Is Gossip Girl Something to Talk About?

Even with the mass amount of media buzz surrounding the show, I was hesitant to check it out. Don't ask me why; I just was. However, whatever inner thoughts that were keeping me away, something stronger made me tune in to the season premiere last night. I figured it was worth a try, right?

Let me say that I am immensely happy that I did. With the cancellation of Veronica Mars, Gilmore Girls, and The O.C., Gossip Girl is the fresh new drama that television needs this season. Although I found many things to love about the show, the fact that New York, my dream city, is so prominently featured was enough to fickle my fancy. Plus, there is teen drama, deception, fashion, music and, of course, gossip.

Other than New York, fashion is all through the show. With one of the supporting characters being a fashion designer, I can see why the issue is so important to the show. The characters not only know and talk fashion; they are impeccable dressed by Eric Daman, former assistant costume designer and stylist on Sex and the City.

The show centers around young socialite adults dealing with alcohol, drugs, sex, and a slew of other teenage issues on New York's Upper East Side. Serena van der Wooden (Blake Lively), once "It" girl, returns home from a year away at boarding school to family problems, the fallout of past deceptions, and a not so welcoming reception from her friends, including best friend Blair Woodsen (Leighton Meester). Things are strained with the girls as they fight to deal with their shared infatuation with Blair's boyfriend, Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford). All this goes on to the narration of unseen, omnipresent, "Gossip Girl" (voice by Kristen Bell).

In the premiere, we learned that Serena had an affair with Nate before quietly running off to boarding school. Left behind without a so-called goodbye from Serena, Blair feels hurt and betrayed by her former best friend. You would think that she would be happier than anyone with Serena's return; that isn't the case. With Serena gone, Blair quickly became the new "It" girl and that is one title that she isn't really ready to give up. Plus, she finds out during the episode that her suspicions of something going on between had some merit to them.

Serena, Blair, and Nate are not the only characters that grab your attention on the show. Nate's buddy, Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick), captured my attention above them all. He is a morally bankrupt and overly sexually-charged, and I can't wait to see what they will do with this character. Characters from my two of my other favorite dramas (Logan Echolls of Veronica Mars and Nathan Scott of One Tree Hill) became my favorite characters of both of the shows named. Characters like Nate (and Logan and Nathan) comes off at first as being very brass and egotistical and the audience love to hate them. But, as the show goes on and we get to know the character more, they aren't as one-sided as we thought and an eventual love affair begins. Not that the character always becomes good (like Nathan); they sometimes ride that thin line between good and evil, and the audience loves them regardless of what horrible thing they do. I didn't read the books that the show is based on, and I do not know the character at this point. I am pretty much basing my enthusiasm for this character's growth on what I would like to see happen. I can hope.

Dan (Penn Badgley) and Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen), siblings not from Serena's financial background, diversify the group of teens. Their father, Rufus (Matthew Settle), a once rock star turned art gallery owner, is raising the pair alone while struggling with the fact that his wife left him and hoarding a secret past with Serena's mother, Lillian (Kelly Rutherford). It is no question that Dan, a smart and quick witted teen, has a crush on Serena, even scoring a date by the end of the episode. Their time was cut short to go and save Jenny from the clutches of almost-rapist, Nate. Jenny is a freshman, eager to fit-in with the 'in' crowd, but smart and innocent enough not to be used by Nate in order to do so.

As I said, the teens lives are narrated by 'Gossip Girl', a character that sees all even if we don't see her. The teens rely on her blog and instant updates on the comings and goings of all their lives. Kristen Bell is no stranger to conveying her character through voice alone; Veronica Mars star did a terrific job with voice overs and giving the audience an ideal of the inter-workings of Veronica's brain. She brings her talent to Gossip Girl; making the unseen character feel much present. We can tell from voice alone that 'Gossip Girl' is thrilled and enriched by the drama that goes on with her classmates. She enjoys staying in the shadows watching and spreading around all she knows.

The premiere was clean and actually really entertaining. I didn't feel as if they were trying to do too much to introduce everybody and catch the audience up to that point. The episode flowed at that easy pace and there wasn't a chuck of time at the beginning of useless scenes. I never felt as if I was watching the show waiting for the 'good parts' to start. I was thoroughly entertained from beginning to end; left in desperate anticipation for the next episode.

Gossip Girl is based on a popular novel series by Cecily von Ziegesar. The show is created by Josh Schwartz, creator of The O.C. and Stephanie Savage. Bob Levy, Leslie Morgenstein, and Felicia D. Henderson joins Schwartz and Savage as executive producers. Alexandra Patsavas, known for the incredible and critically-acclaimed music of Grey's Anatomy and The O.C., serves as music supervisor and responsible for the wonderful music interwoven throughout the show. Gossip Girl airs Wednesdays at 9:00 ET on The CW.