Gossip Girl (season 5)
Encyclopedia
The fifth season of Gossip Girl
, an American teen drama
based upon the book series by Cecily von Ziegesar
and developed for television by Josh Schwartz
and Stephanie Savage
. The CW officially renewed the series for a fifth season on April 26, 2011.
It was announced later that Taylor Momsen
, who played Jenny Humphrey
since the pilot, and Jessica Szohr
, who joined the series as Vanessa Abrams
in season one, would not be returning for the fifth season as regulars. Kaylee DeFer
was upgraded to a series regular status in her roles as Serena's cousin, Charlie Rhodes, and aspiring actress, Ivy Dickens. Hugo Becker
also reprises his role as Blair's love interest, Prince Louis Grimaldi of Monaco.
With the confirmation of the 2011-12 schedule, The CW television network announced that Gossip Girl would be returning to Mondays at 8:00pm as a lead-in to Hart of Dixie
. It will feature 24 episodes.
The fifth season premiered on September 26, 2011.
officially renewed the series for a fifth season on April 26, 2011.
On May 19, 2011, with the reveal of The CW's 2011-2012 television schedule, Gossip Girl stayed on Monday night and moved to the 8:00 pm Eastern/7:00 pm Central timeslot as a lead-in to Hart of Dixie, which is produced by Gossip Girls executive producers Josh Schwartz
and Stephanie Savage
. The fifth season will premiere on Monday, September 26, 2011.
Filming for the season began on July 7, 2011. On August 3, 2011, The CW ordered two additional episodes for the fifth season, which will now total at 24. Executive producer Joshua Safran announced that he will be "pulling out all the stops" to make the 100th episode of the show special. The 100th episode is expected to air in January. On the date of the season premiere, the show used footage of the New York cityscape that showed the World Trade Center
before the September 11 attacks. Footage containing the World Trade Center have been omitted by films and TV shows such as Sex and the City
and The Sopranos
to honor individuals who died in the attacks. The network has not responded to criticism regarding the usage of the footage.
Despite dwindling ratings, series execs are confident the show will be renewed for a sixth season. Head of Warner Bros. Television
, Peter Roth is also confident that the show will return, stating, “I can’t really say at this point, but I would hope and expect that there would be at least another year—if not years—to come.”
, Leighton Meester
, Penn Badgley
, Chace Crawford
and Ed Westwick
all returned as series regulars. Kaylee DeFer was upgraded to series regular status, while Taylor Momsen and Jessica Szohr have been invited back as guest stars. Kelly Rutherford
and Matthew Settle
also returned as regulars.
On April 6, 2011 10 Things I Hate About You
star Ethan Peck
landed a guest-starring role on the show. Peck made his debut in the fourth season finale and was in talks with producers for a recurring role for the fifth season. Peck would later film his scenes with Lively for the season premiere. French actress and model Roxane Mesquida
was cast as Beatrice, Louis' sister and Blair's nemesis in a recurring role for the fifth season. Actress Elizabeth Hurley
has been cast as media mogul Diana Payne and will star in a multi-episode arc with the character being described as "a sexy, smart, self-made media mogul and an all-around force to be reckoned with." Lost
actor, Marc Menard
will join the cast in the potentially recurring role of Father Cavalia, a handsome priest from Monaco who will preside over Blair's wedding.
Brian J. Smith
had been cast as a possible love-interest for Serena while she is in Los Angeles and would appearing on the show as Max, an aspiring chef. Connor Paolo
, who is now a regular on Revenge
will not return to the show as Eric van der Woodsen stating, “I’m done. You should never go back in life. Only forward.” On August 16, 2011, Elle magazine interviewed Taylor Momsen, stating that she had quit the series to focus fully on her music career. Hollywood stuntwoman, Zoë Bell
was slated to appear on the show and made her debut in the season premiere. New York Magazine noted the appearance of American novelist Jay McInerney
, who reprised his role as writer Jeremiah Harris. Aaron Tveit
, who previously portrayed Nate's cousin Trip Vanderbilt in the third season
, will be returning to the show.
Michelle Trachtenberg
will reprise her role as Georgina Sparks
, who was last seen in the fourth season finale. Her first appearance will be during the show's 100th episode.
The series' 100th episode will focus on Blair's wedding to prince Louis. "I think it's our biggest episode since the pilot," said executive producer Joshua Safran.
Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl is an American young adult novel series written by Cecily von Ziegesar and published by Little, Brown and Company, a subsidiary of the Hachette Group. The series revolves around the lives and romances of the privileged teenagers at the Constance Billard School for Girls, an elite...
, an American teen drama
Teen drama
A teen drama is a dramatic television series with a major focus on teenage characters. The genre was relatively non-existent for the first 45 years of television; it came into prominence in the early 1990s...
based upon the book series by Cecily von Ziegesar
Cecily von Ziegesar
Cecily von Ziegesar is an American author best known for the young adult Gossip Girl books.-Early life and education:...
and developed for television by Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz
-Film school at USC:In 1995, Schwartz realized his boyhood dream of attending film school to study screen and television writing at the University of Southern California...
and Stephanie Savage
Stephanie Savage
Stephanie Savage is a Canadian screenwriter and television producer. Savage is best known for developing The CW's teen drama series, Gossip Girl from the novel series, and being an executive producer of the Fox series The O.C....
. The CW officially renewed the series for a fifth season on April 26, 2011.
It was announced later that Taylor Momsen
Taylor Momsen
Taylor Michel Momsen is an American actress, musician and model who portrays the character of Jenny Humphrey on the CW television series Gossip Girl and portrayed the role of Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and fronts the rock band The Pretty Reckless.-Early life and career:Taylor...
, who played Jenny Humphrey
Jenny Humphrey
Jennifer Tallulah "Jenny" Humphrey is one of the characters in both the Gossip Girl and The It Girl series of novels by Cecily von Ziegesar...
since the pilot, and Jessica Szohr
Jessica Szohr
Jessica Karen Szohr is an American actress. Szohr began her screen career starring on television shows such as CSI: Miami and What About Brian...
, who joined the series as Vanessa Abrams
Vanessa Abrams
Vanessa Abrams is a fictional character in the book series Gossip Girl. She is portrayed by Jessica Szohr in the television series of the same name.-Novel series:...
in season one, would not be returning for the fifth season as regulars. Kaylee DeFer
Kaylee DeFer
Kaylee DeFer is an American actress. DeFer currently stars in The CW's Gossip Girl as Ivy Dickens, a con artist who assumes the role of the Serena van der Woodsen's cousin Charlie Rhodes...
was upgraded to a series regular status in her roles as Serena's cousin, Charlie Rhodes, and aspiring actress, Ivy Dickens. Hugo Becker
Hugo Becker (actor)
Hugo Becker is a French movies and television actor. He is known on his role as Prince Louis Grimaldi in the television adaption of Gossip Girl aired on the CW Television Network.-Career:...
also reprises his role as Blair's love interest, Prince Louis Grimaldi of Monaco.
With the confirmation of the 2011-12 schedule, The CW television network announced that Gossip Girl would be returning to Mondays at 8:00pm as a lead-in to Hart of Dixie
Hart of Dixie
Hart of Dixie is an American medical-drama television series, created by Leila Gerstein. On May 17, 2011, The CW officially picked up the series...
. It will feature 24 episodes.
The fifth season premiered on September 26, 2011.
Starring
- Blake LivelyBlake LivelyBlake Christina Lively is an American actress and model who stars as Serena van der Woodsen in the television teen drama series Gossip Girl...
as Serena van der WoodsenSerena van der WoodsenSerena Celia van der Woodsen is a fictional character in the young adult novel series Gossip Girl and its television adaptation. Serena is featured on the blog of the novel series' mysterious "Gossip Girl" narrator... - Leighton MeesterLeighton MeesterLeighton Marissa Meester is an American actress and singer. Meester first garnered attention for playing Blair Waldorf in the CW television series Gossip Girl...
as Blair WaldorfBlair WaldorfBlair Cornelia Waldorf is the main character of Gossip Girl, introduced in the original series of novels and also appearing in their television and manga adaptations. Described as "a girl of extremes" by creator Cecily von Ziegesar, she is a comical overachiever who possesses both snobbish and... - Penn BadgleyPenn BadgleyPenn Dayton Badgley is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Dan Humphrey on the CW television series Gossip Girl. He has also starred in the movies John Tucker Must Die, The Stepfather, and Easy A....
as Dan HumphreyDan HumphreyDaniel Randolph "Dan" Humphrey is a fictional character in the best selling Gossip Girl book series. He is the main male character in the television series of the same name and is portrayed by Penn Badgley. Daniel Humphrey is the son of Rufus Humphrey and has a younger sister, Jenny Humphrey. His... - Chace CrawfordChace CrawfordChristopher Chace Crawford , better known as Chace Crawford, is an American actor. He currently portrays Nate Archibald on the CW television drama Gossip Girl.-Early life:...
as Nate ArchibaldNate Archibald (Gossip Girl)Nathaniel Fitzwilliam "Nate" Archibald is a character in the best selling Gossip Girl book series. He is portrayed by Chace Crawford in the television series of the same name... - Ed WestwickEd WestwickEdward Jack P. "Ed" Westwick is an English actor and musician, best known for his role as Chuck Bass in the main cast on the American television series Gossip Girl.-Early life and career:...
as Chuck BassChuck BassCharles Bartholomew "Chuck" Bass is a fictional character in the Gossip Girl series of teen novels and the television series of the same name. He is portrayed by English actor Ed Westwick. Although he is a secondary, antagonistic character in the original book series, in the television series Chuck... - Kaylee DeFerKaylee DeFerKaylee DeFer is an American actress. DeFer currently stars in The CW's Gossip Girl as Ivy Dickens, a con artist who assumes the role of the Serena van der Woodsen's cousin Charlie Rhodes...
as Charlie Rhodes/Ivy DickensIvy DickensIvy Dickens is a fictional character who exclusively appears in the Gossip Girl television adaptation, portrayed by Kaylee DeFer. She first appears in "The Kids Stay in the Picture," initially appearing as Serena's estranged cousin, Charlie Rhodes, whom Serena takes under her wing and introduces... - Kelly RutherfordKelly RutherfordKelly Danne Melissa Rutherford is an American actress known for her roles of Stephanie "Sam" Whitmore on Generations, Megan Lewis on Melrose Place from 1996 to 1999 and currently as Lily van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl...
as Lily van der Woodsen - Matthew SettleMatthew SettleJeffrey Matthew Settle is an American actor best known for playing Captain Ronald Speirs on the HBO show Band of Brothers and Rufus Humphrey on Gossip Girl.-Career:...
as Rufus Humphrey
Episodes
| № | # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Production
The CWThe CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
officially renewed the series for a fifth season on April 26, 2011.
On May 19, 2011, with the reveal of The CW's 2011-2012 television schedule, Gossip Girl stayed on Monday night and moved to the 8:00 pm Eastern/7:00 pm Central timeslot as a lead-in to Hart of Dixie, which is produced by Gossip Girls executive producers Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz
-Film school at USC:In 1995, Schwartz realized his boyhood dream of attending film school to study screen and television writing at the University of Southern California...
and Stephanie Savage
Stephanie Savage
Stephanie Savage is a Canadian screenwriter and television producer. Savage is best known for developing The CW's teen drama series, Gossip Girl from the novel series, and being an executive producer of the Fox series The O.C....
. The fifth season will premiere on Monday, September 26, 2011.
Filming for the season began on July 7, 2011. On August 3, 2011, The CW ordered two additional episodes for the fifth season, which will now total at 24. Executive producer Joshua Safran announced that he will be "pulling out all the stops" to make the 100th episode of the show special. The 100th episode is expected to air in January. On the date of the season premiere, the show used footage of the New York cityscape that showed the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
before the September 11 attacks. Footage containing the World Trade Center have been omitted by films and TV shows such as Sex and the City
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
and The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
to honor individuals who died in the attacks. The network has not responded to criticism regarding the usage of the footage.
Despite dwindling ratings, series execs are confident the show will be renewed for a sixth season. Head of Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television is the television production arm of Warner Bros. Entertainment, itself part of Time Warner. Alongside CBS Television Studios, it serves as a television production arm of The CW Television Network , though it also produces shows for other networks, such as Shameless on...
, Peter Roth is also confident that the show will return, stating, “I can’t really say at this point, but I would hope and expect that there would be at least another year—if not years—to come.”
Cast
Blake LivelyBlake Lively
Blake Christina Lively is an American actress and model who stars as Serena van der Woodsen in the television teen drama series Gossip Girl...
, Leighton Meester
Leighton Meester
Leighton Marissa Meester is an American actress and singer. Meester first garnered attention for playing Blair Waldorf in the CW television series Gossip Girl...
, Penn Badgley
Penn Badgley
Penn Dayton Badgley is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Dan Humphrey on the CW television series Gossip Girl. He has also starred in the movies John Tucker Must Die, The Stepfather, and Easy A....
, Chace Crawford
Chace Crawford
Christopher Chace Crawford , better known as Chace Crawford, is an American actor. He currently portrays Nate Archibald on the CW television drama Gossip Girl.-Early life:...
and Ed Westwick
Ed Westwick
Edward Jack P. "Ed" Westwick is an English actor and musician, best known for his role as Chuck Bass in the main cast on the American television series Gossip Girl.-Early life and career:...
all returned as series regulars. Kaylee DeFer was upgraded to series regular status, while Taylor Momsen and Jessica Szohr have been invited back as guest stars. Kelly Rutherford
Kelly Rutherford
Kelly Danne Melissa Rutherford is an American actress known for her roles of Stephanie "Sam" Whitmore on Generations, Megan Lewis on Melrose Place from 1996 to 1999 and currently as Lily van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl...
and Matthew Settle
Matthew Settle
Jeffrey Matthew Settle is an American actor best known for playing Captain Ronald Speirs on the HBO show Band of Brothers and Rufus Humphrey on Gossip Girl.-Career:...
also returned as regulars.
On April 6, 2011 10 Things I Hate About You
10 Things I Hate About You (TV series)
10 Things I Hate About You is an American television situation comedy broadcast on ABC Family beginning in 2009. Developed by Carter Covington, the show is a half-hour, single camera series based on the 1999 film of the same name...
star Ethan Peck
Ethan Peck
Ethan Gregory Peck is an American actor. He is best known for his work in the ABC Family network television series 10 Things I Hate About You, where he portrayed Patrick Verona, a role originated by Heath Ledger in the movie of the same name...
landed a guest-starring role on the show. Peck made his debut in the fourth season finale and was in talks with producers for a recurring role for the fifth season. Peck would later film his scenes with Lively for the season premiere. French actress and model Roxane Mesquida
Roxane Mesquida
Roxane Mesquida is a French actress and model based in Los Angeles.Mesquida grew up in Le Pradet, a little town located in South of France. Her mother, writer Françoise Mesquida, is French/Spanish and her father is Italian/American but Mesquida never got to know him...
was cast as Beatrice, Louis' sister and Blair's nemesis in a recurring role for the fifth season. Actress Elizabeth Hurley
Elizabeth Hurley
Elizabeth Jane Hurley is an English model and actress who became known as a girlfriend of Hugh Grant in the 1990s. In 1994, as Grant became the focus of worldwide media attention due to the global box office success of his film Four Weddings and a Funeral, Hurley accompanied him to the film's Los...
has been cast as media mogul Diana Payne and will star in a multi-episode arc with the character being described as "a sexy, smart, self-made media mogul and an all-around force to be reckoned with." Lost
Lost (TV series)
Lost is an American television series that originally aired on ABC from September 22, 2004 to May 23, 2010, consisting of six seasons. Lost is a drama series that follows the survivors of the crash of a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, on a mysterious tropical island...
actor, Marc Menard
Marc Menard
Marc Menard is a Canadian actor. He starred as Michael Krieger on the MyNetworkTV serial Watch Over Me. His previous acting credits include All My Children, House and the film John Tucker Must Die.-Filmography:...
will join the cast in the potentially recurring role of Father Cavalia, a handsome priest from Monaco who will preside over Blair's wedding.
Brian J. Smith
Brian J. Smith
Brian J. Smith is an American actor who is known for his role as Trey in the 2006 independent film Hate Crime and as series regular Lt. Matthew Scott in the military science fiction television series, Stargate Universe....
had been cast as a possible love-interest for Serena while she is in Los Angeles and would appearing on the show as Max, an aspiring chef. Connor Paolo
Connor Paolo
Connor Paolo is an American actor best known of his role as Eric van der Woodsen in The CW young-adult series Gossip Girl since 2007-2011.He became part of the two Oliver Stone films, World Trade Center and Alexander where he bagged his biggest break in Hollywood.He is currently playing Declan...
, who is now a regular on Revenge
Revenge (TV series)
Revenge is an American television drama inspired by the Alexandre Dumas novel The Count of Monte Cristo starring Madeleine Stowe and Emily VanCamp. It debuted on ABC on September 21, 2011, and currently airs on Wednesday nights at 10:00 pm Eastern/9:00 pm Central...
will not return to the show as Eric van der Woodsen stating, “I’m done. You should never go back in life. Only forward.” On August 16, 2011, Elle magazine interviewed Taylor Momsen, stating that she had quit the series to focus fully on her music career. Hollywood stuntwoman, Zoë Bell
Zoë Bell
Zoë E. Bell is a stuntwoman and actress from New Zealand. Some of her most notable stunt work includes doubling for Lucy Lawless on Xena: Warrior Princess and for Uma Thurman in Kill Bill. As an actress, she has appeared both on television and in feature films and also starred in the web series...
was slated to appear on the show and made her debut in the season premiere. New York Magazine noted the appearance of American novelist Jay McInerney
Jay McInerney
John Barrett McInerney Jr. is an American writer. His novels include Bright Lights, Big City; Ransom; Story of My Life; Brightness Falls; and The Last of the Savages...
, who reprised his role as writer Jeremiah Harris. Aaron Tveit
Aaron Tveit
Aaron Kyle Tveit is an American theatre and film actor originally from Middletown, New York. He is known for originating the roles of Gabe in Next to Normal and Frank Abagnale Jr...
, who previously portrayed Nate's cousin Trip Vanderbilt in the third season
Gossip Girl (season 3)
The third season of Gossip Girl, an American teen drama based upon the book series by Cecily von Ziegesar. Developed for television by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. Airing on The CW from September 14, 2009 to May 17, 2010 with 22 episodes...
, will be returning to the show.
Michelle Trachtenberg
Michelle Trachtenberg
Michelle Christine Trachtenberg is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Dawn Summers in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl...
will reprise her role as Georgina Sparks
Georgina Sparks
Georgina Sparks is a fictional character in the Gossip Girl novel series and a recurring character on the television series Gossip Girl. She is portrayed by actress Michelle Trachtenberg on the show...
, who was last seen in the fourth season finale. Her first appearance will be during the show's 100th episode.
Plot
Season Five opens in Los Angeles, where a vacationing Chuck and Nate decide to visit Serena, who is working on a movie set. Back in New York, Blair learns that planning a royal wedding can be stressful, especially with a baby on the way, and Dan discovers the consequences of writing candidly about his closest friends. Also, the surprise return of cousin Charlie will threaten to destroy the Van der Woodsen family.The series' 100th episode will focus on Blair's wedding to prince Louis. "I think it's our biggest episode since the pilot," said executive producer Joshua Safran.