I admire shows that address the recession — it’s part of the fabric of “Medium” and “Friday Night Lights,” and “The Simpsons” had a nice episode about it last year. But I also like shows that are completely oblivious to America’s economic meltdown, to the point where they flaunt how out of touch they are.
In a time when most Americans are being knocked back a rung or two on the economic ladder, “Gossip Girl” (8 p.m. Central Mondays on The CW) has the Humphrey family suddenly living the rich-person life after Rufus married Lily last season. This week’s season premiere found Dan and Jenny thrown in with Serena and Eric as a brand-new family. Dan’s old pal Vanessa says she hopes being rich doesn’t change him — he’s already attending polo matches and wearing $3,000 suits — but of course, it makes for a juicier show if it does.
The most interesting culture shock this year, though, will happen to Blair. Seemingly destined for the Ivy League, she will instead be attending the comparatively bourgeois NYU. Another big question: Will Chuck and Blair be boring now that they are a solid couple who have admitted they love each other? The answer, in the season premiere: No. They use role-playing (Blair catches Chuck with other women, but they’ve planned it in advance) to keep things interesting. It will really be interesting to see how long the writers can keep Chuck and Blair, 1, together, and 2, not boring.
I think “Gossip Girl” has the best recurring cast on TV. Seriously, I’d rather watch some of the side characters than main threads like Serena’s out-of-the-blue quest to find her father. This week, we met Joanna Garcia’s character, Bree Buckley, the love interest for Nate. She’s from a rich Republican family, he’s from a rich Democrat family, so tensions should ensue. (Maybe I have their political affiliations mixed up; but, really, who can tell the difference nowadays?)
Next week, Michelle Trachtenberg will return as Georgina, and it looks like she’ll be Blair’s surprise roommate at NYU. I’m loving it already. And somewhere down the line, Hilary Duff is supposed to show up as Vanessa’s movie-star roommate at the same college (most of the characters will be attending NYU, it appears).
As for Vanessa — I liked Jessica Szohr on “What About Brian,” but she’s a bit underused on “Gossip Girl” — she’s dating Scott, who shows an unusual amount of interest in the father of V’s best friend, Dan. Is he just a fan of Rufus’ ’90s music? If this were real life, I’d say yes, that’s most likely the case. But as we viewers know, Scott is actually the son that Rufus and Lily never knew they had (it has something to do with adoption and a faked death). I hate to see Vanessa being used like this; maybe she’ll get together with Dan someday; that seems to be the elephant in the room that the writers never address.
Of course, like all soap operas, pairings and allegiances are always shifting on “Gossip Girl.” I mean, Serena and Dan were lovers a couple seasons ago; now they are siblings.
“Gossip Girl” is still a great-looking show — it’s one of the few shows that films in New York City, but it gives us a different angle than “Law & Order.” And the plot machinations, as silly as they are, still hold my attention.
Gossip about your favorite “Gossip Girl” plot developments in the comment thread.