The CW Source

Gossip Girl heartthrob Chace Crawford celebrates his 23rd birthday today. Happy birthday, Chace! We wonder if he'll do something in NYC or hang out in the Hamptons to celebrate -- the cast has been shooting some season two episodes at Hamptons hotspots this summer.

It's hard to believe that a year ago, we barely knew who this talented guy was. Since fall '07, Chace has burst onto the scene thanks to his gig as Nate on Gossip Girl. What a year he's had! Professionally, Chace has gotten comfortable living in NYC with fellow castmate and friend Ed Westwick. We think he's really grown as an actor -- when Nate was first introduced in the pilot, he seemed one-note, but Chace made us realize there's more to Nate than just girl trouble. As the season went on, we saw that Nate's not just a confused guy torn between two best friends -- he's got real problems and pressures that affect his future. And Chace did an amazing job showing us how Nate deals with some serious issues. In just the first half of the season, Nate fought with his embezzling, drug-dealing dad and tried to reason with a mom who's perpetually in denial. He staved off major pressure from his parents to propose to Blair, even though it meant he was no longer the good son. And his seemingly untouchable friendship with Chuck suffered when Nate discovered Chuck and Blair had shared a night of passion. Fortunately, those two have made amends, and we're looking forward to another season of Chuck/Nate escapades!

After a one-night stand with Serena and the end of his long-term relationship with Blair, Nate dabbled in a relationship with Vanessa that ended along with the first season of Gossip Girl. The finale alluded to Nate and Serena getting back together, but we're also hearing that Nate will be hooking up with a thirtysomething cougar in season two. We're excited to see what Nate's up to this fall!

On a personal level, Chace's own dating life made the news when gossip mags found out about his short-lived relationship with Carrie Underwood (the two later broke up via text message). Since the breakup, the Texas native has stayed single and recently revealed his perfect date: playing the Wii, hitting a concert, or taking in a basketball game. Ladies, take note!

We here at The CW Source hope Chace has a fantastic 23rd birthday celebration. Post your birthday wishes for Chace here!

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Fighting Words returns today -- but for once, Sarah, Mia and I aren't fighting! We're pretty much unanimous on the topic of Gossip Girl couples -- but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to convince us otherwise. Read our take on Gossip Girl's ultimate couple, then voice your opinions in the comments!

Jackie: When Gossip Girl started, I thought Dan and Serena were being set up to be the ultimate couple of the show. Nate and Blair have no chemistry, in my opinion, and Serena and Nate had enjoyed a one-night stand, nothing more. I loved watching Dan and Serena’s relationship start up against all odds, and the fact that Blake and Penn are a real-life couple certainly didn’t hurt their chemistry!

But. Then there was “Victor, Victrola,” which ended with arguably the hottest scene on the entire show (see Sourcies Best First-Time Hookup), the Blair/Chuck limo scene, and I realized that Dan and Serena had nothing on this quick-witted couple. Blair and Chuck toss barbs like they’re water balloons, pioneer preppy trends, and turn Upper East Side society upside down before brunch. I still love Dan and Serena, but by the end of the season I agreed with Dan – they need time apart before they try being a couple again. Their drama exhausts me, but Blair/Chuck drama is just plain exciting. I hereby crown them the ultimate Gossip Girl couple!

Mia: The passion that fills Chuck and Blair when they are around each other is almost too hot to handle. Dan and Serena are so boring, and when they do have drama it makes me want to smack both of them across the face in hopes that they will come to their senses. Dan is too judgmental and Serena is just a complete moron (though I do like them as people and they’re not bad to look at). Chuck and Blair will always be the couple for me – although I don’t think they could ever really be together, and I’m okay with that. That being said, I think Ed Westwick could steam up a room with a broomstick, so perhaps this question isn’t fair.

Sarah: Gossip Girl suffers from a problem that has bedeviled shows since TV was invented. The Powers That Be decided who would be the central couple, and that couple just didn't click. Think Johnny and Greta on Hidden Palms, Ryan and Marissa on The OC, or even (and I know I'm going to get yelled at) Lucas and ANYONE on One Tree Hill. The pairings seemed like a good idea on paper, but something isn't there. In Gossip Girl's case, I find it hard to care about Dan and Serena: Serena turns Dan into a one-dimensional moralist, while Dan makes Serena act like a dim-bulb, flighty flower child with no grasp of reality.

And then there's Blair and Chuck. Bad guys tend to be more fun, and these evil-doers are the most delicious duo I've seen on the screen in a long, long time. Both actors ooze chemistry, and the sparks fly even higher when they're together. Plus, Blair and Chuck actually bring out the best in each other. Nate made Blair into a simpering victim. With Chuck the girl has a spine. Chuck? He's discovered there's a romantic side buried under decades of decadence. It's beautiful to watch.

Sorry, Dan and Serena – you've been displaced.

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Gossip Girl's Connor Paolo turns 18 today! The star, who has also appeared on Law and Order and One Life to Live, is one of the youngest of the cast (second only to Taylor Momsen). And he's been keeping busy when not filming scenes for GG -- he has two movies in the works for 2008, Camp Hope and Favorite Son.

We haven't seen too much of Connor lately in the rounds of Gossip Girl gossip, but we hope we get to see more of his character -- Eric van der Woodsen is the voice of wisdom on this show. His unabashed sweetness brings out the best in everyone, even Chuck and Jenny. And we love seeing him interact with Serena when they discuss matters of the heart.

Happy birthday, Connor -- we hope you have a wonderful day! Post your birthday wishes for Connor here.

Coming soon, a birthday tribute to Michael Rosenbaum, who's also celebrating today!

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Gossip Girl continues to generate serious Internet buzz as the stars get started filming season two. Some of the best:

*Some interesting scoop from Fashionista.com this morning -- the site reports that Gossip Girl's Ed Westwick is in talks to develop his own fashion line. We're already wondering what it might look like -- would it be Chuck-inspired? If so, based on what we've seen so far out of the Hamptons set pics, we can expect lots of shorts, bow ties, and loafers (and perhaps a shark sweater or two?). But if the line is based on Ed's personal style, watch out -- the man can really dress. Check out this pic of Ed celebrating his 21st birthday at TAO Las Vegas a few weeks ago for proof!

*EW.com has a hot sneak preview pic of Blair and Chuck. Are they reconciling? Fighting? Scheming? It's impossible to tell, but we're loving the intense gleam in Chuck's eyes.

*People.com's Gossip Girl Guide to Summer features the cast frolicking in the Hamptons. There's a pic of Nate canoodling with his controversial cougar love interest (but you can't see her face), as well as Serena and Dan on the beach, Jenny hugging a puppy, and more!

*The New York Times reports on how Gossip Girl's adventurous style is impacting fashion and inspiring designers to whip up prep-school-inspired pieces for fall.

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Blake Lively continues her magazine cover domination (she recently graced Lucky and CosmoGirl) -- she and the cast of Gossip Girl liven up Vanity Fair's new young Hollywood issue this month! She looks like she's having a good time, right?

Mark Seliger exclusively for Vanity Fair

Read about Blake's favorite jeans, snacks, drinks, and flicks in Vanity Fair!

After the jump, check out the entire cast dressed to kill:

Continue reading "Blake and The Gossip Girl Cast Dress Up For Vanity Fair" »

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We've made no secret of our love for Chuck Bass/Ed Westwick on this blog, so we're thrilled to wish him a very happy 21st birthday today! Recent pics taken in the Hamptons like this one make it look like Ed's having a good time:

Over the past year, Ed's made us major Chuck fans. Can you imagine anyone else playing Chuck? We adore his smarmy-but-sexy ways, his rule-breaking fashion sense, and his one-liners ("I'm Chuck Bass"). He started out as a witness to the Blair/Serena/Nate triangle... until he fell for Blair, and we saw his vulnerable side thanks to Ed's talented acting.

Chuck might not always have a great relationship with his dad, but in real life, Ed's a family guy -- check out People's adorable shot of him with his parents. He's got a lot going on these days -- gigs with his band, The Filthy Youth, shoots in the Hamptons, and hanging out with pal, castmate, and roommate Chace Crawford in NYC.

Turning 21 is probably somewhat anticlimactic for Ed, since the drinking age in the UK is much younger, but he still has plenty of reasons to have a drink. We hope he has a great birthday celebration tonight with friends and family -- maybe he'll celebrate with his Gossip Girl castmates!

Post your birthday wishes for Ed here, and if you want more, read our exclusive Q & A with Ed!

Posted by Jackie at 3:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

Over at Catwalk Queen, they're wondering if Chuck Bass is the new Carrie Bradshaw (!) We're not sure we'd go that far, but we have to acknowledge that Ed-as-Chuck has been pushing the envelope with his on-set styles lately, and he and Carrie do love those argyle socks. Below, Sarah and I talk about whether or not it works for us -- and wonder if even Chuck Bass can pull it all off.

Sarah: Isn't it awesome?
Jackie: He's been sporting short shorts for awhile now.
Sarah: I can just see Chuck in the male version of a tutu.
Jackie: The sick thing is, I'm finding him really cute in these pics, in spite of the outfits
Jackie: or at least the bottom half of the outfits
Sarah: Yeah, I know
Jackie: I like his new 'do
Sarah: The high socks with shorts is a deal-breaker for me
Jackie: You mean the bow tie isn't?
Sarah: See, I guess I've seen the bow tie enough that I'm immune to it
Sarah: It's Chuck, he wears bow ties
Sarah: but those shoes + those socks + those shorts = Gah!
Sarah: And if you're wearing shorts like that, it's too hot for a sweater, you know?
Jackie: Agreed. but then, he's Chuck Bass.
Sarah: Yeah
Jackie: He doesn't have to play by our (fashion) rules.
Jackie: he makes his own... to his own detriment, I'm afraid
Sarah: Except when it's not.
Sarah: Sometimes, he can totally rock the ascot or the blaze-orange trench coat, but sometimes, he goes too far
Jackie: I definitely think the wardrobe people are pushing the envelope more lately

Continue reading "The Sarah and Jackie Files: Chuck Bass's Short Shorts" »

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Nate's going to have his hands full this fall on Gossip Girl now that he'll be involved with an older woman! EOnline.com reports that a cougar will be joining the cast -- and she's got her sights set on Nate. Mädchen Amick (Twin Peaks, ER, Viva Laughlin) will be around for several episodes this fall. And not only will she be a big part of Nate's storylines, but she'll also have a "surprising connection" to another new cast member. We'd like to wildly speculate, but since it's a NEW cast member, we have no idea (otherwise, we would've guessed she was an old love of Rufus's). EOnline's Kristin has more Nate/cougar scoop on her blog.

We're excited to see how this pairing develops. Can you imagine Nate with an older woman, and do you want to see him with one, or do you prefer Nate with one of the main characters? Vote in the poll and let us know in the comments!

Posted by Jackie at 10:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

Eonline reports that Gossip Girl received a whopping 14 Teen Choice nominations, including Best Drama, Best Breakout Show, and Choice TV Actor/Actress.

It's true that GG is everywhere on the list of nominations. All three female leads (Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, and Taylor Momsen) are up for Best Breakout Female Star, and we were especially excited to see Ed Westwick's Chuck Bass nominated for Choice TV Villain along with Smallville's Michael Rosenbaum. But One Tree Hill also earned its fair share of nominations, including Choice TV Drama, Hilarie Burton and Sophia Bush for Choice TV Actress and Chad Michael Murray for Choice TV Actor. Our complaint: where are James Lafferty and Bethany Joy Galeotti? They deserve some noms, too!

Other shows represented include America's Next Top Model (Cycle 10 winner Whitney is up for Choice TV Female Reality Star, Tyra is up for Choice TV Personality, and the show itself is in the running for Choice TV: Reality Beauty and Makeover), Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious (for Reality Music Competition), and Smallville (Choice TV Show Action/Adventure, Choice TV Actor/Actress Action/Adventure for Tom Welling and Kristin Kreuk). Even Beauty and The Geek made the list with a nomination for Choice TV: Reality Beauty & Makeover.

Notably absent from the list: Supernatural and Reaper. And what about Everybody Hates Chris, Aliens in America, Girlfriends, and The Game? We think these shows were seriously overlooked -- do you agree?

Let us know what you think of the nominations in the comments!

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It's summer, and that means not so much new TV. But some of The CW's hottest shows are still stirring things up with beach scandals, casting stories, and directing rumors. Here's a roundup of the latest scoop on Gossip Girl and 90210.:

*It's not just Manhattan and Brooklyn anymore! Chace Crawford spilled that Gossip Girl will expand its horizons this fall -- the cast will be shooting scenes in the posh Hamptons, and we can expect some "beach scandal." Oooh! We wonder who it involves...

*Speaking of Chace Crawford, if you're in the market for his London lawn chair (!?), CasaSugar has found it. We're more in the market for another kind of, ahem, Chair (Chuck/Blair action, that is).

*And speaking of the Hamptons, NyMag.com reports that a mere four people showed up to a recent Gossip Girl casting call in the Hamptons. Seriously? There have to be more than four GG addicts in the area, right?

*But don't feel too bad for the cast. All three Gossip guys have earned a well-deserved spot on People's Single & Sexy Men of 2008 list. Congratulations to Ed, Chace, and Penn.

*Ed's also featured in People's Where The Boys are photo gallery. His band The Filthy Youth played at NYC hotspot The Annex.

*On to 90210! Eonline's Kristin reports that the 90210 premiere may be two hours -- and as previously reported, Tori Spelling will definitely appear in the premiere! No news on whether or not Donna and David are still together, though. We're psyched to see Tori in her element.

*But first, we have to send our sympathy her way. Tori's pug Mimi LaRue passed away Tuesday at the age of 11. We're so sorry to hear that, Tori.

*Meanwhile, TVWeek.com says that Jason Priestley's in talks to direct some 90210 episodes.

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UPDATE: Thanks to commenter Luke for passing on this EW.com article -- apparently the spinoff rumors are just that: rumors. Executive producer Josh Schwartz said the only focus is on season two. Phew!

Previously posted: Now that Gossip Girl has proven that it's a bona fide success, rumor has it a spinoff may already be in the works. The Hollywood Reporter reports that producers want to create a spinoff based on Jenny Humphrey, Taylor Momsen's character.

There are more questions than answers in this article, though. We don't know which network, if any, would pick up the spinoff, who would star, or, most importantly, if it'd be any good.

What we're wondering: if this spinoff really happens, would Jenny Humphrey be written off the original Gossip Girl so Taylor could star in the new show (like Addison on Grey's)? She drives us crazy sometimes, but we can't imagine the show without Lil' J. GG would lose a lot if she left.

Another issue -- just because the spinoff is in the works doesn't mean The CW would pick up the show. It's possible that if they say no, the spinoff could end up on an entirely different network.

What do you think -- would you watch the spinoff? Would you follow it to another network? Or should producers wait to create a spinoff and just leave Gossip Girl alone? Let us know what you think!

Posted by Jackie at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

Jason C. caught up with Taylor Momsen at the upfronts -- she's so much sweeter than Lil' J! Taylor talks about getting recognized and the show's success:

Then Chace Crawford chats up Jason C. and answers the eternal question: Blair or Vanessa?

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The folks on Gossip Girl aren't content with dominating our TV screens. Nope, they're also making a push to capture big-screen fans!

First up, E!Online reports that Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford is doing the horror thing. He'll play a nice guy who befriends the title character in The Haunting of Molly Hartley -- and we're guessing things get scary, what with "Haunting" being in the title. The movie will hit screens at Halloween this year. Chace is no stranger to spooky movies, of course -- his first big break came in the witchcraft-in-prep-school movie The Covenant.

BuddyTV has a roundup of all the other movie roles Gossip Girl cast members will be taking on:

Ed Westwick, who plays our favorite cad, is also taking the hottie-horror route. He'll be acting alongside Famke Janssen in the thriller 100 Feet. He's also been cast in S. Darko, a follow-up to the mind-blowing Donnie Darko. Plus, you can catch Ed now on the big screen in the British indie film Son of Rambow.

Penn Badgley won't be left out of the horror movie bonanza -- he's starring in a remake of The Stepfather opposite Christopher Meloni, Sela Ward and former Hidden Palms siren Amber Heard. Plus he's got another film in the can: Forever Strong, a flick about rugby players. Can you imagine Dan playing something as rough-and-tumble as rugby? We can't either!

Blake Lively is returning to the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants fold alongside usual suspects Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel and America Ferrera. That hits screens in August. Plus, the erstwhile Serena is also staking out roles in New York, I Love You (with Shia LeBeouf and Natalie Portman), and The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (as a young version of Robin Wright Penn.) The girl is busy!

The rest of the Humphreys are busy as well: Taylor Momsen (Jenny) appears in Doubting Thomas, about a kid who has to save the president's daughter, while Matthew Settle (Rufus) is starring with Heather Graham and Joey Lauren Adams in Ex-Terminators, about a new business formed in the wake of an anger-management class.

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Matthew Settle plays Rufus, the hottest dad around, on Gossip Girl. He's not a dad in real life but he does do some singing. Jason C. caught up with Matthew at the Entertainment Weekly party.

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Connor Paolo's character, Eric, on the hit show Gossip Girl has gotten a much juicier storyline in the last episodes. As if attempting suicide wasn't enough, we found out the reason he tried to end it all was because he was struggling with his sexuality. Jason C. spoke to Connor about what's in store for Eric:

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Jessica Szohr's kiss with Chace Crawford may not have been her first on-screen liplock, but it was her first time kissing a good friend. Here's what she had to say when Jason C. caught up with her on the CW's green carpet:

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Heads up, Gossip Girl fans: There's a rumor floating around the internet ether that's too shocking not to share. According to Star magazine, Nicole Richie is trying to land a guest spot on Gossip Girl.

According to the mag, someone close to Richie had this to say:"Nicole’s life has settled down a bit after having her daughter Harlow, she’s eager to get back to work. She’s keen on pursuing an acting career and she loves Gossip Girl."

We have to admit, we're dubious about this. Gossip Girl is a great show, and Nicole doesn't strike us as a stellar actress. Just because someone loves a show doesn't mean they're going to appear on it -- if that was the case, we'd have already been featured as Chuck's conquests and would have regular roles on Supernatural as mischievous spirits who constantly divest Sam and Dean of their shirts.

But the trend toward stunt casting is strong on TV, and Gossip Girl is a show that thrives on hype. So much as we want to, we can't rule out the rumor altogether.

What do you think? Vote in our poll, and leave your thoughts in the comments!

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The Entertainment Weekly party was PACKED and the stars were being ushered through at lightening speeds. Jason C. was still able to catch Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester, Blake Lively and Taylor Momsen to ask them a few questions. Watch it all here:

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We've got some great pictures of the Gossip Girl cast from the CW Upfronts AND the Entertainment Weekly party held later that night. Check them out HERE!

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The CW has a sizzling new lineup coming to us this fall and we couldn't be more excited! Not only are some of our favorites back, we've got new shows that are sure to have us talking.

Monday Nights

The winning combo of Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill will be back and filled with drama.

Continue reading "Get Ready for What's Coming Your Way at The CW" »

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