'Gossip Girl': Everyone's got a secret

The most popular accessory on "Gossip Girl" isn't a Dior bag or a Chanel necklace — it's a secret. When they're not festering inside an angst-ridden teenager, they're being exposed by a relentless enemy or flaunted proudly by shameless lovers. And like the shiny, pricey things on this show, these secrets look good. Last night, secrets were spilled as if they were going out of style. Who wore theirs best?

Scott Adler/Rossen: The cat's out of the bag — at least for Vanessa. After being caught in a lie, Scott is forced to confess his true identity as Rufus and Lily's long-lost son. V is supportive, as expected, and is willing to stand by him when he reveals his secret to Rufus. After a surprise appearance at Sotheby's by his adoptive mom, Scott chickens out and instead tells Rufus that he's the brother of their "dead" son.

Secrets Style Rank: Beginner. The last secret this guy kept was where he hid his soccer teammate's shin guards. His clever plan is about to get foiled by Georgina.

Georgina Sparks: Blair may have lowered her guard around her roommate, but G's plots to bring B down haven't quite ended. She tricked B into thinking she was invited to a secret society and Chuck into thinking he could win hotelier Sean MacPherson's favor by buying a photograph. G's secret was exposed by Serena, who is now Georgina's new target.

Secrets Style Rank: Professional. G is all sorts of cray-cray. She's willing to travel to Boston to find out more about Scott's secret and is probably hatching a plan to win Dan back.

Blair and Chuck: The couple can't help but show their love and concern through schemes so it was natural that they both set up Carter as a liar and cheat.

Secrets Style Rank: Hall of Fame. Not only have they mastered the art of exposing and keeping secrets, they also have made it look effortless and, most of all, fun. 

Carter Baizen: His untrustworthy sneer would give any girl pause, but, for once, he was the victim. Serena may have taken him back, but Carter's run-in with Bree Buckley hinted that there's still more to learn about him.

Secrets Style Rank: Intermediate. Carter may have some tricks up his sleeve, but I get the feeling he's not as smooth as he'd like to be. Stealing a boat in Santorini? A real pro would have borrowed a cigarette from a Niarchos.

Bree Buckley: Her forbidden tryst with Nate is now in the open thanks to their paparazzi-documented PDA. What has yet to be revealed is Carter's relationship to her family and how she plans to use him to get back in their good graces.

Secrets Style Rank: Intermediate. Bree is as sly as any girl with her resources, but she's too focused on her specific goal to do much harm. Well, that is, if you don't count breaking Nate's heart.

Whose secret sparked your interest?

xoxo

— Enid Portuguez

Photo: The CW

'Gossip Girl': Freshman orientation

And so it begins: "Gossip Girl" began its first week at college last night and I felt as nervous as a freshman. So many things can go wrong when a show takes its ensemble cast outside of its original element. Who will the characters meet? What will they experience? Will they flourish in college or was high school as good as it gets? Will people like them in this new environment? These were the questions that ran through both the characters' and the viewers' (OK, mostly this viewer's) minds throughout the episode.

The show attempted to quell our fears by bringing us back to some basics. College is about starting a clean slate and finding one's niche. As Dan, Blair and Vanessa usher in their freshman year at NYU, they confront the question that pops into every newbie's mind when stepping foot on campus: Where do I belong?

The question is pondered most obsessively by Blair. Determined to continue her Queen B status in college, she parades into the dorms with sushi, sake and gift bags, with hopes of buying her way into the hearts and psyches of her fellow freshmen. She ends up falling flat, mostly thanks to her roommate, the irrepressible Georgina Sparks. I admit, I like seeing Blair flail. Queen B is wickedly fun, but she's always so much better when her chips are down. We get to see another layer of B, one that feels empty and vulnerable without a headband-clad army to lead, and she's going to have to step up her game or expand her horizons if she wants to be liked.

'Gossip Girl': Season premiere welcomes us back

Wow, what a difference a summer makes! "Gossip Girl" returned from summer break last night and boy, have some things changed.

For one, the Humphreys have seriously upgraded. With Rufus and Lily engaged, the two families have begun to merge starting with a summer together in the Hamptons and a move from Brooklyn to the Upper East Side. Lily's absence is a little strange (Kelly Rutherford is on maternity leave for three episodes), but she's made sure to leave lots of cash and posh society events to ease the Humphreys on their transition.

I must admit that seeing Rufus, Dan and Jenny ensconced in the Van der Woodsen's fancy apartment and at the polo fields was an adjustment. Their arty loft and bohemian existence was part of their charm; they weren't like the others, but now they too will be privileged. Dan with a wallet full of cash? Jenny dressed in labels other than her own? Even though embracing their new lifestyle (not to mention the discovery of Lily and Rufus' love child, Scott) will be rife with conflict for both the Humphreys and Van der Woodsens, I still felt just as Vanessa had when she saw Dan climbing into that limo—bittersweet and somewhat betrayed.

I'll get over it so long as I get equal doses of Chuck and Blair. Now three months into a full blown relationship, the couple already feels the need to spice things up with role playing games. Chuck plays the cheater (yeah, that's a stretch!) who flirts and seduces a handpicked victim while Blair swoops in as the scorned lover. The idea was totally borrowed from "Sex and the City" (remember the beginning of Samantha and Smith's courtship?), but it's also very Blair and Chuck. As expected, the thought of continuing a pretend open relationship begins to wane for B, especially since her billionaire boyfriend would be more than willing to turn fantasy into reality. Chuck's whole "I just want you to be happy" shtick is still cute. He clearly adores Blair to death, but he leaves just enough smoldering looks to keep us wondering. I'm looking forward to seeing how this relationship progresses.

Meanwhile, the only thing Nate's changed this summer is his hairstyle. He returns from a trip to Europe liplocked with the pretty Bree Buckley, whose family turns out to be political rivals with his. She's no married duchess, but it's another case of forbidden love for Mr. Archibald. He is still bent on rebelling from his grandfather's wishes for him, and dating the enemy is his way of making that point.

Serena also emerges from the summer as her usual secretive self. She returns from a jaunt in Europe with paparazzi in tow and a stack of tabloids chronicling her every move. It initially seems as though Bad Serena is back, but we all know her highway of crazy behavior is always paved with good intentions. Her over-the-top schemes to attract the paps aren't for personal publicity but rather for the purpose of haunting her father, who refused to see her in Europe. Only Carter Baizen, Serena's latest love interest, knows her true agenda.

Overall, my mind wasn't blown by the premiere, but the season's only just begun. Bring on the drama!

What are your thoughts on the season premiere? Does wealth agree with the Humphreys? Will Chuck and Blair's love last? What do you think of Serena's secret?

— Enid Portuguez

Photo: The CW

'Gossip Girl': Countdown to tonight's premiere

The day has finally arrived: Season 3 of "Gossip Girl" premieres tonight! But before we dive back into another year of juicy hookups and scandals, let's catch up on where the Upper East Siders left off.

What's happened so far:

-- When we last saw the "Gossip" gang, all except for Jenny and Eric had graduated from high school. Blair, Dan and Vanessa head downtown to attend college at NYU while Nate stays uptown at Columbia, Serena goes to Brown and Chuck prepares to run Bass Industries.

--Chuck sates our appetites by declaring his love for Blair. Who could forget the final scene of last season's cinematic finale when he uttered the three words we have been waiting two years to hear? Swoon.

--Lily and Rufus get engaged, which means Dan, Serena, Jenny, Chuck and Eric will be step-siblings. Lily-Rufus fans rejoiced when Rufus slipped the concert wristband around Lily's finger while Dan-Serena supporters mourned any hopes that those two will ever reignite their love.

--Georgina Sparks shows her devious side after a short stint as a born-again Christian. After losing her Bible camp money during that Gabriel-Poppy debacle, Georgina returns with a bone to pick with Blair. Her plan for revenge? Signing up to be Blair's roommate at NYU.

--Before Serena jet sets to Europe for the summer, we learn she's been on a quest to locate her father and Carter Baizen has been the guy helping her. Their mysterious tryst in Santorini is explained and Carter informs Serena that her dad has been found in Fiji.

--Last but certainly not least, Jenny is anointed the coveted crown of Queen Bee. Her first rule of order: no more headbands.

And now for what we can expect...

[Updated]: 'Gossip Girl': Gina Torres to play Vanessa's mom

Vanessa does have parents! Gina Torres ("Alias," "Firefly") has signed on to play Vanessa's mother, Gabriela Abrams.

It sounds as though Gabriela, described as a former Brooklynite who's defected to Vermont, will have more of a role in Vanessa's life than previously thought (V, after all, has been living by herself in Brooklyn all this time). Torres will appear in two episodes this season, but definitely expect Mrs. Abrams to be a recurring character in the series.

Don't forget to mark your calendars! Season 3 of "Gossip Girl" starts on Sept. 14.

--  Enid Portuguez

[Updated]: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that "Gossip Girl" returns Sept. 16. The new season premieres Sept. 14.

Photo: Gina Torres in "Firefly." Credit: Michael Lavine / Fox

'Gossip Girl': Hilary Duff rings in freshman year

The news that Hilary Duff is joining "Gossip Girl" for a multi-episode arc next season has me super excited for the "Gossip" gang's freshman year of college. Duff will play Olivia, a former child-star who enrolls at NYU and happens to get placed as Vanessa's roommate. Her main purpose, however, is to serve as a love interest for Dan, who's obviously got a thing for blonds. Duff makes her debut on the Oct. 5 episode.

Nate is also getting a new love in former "Privileged" star Joanna Garcia, who signed on to play Southern belle Bree Buckley for four episodes. Aside from Vanessa, Nate has yet to date a good girl, so I won't be surprised if Bree has a mean streak. She'll first appear on the season premiere on Sept. 14.

Other things to look forward to in September: Georgina and Blair as roommates, Chuck and Blair as an official couple, Chuck's immersion into the world of Bass Industries and Dan's first keg stand. OK, I made the last one up, but the writers would be silly not to include some embarrassing frat party high jinks.

How do you envision the "Gossip Girl" gang's freshman year? Are you excited to see Hilary Duff and Joanna Garcia on the show?

— Enid Portuguez

Critic's Notebook: 'Gossip Girl' at season's end

The post-collegiate high school students of "Gossip Girl" made it through their second season Monday night -- and, for most of them, their senior year -- with a graduation ceremony, a couple of parties and a shower of nasty revelations (old news to us but fresh to the general population of Constance Billiard/St. Jude’s) that had no effect at all on anyone’s social standing.

The low-rated but pop-culturally potent CW series is the Tiffany of teenage soaps, an absurdly eventful drama with a magazine-cover cast that dresses romantic striving and the occasional naughty thrill in high-fashion threads and excellent Manhattan locations. Like most shows about high school, or at least the ones that feature actors old enough that we don’t mind watching them pretend to have sex (with each other, and with adults), it is not about high school so much as a state of being, a world of new experiences its viewers are either living through, looking forward to, or nostalgic for.

When the series began, Blake Lively’s Serena looked like the lead, in part because Lively is so physically formidable and in part because her storyline (bad girl going good, dating the boy from the wrong side of the East River) most obviously promised struggle and transformation. But it’s Leighton Meester’s self-centered Blair who has emerged as the most valuable player.

This has much to do with Meester, a subtle actress who makes Blair layered and likable -- not as a character you love to hate but one driven by familiar if much magnified needs. (She wants to be loved, is the bottom line.) We feel her pain, if we feel anyone’s. At the same time, she’s the only one of the principal characters who seems capable of delight. (There is also much comedy in her scheming and in her frustration.) Everyone else goes through endless cycles of pique and relief as they continually betray one another’s trust. But they only simmer, where Blair burns.

She knows what she wants, her friends have no particular vision for their life. (I am unconvinced by the notion of Dan Humphrey as a literary tyro.) It doesn’t matter that the things she wants are sometimes only the things she believes she is supposed to want, like going to Yale. And although she’s forced into endless detours by the requirements of the television serial in which she lives, she stays remarkably focused.

Her obsession with Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick) is a little harder to credit, given that character’s almost ludicrous, self-styled "badness," but it came to a head Monday night as Chuck proved to be a romantic in cynic’s clothing. He had been keeping himself from Blair only for her own good. (No longer a concern apparently.) Their end-of-episode coming together saw him normally happy and smiling for once and gave Westwick a chance to use facial muscles the series had not required of him.

Their union was prompted in part by an e-mail blast (delivered during graduation) that, among other things, called Blair weak and Chuck cowardly and reminded the viewer that for all intents and purposes the supernaturally knowing Gossip Girl is also the show’s moral authority. (The show sells titillation, but ultimately it’s quite proper.) When Serena (Blake Lively) took it upon herself to attempt to discover her identity, she and her friends found themselves staring into a mirror: You are Gossip Girl, they were all texted. You make me possible. Heavy, like an art movie in which the hunted rips the mask from the face of the hunter to find that it is his own. But true.

-- Robert Lloyd

'Gossip Girl': Season finale says, 'I love you too'

Ahh, high school graduation. The season finale of "Gossip Girl" reminded us that we can leave the awkwardness and angst of those four years behind, but will they ever really leave us? Gossip Girl was right: We're all Gossip Girls. It's why we're all so addicted to this show! Graduation time always make me a little anxious about the future of my favorite teen dramas, but I'll talk about that later. The showdown must go on!

We began the episode with the gang dressed in caps and gowns (except for Serena, who is clearly too cool to wear a cap or close her gown), preparing to embark on the ceremony that will officially relieve them from the bonds of high school. But before they get to turn their tassels, Gossip Girl goes on a rampage. No one is exempt, especially the soon-to-be-irrelevant Serena. S, who whines about the tabloid attention yet secretly fears a life without it, decides enough is enough; it's time to take the elusive Gossip Girl down.

We all know there's no show if the mystery of its namesake is revealed, so consider yourself fooled if you thought that secret was coming out. We did, however, get some hints as to who she (or he — loved how they tried to make us think it was Eric's boyfriend Jonathan) could be. After scouring through her archives for, oh, five minutes, Serena, Blair, Nate and Chuck were able to deduce that GG is likely their age and had attended either of their schools. Those guesses hold even more weight now that we know GG will be following them through college. Whoever it is clearly has the wits to outsmart Serena, which really isn't saying very much.

While Serena was busy saving the world from the wretched hands of Gossip Girl, Blair was on a mission of her own. After her last attempt to pry those three words from Chuck's mouth, one would hope B would hang her headband and call it a day. Her relentlessness is admirable, but after attempt No. 5 went unrequited, I was ready to gag her with those German stockings. My ill feelings did wash away with that last scene, where a very effective soundtrack by Shiny Toy Guns ushered in a new era of Chuck and Blair. Was that a smile on Chuck's face? I was seriously beside myself.

So what stories do we have to look forward to next season? Rufus and Lily's engagement and the merging of the Humphrey and Van der Woodsen-Bass households will be interesting, as will the appearance of the couple's long-lost son, Scott. Georgina's enrollment at NYU along with Dan, Vanessa and Blair (who, by the way, I don't believe for a second would ever live in a dorm) should shake things up. Serena's search for her father could also reveal some juicy secrets about her family's past, and lastly, let's not forget about the reign of Queen Little J.

As I mentioned before, the thought of the "Gossip Girl" gang graduating gave me some anxiety about the future of the show. Post-West Beverly, the 90210 crew enjoyed seven more years on the air, all of which were filled with mediocrity and melodrama. "The OC" and "Dawson's Creek" couldn't stay afloat after the caps were tossed, and "One Tree Hill" had to flash forward four years to keep things interesting. Need we even talk about "Saved by the Bell: The College Years"?

My point is that the show's writers and producers have quite the daunting task ahead of them. Outside the cloistered confines of high school, these characters can go a hundred different ways, most of which have led their predecessors toward repetitious and lazy story lines, bland-new love interests and the clichéd "shocking death." The "Gossip Girl" gang has already bedded teachers, avoided jail time and mastered the art of ordering a martini — what else is left to learn in college? We know these kids can't stay young forever and another guilty pleasure will eventually pop up in its place, so until then, we'll bask in the colorful wardrobe, the bitchy one-liners and, of course, the never-ending gossip that it has graced us so far.

Were you satisfied with the season finale? Who do you think is the real Gossip Girl? What story lines are you looking forward to next season?

It's going to be a loooong summer. 

xoxo

—Enid Portuguez

Photo: The CW

'Gossip Girl': The '80s gagged us with a spoon

OMG, that "Gossip Girl" episode was totally awesome to the max.

Ever since news broke that "Gossip Girl" was planning an '80s flashback episode as well as an '80s-inspired spinoff centered on a young Lily van der Woodsen, I have been anticipating what was sure to be an hour-long spectacle of tulle, neon and Flock of Seagulls hair.  On Monday night, we got our share of tulle and neon — not so much Flock of Seagulls hair, thankfully — but most importantly, we got a juicy glimpse into Lily's past. As fun as it was to escape the Upper East Side for one episode, I'm still on the fence about this possible spinoff (apparently, so is the CW). Here's what I love and what I don't love about it:

What I love:

— Um, duh, the fashion. Young Lily's outfit montage was as amazing as the one she decided to wear. Since '80s looks are currently back in style, there is no doubt that cropped jacket, those lace leggings and the tiered skirt will be hitting Melrose Avenue, like, now.

— The younger Cece Rhodes.  From her judgmental squint to the snooty inflection in her voice, Cynthia Watros ("Lost") nailed Cece. Plus, I believe Cece could and would channel her own oceanside version of "Dynasty" by combining Krystle Carrington's look with Alexis' attitude.

— Andrew McCarthy. "Lipstick Jungle" was all wrong for him. With this spinoff, he'd be back where he belongs — in the '80s!

— A look into Lily's past. We saw how she met Serena and Eric's tool of a father, Keith van der Woodsen, but how did she end up marrying him? How did Lily meet Rufus? Where is present-day Carol Rhodes and what is she up to now? These are questions that the episode left me asking and that the spinoff could help answer.

— No Doubt as a band called Snowed Out. If future band cameos will be as awesomely named as that, I'm all for it.

What I don't love:

— Inconsistencies. Do our eyes somehow grow darker as we age? Because young Lily is clearly sporting baby blues while modern-day Lily's eyes are brown.

— Tepid cast chemistry. Aside from Cece and Rick Rhodes, I wasn't too thrilled with the casting of young Lily and Carol's band of outsiders. Owen looked like a cross between Ed Westwick and Zack Efron, not some Valley rebel who is supposed to rock Lily's world.  Keith van der Woodsen seemed mediocre at best, and Shep was just plain odd. If the spinoff wants to earn as much hype as "Gossip Girl," it's going to have to give us a more dynamic group.

—The '80s concept. As much as I love the wacky fashion and the New Wave soundtrack, would anybody in "Gossip Girl's" target demographic care about a decade they barely remember or better yet weren't even alive to witness? I know there are lots of fans (me included) who do appreciate '80s kitsch, but is it enough to keep a series going? Then again, "That '70s Show" did pretty well...

With my attention fully focused on the flashbacks, it was difficult to concentrate on the regular "Gossip Girl" story. Serena's defiant act of staying in jail evoked nothing short of apathy and the gang's prom turned out to be as flat as the girls' plan to make Nelly Yuki prom queen. The best scene belonged to Chuck, whose covert efforts to give Blair her dream prom were too sweet for words. Now that Blair and Nate have decided to part ways, is it time for Chuck to make his own dreams come true?

Time for your thoughts. Did you love or hate the '80s flashbacks? Would you watch the spinoff based on this episode?

 xoxo

— Enid Portuguez

Photo: The CW

'Gossip Girl': WWJD? He'd bring evil Georgina back

You know the end of "Gossip Girl's" season is near when the drama starts flowing like puns out of Blair's mouth. Monday night's episode was jam-packed with events, including the gang's attempted takedown of Poppy Lifton, Serena's arrest, Chuck's profession of love for Blair, Rufus' failed proposal to Lily and Georgina's return to the dark side. Must. Break. For air. Raise your hand if your head spun a little at the end of that hour.

I admit, I spent half of the episode feeling exasperated at Serena and Lily. After Gabriel's Ponzi scheme unraveled, a guilt-ridden Serena believed she can recover the millions of dollars that her mother and others had invested just by asking for it. S successfully tricked Gabriel, who clearly isn't much of a professional thief, into meeting her and explaining the entire scam. But the only setback was that Gabriel didn't have the money; Poppy, the mastermind of the operation, did. Thankfully, Serena didn't fall for Gabriel's pathetic apology in which he insisted he truly did fall in love with her. Riiiight.  

Still, S didn't think it was time to call the authorities. Dan, ever the sensible one, disagreed and told Lily about her and Rufus' bad investment. Fearful that the scandal would ruin Serena's reputation, she decided to not report Gabriel or Poppy and pay back each investor out of her own pocket. To make matters worse, Lily set aside a special payment plan for Rufus which would give him monthly dividends and lead him to believe he was really profiting from an investment. This was where I desperately wanted to shake her. Why punish the crooks when you have enough money to make the whole disaster disappear? And did she really think Rufus was too stupid to find out? His son was the one who informed her of the whole scam! From that moment on, I sided with S and the rest of the gang's Scooby-Doo plan to catch Poppy red-handed.

Enter Georgina, whose Bible-bouncer act brought nothing but smiles to my face all night. Her job seemed simple enough: serve as bait for a Poppy on the prowl. As soon as Poppy's solicitation was recorded, she'd be handed to the cops for her Madoff moment. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. Georgina held up her end of the bargain but made the mistake of using her Bible camp's money as collateral. The police did arrive, but they were called by Lily and sent to arrest Serena, not Poppy. Blair believed Georgina had set up the whole arrest and unleashed one of her trademark verbal lashings: "You're evil. I know it. You know it. And God knows it, too." Aww, snap! God bless B for waking the dormant beast. I can't wait for Georgina to show B how a real bitch gets things done.

The drama didn't end there. In matters of love on this episode, I can only say that I'm grateful I didn't have a table nearby to pound my head on. Lily's financial gaffe and rash decision to have Serena arrested spoiled Rufus' proposal, which was a bummer but I believe is still salvageable. Next week's '80s flashback will give us more insight into Lily's reasoning, and we hope, some redemption on her part with Rufus.

The real upsetting moment occurred between Blair and Chuck. For anyone who is a fan of the couple, it was a watershed moment. Blair gave Chuck one last time to say those three little words and yet again, he failed to deliver. This time, it wasn't because he couldn't say or didn't mean it. He let her go because he wasn't ready and loved her too much to continue to put her through the ringer. It's likely B won't be barking up that tree for a while, which will either set us up for more tension between them or a period void of witty Blair-Chuck repartee (I'm crossing my fingers for the former). As for Nate, B wisely chose to not move in with him. At least we got one wish granted.

What did you think of this drama-filled episode? Did you agree with Serena or Lily? Did Chuck make the right decision to let Blair go?

xoxo

-- Enid Portuguez

Photo: The CW