

  • Blair and Nate getting back together is old news.  I forget who broke it, but I did read it a while ago.  While I am not opposed to the idea, it’s hard to believe Blair and Chuck still won’t be getting together.  I much rather see a Nate and Serena pairing.
  • Donna having problems with David = NOT ACCEPTABLE, especially if BAG isn’t even on the show.  I am sick of the new 90210 rewriting history and ruining the way the original ended.  It is so disrespectful to longtime fans.
  • And calling Matt Lanter the new Dylan McKay is a little premature.  Would be interesting/annoyingly predictable, though, if it ends up being another Brenda-Dylan-Kelly triangle.
  • I really don’t want to see Lucas’ movie get shut down…except if it starts back up.  I’d love to see snippets of the final product, a premiere, etc.  Then again, it is getting to be very Dawson’s Creek-like where Dawson makes the movie (in the show’s penultimate episode) based on his life/the actual show.
  • Am I off my rocker about all this?  What do you guys think?




News Roundup: 90210, Dawson’s Creek, Gossip Girl and More

19 01 2009
  • Jessica Stroup (Silver, 90210) is given the backhanded compliment of “looking better” in the January 26th issue of PEOPLE. She’s among two others (Nicole Richie and Amy Winehouse) who were “once blasted for appearing dangerously thin [and now] are starting the new year with fitter figures.”
  • Korbi over at Zap2it says the Annie/Ethan drama on 90210 is “killing” her.  Says Korbi: “The series seems insistent on making them the epicenter of the show and I can’t stress what a bad idea this is.”  I have to agree, only because I can’t really stand Annie.
  • Adam Kaufman (Ethan, Dawson’s Creek) stars alongside Lauren Ambrose in the CBS movie Loving Leah, which airs this Sunday.
  • The January 23rd issue of Entertainment Weekly gives a fresh take on Heath Ledger’s death, and the role his relationship with Michelle Williams (Jen, Dawson’s Creek) played in it.
  • In that same issue, EW gives Jessica Szhor’s Vanessa (Gossip Girl) a “death wish.” The mag writes, “Face it, Gossip Girl. Your resident hipster is about as much of a renegade as Nick on Family Ties. It’s about time she was run over by a Starbucks delivery truck.”
  • The One Tree Hill fan reunion has mysteriously been canceled…You can read why here.