Last night was the triumphant and highly anticipated premiere of "Gossip Girl." Having never read the books, I came into the series with zero knowledge of what to expect — and I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. What can I say, Josh Schwartz just has a way of making me want to watch privileged youth. So salacious! So scandalous! So full of beautiful people! I'm very interested to hear what fans of the books thought about the pilot, but here are a few of my snap judgments:
- I think the casting was perfect. I know that the character of Jenny isn't anything like she was described in the books, but how could you not love Taylor Momsen? She was Cindy Lou Who in The Grinch! I feel a little bad for Ed Westwick, who plays Chuck, because as of last night he will never, ever not be sleazy in my mind. No matter what other roles he gets in life.
- Absolutely loved the music — especially in the opening scene. It had me smiling and whistling along to Peter Bjorn and John's "Young Folks" before our Gossip Girl narrator even chimed in.
- Um, teen drinking much? Call me a fogey, but I was surprised by how freely the CW showed all the underage boozing. Then again, at the beginning of "The OC" the kids drank a lot, but it was definitely phased out as the show went on. I wonder if these rich Manhattan kids will reform their ways, too.
To hear a few more thoughts, and my biggest gripe just read more
- I know that Serena is the star of the show, but I couldn't help being a little on Team Blair last night. I mean, her BFF slept with her boyfriend, ran away to boarding school and then returned without even so much as an apology. Plus, her mom blows.
- Random aside: Is it just me or does Nate look just like Boone from Lost?
- Is Lily van der Woodsen a Julie Cooper or a Kirsten Cohen? Related: How long will it take me to stop making constant comparisons between "GG" and "The OC"?
- My biggest gripe: Gossip Girl herself. The narration bugged me. I know it's the whole premise of the show, and I'm sure I'll get used to it, but (again, not knowing the books) I just wanted her to shut up. Is there an eventual plotline trying to uncover who she is? Will Kristen Bell make a cameo?
What did you think? Love it? Hate it? Have a crush on Dan already? I've already set my TiVo for season pass — you?
Photos courtesy of The CW
Rag and Bone
Lacoste
People Tree
i absolutely 100% loved it! but then again i'm 17.. haha can't wait for the next episode
1The characters in the books drank a lot, and Nate/Chuck smoke a lot of weed so I wonder how they'll handle it as things progress. I thought it was really good, pretty comparable to the books, except Rufus/Lily don't have a relationship past in the books, and Serena's brother Eric was actually college-aged and dated Blair for a little bit. Those are the only major changes, I believe. Also, it seems like the show is really pushing for Dan/Serena when in fact, in the books, it was pretty brief. We'll see. Everything looks very promising. I'm excited!
PS -- Chuck is super creepy/weird in the books! Wait 'til he gets his pet monkey! (if they give him one in the TV series)
2the music is really awesome,,,gg keeps my oc void!!!
3Buzz -- I don't remember Gossip Girl ever revealing her identity. She teases a lot, but I don't think she ever does so I highly doubt Kristen will make an on-screen cameo. I think the people that are annoyed by the narration are those that didn't read the books, because it all flows pretty nicely in the books. I like the narration. It gives things a little bit of sarcasm. And it's funny that you say you're on Team Blair because so am I. She may be b*tchy, but I think she's actually pretty misunderstood. She sort of lives in a fantasy world and wants everything to be just so with Nate, school, her family, and friends. Serena is more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants type person and doesn't really think about things or the repercussions. I was really annoyed with her by the end of the series. Don't wanna give too much away though!
4I wasn't sure what I was going to think of the show...but I loved it! It has all the good things the OC had in the first fantastic season. My season pass is set.
5Like Buzz I had never read the books (or heard of them for that matter) but I really enjoyed the show last night. I was not sure what to expect after the overwhelming marketing campaign they did but I was pleasantly surprised. Yay for gossip girl and Team Blair for now
6I didn't mind the narration, actually, and I've never read the books (and I usually HATE narration). It at least gave the whole thing a sort of context and I thought it was funny how they kept referring to the Gossip Girl site, like "Who's that? Is there anything about her on Gossip Girl?" Also, I think Blair and Serena's moms look identical but for one having blonde hair and the other having brown. Nate looks a little like Boon, but much more feminine. I already set my season pass- I'm in major need of a guilty pleasure/teen drama show after the passing of OC and Gilmore Girls.
7Loved it!
8I wasn't planning on watching it because starting next week it will air at the same time as Private Practice but I watched last night and I was really into it. It definitely reminded me of the OC, but more interesting. Does anyone know if the CW puts it's episodes online? because if so I am hooked. I am really angry I no longer have tivo because there seems to be a lot of really good new shows premiering.
9i've never read the books either, but i thoroughly enjoyed last night's episode. the narration was ok, at first i didn't like it but i adjusted pretty soon afterwards. i like both blair and serena.. i understand them both. blair is a little too b*tchy for me... we'll see what happens later. i really like dan; he's such a cutie. and i agree.. i've been going through a teen drama show withdrawal and this is what i need!
10I'm a huge fan of the books, but I still absolutely loved it. I'm GLAD they changed it around a little bit, I didn't want it to be completely predictable. I'm definitely Team Blair. I don't like girls who betray their friends, plus I think she's kind of funny when she's b*tchy. Serena is nice though, I've always liked Blake Lively. I definitely am already crushing on Dan (and Nate!).
11I never watched the OC and never read these books, but I am already ready to love this show. It's a great guilty pleasure. And I really like the narration. It gives the show more of a sarcastic tone than just straight teen drama. And it's not the GA/SATC/DH cheesy analytical narration that I really hate. Plus, Kristen Bell can do no wrong in my book.
12hahaha i hate to admit it, but i did really enjoy watching this last night. i'm familiar with the first couple of books thanks to some younger cousins, but i think i like the show more. definitely my new guilty pleasure.
13I missed it, bleh! Stupid work!
14I really wanted to see the show and I can't wait to catch up and watch next week's. I loved OC and I was looking forward to GG.
loved it! team serena!
15Love it. I'm a huge fan of the books and I thought that since Jenny wasn't the same, that I wouldn't like her character, but I actually do. Does anyone happen to know the ratings?
16I loved it! Plus I think the narration really worked. I'm 16 so I this teen drama is now my new fave; it's making up for the loss of The O.C. although nothing could replace it. Nate and Dan are my fave guys on the show. And I love the character Jenny; hard to believe she's 14, she's lovely.
17Forgot to add that I came to this show not knowing what to expect since I've never read the books.
18this show was maybe the first time i've watched one of these teenage dramas i love so much and thought "i'm too old for this." but it wasn't bad....but definitely not on par with the other CW shows i love, like one tree hill, veronica mars, etc.
19I lovvveeed it! The music was so fun, it's glossy, cheesy and glamorous all at the same time. The underage drinking and "we're edgy" stuff cracked me up and I'll be back for more. Love the voice over too!
Side note: I think Lily van der Woodsen looks a lot like Kelly Rowan, who played Kristin Cohen on the OC!
20The ratings were OK, not great, and a lot of people who watch the numbers more than I do are saying they expected it to do better after so much advertising. It got 3.65 million viewers, about the same as the "Beauty and the Geek" premiere on Tuesday and not as good as the "America's Next Top Model" premiere.
21oh yea i watched it cuz it was on after ANTM
i am soooo too old for this! but i
enjoyed it. There is just so much drinking and all of that, it is crazy how things have changed in 10-12 years (maybe i just grew up sheltered!) 
22ok, how decadent and debaucherous was this show? beauty, wealth, drugs and booze, not to mention incredible clothes, how can you not be enticed? i have to admit i'm absolutely hooked, antm and gossip girl in one night? get all my tv guilty pleasures in at once.
23I love Kristen Bell way too much, so the narration was just fine with me. Chuck, that guy is going to annoy be quite a bit I'm sure by the end of the season. BUT I'm positive he's supposed to, so anyways.
24The kids dont get any "better" with the sex/drinking/drugs/debauchery. at least they dont in the books, they get worse.
25Wednesday nights are pretty perfect now. Top Model and then Gossip Girl. I wasn't expecting much from GG bus I was pleasantly surprised!
26i love Dan! i really liked the show and i thought it was really good!
27I actually didn't like the narration as well; something about KB aggravates me, so just hearing her voice, in a smug tone grated. I feel for Serena though; Blair is like creating this world, where I feel like Serena is so easily controlled. Either way, the show looks like fun~
28i loved it! its my oc replacement lol...well nothing can really replace the oc =]
29never read the books either Buzz, so i didn't know what to expect. the pilot was alright, but i dunno if i'll continue watching though but yeah nate DOES look like boone from lost
30I am SO disappointed that this show is going to be up against Private Practice AND Bionic Woman...I've got one TV set to record PP while I watch Bionic Woman on another (or vice versa)...that leaves no room for Gossip Girl. Oh, the woes of a TV addict...
31I got confused in some parts, but other than that very scandalous & exciting.
32My biggest gripe: it's only an hour!!!
33I loved it!!!
i've been a fan of the books since they came out, and was super excited when I heard they were making a show. And I loved it! Even if things were different than the books, I didn't mind it. I was really sad when I the last book came out, so this is just like reading the books all over again and having all my favorite characters, but with a different twist on things. I'm hooked!!
34Lovelovelovelovelove it! The books were better, but the casting for the show is PHENOMENAL, and the show itself is pretty awesome.
35I hated some of the things they changed, but whatever. Can't wait until next week's GG!
I loved it! I have read and own all the books so I knew I'd be a fan before I even watched it. I didn't like how they made Serena's brother, Erik younger than her and made it so the reason she was coming back was because he tried to commit suicide but oh well. I've always been a Blair supporter and a Serena hater so of course that didn't change after watching the show. I do love Blake Lively but my hate for Serena overpowers that love. Nate was incredibly hot and reminded me of Zac Efron from HSM. I like Chuck even if he's supposed to be really sleazy. He was so hot too! Basically it was amazing.
36I'm in my twenties, but I still loved it!!!
37I'm a huge fan of the books and I really loved the show. I think Blake Lively is perfect for Serena, and I guess I'll grow to like the others actors as well. I like Penn Badgley, but he's kinda too cute to play Dan... Heh... Dan is supposed to be this very pale cigarette smoking poet guy, but maybe making him less weird and just an outsider is a good thing
I like Blair the most though, and in the books she's sort of the main
character as well, so I wished the show was built more around her.
38I wasn't going to watch this show because 1. i didn't like the oc, and 2 i didn't enjoy the books (gasp) but i really enjoyed this show. It's my new favorite show.
39just liek buzz didn't read the book, well actually skimmed through several pages when my littel sister was reading the, didn't get the hype. i guessed i didn't like how it was written. but then again at the time i was reading bram stoker, f scott fitzgerald, edgar allan poe for my english classes, so that's probably why i didn't like the writing.
with that said i loved it and will continue to watch along with ANTM. both guilty pleasure for sure. didn't like the oc so i wasn't sure whether i was going to like gossip girl, but OMG what a great combo for ANTM don't you think?
40just liek buzz didn't read the book, well actually skimmed through several pages when my littel sister was reading the, didn't get the hype. i guessed i didn't like how it was written. but then again at the time i was reading bram stoker, f scott fitzgerald, edgar allan poe for my english classes, so that's probably why i didn't like the writing.
with that said i loved it and will continue to watch along with ANTM. both guilty pleasure for sure. didn't like the oc so i wasn't sure whether i was going to like gossip girl, but OMG what a great combo for ANTM don't you think?
41does NOONE else see that SERENAS MOM looks like an older version of WHITNEY from the hills?!?! it was creeeeepy. ha.
LOVED the show tho.
42I loved it. I read the books and I thought it was really capturing the essence of the books and how they were told. And the narration is a lot like the book and I liked it. Its so weird how close the the show is to what I had pictured in my mind while reading the books.
Loved it!
My tivo is set for the whole season!
And I love how its kinda like the OC. It kinda helps ease the pain of not having the Oc on anymore.
*tear*
43I loved the show last night!!! can't wait to see it again next week. I can't tell if I like it as much as the books though, or if I think the characters match how I always thought they were, but I do think dan's cute..
44I loved it! I didn't know who's side to be on - Blair's or Serena's. And I had no problem with the narration, I liked it. Also, I thought the whole cast was great, but I've never read the books, so it was hard to be disappointed.
45for those of you who don't want to miss this show because of the time slot, CW airs reruns on sundays. I think Gossip Girl is at 8 but I'm not sure. I haven't read the books (nor have I heard of them) but I tivoed the sunday rerun to check it out. I wasn't a fan of the OC either so I'm not sure if this show is for me. I guess I'll find out on Sunday (or whenever I have time to watch it).
46
47love it, will totally watch religiously. i watched the oc faithfully until the end, so i have been so excited for GG!! what can i say, i love shows like this. i am in grad school now, not high school, but it does not matter.
also, the kids on the oc drank, but they snuck alcohol and had parties...drinking martinis in the middle of a bar in a classy hotel? slightly different. i did wonder why no one made a big deal out of it, glad to know it wasn't just me!!!
48LOVED IT. I think the whole story obviously fits in better in NYC, with the whole school and social aspect.
I already have a crush on "the other Tucker" or Dan in this show =]
And does anyone think that Jenny, Dan's sister, in some light looks a little like the actress who played Kaitlin Cooper?!
49Beautiful people? Blare is the only one... the others are just ordinary, sometimes ugly. But I guess I just grew up with beautiful people, so i'm spoilt.
Yeap, you are so right - Dan is so cute... So much better than Nate. Nate is kinda a pussy. Have some balls, guy!
50Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.