Ah, who cares. The important thing is that I have found it now. Oh I love it! I've seen the first four episodes and am totally in to it. Each episode makes me want to leave my drab, rainfilled, industrial town and move to New York, pronto and go shopping in Bergdorf Goodmans. And drink again in the bar in Grand Central.  This never happened whilst watching The O.C., Josh Schwartz's previous work. A lot of the fun for me in Gossip Girl is seeing echoes of that earlier show in these characters, though. Chuck especially reminds me of a twisted version of Seth, for instance in his near hero worship of his best friend. Speaking of Chuck, I am counting down the episodes before he decides he's gay (I'm mostly basing this on his obsession with getting Blair to sleep with Nate so he can hear all the details and his jealousy over the "Sasquatch" stealing him) . Still, if so it isn't going to be nearly enough to make me forgive the date rapist side to him.  Also, Dan's Dad is totally Sandy Cohen! Who in turn was the best TV dad ever.

The only thing that gets on my nerves is the eponymous Gossip Girl, in the form of those voiceovers. Ak. I blame Carrie Bradhsaw for this fad of sticking voiceovers in shows. I am sure it is supposed to be adding witty, sardonic commentary but as in Desperate Housewives, it just takes me out of the moment. Plus, again as with DH, the speaker is glib, smug and annoying as hell. Shut UP, Gossip Girl - NO Hugs, NO kisses from me to you. But it's a minor quibble. Even though I am predisposed to liking school stories (I think Mallory Towers had a big impact on me), this show rocks. Sigh! I love it when I fall in love with a new show!