The Undergraduates
Encyclopedia
"The Undergraduates" is the 68th episode of the CW
television series, Gossip Girl
, as well as the third episode of the show's
fourth season
. The episode was written by Amanda Lasher and directed by Norman Buckley
. It aired on Monday, September 27, 2010 on the CW
.
The Undergraduates shows Serena van der Woodsen
(Blake Lively
) and Blair Waldorf
(Leighton Meester
) on their return from Paris, attending their first day in Columbia University
while facing sabotage from Juliet Sharp (Katie Cassidy
) who tries to jeopardize their friendship and the return of Georgina Sparks
(Michelle Trachtenburg) as she reveals the truth to Dan Humphrey
(Penn Badgley
) regarding their son, Milo. Chuck Bass
(Ed Westwick
) is reluctant to introduce his new love Eva Coupeau (Clémence Poésy
) to Rufus (Matthew Settle
) and Lily Humphrey (Kelly Rutherford
) following the event that triggered Jenny Humphrey
(Taylor Momsen
) leaving Manhattan
and fearing that Eva might not accept details behind his past. The episode featured a Fashion's Night Out
theme party and a cameo from prominent fashion designer, Diane von Fürstenberg
.
and Joshua Safran discussed the premise of the episode and working the episode into the Fashion's Night Out event.
led by Diane von Fürstenberg
and the New York City Company to integrate the episode into the event. Real footage on the September 10th event of Fashion's Night Out had been inserted into the episode while working on the event itself. Savage commented on the filming of the episode, stating "it's really cool to be the only show to be working with these amazing organizations to be a part of a real event."
Columbia University makes its 3rd appearance on the show since the third season twentieth episode, It’s a Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad World and the sixth episode of the second season, New Haven Can Wait and becomes the primary filming location for the episode. Blake Lively and Clémence Poésy filmed their scenes outside a Carlos Miele store in the Meatpacking District at Downtown, Manhattan on July 15, 2010.
reprises her role from the first
and second
seasons of Gossip Girl as Penelope Shafai. Digital Spy
announced her return to the show with her character facing off against Blair Waldorf, further adding that "Blair's made a fair few enemies in her life, so it was only a matter of time until it started to come back to haunt her" and that "their roles have been reversed." Melissa Fumero and Alice Callahan also reprise their roles as Blair's new minions, Zoe and Jessica from the third season
. Tory Burch
, Alessandra Ambrosio
, Hamish Bowles
, Molly Sims
and Robin Thicke
also make cameos in the episode.
, Jenny Packham
, Valentino
to Diane von Fürstenberg. Leighton Meester wore a sparkling Valentino dress, one that Sharon Clott from MTV
praised. Blake Lively donned a Jenny Packham dress from her Fall 2010 collection paired with Raphael Young shoes. Katie Cassidy was seen wearing a beige dress designed by Yigal Azrouël with leopard print denim pumps from Dolce & Gabbana
while filming with Lively, who was dressed in a Robert Rodriguez top and a Missoni skirt. Cassidy later wore a Fashion's Night Out tank with a Zadig and Voltaire shirt. On July 14, 2010, a scene at Columbia showed Lively wearing Diane von Fürstenberg and Meester in Pucci
, followed by a floral halter from the Erdem Spring 2010 collection and floral print skirt by Charlotte Ronson
. Clemence Posey was seen wearing a Carlos Miele gown and Kelly Rutherford donned a purple Reem Acra dress.
The episode makes several references to past plots from the past seasons. New York Magazine listed a majority of these from Serena's unstable romantic history, Rufus's revelation that Chuck had previously tried to rape Jenny, and members of Hamilton House drinking on steps in similar fashion to Constance Billard. The episode was commended for the authenticity of the Fashion's Night Out party and Blair and Serena showing consistency in their friendship when faced with sabotage from Juliet.
The 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...
television series, Gossip Girl
Gossip Girl (TV series)
Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007...
, as well as the third episode of the show's
Gossip Girl (TV series)
Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007...
fourth season
Gossip Girl (season 4)
The fourth 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. The CW officially renewed the series for a full fourth season on February 16, 2010...
. The episode was written by Amanda Lasher and directed by Norman Buckley
Norman Buckley
Norman L. Buckley is an American television director and editor best known for his work on The O.C., Chuck, Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars.-Early life:...
. It aired on Monday, September 27, 2010 on the CW
The 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...
.
The Undergraduates shows Serena van der Woodsen
Serena van der Woodsen
Serena 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...
(Blake Lively
Blake 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...
) and Blair Waldorf
Blair Waldorf
Blair 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...
(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...
) on their return from Paris, attending their first day in Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
while facing sabotage from Juliet Sharp (Katie Cassidy
Katie Cassidy
Katherine Evelyn Anita "Katie" Cassidy is an American actress who has performed in The CW TV series Melrose Place, Supernatural, Harper's Island, and Gossip Girl, and on the films When a Stranger Calls, Black Christmas, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Taken, Monte Carlo, and has roles in the upcoming...
) who tries to jeopardize their friendship and the return of 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...
(Michelle Trachtenburg) as she reveals the truth to Dan Humphrey
Dan Humphrey
Daniel 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...
(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....
) regarding their son, Milo. Chuck Bass
Chuck Bass
Charles 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...
(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:...
) is reluctant to introduce his new love Eva Coupeau (Clémence Poésy
Clémence Poésy
Clémence Poésy is a French actress and fashion model. Since starting on the stage as a child, Poésy had dramatic education, and has been active on both film and television since 1999, including some English-language productions...
) to Rufus (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:...
) and Lily Humphrey (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...
) following the event that triggered 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...
(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...
) leaving Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and fearing that Eva might not accept details behind his past. The episode featured a Fashion's Night Out
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
theme party and a cameo from prominent fashion designer, Diane von Fürstenberg
Diane von Fürstenberg
Diane von Fürstenberg, formerly Princess Diane of Fürstenberg , is a Belgian-American fashion designer best known for her iconic wrap dress. She initially rose to prominence when she married into the German princely House of Fürstenberg, as the wife of Prince Egon of Fürstenberg...
.
Production
During the preview for the episode, Gossip Girl producers Stephanie SavageStephanie 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....
and Joshua Safran discussed the premise of the episode and working the episode into the Fashion's Night Out event.
Filming Locations
Stephanie Savage notes that the show had been working closely with prominent members of New York's fashion industry, citing Vogue magazine, the CFDACouncil of Fashion Designers of America
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. is a not-for-profit trade association of over 350 of America’s foremost fashion and accessory designers. As of 2009, Diane von Fürstenberg is the group's President and Steven Kolb is the Executive Director...
led by Diane von Fürstenberg
Diane von Fürstenberg
Diane von Fürstenberg, formerly Princess Diane of Fürstenberg , is a Belgian-American fashion designer best known for her iconic wrap dress. She initially rose to prominence when she married into the German princely House of Fürstenberg, as the wife of Prince Egon of Fürstenberg...
and the New York City Company to integrate the episode into the event. Real footage on the September 10th event of Fashion's Night Out had been inserted into the episode while working on the event itself. Savage commented on the filming of the episode, stating "it's really cool to be the only show to be working with these amazing organizations to be a part of a real event."
Columbia University makes its 3rd appearance on the show since the third season twentieth episode, It’s a Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad World and the sixth episode of the second season, New Haven Can Wait and becomes the primary filming location for the episode. Blake Lively and Clémence Poésy filmed their scenes outside a Carlos Miele store in the Meatpacking District at Downtown, Manhattan on July 15, 2010.
Casting
Amanda SettonAmanda Setton
Amanda Setton is an American television and film actress. She is best known for her role as Penelope Shafai in the teen Gossip Girl and for her role as Kimberly Andrews on One Life to Live...
reprises her role from the first
Gossip Girl (season 1)
The first 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 19, 2007 till May 19, 2008 with 18 episodes...
and second
Gossip Girl (season 2)
The second 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...
seasons of Gossip Girl as Penelope Shafai. Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
announced her return to the show with her character facing off against Blair Waldorf, further adding that "Blair's made a fair few enemies in her life, so it was only a matter of time until it started to come back to haunt her" and that "their roles have been reversed." Melissa Fumero and Alice Callahan also reprise their roles as Blair's new minions, Zoe and Jessica from 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...
. Tory Burch
Tory Burch
Tory Burch is an American fashion designer, business woman and philanthropist who was born, raised and educated in the Philadelphia metropolitan area....
, Alessandra Ambrosio
Alessandra Ambrosio
Alessandra Corine Ambrósio is a Brazilian model. Ambrosio is best known for her work with Victoria's Secret and was chosen as the first spokesmodel for the company's "PINK" line...
, Hamish Bowles
Hamish Bowles
Hamish Bowles is the European Editor at Large for Vogue and involved in the worlds of fashion and interior design.- Background :As the European Editor at Large for Vogue, Hamish Bowles is recognized as one of the most respected authorities on the worlds of fashion and interior design. After...
, Molly Sims
Molly Sims
Molly Sims is an American model and actress. Sims is known for her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues and her role as Delinda Deline in the NBC drama Las Vegas. She is also an ambassador for Operation Smile...
and Robin Thicke
Robin Thicke
Robin Charles Thicke is an Award-winning American R&B singer-songwriter, musician, composer, and actor. Thicke's albums, which he previously released under the moniker Thicke, are noted for their feature of a predominantly R&B sound. Robin Thicke has penned hits for popular artists such as...
also make cameos in the episode.
Fashion
The Fashion's Night Out-themed episode featured a wide array of designer looks from the show from Reem AcraReem Acra
Reem Acra is an internationally known Lebanese fashion designer. She studied in Paris, as well as New York. She is known for her bridal designs. Her designs are sold in famous clothing boutiques such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. She has been on several popular magazines including In...
, Jenny Packham
Jenny Packham
Jenny Packham is a British fashion designer known primarily for her bridal gowns and ready-to-wear collections. She is the sister of the naturalist Chris Packham....
, Valentino
Valentino
Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani , best known as Valentino, is an Italian fashion designer and founder of the Valentino SpA brand and company. His main lines were Valentino, Valentino Garavani, Valentino Roma, and R.E.D...
to Diane von Fürstenberg. Leighton Meester wore a sparkling Valentino dress, one that Sharon Clott from MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
praised. Blake Lively donned a Jenny Packham dress from her Fall 2010 collection paired with Raphael Young shoes. Katie Cassidy was seen wearing a beige dress designed by Yigal Azrouël with leopard print denim pumps from Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana is an Italian luxury industry fashion house. The company was started by the Italian designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana in Milan, Italy. By 2005 their turnover was €597 million....
while filming with Lively, who was dressed in a Robert Rodriguez top and a Missoni skirt. Cassidy later wore a Fashion's Night Out tank with a Zadig and Voltaire shirt. On July 14, 2010, a scene at Columbia showed Lively wearing Diane von Fürstenberg and Meester in Pucci
Pucci
Pucci may refer to:*Members of the Pucci family, a major Florentine political family**Antonio di Puccio Pucci , Florentine politician and architect**Puccio Pucci , Florentine politician, son of Antonio...
, followed by a floral halter from the Erdem Spring 2010 collection and floral print skirt by Charlotte Ronson
Charlotte Ronson
Charlotte Julia Ronson is an English fashion designer who currently resides in New York, NY.-C. Ronson:Ronson always had an interest in fashion, however, she began designing after friends asked her to create pieces for them...
. Clemence Posey was seen wearing a Carlos Miele gown and Kelly Rutherford donned a purple Reem Acra dress.
Reception
"The Undergraduates" was watched by 1.78 million viewers and achieved a 1.0 Adults 18-49 demo.The episode makes several references to past plots from the past seasons. New York Magazine listed a majority of these from Serena's unstable romantic history, Rufus's revelation that Chuck had previously tried to rape Jenny, and members of Hamilton House drinking on steps in similar fashion to Constance Billard. The episode was commended for the authenticity of the Fashion's Night Out party and Blair and Serena showing consistency in their friendship when faced with sabotage from Juliet.