Pilot
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[edit] General facts
Name Pilot
Season 1
Episode 1
Production Number 101
Original Air Date September 19, 2008
Writer(s) Stephanie Savage, Josh Schwartz, Cecily von Ziegesar
Director Mark Piznarski
[edit] Summary
Filmed entirely in New York and based on the popular series of young-adult novels by Cecily von Ziegesar, "Gossip Girl" revolves around the privileged prep school teens on Manhattan's Upper East Side and the anonymous blogger, Gossip Girl, who provides them with the latest rumors about their highly exclusive inner circle. In the series premiere, Gossip Girl is busy spreading the news that "it girl" Serena van der Woodsen has returned to Manhattan after a mysterious and self-imposed exile to boarding school. Serena's best friend, Blair Waldorf, has conflicted feelings about her friend's return since she has enjoyed being the Queen Bee during Serena's absence and might not be ready to relinquish her new position on the social ladder, not to mention the fact that she has always suspected there may be unspoken feelings between Serena and her longtime boyfriend, Nate.
[edit] Episode recap
The privileged prep school teens on Manhattan's Upper East Side first learn that Serena van der Woodsen is back in town the way they learn all the important news in their lives; from the blog of the all-knowing albeit ultra-secretive Gossip Girl. No one knows Gossip Girl's identity, but everyone in this elite and vicious circle relies on her text messages for the latest scoop.
Everyone is surprised to learn that Serena has suddenly ended her self-imposed exile to boarding school and returned to Manhattan. The most astonished is definitely Blair, Serena's closest friend. As Gossip Girl says "Sure they're BFF's but we've always thought that Blair's boyfriend Nate has a thing for Serena." Ouch. Anyway, someone else is back in town and it turns out they're siblings, just come back from a weekend spent with their mother: Dan and Jenny Humphrey, whose middle-background keeps them on the fringes of the Upper East Side exclusive world. But, fresh news... freshman Jenny has been invited to Blair's party, better known as the 'Kiss on the Lips' party, as payment for addressing all the invitations.
While Blair is definitely eager to 'seal the deal' with Nate since they've been dating since kindergarten, the boy looks less enthusiastic. And, even Howie, Nate's father, insists that Blair is right - and rich - enough to be the perfect romantic choice for him and this pressure makes their relationship less than solid. Serena's return doesn't exactly help either, although Serena is quick to tell Nate that he is not the reason she returned, much to his dismay. Actually, the real reason behind Serena's abrupt return is very different. Her younger brother, Eric, recently tried to take his own life. Fortunately, he was unsuccessful but the attempt landed him in a psychiatric institution... And judging by the smiley Eric, the hospital is definitely a warmer home than the magazine-perfect van der Woodsen estate. Amazingly, no one has gotten wind of this oh-so-delicious gossip... not even the highly informed 'Gossip Girl'. Status-conscious Lillian van der Woodsen chose to hide the shameful news of her son's illness, rather than admit her own maternal inadequacies. Serena confronts Lillian about it but her glacial mother points out: "So it's not like you've been gone doing God knows what with God knows who." Serena swears boarding school wasn't like that but her mother doesn't seem to get her point.
The 'Kiss on the Lips' party is approaching and Serena isn't happy to find out she is "kind of not invited." Yep, it turns out Blair enjoyed being the Queen Bee while Serena was gone and now that she is back Blair wants to make sure Serena understands that things have definitely changed. Serena doesn't seem happy about Blair's behaviour and tells her she wants to talk to her. Later the two girls have a heart-to-heart and manage to bridge the distance caused by Serena's self-imposed exile. Unfortunately their fledgling friendship collapses changes when a guilt-stricken Nate confesses to Blair what happened between him and Serena before she left. Sex, of course. Blair is less than thrilled but she ends up forgiving Nate... But Serena? Not so much.
Lillian buys her daughter a dress for the party, but Serena informs her she isn't planning to go there since she already has plans. With who? Well, with Dan, who conveniently happened to be nearby. When Lillian walks away, Dan starts to get going too but Serena tells him he can pick her up at eight. Dan is quite surprised, but Serena points out that a guy she doesn't know can't be worse than the ones she did know.
Lillian stops by Rufus' so-called gallery art. Rufus happens to be Dan and Jenny's father. It turns out there was something between Lillian and Rufus when they were young. Lillian informs him that her daughter is dating his son; she hopes Rufus is not using her daughter as an excuse to start something, now that his wife left him. Rufus suggests that maybe that's actually her own ploy. Lillian assures him this is just his own dream and orders him to stay away from her life.
It's Kiss on the Lips Party and Jenny can't believe she is actually there. Meanwhile, Dan and Serena are having a nice time. At the party, Chuck, Nate's friend, tries to take advantage of Jenny, who discreetly sends a text message to Dan, claiming she needs help.
Serena and Dan rush to the party. They find Jenny on the roof caught in the clutches of Chuck whose hands are, well, everywhere. Dan punches Chuck and Serena screams at him to never touch Jenny again. As they leave a humiliated Chuck screams a warning to Serena, letting threatening to let the whole school know what happened between her and Nate on that long ago night. Serena, Dan and Jenny take a cub and drive away, under Blair and Chuck's not-very-sympathetic eyes.
As Gossip Girl says "Spotted Serena making a heroic exit from B's party. Too bad for her there's school on Monday".
[edit] Memorable Quotes
Chuck: Who's the newbie?
Kati: Jenny Humphrey, she's a freshman.
Chuck: I love freshmen. They're so...
Isabel: Fresh?
Rufus: Guess whos dad is cool!
Jenny: It's a trick-question.
Dan: Yeah, cos it can't be ours.
Chuck: Hi. I'm Chuck.
Jenny: I know! Um... I mean, hi I'm Jenny.
Chuck: Nathaniel, any interest in some fresh air? (Chuck signals Nate that he wants to smoke a joint with him)
Nate: When I get back?
Blair: If he gets back! (Blair leads Nate into her bedroom and pushes him onto the bed)
Nate: What's going on?
Blair: I wanna do this... It... Now.
Nate: Now now? You wanted to wait...
Blair: Not anymore.
Serena:(to Blair) You're like my sister. And with our families... we need each other.
Serena: So, when's the party?
Blair: Saturday... and you're kinda not invited. Since, until 12 hours ago, we all thought you were at boarding school. And Jenny used up all the invites.
Jenny: Actually...
Blair: You can go now.
Serena: (to Nate) Look, Blair's my best friend and you're her boyfriend, and she loves you. That's the way things are supposed to be.
Serena: You know my mom, if it's not broke, break it.
Chuck: Serena looked effing hot last night. There's something wrong with that level of perfection. It needs to be... violated.
Nate: You are deeply disturbed.
Chuck: And yet you know I'm right.
Serena: Oh my God, this is so good!
Chuck: Well if you're looking for a way to thank me, I've got a couple ideas...
Serena: It's a sandwich, Chuck.
Dan: (to Jenny) I don't read Gossip Girl. That's for chicks.
Blair: You missed some classic Eleanor Waldorf meltdowns. If it wasn't such a tragedy, it would've been funny. (smiles) Actually it kind of was.
(both start laughing)
Serena: I wish I could have been there.
Blair: You are now.
Gossip Girl: Spotted at The Palace Hotel, S and B having a heart-to-heart. Mhm. Why so thirsty, S? (Serena is drinking some cocktail, greedy) You may have won over B, for now, but we still think you're hiding something.
Serena: You asked me out on a date and you didn't think I was nice?
Dan: No, I just thought you were hot. And, technically, you asked me out.
Blair: (About Serena) She better not show her face again.
Chuck: I'm actually hoping she will.
Lillian: You think you're so cute. Washed-up band. Crappy so-called art gallery.
Rufus: Well, not all of us have settlements from multiple divorces to sustain us.
Lillian: Just stay out of my life, Rufus.
Rufus: Lily. Are you shopping for some art to match your furniture?
Lillian: Why's my daughter going to one of your concerts?
Rufus: Because we are awesome.
Lillian: With your son?
Rufus: Dan's going on a date with Serena?
Lillian: Mh, hm.
Rufus: Well, our kids were bound to meet. It's a small island.
Lillian: You sure it's not some ploy you're using my daughter to get to me now that your wife left you?
Rufus: How did you know about Alison?
Lillian: Like you said. Small island.
Rufus: Oh, I get it. You hear about Alison and you're using your daughter as an excuse to start something.
Lillian: Yeah. (laughs) In your dreams.
Chuck: (To Dan) Are you following us or something?
Dan: No, I go to your school. (points to both their outfits) Identical uniforms, that's kind of a tip-off?
Nate: That's funny.
(Nate and Chuck walk away)
Dan: (To himself, sarcastically) So, you guys wanna sit together at lunch?
Serena: You just love it when a girl talks to you.
Chuck: Actually I prefer them when they're not talking.
Serena: Hm. I've missed your witty banter.
Chuck: You guys have been dating since Kindergarten and you haven't sealed the deal?
Nate: Who says 'seal the deal'?
Nate: Serena.
Serena: No, no.
Nate: But you're back now.
Serena: I didn't come back for you.
Gossip Girl: (In the generic) And who am I? That's one secret I'll never tell ... you know you love me. XOXO, Gossip Girl.
Gossip Girl: Hey Upper East Siders, Gossip Girl here, and I have the biggest news ever!
Dan: So ... think I got a chance at a second date ?
Serena: Well, I don't think you can top this one.
Dan: I did punch someone.
Serena: True, we'll talk about it in the cab.
[edit] Dramatis Personae
[edit] Starring
- Taylor Momsen as Jenny Humphrey
- Kristen Bell as Gossip Girl
- Kelly Rutherford as Lily van der Woodsen
- Matthew Settle as Rufus Humphrey
- Penn Badgley as Dan Humphrey
- Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf
- Ed Westwick as Chuck Bass
- Chace Crawford as Nate Archibald
- Blake Lively as Serena van der Woodsen
[edit] Special Guest Stars
[edit] Co-Starring
- Nicole Fiscella as Isabel Coates
- Nan Zhang as Kati Farkas
- Sam Robards as Howie "The Captain" Archibald
- Connor Paolo as Erik van der Woodsen
[edit] Music
- "Young Folks" by Pete Bjorn and John
- "If It's Lovin' That You Want" by Rihanna
- "What Goes Around...Comes Around" by Justin Timberlake
- "Diamond Hipster Boy" by Washington Social Club
- "Concerto in G" by Antonio Vivaldi & Brian Reitzell
- "99%" by The Mooney Suzuki
- "Bounce With Me" by Kreesha Turner
- "Back to Black" by Amy Winehouse
- "Space For Rent" by WhoMadeWho
- "Send You Back" by Matthew Dear
- "Photograph" by Air
- "Joyful Waltz" by Zdenek Bartak
- "Hang Me Up to Dry" by Cold War Kids
- "Time Won't Let Me Go" by The Bravery
- "Hard to Live in the City" by Albert Hammond Jr.
- "The Way I Are" by Timbaland Feat. Keri Hilson and D.O.E.
- "Go" by Hanson
- "Don't Matter" by Akon
- "Knock Knock" by Lyrics Born
- "The Gift" by Angels & Airwaves
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