'Gossip Girl': The doctor is in

William Baldwin made his long-awaited "Gossip Girl" debut Monday night as Serena's M.I.A. dad Dr. William van der Woodsen. The verdict? He's just what the doctor ordered.

With William's return came an explanation for Lily's shady behavior: she's sick with what we can assume is a form of cancer ... or so she thinks. If we could infer anything from the last five minutes of the episode, it would be that William is trying to worm his way back into his former family's lives by duping Lily into thinking she's sicker than she is. Now we know where Eric gets his knack for manipulation!

It was frustrating that for such a serious sounding illness, no one had questions about when and how Lily found out she was sick. The good doctor couldn't even offer a name for her condition, let alone specific treatments or symptoms. I know this isn't "Grey's Anatomy," but if you're going to con your family into thinking you're the only person who can treat this ominous disease, at the very least throw in some polysyllabic words for them to wrap their heads around. Serena's blank stare alone should have been a clue as to how effective that tactic would be.

'Gossip Girl': From Russia with love

I admit I'm a sucker for weddings, and Dorota's and Vanya's "Gossip Girl" nuptials last night got me especially verklempt. Perhaps it was their commitment to keeping their Eastern European traditions alive or the fact that they're the happiest, most genuine couple on the show. I'm glad someone got her happy ending, and I'm even more glad that that someone was Dorota.

The same thing could not be said about Blair and Chuck. The damage from last week's deception was irreparable despite Chuck's lame attempt at groveling and Blair's efforts to forgive him and herself. I love this couple more than anyone, but they're clearly moving in opposite directions. For Blair (and most girls, really), harsh life lessons sink in immediately. She realized that although she and Chuck are cut from the same cloth, he doesn't bring out the best in her and her feelings for him were too strong to make that pairing remotely healthy. Does Blair Waldorf really want a normal, honest relationship? Leighton Meester did a pretty good job of making me believe so!

Chuck, on the other hand, is all about the quick fix. He's so emotionally stunted that growth comes at a slower pace. When life gets tough, he'll work at getting things back to status quo but doesn't often notice that others around him have changed. He wasn't solely to blame for the Jack Bass debacle, but he's kidding himself to think that after trading her for his hotel, Blair would forgive and forget after a few sweet gestures and a Cartier necklace. It may seem that Chuck would settle back into his old bad-boy ways, but I think we'll see more of his emotional range as Blair moves on and the realization that they're dunzo completely hits him.

Speaking of Blair moving on, was it me or did it seem like they were subtly setting up a Blair-and-Dan romance? He may have told her she wasn't his type, but I sensed a spark there. They're total opposites and would probably drive each other crazy -- but that could be a good thing! It could also mean the beginning of the end for the show. They're the last two unrelated main characters who haven't hooked up; there are no other romantic options left if they don't work out.

'Gossip Girl': Chucked through the heart

How far is too far? Monday night on "Gossip Girl," Blair and Chuck's relationship hit a major wall when B realized her beloved offered her up on a plate in order to get the Empire Hotel back. As a huge fan of the couple, this was sad and disappointing, but I can't say I was surprised.

Now that Elizabeth is out of the picture, Chuck and Jack were left to settle the score once and for all. Jack was up -- he had both the hotel and Chuck's dignity in his clutches. But of course, that wasn't enough. If Chuck wanted to regain control of the Empire, he'd have to sacrifice Blair to the God of Evil Uncles, which he apparently had no problem doing. His twisted logic believed that she would have done it anyway if given the opportunity to save him (he was right!), so he might as well let her take ownership of the plan. The whole scheme would have worked -- Blair took Jack's bait and even smartly drafted a contract ensuring Chuck would get his hotel -- but Jack couldn't skip town without leaving some element of Chuck's life in shambles. He spilled the secret to Blair and kickstarted the beginning of the end.

Is this the end of Blair and Chuck? I should hope not, but even master players like B could only take so much deception. Blair experienced the ultimate loss of trust and respect for someone she loved unconditionally; she'd be a glutton for punishment if she were to run back to him. And we'd be right there with her to believe that would be a sensible decision. Their on-again, off-again dynamic relationship has kept us fascinated for the last three seasons, but this incident is going to be hard to forgive. Blair's slap was felt by all.

The deception continued as Jenny set her sights on stealing birthday boy Nate from Serena. As S planned a surprise party, J plotted to woo Nate with a little idol worship and her emo charms. It was actually a tad creepy watching Jenny leer at him behind her kohl-lined eyes. She's clearly bored and looking to follow up her last dalliance with anything remotely challenging. Nate was too nice of a guy to notice J's intentions until she planted a kiss on him in the end, but if he even thinks of leaving Serena for her, I'll be upset.

The road also got a little bumpy for Dan and Vanessa, who decided to share their respective scripts with each other. Neither liked the other's very much, but neither were willing to give honest critiques until Dan discovered his bleeding paper hidden in Vanessa's purse. The real deception, however, may come later when he finds out that she had also applied to Tisch's prestigious writing program. I'm willing to bet that she gets accepted and he doesn't.

Amid all the scandal Monday night, Dorota and Eric's return made me smile to no end. It looks we'll be treated to a wedding next week!

What did you think of the episode? Do you think it's the end of Chuck and Blair?

xoxo

--Enid Portuguez

Photo: Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf in "Gossip Girl." Credit: Giovanni Rufino/The CW

'Gossip Girl': What would Chuck and Blair do?

Everyone on Monday night's "Gossip Girl" could have benefited from channeling their inner Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf. The two brilliant schemers are so adept at manipulation and getting what they want that even they themselves, when caught in the stickiest of predicaments, must likely ask: "What would Chuck and Blair do?" Let's review five moments from Monday night's episode that prompted me to ponder that very question.

Moment No. 5: Vanessa looked to role-playing to spice things up with Dan

The lowdown: Attempting to break from their routine friends-with-benefits pseudo-dates, V decided to take Serena's advice and role-play using a scene from one of Dan's favorite movies. She chose Hitchcock's "Rear Window," which had potential for intrigue if it weren't for Vanessa's unfortunate '50s costume and helmet hair. Rufus, who appeared during dessert, deemed the date a disaster and Dan was left scrambling to apologize. 

WWCBD?: First, they would have informed Dan of the role-playing situation. You can't wake a dude like Dan from a nap expecting him to enact a fantasy scene, even if he was supposed to be playing a convalescent. Then they would have gotten Vanessa something hotter to wear. Last, they would have brought binoculars to cruise the neighbors and reenact an interpretation of "Rear Window" that would make Hitchcock proud.

Moment No. 4: Serena and Nate try to save the day

The lowdown: After learning Chuck had failed to get the hotel back from Elizabeth, Nate and Serena tried to set up Uncle Jack at Eleanor Waldorf's fashion show. The golden couple may have some things going for them (namely great hair and bone structure) but plotting is not one of them. Using the knowledge that Elizabeth had entered the whole Chuck extortion scheme out of love for Jack, they planned to entrap the man in the presence of high-class call girls and snap a photo of his indiscretions. Jack, of course, didn't fall for it because Nate and Serena clearly don't have the wiles to beat him at his own game.  

WWCBD?: They would have paid a loyal hotel employee to sneak into Jack's suite and hide a camera. It would probably be futile because Elizabeth had already signed the hotel over to him, but it would capture many compromising situations and any potential loopholes to his plans.

'Gossip Girl': Uncle Jack is back

Jack Bass was extra creepy and conniving for his "Gossip Girl" return Monday night -- did we really expect anything less? Chuck's nefarious uncle, as you may recall, has a large bone to pick with his nephew after his brother Bart bequeathed Bass Industries to the teenager last season. He manipulated Blair into doing God knows what in order to find the then-missing Chuck and was behind the scheme to shut down Empire Hotel's bar earlier this season. Last night, however, he really meant business.

Using his government connections (there was no doubt Jack had bribed Chuck's cop friend for that positive DNA test result -- who gives DNA results over text anyway?) and his knowledge of Chuck's history (of course, sexual harassment would be the charge to build a case against him; he's Chuck Bass!), Jack lured Chuck right into his trap. The poor guy naively believed his crooked lawyer that in order to save the hotel from scandal, he'd have to step back and hand over the hotel's operations to someone else. So for the final blow, Jack went straight for Chuck's weak spot: his mother issues. I guess it was too good to be true for Chuck's real mother, whom he thought was dead, to miraculously appear out of nowhere and want to be a part of his life after 18 years. Elizabeth was a sham doctored by Jack and now she's in control of the Empire Hotel. Though Jack was clearly behind the sexual harassment charges and the fake mother, I think someone else -- Georgina perhaps? -- had leaked the news to the press. We know she'll be back by season's end so it would be a fitting head start for her grand re-entrance.

'Gossip Girl': How we met Chuck's mother

There was cause for great celebration on last night's "Gossip Girl": Chuck Bass met his mother! The mystery woman, Elizabeth Fisher, did indeed turn out to be the mom whom Chuck had spent his entire life believing was dead. Hooray!

Their reunion, however, was not filled with hugs and rainbows. For one, Chuck initially wanted nothing to do with her. Hurt and confused as to what kept her from being in his life for so long, he assumed she was back for money. His solution? Throw a check in her face and tell her never to return. Although Blair was willing to respect Chuck's wishes and bow out of the drama, Serena wasn't going to let Elizabeth go without hearing the truth about her absence. Serena being Serena, the confrontation was entirely self-serving. She hoped that by hearing Elizabeth's reasons for leaving, she would understand her father's choice.

Elizabeth's reason was honest yet still pretty brutal (now we know where Chuck truly inherited his aloofness).  She was 19 when she had Chuck and was ready to give him up for adoption. Bart wanted to keep the baby, but since Elizabeth had no intention of marrying him, she suggested the story that she had died at childbirth. She left to start her own life yet still accepted annual payments from Bart to stay away. They're not the ideal words you'd want to hear from your long-lost mom, but it was the truth and Chuck needed to hear it. The smile on his face as he sat down for their introductory "getting to know you" conversation was priceless. The Great Wall of Chuck Bass slowly began to crumble.

'Gossip Girl': Reunited and it feels so good

Like a fair maiden waiting with baited breath for her vagabond lover to arrive, I welcomed Monday night's new episode of "Gossip Girl" with open arms. It has been three months, after all! I expected the same hot and heavy reception that Nate got from Serena, but ended up with a greeting as flat as Chuck's French accent. Why so serious? Perhaps the show and I just need to get to know each other again.

Because there's plenty to be serious to about, let's start with the froth. Serena and Nate, together at last! I've been waiting for this couple to take off since, well, the pilot episode. There's no doubt that Serena and Nate have unbelievable chemistry; their spark pretty much blows any of their previous relationships out of the water (yes, even Serena's relationship with Dan). They're both just so ... hot. We know we can expect more steamy scenes in coat check closets and other assorted tight spaces, but will that physical chemistry be enough to sustain a real relationship? It's a journey I'm willing to take, especially if Serena and Nate are going to be taking kooky advice from their respective exes/BFFs (remind me to create a Venn diagram of who's dated who on this show).

Speaking of exes, one particular doctor ex-husband is causing a major rift between former golden couple Lily and Rufus. After getting wind of Lily's secret summer tryst in the letter sent by Dr. William Van der Woodsen (to be played by William Baldwin starting April 26), Rufus decided to take off to Colorado to hang with his buds and avoid his new wife. The time away didn't help; he returned with a heart as icy as the mountains around Telluride in January. I don't blame him. I'd be angry if my fiancee at the time had kissed an ex -- even if it didn't mean anything. During their confrontation, Lily resembled a guilty Serena, who could do nothing but shrug and pout at her transgressions. Like mother and daughter indeed.

Pilot Season: First look at CBS' 2010 comedy pilots

Editor's note: Over the next several days, Show Tracker will cover the pilots under contention for the fall season at the five broadcast networks in the following order: ABC, CBS, CW, Fox and NBC. (Yes, it's alphabetical).

The big news in CBS' comedy development got out last week when the first TV show to be developed from a Twitter page was announced. "Stuff My Dad Says" indeed sounds very promising, with the very funny William Shatner (pictured above) as the stuff-talking dad. Based on Justin Halpern's popular Twitter feed, it will be executive produced by David Kohan and Max Mutchnik ("Will & Grace").  Halpern is co-writing the script with Patrick Shumacker. No one has been cast. It is one of seven sitcoms CBS has ordered.

The network also ordered one multi-camera, single-camera hybrid from the "How I Met Your Mother" producing team, which has been making fans laugh in that style for five seasons. Carter Bays, Craig Thomas, Kourtney Kang and Joe Kelley, all from "How I Met Your Mother," have written a pilot centered around an unmarried couple and their friends in Pittsburgh. Sounds like "How I Met Your Mother" when Lilly and Marshall were single in a less glamorous city, doesn't it? Joe Manganiello ("True Blood" and "One Tree Hill") is the only cast member, and veteran comedy director Pamela Fryman is directing it.

The other nontraditional comedy is by Ant Hines ("Da Ali G Show") about a British lowlife who moves to Los Angeles to reconnect with his teen-celebrity daughter. The teen celebrity in question has not been cast, but British actor Paul Kaye plays the lowlife and Nicollete Sheridan ("Desperate Housewives") is her mother. Wayne Knight ("Jurassic Park") was cast Monday and the project is untitled at the moment.

CW renews five TV shows for next fall

The CW announced today the renewals of five series for the fall: "The Vampire Diaries," "Supernatural," "Gossip Girl," "90210" and "America's Next Top Model."

The CW shows join the roster of other early renewals on competing networks:

ABC

"The Middle"

"Cougar Town"

"Modern Family"


Fox

"Glee"

"American Dad"

"The Cleveland Show"

CBS

"The Good Wife"

"NCIS: Los Angeles"

"How I Met Your Mother"

"The Amazing Race"

"Survivor"

"The Big Bang Theory"

"Two and a Half Men"

NBC

"Parks and Recreation"

"Law & Order"

"Friday Night Lights"

-- Maria Elena Fernandez (follow me on Twitter @writerchica)

Photo: Paul Wesley as Stefan, Nina Dobrev as Elena, Katerina Graham as Bonnie, Candice Accola as Caroline, Ian Somerhalder as Damon on "The Vampire Diaries." Credit: The CW

New 'Gossip Girl' trailer premieres

The countdown to new episodes of "Gossip Girl" begins today with the debut of a new trailer! What do we have to look forward to on March 8? So far, the long awaited Nate and Serena hookup, the return of Chuck's mom, a Rufus-Lily showdown and a very, very flirty Vanessa. Check out the trailer below.

What story line are you most excited to see? 

-- Enid Portuguez

'Gossip Girl': William Baldwin will play Serena's dad

The question of who will play Serena and Eric's estranged father on "Gossip Girl" has been answered. The CW confirms that William Baldwin is guest-starring as Dr. William van der Woodsen starting with the April 26 episode.

After half a season of vague references and one mysterious letter, we'll finally find out the reason for his absence as well as his return. Drama is pretty much certain. Apparently a love triangle between William, Lily and Rufus existed years ago after William's brother Keith (the jerk from the '80s flashback episode) introduced Lily to Rufus. Baldwin has already exercised his chops at playing a scandalous New York aristocrat in "Dirty Sexy Money," so I have no doubt he'll sufficiently shake things up in the Upper East Side. April can't come soon enough!

What do you think of Baldwin's casting as Serena's dad?

— Enid Portuguez

'Gossip Girl': A Bass from the past

After last night, "Gossip Girl" should decree that the first episode in December will always be "the episode in which Chuck Bass gets emo." It was the one-year anniversary of his father's death, and though nothing could ever come close to Chuck's intensely dramatic performance after Bart Bass' demise last season, it seemed like a good time for another peek into his psyche. 

A lot has changed in a year -- Chuck has allowed Blair into his heart, and he now has commendable ambitions and achievements -- but the same shadows haunt him. Even when alive, Bart Bass loomed over his son with a furrowed brow and his signature air of disappointment. He was no different in death, except his taunts and criticisms were only for Chuck to hear.

At first, Chuck listened as his father's ghost attempted to dictate his business dealings and mocked his relationship with Blair. Bart's spirit took control, and it wasn't until the end that we learned why Chuck acquiesced. On the night of Bart's death, Chuck took one look at his father lying lifeless on a hospital bed and bolted. Not saying goodbye left him with a lifetime of expectations to fulfill along with a deep fear that he would never be the man his father wanted him to be. Thank goodness Chuck has Blair, who lovingly reminded him that he was becoming a greater man than Bart ever was -- it was a soon-to-be-classic Blair-Chuck moment. The ghosts from Chuck's past, however, haven't completely gone. During a visit to Bart's grave, he received a surprise. His mother is alive! I can't wait to see how her story unfolds.