Season 1 featured 18 episodes and began airing on September 19, 2007. However, due to the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike, only 13 episodes were produced from the planned 22, but once the strike ended, the network announced five more episodes to be produced, and finally the season concluded on May 19, 2008. The season premiered with 3.5 million viewers,and ended with 3.00.Although the ratings were low the network renewed the show for second season due their aiming on male and female demographics on age 18-34.
In the beginning of the first season, the episodes focus on why Serena initially left. It is soon discovered that she felt an overwhelming guilt for sleeping with her best friend Blair's boyfriend Nate Archibald behind Blair's back. However, as the season progresses, Georgina Sparks, a new character with malicious intentions, comes back to haunt Serena. It is soon discovered that the real reason Serena left was because one night she and Georgina were hanging out in a hotel room after a night of drinking and partying. Things soon got out of hand when the man they were with asked for his cocaine and Serena gave the drugs to him. Immediately after, the man began having a seizure and the two girls panicked and ran away. Serena felt obligated to at least call 911 for help, and as she ran across the street in hiding, she saw that the man they were with had died. This is the full reason why Serena left because in the same night she had slept with her best friend's boyfriend and killed a man. Part of the main story arc also involves Serena's relationship with Dan Humphrey, an outsider from Brooklyn who she begins to date but has a rocky road with because of their different family backgrounds.
Other storylines include Blair breaking up with Nate and falling for his best friend Chuck Bass, which leads to her dethroning as Queen Bee; Jenny's training to become the next Queen Bee lead by Blair, which contribute to both of them later in the season beginning war for the throne; Nate's family problems; Lily's marriage with Bart Bass; Rufus' troubled marriage; Dan's relationship with Serena, which is interrupted by his former love Vanessa Abrams; and the friendship of Chuck and Nate.
Season Two: 2008-2009
Season 2 featured 25 episodes and began airing on September 1, 2008 starting at the end of the summer instead of the more conventional start in the fall along with larger TV networks. The season concluded on May 25, 2009. The season premiered with 3.43 million viewers,
similar to the first season and ended with 2.23, lower than expected.
The second season mainly explores the senior year of most of the characters, the continuity of their new found relationships, their final encounter with "Gossip Girl", and their attempts to get into college. The first couple of episodes feature part of the summer vacation, respectively week before the start of the school year. The role of "Gossip Girl" is slightly decreased. She continues to run her blog, but she keeps the ultimate information for herself, sending it in the final episode as the last blast, where Serena decides to find out who "Gossip Girl" really is, but ultimately fails.
The second season also focuses on Blair and Chuck, who were labeled "the heart of GG" by People magazine.At first, both characters negate their feelings for one another, and go through random schemes and manipulations. After all the games are done, both of them eventually say "I love you" to each other. Other storylines include Blair's attempt to enter Yale University; the death of Bart Bass which proves to be a very bad influence on Chuck and the exploration of his involvements; Dan's transformation from outsider to insider and his relationship with Serena's teacher Rachel Carr; Serena's relationships after breaking up with Dan; Jenny's career as fashion designer and her rebellions which ultimately ends with her becoming the next Queen Bee; the end of Nate and Chuck's friendship and Nate's friendship with Dan; Nate's family problems which continue to grow and affect on his new found relationship with Vanessa; Rufus and Lily's relationship after Bart's death, their engagement, and revelation that they have a son; and Serena's involvement with Poppy Lifton, a secretive socialite that tries to steal money from Serena and her friends which ultimately leads to the return of Georgina Sparks, who claims to be changed but eventually decides to get revenge on Blair.
Season Three: 2009-2010
Gossip Girl's third season premiere aired on the CW on September 14, 2009. The cast began filming on June 29, 2009 in New York City and there will be only 22 episodes not the normal 25 from season two. Hilary Duff joined the show for a multi-episode guest arc in this season as Olivia Burke, a famous movie star who wants a normal college experience, and eventually starts dating Dan Humphrey. This character was inspired by real life actress Emma Watson's decision to attend university.
Joanna García also joined the show for the first four episodes as Bree Buckley, an "evil Miss America" type from the Archibalds' rival family - she served as a love interest for Nate, until he found out she was just using him to get back at her cousin's fiancé Carter Baizen.America's Next Top Model creator Tyra Banks appeared in the fourth episode as Ursula Nyquist, a larger than life actress, for whom Serena Van Der Woodsen temporarily works as a publicist. Also appearing in this episode was Sonya Harum, an up and coming actress, and designers Tory Burch and Georgina Chapman.Also, Gina Torres got a recurring role as Vanessa's mother, Gabriela Abrams.
Music group Sonic Youth made a guest appearance in the season's fifth episode, "Rufus Getting Married", where they played an acoustic version of their song "Starpower" at Rufus and Lily's wedding.The ninth episode of the season caused a significant amount of controversy. Parent groups urged the CW not to air the episode that contained a threesome. The preview for the episode revolved around an "OM3" theme. CW ignored these requests and announced that it was going to air the episode as planned. The show is also gaining more attention due to the fact that it is bringing in many new guest stars. Lady Gaga made an appearance in the episode "The Last Days of Disco Stick".
Caroline Lagerfelt also returned as Celia "CeCe" Rhodes (Lily's mother) in "The Treasure of Serena Madre" for Thanksgiving on the Upper East Side; causing a little trouble again between Lily & Rufus. Robert John Burke who played Chuck's father, Bart Bass, returned for A Christmas Carol themed episode in December, while Desmond Harrington will return to the show in spring, as Chuck's uncle, Jack Bass in episode 16.Willa Holland, who played Jenny's model friend Agnes, confirmed on her Twitter account that she'll appear on Gossip Girl again.Billy Baldwin has been cast as Dr. William van der Woodsen, Serena's and Eric's father, for the last three episodes of the season, starting in April.Also, Laura Harring is guest-starring as Evelyn Bass (Chuck Bass' mother) towards the end of the season.Finally, Michelle Trachtenberg is set to return for the season finale as Georgina Sparks.
Season Four: 2010-2011
On Feb. 16, 2010, The CW announced it will bring the show back for a fourth season beginning in fall 2010.
