Dare Devil (Gossip Girl)
| Industry | Television |
|---|---|
| Founded | September 19, 2007 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Television series |
The debut season of the American teen drama series Gossip Girl made its first appearance on The CW network on September 19, 2007, and wrapped up on May 19, 2008, comprising a total of 18 episodes. Adapted from the book series authored by Cecily von Ziegesar, the television adaptation was crafted by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. The storyline revolves around Serena van der Woodsen’s enigmatic return to Manhattan’s Upper East Side, closely monitored by the secretive online persona known as Gossip Girl.
Initially, the first 13 episodes were broadcast on Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. on The CW, with most episodes debuting a day earlier in Canada via CTV. Following the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, the schedule shifted, moving the remaining episodes to Mondays at 8:00 p.m. Warner Home Video later issued the season in a five-disc DVD collection titled Gossip Girl: The Complete First Season on August 19, 2008. Prior to airing, the pilot episode was available as a complimentary download on iTunes, while subsequent episodes could be purchased after their television premiere.
Plot
This season centers on Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) as she returns to the Upper East Side amid intrigue and scandal, under constant surveillance by the ever-present blogger Gossip Girl. Her arrival unsettles Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester), especially when it emerges that Serena had a clandestine encounter with Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford) before her departure, straining Blair’s relationship with Nate. This revelation ignites tension between Serena and Blair but eventually leads to their reconciliation. Meanwhile, siblings Dan (Penn Badgley) and Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen) from Brooklyn are drawn into the elite social circles of their peers; Jenny becomes Blair’s protégé while Dan pursues a romantic relationship with Serena, mirroring the past romance between their parents Rufus (Matthew Settle) and Lily (Kelly Rutherford).
The bond between Blair and Nate deteriorates as Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick) entices Blair, while the scheming Georgina Sparks (Michelle Trachtenberg), masquerading as "Sarah," arrives to stir chaos by revealing Serena’s dark secrets—including a presumed fatal incident—and disrupting her relationships. Blair develops feelings for Chuck but loses Nate’s friendship; ultimately, Chuck abandons her when she shows vulnerability.
Dan reconnects with his childhood friend Vanessa Abrams (Jessica Szohr), who challenges his feelings for Serena until he admits his genuine love for her. By the season finale, the Upper East Side community unites to expose Georgina and force her out of New York City. Serena leaves with Nate for the Hamptons; Chuck departs after leaving Blair heartbroken; Dan reconciles with Vanessa and returns to Brooklyn; Jenny breaks away from Blair’s circle and lands a fashion internship at Blair’s mother’s company.
Main
- Blake Lively as Serena van der Woodsen
- Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf
- Penn Badgley as Dan Humphrey
- Chace Crawford as Nate Archibald
- Taylor Momsen as Jenny Humphrey
- Ed Westwick as Chuck Bass
- Jessica Szohr as Vanessa Abrams
- Kelly Rutherford as Lily van der Woodsen
- Matthew Settle as Rufus Humphrey
- Kristen Bell as the voice of Gossip Girl (uncredited)
Recurring
- Sam Robards in the role of Howard Archibald
- Connor Paolo portraying Eric van der Woodsen
- Nicole Fiscella as Isabel Coates
- Nan Zhang playing Kati Farkas
- Zuzanna Szadkowski as Dorota Kishlovsky
- Robert John Burke in the role of Bart Bass
- Margaret Colin portraying Eleanor Waldorf
- Michelle Hurd as Laurel
- Jill Flint playing Bex Simon
- Francie Swift as Anne Archibald
- Susan Misner portraying Alison Humphrey
- Amanda Setton as Penelope Shafai
- Dreama Walker playing Hazel Williams
Guest
- Sebastian Stan as Carter Baizen
- John Shea portraying Harold Waldorf
- Caroline Lagerfelt as CeCe Rhodes
- William Abadie in the role of Roman
- Linda Emond as Headmistress Queller
- Michelle Trachtenberg portraying Georgina Sparks
- Yin Chang as Nelly Yuki
- Jesse Swenson playing Asher Hornsby
Episodes
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Casting
The first season introduced nine principal characters with top billing. Blake Lively starred as Serena van der Woodsen, a prominent Upper East Side socialite returning from an unexplained period at boarding school. Kelly Rutherford took on the role of Lily van der Woodsen, Serena’s mother and a socialite with multiple divorces. Leighton Meester portrayed Blair Waldorf, the series’ central character and Serena’s closest friend. Penn Badgley played Dan Humphrey, an outsider from a middle-class background, while Matthew Settle appeared as his father Rufus, a former rock musician turned art dealer. Taylor Momsen acted as Jenny, Dan’s younger sister who is a freshman striving to enter the elite social circle. Chace Crawford took on Nate Archibald, Blair’s boyfriend who harbors feelings for Serena, and Ed Westwick portrayed Chuck Bass, a notorious womanizer and "bad boy." Initially cast as a guest star, Jessica Szohr was promoted to main cast status as Vanessa Abrams, Dan’s childhood friend.
The voice of "Gossip Girl," whose blog shapes much of the Upper East Side's social dynamics, was provided by Kristen Bell. Recurring roles included Connor Paolo as Eric van der Woodsen, Serena’s brother recovering in rehab after a suicide attempt; Margaret Colin replacing Florencia Lozano from the pilot to play Blair’s mother Eleanor Waldorf; and Michelle Trachtenberg as Georgina Sparks, a figure from Serena’s history. Nate’s parents were portrayed by Sam Robards and Francie Swift. Blair’s close friends consisted of Nicole Fiscella in the role of Isabel Coates and Nan Zhang as Kati Farkas; Zhang departed to pursue neuroscience studies but returned during season 4. Yin Chang replaced Kati with the character Nelly Yuki. Additional members of Blair’s group were Amanda Setton (Penelope Shafai), Dreama Walker (Hazel Williams), and Emma Demar (Elise Wells).
Notable recurring guest appearances included Zuzanna Szadkowski as Blair’s maid Dorota Kishlovsky; Robert John Burke portraying Chuck’s wealthy father Bart Bass; Susan Misner as Alison Humphrey, Rufus's estranged wife; John Shea playing Harold Waldorf, Blair’s father; and William Abadie in the role of Roman, Harold's partner.
Crew
The production of this season involved Warner Bros. Television, Alloy Entertainment, and College Hill Pictures. The executive production team featured the series creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, along with Bob Levy and Leslie Morgenstein. Co-executive producers were K.J. Steinberg and Felicia D. Henderson, while Joe Lazarov and Jessica Queller took on producer roles. Amy Kaufman acted as producer, Jonathan C. Brody as co-producer, and Joshua Safran contributed as consulting producer.
The writing staff comprised Schwartz, Savage, Henderson, Safran, Lenn K. Rosenfeld, Queller, Steinberg, and Paul Sciarrotta. Regular directors included Mark Piznarski, J. Miller Tobin, Patrick Norris, Norman Buckley, Tony Wharmby, and Michael Fields.
Reception
Based on a The New York Times bestselling novel series, the show entered the 2007–2008 television season with significant anticipation. An OTX survey conducted in August 2007 placed it among the top ten new programs recognized by viewers. The pilot episode garnered an audience of 3.50 million during its initial broadcast after being offered as a complimentary iTunes download. However, viewership declined steadily, falling to 2.48 million by the second episode and reaching a season low of 1.81 million by episode eleven. After the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike concluded, the series shifted its timeslot from Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. to Mondays at 8:00 p.m., with the final five episodes airing in this new slot. The finale saw an increase in ratings, attracting 3.00 million viewers. Strong performance on digital video recorders and ranking within the top five on iTunes sales contributed to the show's financial success.
Author Cecily von Ziegesar expressed support for the adaptation, confirming that key plot elements remained intact in the pilot episode. The second installment earned commendation from New York for its authentic portrayal of social environments and locales such as Williamsburg and Midtown Manhattan, emphasizing its cultural significance. In April 2008, New York magazine crowned Gossip Girl as "Best. Show. Ever." Additional favorable reviews came from Variety, the Boston Globe, The Washington Post, and the San Francisco Chronicle, particularly praising creator Josh Schwartz for his sophisticated storytelling and inventive use of a blog as a narrative framework.
The series attracted criticism over mature themes considered unsuitable for its teenage demographic, notably from the Parents Television Council (PTC). The PTC condemned its provocative "OMFG" advertising campaign and designated the episode "Victor, Victrola" as the worst program aired that week. Their concerns focused on storylines that appeared to glamorize casual sex and drug use among adolescents, including sensitive topics such as sexual assault and relationships between adults and teens. Although some observers pointed out that the content was less explicit than typical MTV programming, worries regarding graphic scenes remained.
Some critics questioned the realism of certain plotlines, characterizing the show more as a guilty pleasure than a must-watch for business professionals studying television trends or strategies for engaging youth audiences.
DVD release
Warner Home Video issued the DVD for the first season in the United States on August 19, 2008, shortly after the series aired on television. This collection features all 18 episodes along with additional material such as deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and a downloadable audiobook.
| Gossip Girl: The Complete First Season | ||||
| Set details | Special features | |||
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| Release dates | ||||
| Template:USA | Template:CAN | Template:UK | Template:AUS | |
| August 19, 2008 | August 18, 2008 | April 15, 2009 | ||
External links
- Episode guide for Gossip Girl season one on IMDb]