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Buzz Gift Guide: Good Stuff For Girls

BuzzSugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:30:32 -0800

Welcome back to my Buzz Gift Guide series for all the entertainment lovers in your life. We're talking kids and teens this week, and since we've covered the boys already, today it's all about the teen girls.

Teenage girls (I know because I was one) can be hard to shop for since the age lends itself to phases. So, as Heidi would say, one day a gift is in, and the next — it's out. Today I've got some fun gifts that might satisfy varying tastes of entertainment-obsessed teens.

When I saw this hamburger phone I laughed to myself and thought of a few younger cousins who A) loved Juno and B) have a keen sense of irony. I've also yet to run into a young lady who doesn't (secretly or publicly) enjoy those Traveling Pants movies, and this limited-edition gift set looks awesome. In terms of gifting a music-loving girl, I think it would be hard to go wrong with the Gossip Girl soundtrack.

Finally, I love giving books to my loved ones for the holidays and found some great ones for girls, including this book of personal essays by teenage girls and a career guide based on shows like Ugly Betty.

Check out HolidaySugar for all of our holiday coverage and gift guides.

Gossip Girl Rundown: Episode 11, "The Magnificent Archibalds"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:40:43 -0800

On this week's Gossip Girl there aren't things like murders or drug overdoses, which I was ~~hoping for~~ kind of expecting given the show's history. In fact, it seems like everyone puts aside their differences for one day in the spirit of Thanksgiving despite the fact that Gossip Girl hinted there would be "lying, manipulation, and betrayal" on the Upper East Side.

The entire cast is present in this episode, too, and it seems like all loose ends from the past couple of episodes have been tied up, while the seeds for future intrigue are definitely sown. Ready to talk about it? Just

TV Tonight: Gossip Girl

BuzzSugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:30:35 -0800

Nobody does Thanksgiving quite like Gossip Girl. Last year's touching Thanksgiving episode included lots of flashbacks to a drunken Bad Serena and a really intriguing look at Blair and her various issues with eating and control. It'll be interesting to see where everyone ends up one year later when we check in with our Upper East Siders for a holiday feast tonight.

It doesn't look like it will be an easy holiday — again! — for Blair, as Cyrus and Eleanor want to have a new kind of Thanksgiving, minus most of the Waldorf family traditions. Meanwhile, things are still a little tense between Serena and Aaron, who ends up learning a bit about Serena's wild past. And, unsurprisingly for a Thanksgiving episode, there's lots of family drama, including Lily getting in the middle of things between Rufus and Jenny and Nate once again dealing with his daddy issues. And Bart has a secret! What will it be? To check out a couple of preview clips, just

Gossip Girl Rundown: Episode 10, "Bonfire of the Vanity"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:30:01 -0800

On this week's Gossip Girl, love is in the air for Serena, who is aglow with feelings for Aaron the artist. Also glowing? Eleanor Waldorf! Yes, Blair's mother has become totally smitten with Cyrus, a man Blair imagines to be as charming as Cary Grant ("Maybe a dashing stepdad is just what I need"). And because Blair is turning 18, she's determined to remain as poised as as possible, a la Grace Kelly, and welcome Cyrus with open arms.

Then there are the Humphrey kids, who have, to Rufus's horror, cynically traded their souls away in return for fame and fortune. Jenny and Agnes are in a "business partnership" together and looking for some representation, and Dan is back to writing about "Charlie Trout," to his mentor's great pleasure. Ready to chat? Just

Buzz In: What TV Deaths Shocked You Most?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:30:02 -0800

We've been hearing rumors (and seeing funeral pics) about the death of a major character on Gossip Girl for a little while now and I think most fans of the show (including myself) can probably guess who it will be. I'm not saying who my guess is but if it comes true it probably won't be much of a surprise to anyone. Time will tell.

This got me thinking about television deaths that did take me by surprise. Lost fans, for example, can probably count several shocking deaths over the show's lifespan that came out of left field (and some that didn't, but were still sad). I still vividly remember the jaw-dropping shock I felt at the death of Teri Bauer on 24. And sometimes a television death may be predictable but still manage to bring about some tears of disbelief, like Denny's sad death on Grey's Anatomy.

When a TV death is genuinely a surprise it can be really disturbing, but at least it's all just make-believe entertainment. Which TV deaths have shocked you?

Source and Source

Gossip Girl Rundown: Episode Nine, "There Might Be Blood"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:52:37 -0800

On this week's Gossip Girl, Little J breaks into the bigtime, staging a guerrilla fashion show (Dan: "I don't even know what that means!") to drum up some interest in her renegade fashion line. That, naturally, means the black eyeliner is out in full force, along with the influence of Agnes, who — if nothing else — certainly knows how to get press.

Meanwhile, Blair tries to babysit and blackmail her way into Yale, Dan feels inadequate, and some stuff happens with Serena and the new guy, a relationship I'm just really not feeling. Ready to talk about it? Just

Gossip Girl Rundown: Episode Eight, "Pret-a-Poor-J"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:30:11 -0700

On this week's Gossip Girl, Jenny gets edgy, you guys! In other words, she piles on the eyeliner and makes some questionable friends. It's all part of Little J coming into her own and finding her way in the cutthroat fashion biz. This time around, she does need someone to save her from herself, though — hmm, is it her dad? Her brother?

The rest of the episode belongs to Blair, who spends the evening longing for Chuck and soliciting love advice from a most unexpected person. Oh, and Serena hovers around Dan a lot, hoping to give the friendship thing the old college try, but it turns out she has another motivation as well. The drama! Ready to discuss? Just

TV Tonight: Gossip Girl

BuzzSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:30:50 -0700

With Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke already making guest appearances on Chuck, it should come as no surprise that Josh Schwartz likes to keep his OC alumni busy with jobs on his shows. The latest: Willa Holland, The OC's (second) Kaitlin Cooper, who will appear on Gossip Girl tonight.

Holland stars in the first of three episodes tonight as Agnes, a young model who becomes a friend of Jenny's and will have a big influence on Little J's career aspirations. According to Holland, "Agnes sees Jenny as somebody who’s not working for herself; she’s working for everybody else. She has a lot of talent and potential, so Agnes pushes her to get out on her own." She also may turn out to be a bit of a flake — but a well-intentioned one.

This episode also puts Taylor Momsen's dramatic haircut in full effect, along with what appears to be an entire drugstore worth of eyeliner. In other news, Serena's going to click with a new guy (an artist named Aaron Rose, played by John Patrick Amedori), and Blair and Chuck continue their little games. To watch a preview, just

Gossip Girl Rundown: Episode Seven, "Chuck In Real Life"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:33:04 -0700

Does it get much better than a Gossip Girl episode mostly centered around Chuck? I think not. The guy is entertaining, especially when he's sparring with Blair. This week, the two of them play a little seduce-and-destroy game that reminded me of Cruel Intentions, only to find that messing with other innocent, well intentioned people only seems to exacerbate their own insecurities.

Yes, in the world of GG, it's not easy being a filthy rich kid. In addition to the Chuck and Blair angst, this episode also reveals the family stress Serena and Eric have endured over the years and poor Nate's sad spiral downward as his family collapses into financial ruin. Ready to chat about it? Just

Which Gossip Girl Star Has the Most Acting Potential?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:30:21 -0700

It's crazy to think that many stars of teen dramas from my youth are now successful — even award nominated! — Hollywood actors. Take Dawson's Creek, for example. I'm not sure I would have guessed back then that Michelle Williams would grow up to be as respected an actress as she's become, Oscar nod and all. In fact, a lot of Dawson's alumni are doing pretty well for themselves these days (Katie's on Broadway, Joshua Jackson stars in Fringe . . . James Van Der Beek could use a job, though). This got me thinking about one of today's hottest teen shows, Gossip Girl, and what will happen to its stars a few years down the line. If you had to pick one, which star do you think has the most potential to transition into a successful adult acting career?Photos courtesy of The CW

Gossip Girl Rundown: Episode Six, "New Haven Can Wait"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:39:27 -0700

On this week's Gossip Girl, the whole gang goes on a field trip to Yale to try to impress the dean and secure admissions. Because suddenly, Yale is the school everyone (save for Jenny and Vanessa) dreams of attending. Dan and Nate conveniently gave up on their previously chosen schools for various reasons, and after a tongue-lashing from Blair about how Brown is "an enclave of trustifarians" and dreadlocked hippies, Serena decides Yale is the place for her, too.

And what criteria is Chuck using to determine what institution of higher learning will help him meet his life goals? Secret societies, of course. All in all, a pretty fun episode, wouldn't you say? Let's chat about it — just

Gossip Girl Rundown: Episode Five, "The Serena Also Rises"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:31:29 -0700

While there was a whole lot of girl-on-girl drama in this week's episode of Gossip Girl, I am mostly concerned with Dan's dive into the dark side. That's right: he's spending time with Chuck. Those two are great together and I actually like earnest, sorta nerdy, talks-too-much Dan more than sappy in-love-with-Serena Dan. And we're learning so much about Chuck's psyche! He puts up such a tough exterior, doesn't he? His daddy issues run pretty deep, and he really wants someone to be his friend (Nate's been falling down on the job). Basically, Chuck needs a hug.

I'm glad the Duke and Duchess and that icky Nate/Duchess drama is behind us, and in its place we now have a new character — the hilariously named socialite Poppy Lipton. Are you ready to chat about it all? Just

Which Josh Schwartz Show Are You Watching Tonight?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:30:59 -0700

When Chuck premieres tonight, it will be competing against Josh Schwartz's other show, the formidable Gossip Girl. One's a funny spy spoof; the other's a sassy soap. So, which one are you watching? Photos courtesy of The CW and NBC

Which Josh Schwartz Show Are You Watching Tonight?

I'm watching Gossip Girl only.

I'm watching Gossip Girl first and recording Chuck for later.

I'm watching Chuck first and recording Gossip Girl for later.

I'm watching Chuck only.

I'm recording both of them for later.

I'm not watching or recording either show.

Other (tell me below)

Gossip Girl Rundown: Episode Four, "The Ex-Files"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:30:07 -0700

Amazing how much more entertaining things get when love isn't in the air on Gossip Girl, don't you think? I knew things would get wickedly funnier/better without all that shmoopy Dan and Serena love-fest stuff — and of course it's always best when Chuck and Blair are flirting via scheming instead of actually trying to be together like normal people. All of these nonlovey elements came together to make a pretty dramatic return to school for these Upper East Siders.

We not only went back to school with the gang, but we witnessed the return of the so-called "Bad Serena" we've only heard delicious rumors (and seen scandalous flashbacks) about. This version of our girl appears to be less overtly mean girl than Blair but far more icy and scary. Dan asking a girl out ("Dan with boobs" as Blair describes her) does not help matters. Anyway, there's so much to talk about, so let's get started.

Yay, Lily's back! And unhappy in her soulless marriage (of course). And she calls Chuck "Charles."
The Bass-van der Woodsen family breakfasts might become my favorite scenes on the show. I love how Lily sorta listens as Serena and Chuck trade insults but doesn't interject or anything. For example, I'm pretty sure Serena calls Chuck a "unit" (ah, or was it "a eunuch"?) at breakfast this time around.

More to discuss, just

Gossip Girl Rundown: Episode 3, "The Dark Night"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:31:26 -0700

OK, why is Gossip Girl so hilarious right now? I can't take any of it seriously, but I'm really loving how ridiculous this season is. I think I had at least three "spit out my water in laughter" moments on Monday — you?

While I, a grown adult woman, am having fun watching, GG's not doing much to quiet those "totally inappropriate for teenagers" complaints and in fact poured about a gallon of fuel on that fire last night. Nearly every plot point pivoted around sex: who's having it, who's not, who wants to have it but can't, who's getting paid to have it, who only has it to avoid talking about "issues," etc.

This episode starts out hot (literally), then gets dark (also literally, see Chuck lurking by candlelight above), at which point things really heat up (figuratively). Here are some of my thoughts from last night:

Does anyone else find the constant references to Dan and Serena's "issues" kind of funny? It totally reminds me of high school and the need to psychoanalyze relationships with vague, adult-ish terms.
How'd you like those three little Dan/Serena stalker girls in the park? I thought they were hilarious and slightly creepy but ultimately a welcome respite from Dan and Serena's PDA/"issues"-speak.

To see the rest of my thoughts on Chuck, Blair, the Lord, and Nate the gigolo,

Gossip Girl Rundown: Episode 2, "Never Been Marcused"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:43:15 -0700

You guys, Gossip Girl is so freaking fun right now. This season is starting off with a bang, don't you think? Last night everyone was back, including Rufus from his band tour, Jenny from playing in the Hamptons with Eric, and Vanessa who has been watching the gallery and decorating it and turning it into a cafe or something.

Also! Dan and Serena are seriously back together (and by "back together" I mean "getting it on") even though they feel like they should think about it a little since they really haven't explored the reasons they broke up. "Thinking" is all in vain, though, because they are both attractive, hot-blooded young teens who are apparently extremely in need of some sexual healing.

Besides Dan and Serena's PDA, the episode truly belonged to Blair, who's decided she's in love with "the Lord" (haha) and hatches a scheme to impress his step-mother the Duchess in order to hang on to him. Which of course means that Chuck had to hatch a scheme of his own to get rid of him. So much to chat about, so let's get started — just

30 Rock Gets Gossipy With Blake Lively, Leighton Meester

BuzzSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:30:57 -0700

OK, yes, I know I was just talking about Gossip Girl. But forgive me for going back to the well so soon, because I can't let this day go by without telling you about the most awesome stunt casting/crossover idea I think I've ever heard: Blake Lively and Leighton Meester will guest-star on 30 Rock, playing high school classmates of Liz Lemon's in an episode where we find out Liz was actually a mean girl in high school.

No word on whether Blake and Leighton's characters will also be mean girls — or whether they'll be victims of Liz's nastiness. Either way, this just proves that 1) 30 Rock is awesome, and 2) these Gossip Girls (or their agents) are pretty savvy themselves.

But oh, the awesomeness doesn't end there. Since the episode revolves around Liz's high school reunion, we'll see adult versions of those two characters, too — and the producers are reportedly talking with Robyn Lively (yes, Blake's sister, of Teen Witch fame) about playing one of them. See? So fantastic!

So, here's a question: What actress should play the younger, meaner Liz Lemon?

Photos courtesy of The CW and NBC

OMFG! A Gossip Girl Soundtrack: Duh

BuzzSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 15:30:45 -0700

My question is: What took them so long? I kid, but honestly, you knew a Gossip Girl soundtrack had to be coming because a) that's what good teen dramas do, and b) the show is as good at music as it is at one-liners.

So, the first Gossip Girl soundtrack has been compiled by The O.C.'s former music supervisor, Alexandra Patsavas (you know how I feel about her). OMFGG — Original Music Featured on Gossip Girl No. 1's 13 tracks will hit record store shelves near you on Oct. 28, and the album's also available online right now. It's generally a pretty good overview of the show's music, though it doesn't have the memorable "U.R.A. Fever," the song that's playing when Serena admits to murder.

The good folks of GG are also launching an entire site devoted to music on the show. I'm pretty excited for that site myself, because I rarely watch an episode without doing some searching for lyrics I heard.

Are you on your way to download the soundtrack? Are you excited for the new music site? I've got the track list after the jump — and super bonus Buzz respect and admiration goes to anyone who can figure out which song was played in which OMG moment last season. To check it out, just

Gossip Girl Rundown: Episode 1, "Summer, Kind of Wonderful"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0700

Welcome back, Gossip Girl fans! If you weren't still basking in your Labor Day vacation last night, then you too watched the awesome and mostly hilarious premiere episode of season two like I did. True to form, the writers of Gossip Girl packed in a whole lot of plot, and the back-and-forths were at times mind-boggling. After covering the slow, deliberate Mad Men line delivery, it was a jolt to the system to hear these kids talk a mile a minute.

I would do a bit of season one recapping here, but the first three minutes of last night's episode were pretty darn comprehensive, so let's skip it and get to the good stuff. Blair's new man! Nate's Summer fling with a married lady! Dan's writer's block (try not to laugh) and new nickname courtesy of Gossip Girl herself! Jenny's internship and inexplicably awful Devil Wears Prada boss! Chuck's Chuckness! Ready, set,

Gossip Girl Is Back and Hotter Than Ever!

Sponsor — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:20:22 -0700

Gossip Girl Is Back and Hotter Than Ever! It's been a long, dry Summer without our favorite Upper East Siders, but tonight the wait is over! Gossip Girl, the most buzzed-about show on television, premieres tonight at 8 p.m. EDT on The CW. It looks like we will get a little peek into the gang's wild Summer before they head back to school. So crank up the AC and tune in tonight: It's going to be hot.

TV Tonight: Two Favorites Return

BuzzSugar — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:01:23 -0700

I'm not sure how wise it really is to launch a new season of a TV show on Labor Day. Will people be at home on the couch, or will they biting into some corn on the cob at a barbecue somewhere? The CW and Fox are both hoping it'll be the couch, as both Gossip Girl and Prison Break return for new seasons tonight. (After a toll-paying stunt, TNT's Raising the Bar also premieres tonight, and One Tree Hill starts its sixth season.)

What more is there to say, really, about the Gossip Girl premiere? We've seen the photos, the clips, and even the first five minutes. And yet, I'm sure there will be a surprise or two in tonight's episode, which finds the crew wrapping up a steamy Summer in the Hamptons. Meanwhile, Prison Break has its two-hour premiere, which finds Michael in LA investigating Sara's death — which, of course, may be a little more complex than what we first thought. Also, Sona has burned to the ground, and some of our Break-ers are now unaccounted for.

Will you be watching either show tonight? In case you're just getting caught up, you can watch a quick summary of the first season of Gossip Girl and another of the first three years of Prison Break if you

Gossip Girl Is Back and Hotter Than Ever!

Sponsor — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 05:45:22 -0700

It's been a long, dry Summer without our favorite Upper East Siders, but tonight the wait is over! Gossip Girl, the most buzzed-about show on television, premieres tonight at 8 p.m. EDT on The CW. It looks like we will get a little peek into the gang's wild Summer before they head back to school. So crank up the AC and tune in tonight: It's going to be hot.

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Buzz In: What Teen Show Best Captures Your Own Experience?

BuzzSugar — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 08:00:45 -0700

The New York Times recently ran a story comparing the portrayals of teenage life in Gossip Girl, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and the British show Skins. As I read through the reporter's description of each show, I wondered which teens, if any, see themselves represented in these three seriously different shows. Though they're fun to watch, none of these three shows quite captures my own teen years.

For example, the Times describes Secret Life as "steeped in moralizing" (my teen years weren't as pious), Gossip Girl as a place "where jetting to Aspen from Teterboro" is normal (yeah, not my experience either), and Skins as "nihilistic in its mood" (my hormones were raging, but I wouldn't say I was a nihilist).

So what teen drama did come closest to my own youth? Strange to admit it, but Saved by the Bell comes pretty close (sometimes I related to Jessie Spano. There, I said it. Except during this scene). Or maybe My So-Called Life (because of this scene, I did my fair share of bed dancing) — but even that still isn't quite right. What about you? What teen show — past or present — best sums up your own teenage years?

Source

Gossip Girl: Watch How Season Two Begins!

BuzzSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:34:24 -0700

Can't wait another six days to find out what happened to our Gossip Girl crew over the Summer? You can get some pretty big hints right now.

Below the jump, I have the first five minutes of the season premiere. To be fair, it's about three and a half minutes of show, with a substantial recap of season one tacked onto the front (and a preview for Privileged at the end. Sneaky, CW, sneaky). But hey, that's three and a half more minutes than we've seen so far.

There's some heavy petting, some romantic revelations, and Chuck Bass in all his glory, so if you want to see how it all begins, just

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:32:02 -0700

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to the selections below you can also check out the fourth season of House, Street Kings starring Keanu Reeves, and the HBO movie, Recount which I chatted about with Citizen here.

Gossip Girl: Season 1
Try to ignore for a moment that nobody on that DVD cover looks like a character I recognize from the show. Am I right? That is some wacky Photoshopping there. But anyway, the first season of Gossip Girl is now out on DVD so you can get your collection started and catch up if you haven't seen all the episodes. I'm sure some of you will appreciate this as the CW was not great about putting all their episodes on the Web, especially during the latter part of the season, so you may have missed some pivotal episodes.

I'm excited to relive the early GG days — especially the pilot — but I'm most looking forward to the special features. They include unaired scenes, featurettes titled "The Beginning, XOXO: Concept to Execution," "Gossip Girl Couture," "A Gossip Girl Wedding," and "LOL: Gag Reel." The DVDs also include music videos from The Pierces. How sweet is that?

Three more good ones, so

Some Steamy New Gossip (Girl) For Your Friday

BuzzSugar — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:30:15 -0700

Gossip Girl has already given us a lot to talk about from its season premiere trip to the Hamptons — and we're just getting started! There's a new set of clips around — not just promos but real, full scenes this time — and they're the juiciest yet.

Needless to say, they're way spoilery. Want to see what happens with Blair and Chuck (and Blair's new potential beau)? Oh, that's here. There's a little Serena, too, with some hint at what may or may not have happened between her and Nate. And speaking of Nate, he goes tumbling out a window in his boxers. So there's that. No Dan or Jenny just yet, but I suppose we'll see enough of them once the season premieres Sept. 1.

Can you even stand the anticipation? To watch, just

Variety Women's Impact Report: Stephanie Savage

BuzzSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:30:49 -0700

Variety has issued its annual Women's Impact Report, highlighting women who have made an impression at all levels of entertainment. Just like last year, the list includes executive powerhouses, household-name performers, and lesser-known talents. Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be spotlighting some of the women whom I find particularly noteworthy. Today's pick: producer Stephanie Savage.

Josh Schwartz gets most of the credit for The OC and Gossip Girl, but Savage, his co-producer, should get a ton of credit for Schwartz being a phenom in the first place. As the Variety profile points out, she was working for McG's production company when she "plucked Josh Schwartz from obscurity" and gave him a chance to run The OC.

That move made Schwartz a household name, but Savage has stayed more behind the scenes. Still, it gave her a boost as well: With Schwartz's help, she segued into writing, and now she carries a lot of the weight for Gossip Girl when Schwartz is looking after Chuck. She told Variety she loves writing about teens; to see what she had to say about them, just

Gossip Girl Went to the Hamptons, and All I Got Were Photos

BuzzSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:30:16 -0700

Judging from the massive number of photos the CW has released in the past couple of days, I can say with certainty that the following things happened when Gossip Girl went to the Hamptons for its season two premiere:

Croquet was played.
Red wine was served.
Red wine was spilled, specifically on Dan.
Dan got all writer-ly by the light of a fire.
He also almost missed a bus.
Blair rode bikes with a potential paramour.
They also had heated conversations.
As did Nate and Serena, as well as Serena and Dan.
Lots of people wore white.

As for what this truly means for our favorite Upper East Siders — who's dating whom, who's the queen bee when we return to NYC, etc. — well, I've got nothing. But speculate with me, won't you, by taking a look at the pretty pictures? "Summer, Kind of Wonderful" airs Sept. 1, but you can get a glimpse right now if you

First Look: Gossip Girl's Summery Start to Season Two

BuzzSugar — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:30:15 -0700

Those marketing gurus over at the CW are at it again: We now have some cute teasers for the upcoming season of Gossip Girl from the folks who brought you OMFG. Gossip Girl returns September 1, and these clips reveal just how juicy S and B's summer in the Hamptons has been (hot lifeguards included).

Can you wait for the new season to start?! I bet as soon as you hit "play" on this video, the mere sight of Chuck in a fedora sipping a drink on the beach will give you the case of the LOLs (as Gossip Girl herself might put it). To check it out,

Five Questions for Gossip Girl

BuzzSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:30:42 -0700

The onset of Summer also means the return of my Five Questions series, in which I take a look back at the most recent seasons of some favorite TV shows and pose some hypothetical questions about their future. Today's questions are for Gossip Girl, which will start its second season in the Fall.

Will the viewers ever come? Much has been made about Gossip Girl being a high-buzz, low-ratings series, which gets its stars on magazine covers but can't break 3 million viewers per week. Part of that could be due to the different ways the show's young demographic watches TV — some of which can't be tracked by any existing methods (and which are certainly not counted by advertisers). But part of it could just be that not that many people are watching. I keep thinking the buzz will have to pay off in ratings eventually; will this be the year?
Dan and Serena: Will they? Won't they? Do we care? Dan and Serena's relationship is the centerpiece of all the show's many romantic liaisons, but they've already been brought together and ripped apart so many times that I'm starting to get whiplash. It's turning a little into Derek and Meredith 2.0 — when they're together, they're kind of boring, but when they're apart, it just seems like they're in placeholder relationships that don't mean anything since we know they'll just be back together again anyway.

Three more questions, so

Do You Think Product Integration Should Stop Trying to Be So Sneaky?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:30:16 -0700

The Writers Guild of America is sick of having to write storylines in TV shows solely to feature a product or brand, so much so that the group is bringing the issue to the FCC. The WGA is hoping to make it so that any kind of advertisement is blatantly disclosed, and writers don't have to sneakily work products into a plotline where they maybe don't make sense. geeksugar has questioned the product integration on Gossip Girl, noting that the show is clearly required to use Verizon products, but the gadgets used by the characters don't make sense for their characters. WGA West president Patric Verrone explains that with product integration, "the hope is that consumers, not expecting to find a commercial within their program, will fail to realize they are actually being advertised to. This practice exploits the emotional connection viewers have with shows and their characters in order to sell a product." He goes on to claim that audiences are alienated by these sneaky tactics, though "an industry source" counters that "product placement has not been an issue for viewers."What do you think? Should shows stop trying to work in products, sometimes at the expense of consistency within the story? Or does it not bother you?Photo courtesy of the CW

Do You Think Product Integration Should Stop Trying to Be So Sneaky?

Yes. Product placement is so obnoxious when they try to "work it in."

Maybe. I can definitely see how it would be troublesome for writers.

Nah. It doesn't bug me.

Other (tell us below)

Do You Watch "Teen" TV Shows?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:35:07 -0700

The 14 Teen Choice Awards nominations that Gossip Girl racked up today made me feel ever so slightly guilty. Is it gross that I might have a favorite TV show in common with a 13-year-old? I can't be alone here, though — some of you have admitted you, too, love things like Gossip Girl and Greek even though you're a wee bit older than the shows' characters. And I know some non-parent adults (OK, not many, but some) who love High School Musical and are even excited for the premiere of the Jonas Brothers' Camp Rock. So, be honest with me for a second: Do you watch "teen" TV shows?Photos courtesy of The CW and Source

Do You Watch "Teen" TV Shows?

Yes — but I am a teen, so it's OK.

Yes — I'm not a teen, but I know good entertainment when I see it.

No — I'm not a teen, so that would be weird.

Maybe — it really depends on the show.

Other (tell me below)

Gossip Girl, Chris Brown Lead Teen Choice Nominations

BuzzSugar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:32:11 -0700

Gossip Girl may not have great ratings, but it certainly has the eye of the teen demographic. The show and its stars scored a total 14 nominations for the 2008 Teen Choice Awards today, easily the most of any nominee.

In the music categories, Chris Brown was the clear leader with nine nominations. Miley Cyrus, who will return as host of the surf-themed show on Aug. 4, picked up four nods of her own in both the music and TV categories. Among TV series, Grey's Anatomy and Heroes were big names, while the movie nominations ran the gamut from Rendition to Made of Honor. And hey, no matter what your feeling are on the Teen Choice Awards in general, I have to give props to any show that recognizes Friday Night Lights (ahem, Emmys).

Voting is now open at the awards site, and you have to be between 13 and 19 (or make up a birthday) to participate. To check out all the nominees, just

Which Gossip Girl Character Would Have the Best Spinoff?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:30:11 -0700

So, today's rumor that Gossip Girl could be getting a spinoff already seems a little sketchy — but that just means it's time for some more idle speculation on our part!Let's imagine that the show comes back in its second season and does amazingly well in the ratings. Its fan base just keeps growing. And the CW starts thinking, "Well, hey, maybe it is time for that spinoff after all."If that happened, which character(s) would you want to see lead the spinoff? Would you go with Jenny, who already holds down her own series of books? Or would you choose someone else entirely? Photos courtesy of The CW

OMFG! Gossip Girl Getting a Spinoff?

BuzzSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:30:23 -0700

Hey, Upper East Siders, are you ready for a double dose of gossip? There's a story floating around that the producers of Gossip Girl are planning a spinoff of the CW series.

(Update: Josh Schwartz has said it's not true, but in the same story, a CW boss says they'd consider it if the second season does well. Hmm . . . )

According to the Hollywood Reporter, one likely scenario is that Jenny Humphrey (played by Taylor Momsen) would move on and become the lead character of her own series — much like what happened in the Gossip Girl books, when Jenny's character got her own book series. The producers are also considering introducing a new character in the Fall who would be spun off — and whose path would mirror that of Jenny from the books, which involves getting publicly humiliated in a series of scandals, leaving Constance Billard, and entering a boarding school in upstate New York where she reinvents herself as the queen bee.

The producers are reportedly interested in the project whether the CW wants it or not — and, if the network isn't interested, the series could land at another channel. Well, as we've learned from the Queen B vs. Little J battle, there's nothing like a little competition to keep things interesting among socialites, no?

On the other hand, there's one teensy problem with this plan — which is that the Gossip Girl ratings still aren't good. Could the show's fan base support a spinoff? Would you watch a show all about Little J?

Photo courtesy of The CW

New Music: Listen to The Virgins on AOL Today

BuzzSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:32:47 -0700

After an introduction to the world via Gossip Girl last Fall, The Virgins have arrived with their first self-titled album today, and it's a lot of fun. The quartet hails from New York City and infuses pop melodies with a punky-sounding bass and guitar. Singer Donald Cummings' distinctive voice gives each song a little more of an edge than you might expect.

It's the kind of music DJs will have fun mixing in clubs, I bet, and I could picture their tunes being used to back up runway strutting during Fashion Week. You can listen to the entire album at AOL, and after the jump you can watch a live performance of "Rich Girls," one of the five songs that was featured on GG, so

Gossip Girl Rundown: Episode 18, "Much 'I Do' About Nothing"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 11:28:01 -0700

I'm a little sad to report that I'm feeling underwhelmed by last night's season finale of Gossip Girl. I've been trying to get my head around what exactly seemed "off" last night because we were definitely treated to some great one-liners, a lot of good Chuck moments, and we even witnessed Dan scheming alongside Blair. On the surface, last night was everything we could have asked for from Gossip Girl, so why did it fall flat?

I think they actually gave us too much, too fast and didn't leave us with much of a finale cliffhanger. Regardless of how anti-climactic many of the scenes felt, there was still a lot that went down and so we must discuss. You can take Geek's quiz here, and for the rest of my thoughts,

Should Dan and Serena Be Together?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 07:00:43 -0700

Last week on Gossip Girl Serena came clean about her big secret to everyone . . . except Dan. All season we've watched Serena "protect" Dan from her past, but this is more of a mess than ever.Heading into tonight's season finale, Dan is still in the dark about lots of things. My question is: Do you think he should stick with Serena if/when he learns the whole truth? Or do you think Serena's blown it with him because she never trusted him? He is (as Rufus put it) pretty judgmental, so maybe he just needs to cut the girl some slack. What do you think?Photos courtesy of The CW

Should Dan and Serena Be Together?

Yes. Dan loves Serena and he needs to be less judgmental.

No. She's a handful and doesn't trust him with the truth. Dan can do better.

Other (I'll tell you below)

Gossip Girl Rundown: Episode 17, "Woman on the Verge"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:30:47 -0700

After last week's stunning revelation that Serena killed someone, I had a feeling last night's Gossip Girl was going to be heavy on the drama and light on the one-liners. The best part about last night? The four friends — Nate, Chuck, Blair, and Serena — together facing all the challenges that come with an Upper East Side address and a lot of money. Also, I needed a Jenny break after her social rise and dramatic falls. Hopefully she'll return refreshed and with a little perspective.

A lot went down last night, in real time and in flashbacks to that night when Nate and Serena slept together and Serena ran off to boarding school without saying goodbye to Blair. You can take Geek's quiz here, and then read on:

I guessed Georgina was mostly driven by craziness, and the opening scene proved me right. That montage of evil G obsessively calling Serena gave me the willies.
Apparently right after Serena told Blair she killed someone, Blair excused herself to grab some Valium to help calm her friend (naturally), and when she returned Serena had left to party again. It's a pattern that's starting to annoy me: Serena spills major secret, goes on crazy bender that involves no less than three dudes at a bar.

To see more musings, including on how Lonelyboy's handling all this,

Gossip Girl Rundown: Episode 16, "All About My Brother"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:28:45 -0700

Whoa. Gossip Girl is officially getting good — partly due to Georgina, who I'm starting to believe has little motive for torturing Serena and is more driven by mental instability and pure evil. We know, based on last week's episode, that whatever secret Serena is carrying will bring Georgie down too. So why would Georgina mess with her own future? And why push Serena that far? She must expect that Serena's too wimpy to call her bluff. But it wasn't just that mystery that fueled the episode — there were secret bombs going off all over the place. Here are the rest of my thoughts:

The struggle for Queen Bee between Blair and Little J taking over the Gossip Girl blog was kind of blowing my mind. The rumors were flying every which way; then it involved Asher; then there was a nod to the real-life rumors that Eric was the anonymous GG. Even Dan was sending in tips!
Blair was on fire last night! I loved seeing the many faces of B jammed into one episode: wicked, ruthless, and protective of her friends. I'm so glad she finally went in for the kill. Jenny took a long, hard fall, but it was about time she got back to her Humphrey roots.

To see what I had to say about Eric's big moment and that horrid boyfriend of Jenny's,

Link Time! 5/1

BuzzSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:30:37 -0700

The Onion AV Club points me to a site where an artist is drawing characters from The Wire in the style of The Simpsons.
The MTV Movies Blog has put together an incredibly bizarre talk show, hosted by, of course, Josh Horowitz.
What now? According to Hollywood Insider, Project Runway will be moving to Los Angeles when it starts on Lifetime in the Fall.
According to Cinematical, these are the seven children's books that need to be adapted to film immediately.
Between the fictional MILF Island and the very real new cougar dating show on TV Land, TV Filter declares that it's officially the year of the cougar.
One EW writer explains on Popwatch why she's OK with letting her kids watch Gossip Girl.
Vulture uses Baby Mama to explore the history of the girlfriend — note: not chick — flick.
Sun Kil Moon's Mark Kozelek gives a rundown of all the things he loves about San Francisco in the travel-meets-music feature Off The Record on AquariumDrunkard.
Give Me My Remote has a clip of Ed Helms on The Tonight Show, complete with scenes from tonight's episode of The Office.

Source

Gossip Girl Rundown: Episode 15, "Desperately Seeking Serena"

BuzzSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:36:59 -0700

Last night's episode of Gossip Girl hit pause on the Blair vs. Little J storyline and made way for Georgina Sparks. Woohoo! She started out harmless enough (even a little needy), and it seemed like Serena was just making bad choices that had little to do with the arrival of her old friend. However, considering the packages full of porn and handcuffs Georgina sent last week — and the fact that she looks like Michelle Trachtenberg, whose appearance in anything is practically a synonym for "seriously b*tchy" — I was fairly certain things were going to get diabolical fast.

Don't forget to take Geek's tech quiz and then take a look at some of my thoughts on all that went down last night:

First off: Jenny's tantrums are getting on my last nerve. Plus, all that talk of needing a king and not a jester is just tacky. And not to be too negative about Little J, but the dog walker, Asher Hornsby, was kind of dopey, no? Or did anyone think he was cute?
I love scheming Blair! She's so resourceful (and evil) when she needs to be, and her target last night was over-achieving Nelly Yuki, who, like Blair, wants to go to Yale. According to Blair-logic, only one kid from Constance Billard can get into Yale, so naturally she had to sabotage Nelly's SAT performance.

For more on how the gang survived their SATs and my thoughts on the something-something that's a-brewin' between Nate and Vanessa,