Fall TV: Gossip Girl Becomes Even More Shallow

For fans of the Gossip Girl books, there is much to like about the new Gossip Girl TV show on The CW. Kristen Bell perfectly captures the essence of the all-seeing Gossip Girl in frequent voiceovers.

Chuck Bass remains as slimy as anyone could hope. The Serena vs. Blair showdown that started the series is in full effect. However, after even one episode, a disturbing trend emerges. In a series already obsessed with the young and the gorgeous, the show has removed everything from the original source that isn't hot, beautiful, and perfect.

The transformation starts with the parents. In the Gossip Girl books, Rufus Humphrey is described in no uncertain terms as an out-of-touch fashion disaster. He wears beat-up sweats in public and ties back his unruly graying hair with whatever is handy, whether it's his daughter's scrunchie or a bread tie. Rufus' passions are Beat poetry and going against the system, except when it comes to getting his children the best education possible. How does Rufus translate to the small screen?

He's now an aging rock star running an art gallery during the day. Perhaps poets just aren't cool enough? At least he was allowed to keep a spark of creativity. Even more drastic, he is no longer a makeover-in-waiting. To fit his rock star image, he wears fashionable leather jackets and accessorizes. He was allowed a moment or two of "fight the power" dialogue, but it only added to the sexy singer mystique.

Eleanor Waldorf is another victim. In the books, Blair's mother is frequently embarrassing and over-the-top. Her garish choices in everything from jewelry to men mortify her daughter, and apparently they also didn't sit well with the producers of the television series. Now Eleanor is a pulled-together fashion designer. The switch promises new sources of mother-daughter conflict, but she's not the same mother that can make you cringe.

Even the main characters aren't safe. In the Gossip Girl books, Jenny Humphrey's breasts are one of her defining characteristics. D-cups on a small frame, they are a source of embarrassment, opportunity, and jealous comments. And now they're gone. Maybe it was the problem of finding an actress to fit the physical requirements, or maybe it could be seen as a step forward in not objectifying a female character. However, it seems like yet another case of removing something that doesn't fit a picture-perfect image.

Yet the most glaring omission is Vanessa Abrams. As of the first episode, the Gossip Girl TV series hasn't just changed Vanessa to make her more palatable; it got rid of her altogether. Vanessa often provided an outsider's view. With her shaved head and all-black clothing, she could offer a moment of sanity in the midst of the high-class nastiness. She was also the perfect girl for Dan Humphrey. With Dan scoring a date with Serena in the show's debut, it seems Vanessa just isn't needed.

Gossip Girl has all the right ingredients to be a success with the CW's target demographic and guilty-pleasure-lovers of all ages. It may even seem naïve to take such a show to task for shallowness, when it never pretends not to be. However, even in a land of perfection, a bit of reality can be refreshing and will be missed if the series keeps up this trend.