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run by ♥ Michelle ♥
run by ♥ Michelle ♥
The countdown to the Gossip Girlfinale begins Monday when the CW soap returns with the first of seven all-new episodes. Below, showrunner Josh Safran gives TVLine a sneak peek at what’s going down on the Upper East Side as the season draws to a close (hint: a ton).
TVLINE | Dan and Blair go public with their romance in “Salon of the Dead” on April 16. What obstacles do they face beyond that?The obstacles are always going to be that Dan knows just how big of a presence Chuck has been in Blair’s life. And that’s something Blair works very hard to put Dan at ease about, but I think the harder she works at putting Dan at ease about that the more uneasy he feels. And, obviously, their relationship is hard foreverybody around them because Serena was and maybe still is in love with Dan. And Chuck has his issues that he’s dealing with. And whenever Chuck is dealing with issues, Blair often wants to help.
TVLINE | Is Louis no longer a factor?He is no longer a factor.
TVLINE | So Georgina takes care of that situation?The situation will be taken care of. I’m not sure it’s ultimately Georgina who takes care of it.
TVLINE | If Ivy loved having a family so much, why is she alienating the Van der Woodsens? What’s her endgame?She definitely still wants to be a part of the family. But she’s upset because no matter what she has tried to do they don’t except her. So, at this point, she feels like she has nothing left to prove because they’re not going to accept her anyway, so she’s just going to look out for herself.
TVLINE | Is Serena the new Gossip Girl?I don’t want to say because Monday’s episode is very much about that struggle for Serena. But it’s like the Ring and Frodo. That’s how we looked at that story.
TVLINE | It feels like the storyline is building to you revealing the identity of the real Gossip Girl. Is it?This storyline is something we did not tread lightly about. We knew if we were going to open this door we had to see it through. And we will be seeing it through.
TVLINE | So we will find out who Gossip Girl is this season?I’m not going to comment on that. But we are seeing the story through.
TVLINE | What else will Serena be up to in these final episodes?Serena definitely has been feeling a little powerless this season, whether it’s losing Dan to Blair or losing her job that she cared about with David O. Russell, and then the Spectator. She’s going to [try to] gain her power back and be the Serena van der Woodsen she once was. Whether that means transitioning out of being an “It Girl” and being a creator of “It Girls,” or whether that means stealing her spotlight back you’ll have to watch and see.
TVLINE | Is it fair to say the season finale will revolve around Blair making a choice between Dan and Chuck.It doesn’t revolve around that. That triangle definitely comes to the end point. But the episode revolves around Serena quite heavily. It’s a very huge turning point for Serena — probably the biggest one she’s had since Season 1.
TVLINE | Does the episode end with a cliffhanger?Oh, it ends with many cliffhangers. We always try to make our finales really exciting and juicy and fun. But in this one, it’s like a bomb gets detonated and levels everything.
TVLINE | So you’re feeling pretty confident about a sixth season?Yes.
TVLINE | A report surfaced that The CW may only renew the show for 13 episodes.I can’t comment on that because I don’t have an answer. That remains to be seen. But we are not closing out this season with a series finale.
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Gossip Girl - Con Heir Producers’ Preview
“GOSSIP GIRL” — (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET)
“It Girl, Interrupted” (TV-14) (HDTV)ELIZABETH HURLEY GUEST STARS / EPISODE FEATURES A KIKI DE MONTPARNASSE PARTY AND LINGERIE SHOW — Serena (Blake Lively) decides she is ready to relinquish the spotlight and sets out to make a reluctant Lola (guest star Ella Rae Peck) the next “It Girl” of the Upper East Side, starting with modeling at a Kiki de Montparnasse lingerie show. Meanwhile, Chuck (Ed Westwick) reaches out to Blair [Leighton Meester] for advice about his past, and Diana Payne’s (Hurley) return to The Spectator starts a power struggle with Nate (Chace Crawford). Penn Badgley, Kelly Rutherford and Matthew Settle also star. Omar Madha directed the episode written by co-executive producer Amanda Lasher (#519).
“Gossip Girl” will likely be renewed for a shortened sixth and final season, according to an individual close to the production.
The CW drama is expected to return for a reduced number of episodes like fellow CW drama “One Tree Hill” did for its final season, the individual said.
A spokesman for the network said that CW has not yet made a decision about picking up any of its scripted shows for next year.
Given its low ratings, the show is seen as perpetually on the bubble. “Gossip Girl” averaged 1.7 million viewers, and a 1.9 rating in the women 18-34 demo, this year. That’s a far cry from the 2.35 million viewers the show averaged in its debut season.
But renewal could be more palatable to the network because all of the show’s stars, including Blake Lively, Ed Westwick, Chace Crawford, and Leighton Meester, are under contract for another season. That will spare CW the potentially costly ordeal of re-negotiating salaries.
“Gossip Girl” centers on the romances, trysts and social rivalries of a group of privileged young adults living in the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
The series celebrated its 100th episode in January. At the time, the show’s producers expressed optimism that “Gossip Girl” would be back with more rivalries and bed-hopping.
“We’re not writing a series finale this year,” Executive Producer Stephanie Savage told zap2it.
(Source: thewrap.com)
“GOSSIP GIRL” — (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET)
“Con Heir” (TV-14, DS) (HDTV)
DESMOND HARRINGTON RETURNS AS JACK BASS / BILLY BALDWIN GUEST STARS — Chuck (Ed Westwick) invites Jack (Harrington) to town to thank him for saving his life, but finds the trip doesn’t go exactly as planned. Blair (Leighton Meester) and Dan (Penn Badgley) attempt to consummate their new relationship — but unexpected roadblocks get in their way. Meanwhile, Ivy (Kaylee DeFer) finds an unlikely ally in William (Baldwin) in her quest to be accepted on the Upper East Side, and Nate (Chace Crawford) is hopeful a new investor will save his newspaper. Blake Lively, Kelly Rutherford and Matthew Settle also star. Joe Lazarov directed the episode written by Annemarie Navar-Gill.
“GOSSIP GIRL” — (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) “The Backup Dan” (TV-14) (HDTV)
BLAIR STRUGGLES WITH A DECISION ABOUT HER FUTURE — Blair (Leighton Meester) must make a difficult decision about her future, the consequences of which could hurt those she loves most. Serena (Blake Lively) takes the blame for an incident with Gossip Girl in order to protect someone she loves.. Georgina (Michelle Trachtenberg) smells the scent of scandal and decides to follow its trail. Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford, Ed Westwick, Kelly Rutherford and Matthew Settle also star. David Warren directed the episode written by Matt Whitney (##514).
