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Gossip Girl: What I love about the original and what I can’t wait to see in the HBO Max reboot

Hey Upper East Siders, Gossip Girl here. And I have the biggest news ever. 

Anyone who knows me knows that I essentially eat, sleep and breathe Gossip Girl. Like quite literally, I could be in a coma and hear the Gossip Girl opening sequence and immediately come to. Which is why I can’t wait to set my eyes upon HBO Max’s reboot of the original CW series. Ever since the reboot was first announced way back in 2019, it’s all I can think about. 

Gossip Girl is based on the Cecily von Ziegesar book series, which was then turned into a six-season long television show. The original show ran from 2007 to 2012 and starred Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, Chace Crawrod and Ed Westwick. I’m not saying that these five actors all deserved Golden Globe Awards for their performances on this show, but that’s exactly what I’m saying. 

To me, Gossip Girl wasn’t just a show about super rich Upper East Side (UES) private school kids–it was a way of life. Well, not in every sense. I had the private high school part down pat, but between you and me, I’m much more Vanessa Abrams (played by Jessica Szohr) money-wise than I ever will be Blair Waldorf (played by Leighton Meester). However, after devouring all six seasons repeatedly, I’ve come to realize it was Blair Waldorf who introduced me to the finer things in life and awakened my love for all things preppy fashion, the Big Apple and looking more closely at a career in fashion journalism. 

Watching Gossip Girl from a young age until quite literally last night has taught me a lot of life lessons. For example: tights are not pants, fashion is the most powerful art there is (hint: this is true!) and never settle for anything but the best. Take these sage words of wisdom for what you will, but overall, Gossip Girl changed my life for the better. 

In fact, I’ve seen the original series so many times, if I hear a song from any of the 121 episodes, I can pinpoint exactly when the song is featured in the series. The episode, the background information, what’s happening. Everything. 

It’s a gift and a curse. 

Which is why I’m über excited about HBO Max’s reboot which is set to be released later this year! Taking place eight years after the original CW series ended in 2012, this version of Gossip Girl is set to bring a well-deserved dose of reality to the UES. This time around, we’re seeing our favorite New York hot spots and best fashion moments through a modern lens, which has me shaking for more. 

Some of the stars of the reboot include Canadian actress and singer Jordan Alexander, American actress Emily Alyn Lind, NYU Tisch School of the Arts newcomer Savannah Smith and 

model turned influencer turned actor Evan Mock. These are just a handful of some of the new stars that will be featured in the show. It’s already shaping up to look much more diverse than the original cast which has me feeling ecstatic. 

The one thing I always hated while watching Gossip Girl growing up was how overwhelmingly white the series was. They had two non-white supporting roles and they were never given the screen time they so rightly deserved! However, the newer version of Gossip Girl promises to be very queer, full of powerful women, have *real* discussions of gender roles and to show off how diverse New York City (and the UES for that matter) truly is. 

In a recent interview with Dazed Magazine, cast member Whitney Peak mentions how “There’s a lot of representation, which I can’t say we saw a lot of in the first one. It’s dope being able to see people who look like you and who are interested in the same things, and who happen to be in entertainment, because it’s so influential and obviously reflective of the times.” 

I, for one, cannot wait to see characters that look like me on the Gossip Girl set this time around. I’m also looking forward to centralized stories on the LGBTQ+ community that were not touched upon during the original series. It’s going to be refreshing to see a new set of rich high schoolers tackle today’s issues on race, gender identity and sexuality in a new and nuanced way. 

However, something I’m most excited about is the fashion and looks the show is bound to give. The cast was able to work with costume designer Eric Daman, who was a mainstay in the original series. From what I’ve seen so far with teasers, fashion will be just as integral to the story as it was back in 2007. Gossip Girl’s influence is already taking over the fashion world by storm, with Alice + Oliva’s F/2 2021 collection being inspired by the show itself. From the matching sets in plaid reminiscent of Blair and Serena’s days at Constance Billard’s to the edgy leather jackets and pleated leather skirts that are calling Jenny Humphrey’s name as we speak, I can’t wait to take it all in as Gossip Girl once again rules our TV screens. 

 As I impatiently wait for the reboot to be available on HBO Max, I will stick to what I know and love best:  re-watching the original series for the umpteenth time. 

Until then, you know you love me. 

xoxo

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