And so, my search for a new show that eryslash  and fiorediloto  can squee over begins. As so many of you kindly suggested Gossip Girl, this is where our world tour kicked off. Unfortunately, the escapades of the Upper East Siders (plus, Rufus, Dan & Little Jen) didn't really grab the imaginations of fiore & ery. And in fact, I think it seemed to have ery  wanting to storm the barricades to declare some kind of class war on the idle rich. It's a shame - I'm a big fan of Josh Schwartz from the The OC days which I thought was the best teen drama EVER, but I also know that if a show doesn't grab you, there's no point pressing on. The plan is to give each show 2 eps but it got such a strong reaction, we agreed to press on.

Still, rewatching the pilot ep was fun for me, seeing everyone back before they developed all their shadings and layers (although hints were there). Makes me want to spend one of my holiday free days catching up with s2. Still rather shocking seeing the initial version of Chuck as a would-be rapist again. Not hard to see why they dropped THAT aspect of his character when they picked it up for the season. Hard to see where that could have gone, really.  Serena even then was effortless awesome and Blair I wavered between wanting to give a hug to and/or a smack. Dan annoyed me but that may be coloured by later experience of Dan. I am sure when i first saw this episode back when it aired, I didn't hate him on sight.Also, the settings is total location porn and as such, glorious. Like the total rube I am, I kept excitedly shouting "I've BEEN there!!" at stuff like Bendel's. It makes me want to go back to New York. Maybe one day  I will, should the Pound ever recover from its million year slump.

Anyway, looks like it's a renewed 'yes' from me as far as Gossip Girl goes but a definite "no" as a group. Not even me pointing out how Chuck is plainly hot for Nate (and he sooo is) could save it. So then, next step Leverage.

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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!