“Gossip Girl” is my video crack!!!

Since this CW smash debuted locally last February on ETC (at SBN), I’ve been hooked following the hormonal escapades of the Upper East Side prep-schoolers chronicled in Cecily Von Ziegesar’s book series adapted for the small screen by the producers behind “The O.C.”.

Here are clips from Gossip Girl exec producer Josh Schwartz explaining the genesis of the TV series from the books:

They literally shifted the “The O.C.”’s template from the West to the East Coast, stirred in the sexuality of the daring if unwatched “Cruel Intentions” boob-tube spin-off “Manchester Prep” and infused it with the fashion savvy of “Mean Girls”.

The result – GOSSIP GIRL!!!!

This engaging drama revolves around the gradually intertwining lives of junior high-school students at the fictional St. Jude and Constance Billiard prep schools at NYC’s Upper East Side. Social chicanery and sexual politics are at play, not just among the student protagonists but even among some of the parental units.

The casting is genius, with brunette Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) and her partner-in-crime, player Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick) conspiring early on to take down blonde, sunny Serena Van Der Woodsen (Blake Lively) from her lofty perch in the social ladder. Getting in the midst of the psy war are siblings Ben and Jenny Humphrey (Chace Crawford and Taylor Momsen); the former develops feelings for Serena while the latter becomes a willing pawn before becoming a significant third force in the socio-political matrix.

Just as in “The O.C.”, the adult figures in the series have their own romantic dramas which – as the series progresses, throw two of the young protagonists in a alliance filled with high potential.

The omnipresent voice of the unnamed titular character frames episodes and pivotal events with her pithy commentary, ending each episode with the verbal tagline “…you know you love me, XOXO… gossip girl”

Just as in “The O.C.” also, music is a key player in each episode. But just as its West Coast-based predecessor focused primarily on indie acts, The Big Apple’s reputation as a musical melting pot has significantly refocused the playlist to cover a broader palette. Indie sit cheek to jowl with club tunes and booty-shaking hip hop in the “Gossip Girl” episode playlist. Worth looking out for are the a capella renditions of chart pop tunes from the Constance Billiard Girls’ Choir.

So far…the ongoing interaction between Teams Waldorf and Van Der Woodsen can put a Wimbledon tennis match to shame. The entry of Chuck’s old flame Vanessa (Jessica Szohr) and eventually Serena’s old rival Georgina (Michelle Trachtenberg) promise to ratchet up the drama even further.

I’ve getting quite hooked on the show, to the extent that I’ve got my niece into watching it also; she has pulled a Jenny Humphrey on me by catching the entire season run (so far…at least those shot and aired before the WGA strike late last year). My own niece even admits that her mom – my own sis – is starting to show interest too! Serena is just sooooo irresistible in her loose-fitting school uniform, while you really have to double take when you catch Jenny Humphrey in her scenes (can’t imagine that the same actress was Cindy Lou Who in “The Grinch”).

I can even thank them for making me fall in love with New York City again…I can just imagine them trying to navigate shooting the upcoming season among the city’s numerous landmarks inspite of the curious tourists and the pesky paparazzi. Nevertheless, you can credit the solid ensemble and their handlers for not breeding any prima donnas…not yet and hopefully never.

Looking forward to developments in the upcoming season…hoping that the producers keep the momentum up!!!

OMFG indeed….

Btw, for those in the Philippines, it airs on these timeslots at ETC/SBN:

Tuesday – 8:00 pm
Wednesday – 9:00 am
Saturday – 3:00 and 10:00pm
Sunday – 4:30 pm

Awwww….how nice, weekend replay schedules for call center folks like me!!!!

television