by MC Allen

Created on: November 24, 2007

Gossip Girl has become my guilty pleasure and my go to show for tween angst. I must admit, I am addicted. Where else can we watch a tween soap about filthy rich teenagers in New York City that have too much money and no one really paying any attention to how they spend it or what they do with their time.

The show is built around a prestigious private school in Manhattan (of which we never really see) and all of the shows characters go to this school. The "good" kids are Dan and Jenny who are not wealthy but want a good education. Dan is interested in Serena, the most popular girl in school, who has just returned from a year long jaunt in boarding school for some unknown reason. Serena's best friend is Blair who dates Nate (who slept with Serena). Blair revels in her bitchiness and takes very seriously her role as the school's Queen Bee. Finally, Nate's best friend is Chuck who likes younger girls that he can use and abuse. There are a few other story lines with the parents but most of the juicier plots are centered around the kids.

The basic idea is that this is a look into the "real" life of the rich and privileged in New York. These kids never go home at night (no curfews) and seem to be able to get a drink in any bar that they frequent without being twenty-one. The funny thing is that no matter how bizarre the plot may be, I really believe that this lifestyle could be closer to reality than anyone may think.

As a former fan of 90210 and The OC, this show has filled a gap in my television schedule. The kids can act and seem to be enjoying the sheer decadence that is the show. The use of New York as a backdrop has always worked for television (Sex and the City, Law & Order) and the clothes are phenomenal.

Most people would pan this show as a stupid, unrealistic version of a nighttime soap opera. I like to not take my television so seriously. This show is fun to watch, easy to follow and the costumes alone make me wish I could be a part of the lifestyle for just a moment. I know that the numbers on the Nielson ratings are not great for Gossip Girl but I cannot imagine that the tween set is not watching. Good looking rich kids with beautiful clothes, sex, drugs and cheating and gossipy narration that makes me wonder what is going to happen next; what's not to like?

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