Gossip Girl (season 4)
Encyclopedia
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. Blake Lively
, Leighton Meester
, Penn Badgley
, Chace Crawford
, Taylor Momsen
, Ed Westwick
, Jessica Szohr
, Kelly Rutherford
and Matthew Settle
all return as series regulars.
It was later announced that the show would stay in its Monday 9:00 p.m. timeslot as a lead-out to 90210
. The season premiered on September 13, 2010, to a 1.0 Adults 18-49 rating and 1.84 million viewers. The fourth episode achieved a 1.1 Adults 18-49 rating, the seasons highest rated episode, while episode eleven was the most watched with 2.06 million viewers tuning in.
The first half of the season focuses on Juliet, a mysterious girl with a vendetta against Serena. The second half focuses on Chuck's professional struggles trying to keep his father's business from his father's old rival and his relationship with Blair. The season also focuses on Blair's relationship with a prince, Nate revisiting old family problems, the deteriorating friendship between Dan and Vanessa and his growing feelings for Blair, as well as Serena's cousin Charlie and her integration into the Upper East Side.
The season currently holds a 75/100 rating on Metacritic
, indicating generally positive reviews by critics. The season concluded on May 16, 2011 with 1.36 million live viewers tuning in.
, and premiered on September 13, 2010.
Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Ed Westwick and Clémence Poésy began filming this season in Paris, France on July 5, 2010. It was announced that Jessica Szohr would be absent for an unspecified number of episodes. However, Szohr began filming on July 9, 2010, the first day of production in New York City along with Penn Badgley, which indicated she's be back sooner than anticipated. Szohr appeared in the season premiere. Taylor Momsen began filming her scenes on August 30, 2010. Taylor Momsen
appears in 1 episode titled Easy J
which aired October 25, 2010 and will return in full series regular status for the second half of the season. It had also been confirmed that Tate Donovan
, who previously worked with show's developers Josh Schwartz
and Stephanie Savage
in The O.C.
, will be directing an episode scheduled to air in November 2010.
The first two episodes of the season take place in Paris.
actress Clémence Poésy
joined the cast in Paris as Chuck's new girlfriend, Eva, for four episodes.
Former Melrose Place star Katie Cassidy
joined the cast as Juliet, a student at Columbia University and a potential love interest for Nate, with an agenda against Serena, together with David Call
as Ben Donovan, Juliet's imprisoned brother. Actor Sam Page
was cast as Serena's new love interest, a Columbia business professor and Juliet and Ben's cousin, for a four episode arc. Kevin Zegers
is returning to the show as Damien Dalgaard, he's expected to do one episode this year and comeback later in the season. Desmond Harrington
is also returning as Chuck's uncle, Jack Bass. His first appearance this season is set to air sometime in 2011. Taylor Momsen was absent for several episodes at the beginning of the season due to her touring commitments with The Pretty Reckless
, but return near the end of the first half of the season. She was then scheduled for an indefinite hiatus from the show and has so far only appeared in four episodes of the season ("Easy J", "Juliet Doesn't Live Here Anymore", "The Witches of Bushwick", and "Gaslit"). Michael Boatman
and Tika Sumpter
will be guest starring in episodes set to begin airing on 2011. He'll play Russell Thorpe, a powerful business tycoon and a former associate of Chuck’s father, Bart, while she will portray his daughter, Raina.
Tim Gunn
and fashion designers Diane Von Furstenberg
and Rachel Zoe
all made special cameo appearances during the first half of the season. Singer Robyn
has also made a cameo appearance performing her hit song 'Hang with Me
.'
William Baldwin
has admitted he would like to return for the fourth season. He has said he will return in the same capacity of Michelle Trachtenberg
to come in cause some trouble then leave again. The CW has announced Baldwin will return in February 2011. Sheila Kelley
replaced Illeana Douglas
as Lily's sister, Carol, after Douglas was forced to drop out of the project due to scheduling conflicts. Michelle Trachtenberg
will return to the series as Georgina Sparks
in the season finale. Kaylee DeFer
is also joining the cast as Carol's daughter and Serena and Eric's cousin, Charlie Rhodes. DeFer's contract with the show also included the possibility of her becoming a series regular next season. DeFer has officially been promoted to series regular starting in season 5.
Hugo Becker
, who played Prince Louis Grimaldi, will return on April 18, 2011 for the rest of the season. The Borgias
actress Joanne Whalley
had been cast in an episode of Gossip Girl following a Screen Actors Guild
casting notice. Whalley was rumoured to play an adversarial role to Kelly Rutherford's
Lily van der Woodsen but turned out to be that of Princess Sophie, Louis Grimaldi's mother.
Oscar-winning director David O. Russell
would be making a cameo. On April 6, 2011 10 Things I Hate About You
star Ethan Peck
reportedly landed a role in the show. Both stars were seen filming with Blake Lively in California. Peck would reportedly make his debut in the season finale and was in talks with producers for a recurring role for the fifth season. Recurring cast members Nan Zhang
and Nicole Fiscella
reprised their roles as Kati Farkas and Isabel Coates for the penultimate episode and the season finale. Zhang had left the show during the first season and Fiscella finished her stint as a recurring castmember during the second season of the show. Tony Award
-winning actress Jan Maxwell
reprised her role as Headmistress Queller for the season finale. Hugo Becker
remained ambiguous on whether he would be joining the series as a recurring or regular cast member during an interview with Zap2it
, stating "the answer is in the finale." On May 16, 2011, Entertainment Weekly
announced that Gossip Girl author Cecily von Ziegesar
would be making a cameo for the season finale.
has revealed in an interview that the Dan and Serena story is "reactivated" and sorting through it will become a bigger story. She also revealed that the third season finale "Last Tango, Then Paris
" had a big impact on Jenny and she'll be a changed person when she returns. Her return later this season will be "full of drama."
The Gossip Girl website was under construction when Serena and Blair returned from Paris and debuted “never before seen technology" when it returned. It is revealed that Juliet is working with her brother to take down Serena, for unknown reasons. Vanessa gets caught in the middle when Juliet sets her up for stealing Serena's phone and sending an incriminating email. Vanessa later leaves town when only Dan believes her, but tells Juliet to watch her back. After Blair ran Chuck's new girlfriend out of town, he pledges war against her. They later decide that it's best for both of them if they end their fighting after Jenny posts on Gossip Girl the reason why she left town. In the next episode, at Blair's 20th birthday party they kiss and have sex. Both Nate and Dan still have feelings for Serena, but don't know what to make of her mixed signals.
Most of Juliet's plan will be revealed by the end of the first half of the season, with some elements set to carry over. Juliet will also recruit two main characters to help take Serena down. Blair and Dan will team up to help Serena. The two characters who joined Juliet were Vanessa and Jenny. The three manage to turn everyone against Serena when Juliet and Jenny dress up as her at a masquerade party. Juliet takes photos of herself with cocaine and drugs Serena, causing Lily to believe Serena had gone off the rails again and has her committed to the Ostroff center. Jenny, feeling guilty about what they've done reveals everything to Blair. Vanessa leaves town to avoid Blair, while Blair and Dan form an alliance to seek revenge on Juliet. After they track her down, Juliet goes to Serena and explains everything to her. It is revealed in a confrontation with Lily that Juliet's brother Ben was Serena's former teacher at her boarding school in Connecticut, who was accused of having an affair with Serena. Lily forged Serena's signature on the police affidavit, which in Lily's plan, would allow Serena to return home and, inadvertently, sent Ben to prison. Serena then hatches a plan to help free Ben from prison. This involves proving that her mother forged the affidavit against Ben. Chuck also learns that Lily was planning to sell Bass Industries behind his back.
The season premiered to generally favorable reviews from critics. Steve Marsi, from Tv Fanatic, gave the episode 4.5 stars out of 5.0 and praised Michelle Trachtenberg
and guest star Katie Cassidy
's acting and storylines. Mark O. Estes, from Tv Overmind, also enjoyed the fact that the episode had "explored more adult themes than usual." Gerard McGarry, from Unreality Shout, had said that the season premiere was "brilliant," while Alexis James-Whitehead, from Buzz Focus, had said that the episode was "less sizzle than fizzle." Leighton Meester
and Ed Westwick
's performance was praised during the next episode "Chuck Bass
" was also a trending topic
on Twitter
on the night the episode aired. The season has a 75/100 score of Metacritic
, indicating mostly positive reviews.
Erik Adams from The A.V. Club
reviewed the direction of the fourth season following the fourth season premiere. "By the time a television show reaches its fourth season, the characteristics of its main ensemble ought to be deeply entrenched and immediately recognizable to regular viewers. But on the occasion of Gossip Girl’s fourth season première, the ongoing teen soap—and its characters—are allowed some reinvention. The CW’s flagship franchise is in a precarious position: it’s a show that’s both out of time and losing its sizzle." Adams cited the show's expensive art direction despite the economic woes outside of the show and the doubtful following of the Gossip Girl world considering the rise of micro-blogging in celebrity culture. Adams praised the development of Blair and Serena's relationship, declaring their friendship as "[...]the great, central romance of Gossip Girl."
Brian Cantor of Headline Planet expressed disappointment with the show's performance for the season premiere, stating "[Gossip Girl] considerably [has] less critical interest and buzz than there had been for past seasons; the show no longer even has the “pop culture phenomenon” claim to soften the blow of ratings releases." Judy Berman of the Los Angeles Times
in contrast, defended the show's creative form during the midseason finale The Townie
, stating "Whenever I start to think that the show has run out of material[...]-- it unleashes a showstopping hour of sparkly melodrama that reminds me of why I'm still watching." With the airing of the season finale TV Fanatics Steve Marsi assessed the fourth season stating "[...]it's not a stretch to say the past season was uneven at best, lacking some of the continuity, humor and drama of the past. It's hard to put one's finger on in a sense, since many episodes were enjoyable. But there was a certain OMG-can-you-believe-this-happened factor that just wasn't there."
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:...
. 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
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...
officially renewed the series for a full fourth season on February 16, 2010. 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...
, 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:...
, 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...
, 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:...
, 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...
, 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:...
all return as series regulars.
It was later announced that the show would stay in its Monday 9:00 p.m. timeslot as a lead-out to 90210
90210 (TV series)
90210 is an American teen drama television series developed by Rob Thomas, Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs, and the fourth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise created by Darren Star. 90210 is the first series produced by CBS Productions under the company's re-launch, but is now produced by CBS...
. The season premiered on September 13, 2010, to a 1.0 Adults 18-49 rating and 1.84 million viewers. The fourth episode achieved a 1.1 Adults 18-49 rating, the seasons highest rated episode, while episode eleven was the most watched with 2.06 million viewers tuning in.
The first half of the season focuses on Juliet, a mysterious girl with a vendetta against Serena. The second half focuses on Chuck's professional struggles trying to keep his father's business from his father's old rival and his relationship with Blair. The season also focuses on Blair's relationship with a prince, Nate revisiting old family problems, the deteriorating friendship between Dan and Vanessa and his growing feelings for Blair, as well as Serena's cousin Charlie and her integration into the Upper East Side.
The season currently holds a 75/100 rating on Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, indicating generally positive reviews by critics. The season concluded on May 16, 2011 with 1.36 million live viewers tuning in.
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... - Taylor MomsenTaylor MomsenTaylor 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...
as Jenny HumphreyJenny HumphreyJennifer Tallulah "Jenny" Humphrey is one of the characters in both the Gossip Girl and The It Girl series of novels by Cecily von Ziegesar... - 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... - Jessica SzohrJessica SzohrJessica Karen Szohr is an American actress. Szohr began her screen career starring on television shows such as CSI: Miami and What About Brian...
as Vanessa AbramsVanessa AbramsVanessa 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:... - 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 series was renewed for a fourth season on February 16, 2010. It will continue to air Mondays at 9/8c following 9021090210 (TV series)
90210 is an American teen drama television series developed by Rob Thomas, Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs, and the fourth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise created by Darren Star. 90210 is the first series produced by CBS Productions under the company's re-launch, but is now produced by CBS...
, and premiered on September 13, 2010.
Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Ed Westwick and Clémence Poésy began filming this season in Paris, France on July 5, 2010. It was announced that Jessica Szohr would be absent for an unspecified number of episodes. However, Szohr began filming on July 9, 2010, the first day of production in New York City along with Penn Badgley, which indicated she's be back sooner than anticipated. Szohr appeared in the season premiere. Taylor Momsen began filming her scenes on August 30, 2010. 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...
appears in 1 episode titled Easy J
Easy J
"Easy J" is the 71st episode of the CW television series, Gossip Girl, as well as the sixth episode of the show's fourth season. The episode was written by Jake Coburn and directed by Lee Shallat-Chemel...
which aired October 25, 2010 and will return in full series regular status for the second half of the season. It had also been confirmed that Tate Donovan
Tate Donovan
Tate Buckley Donovan is an American actor. He is known for his role in the FX drama Damages, as Tom Shayes, and for his role as Jimmy Cooper in the American teen drama television series The O.C....
, who previously worked with show's developers 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....
in The O.C.
The O.C.
The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox television network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 21, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
, will be directing an episode scheduled to air in November 2010.
The first two episodes of the season take place in Paris.
Cast
Harry PotterHarry Potter (film series)
The Harry Potter film series is a British-American film series based on the Harry Potter novels by the British author J. K. Rowling...
actress 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...
joined the cast in Paris as Chuck's new girlfriend, Eva, for four episodes.
Former Melrose Place star 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...
joined the cast as Juliet, a student at Columbia University and a potential love interest for Nate, with an agenda against Serena, together with David Call
David Call
David Steven Call , is an American film and television actor- Personal life :He is a graduate student of NYU Tisch School of the Arts and the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School.- Acting career :...
as Ben Donovan, Juliet's imprisoned brother. Actor Sam Page
Samuel Page
Samuel Page is an American actor. He is credited under the name Sam Page.-Early life:...
was cast as Serena's new love interest, a Columbia business professor and Juliet and Ben's cousin, for a four episode arc. Kevin Zegers
Kevin Zegers
Kevin Joseph Zegers is a Canadian actor and model. He is best known for his leading roles as Josh Framm in the Air Bud series, as well as playing Damien Dalgaard in the Gossip Girl series and the protagonist in Rock Mafia's The Big Bang...
is returning to the show as Damien Dalgaard, he's expected to do one episode this year and comeback later in the season. Desmond Harrington
Desmond Harrington
Desmond Harrington is an American actor. He is known for movies such as The Hole, Wrong Turn and Ghost Ship. He joined the cast of the Showtime series Dexter in its third season as Det. Joseph Quinn.-Life and career:...
is also returning as Chuck's uncle, Jack Bass. His first appearance this season is set to air sometime in 2011. Taylor Momsen was absent for several episodes at the beginning of the season due to her touring commitments with The Pretty Reckless
The Pretty Reckless
The Pretty Reckless are an American rock band from New York. The current members are Taylor Momsen , Ben Phillips , Mark Damon and Jamie Perkins ....
, but return near the end of the first half of the season. She was then scheduled for an indefinite hiatus from the show and has so far only appeared in four episodes of the season ("Easy J", "Juliet Doesn't Live Here Anymore", "The Witches of Bushwick", and "Gaslit"). Michael Boatman
Michael Boatman
Michael Patrick Boatman is an Image Award-nominated American actor and writer. He is best known for his roles as U.S. Army Specialist Samuel Beckett in the ABC drama series China Beach, as New York City mayoral aide Carter Heywood in the ABC sitcom Spin City, and as sports agent Stanley Babson in...
and Tika Sumpter
Tika Sumpter
Euphemia "Tika" Sumpter is an American actress.Sumpter is known for her role as Layla Williamson on One Life to Live.-Private Life:...
will be guest starring in episodes set to begin airing on 2011. He'll play Russell Thorpe, a powerful business tycoon and a former associate of Chuck’s father, Bart, while she will portray his daughter, Raina.
Tim Gunn
Tim Gunn
Timothy M. "Tim" Gunn is an American fashion consultant and television personality. He was on the faculty of Parsons The New School for Design from 1982 to 2007 and was chair of fashion design at the school from August 2000 to March 2007, after which he joined Liz Claiborne as its chief creative...
and fashion designers Diane Von Furstenberg
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 Rachel Zoe
Rachel Zoe
Rachel Zoe Rosenzweig , also known as Rachel Zoe, is an American fashion stylist best known for working with celebrities, fashion houses, beauty firms, advertising agencies, and magazine editors. In 2008, the first season of her Bravo reality television series The Rachel Zoe Project debuted...
all made special cameo appearances during the first half of the season. Singer Robyn
Robyn
Robin Miriam Carlsson , better known by her stage name Robyn, is a Swedish recording artist, singer, and songwriter. Robyn became known in the late nineties for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know " from her debut album Robyn Is Here . She co-wrote the song "Du gör mig hel igen" for...
has also made a cameo appearance performing her hit song 'Hang with Me
Hang with Me
"Hang with Me" is a song by Swedish recording artist Robyn, taken from her sixth studio album, Body Talk Pt. 2 . It was released as the album's lead single via digital download on 16 August 2010, in Sweden, and one day later in the United States. An acoustic version of the song had previously been...
.'
William Baldwin
William Baldwin
William Joseph "Billy" Baldwin is an American actor, producer, and writer, known for his starring roles in such films as Flatliners , Backdraft , Sliver , Fair Game , Virus , Double Bang , as Johnny 13 in Danny Phantom , Art Heist , The Squid and the Whale , as himself...
has admitted he would like to return for the fourth season. He has said he will return in the same capacity of 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...
to come in cause some trouble then leave again. The CW has announced Baldwin will return in February 2011. Sheila Kelley
Sheila Kelley (American actress)
Sheila Kelley is an American television actress. She is best known for her roles as Gwen Taylor on L.A. Law and as Dr. Charlotte "Charley" Bennett Hayes on Sisters.-Early life:...
replaced Illeana Douglas
Illeana Douglas
Illeana Douglas is an American actress, director, screenwriter, and producer.-Background:Douglas is a granddaughter of the actor Melvyn Douglas and his first wife, artist Rosalind Hightower, and has said that her grandfather's performance in Being There, in particular, was influential on her own...
as Lily's sister, Carol, after Douglas was forced to drop out of the project due to scheduling conflicts. 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 return to the series 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...
in the season finale. 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...
is also joining the cast as Carol's daughter and Serena and Eric's cousin, Charlie Rhodes. DeFer's contract with the show also included the possibility of her becoming a series regular next season. DeFer has officially been promoted to series regular starting in season 5.
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:...
, who played Prince Louis Grimaldi, will return on April 18, 2011 for the rest of the season. The Borgias
The Borgias (2011 TV series)
The Borgias is a 2011 historical fiction television series created by Neil Jordan.The series is based on the Borgia family, an Italian dynasty of Spanish origin, and stars Jeremy Irons as Pope Alexander VI with David Oakes, François Arnaud, Holliday Grainger and Aidan Alexander as Juan, Cesare,...
actress Joanne Whalley
Joanne Whalley
-Early life:Whalley was born in Salford but brought up in Stockport where she studied at the Braeside School of Speech and Drama, Marple.Whalley first appeared as a child in How We Used To Live and bit parts in soap operas, especially Coronation Street and Emmerdale...
had been cast in an episode of Gossip Girl following a Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
casting notice. Whalley was rumoured to play an adversarial role to Kelly Rutherford's
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...
Lily van der Woodsen but turned out to be that of Princess Sophie, Louis Grimaldi's mother.
Oscar-winning director David O. Russell
David O. Russell
David Owen Russell is an American film director and screenwriter. He has been praised for the loose, comic energy that characterizes his work, and is notorious for his explosive confrontations with cast members.-Early life:...
would be making a cameo. 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...
reportedly landed a role in the show. Both stars were seen filming with Blake Lively in California. Peck would reportedly make his debut in the season finale and was in talks with producers for a recurring role for the fifth season. Recurring cast members Nan Zhang
Nan Zhang
Nan Zhang is an American actress and model. She co-starred as Kati Farkas in The CW teen drama, Gossip Girl, until April 2008.-Early life and education:...
and Nicole Fiscella
Nicole Fiscella
Nicole Fiscella is an American actress and model, of Indian and St Lucian ancestry, who rose to fame through the book-based TV series Gossip Girl as Isabel Coates.-Early life:...
reprised their roles as Kati Farkas and Isabel Coates for the penultimate episode and the season finale. Zhang had left the show during the first season and Fiscella finished her stint as a recurring castmember during the second season of the show. Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
-winning actress Jan Maxwell
Jan Maxwell
Jan Maxwell is an American stage and television actress. She is a four-time Tony Award nominee.-Biography:She is the daughter of former First District Judge Ralph B. Maxwell and Elizabeth Maxwell, a lawyer for the EPA. She attended West Fargo High School, West Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead...
reprised her role as Headmistress Queller for the season finale. 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:...
remained ambiguous on whether he would be joining the series as a recurring or regular cast member during an interview with Zap2it
Zap2it
Zap2it is an American website and affiliate network that provides news, photos and video, local TV listings and movie showtimes. The site is produced by Tribune Media Services , part of the publishing division of the Chicago-based Tribune Company...
, stating "the answer is in the finale." On May 16, 2011, Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
announced that Gossip Girl author 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:...
would be making a cameo for the season finale.
Plot
Season four begins with Serena and Blair enjoying their summer in Paris...until the unexpected appearance of Chuck Bass, who is using a false name and cozying up to a new girl. Blair has to decide if she wants to fight for Chuck or spend her energy trying to rule Columbia University. Serena needs to choose between Nate and Dan, but Dan is a bit busy coping with his new role as "dad" to Georgina's baby. Georgina later reveals the baby is not his. 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....
has revealed in an interview that the Dan and Serena story is "reactivated" and sorting through it will become a bigger story. She also revealed that the third season finale "Last Tango, Then Paris
Last Tango, Then Paris
"Last Tango, Then Paris" is the 65th episode of the CW television series, Gossip Girl. It's also the twenty second and the final episode of the show's third season. The episode was written by Joshua Safran and Stephanie Savage and directed by J. Miller Tobin...
" had a big impact on Jenny and she'll be a changed person when she returns. Her return later this season will be "full of drama."
The Gossip Girl website was under construction when Serena and Blair returned from Paris and debuted “never before seen technology" when it returned. It is revealed that Juliet is working with her brother to take down Serena, for unknown reasons. Vanessa gets caught in the middle when Juliet sets her up for stealing Serena's phone and sending an incriminating email. Vanessa later leaves town when only Dan believes her, but tells Juliet to watch her back. After Blair ran Chuck's new girlfriend out of town, he pledges war against her. They later decide that it's best for both of them if they end their fighting after Jenny posts on Gossip Girl the reason why she left town. In the next episode, at Blair's 20th birthday party they kiss and have sex. Both Nate and Dan still have feelings for Serena, but don't know what to make of her mixed signals.
Most of Juliet's plan will be revealed by the end of the first half of the season, with some elements set to carry over. Juliet will also recruit two main characters to help take Serena down. Blair and Dan will team up to help Serena. The two characters who joined Juliet were Vanessa and Jenny. The three manage to turn everyone against Serena when Juliet and Jenny dress up as her at a masquerade party. Juliet takes photos of herself with cocaine and drugs Serena, causing Lily to believe Serena had gone off the rails again and has her committed to the Ostroff center. Jenny, feeling guilty about what they've done reveals everything to Blair. Vanessa leaves town to avoid Blair, while Blair and Dan form an alliance to seek revenge on Juliet. After they track her down, Juliet goes to Serena and explains everything to her. It is revealed in a confrontation with Lily that Juliet's brother Ben was Serena's former teacher at her boarding school in Connecticut, who was accused of having an affair with Serena. Lily forged Serena's signature on the police affidavit, which in Lily's plan, would allow Serena to return home and, inadvertently, sent Ben to prison. Serena then hatches a plan to help free Ben from prison. This involves proving that her mother forged the affidavit against Ben. Chuck also learns that Lily was planning to sell Bass Industries behind his back.
Reception
The season opened to a 1.0 Adults 18-49 rating and 1.84 million viewers. The fourth episode initially hit season highs in all categories with a 2.8 Women 18-34 rating, 1.1 Adults 18-49, a 1.7 in Adults 18-34 and 2.00 million viewers, until the airing of the eleventh episode hit a season high in viewers 2.06 million. The series has larger increases in the adults 18-49 on the Live + 7 DVR Ratings. The 4th episode had a 18-49 rating of 1.1, which was later increased to a 1.5 rating. The 5th episode had a 18-49 rating of 0.9, which later rose up to 1.3, which is 44% of increase.The season premiered to generally favorable reviews from critics. Steve Marsi, from Tv Fanatic, gave the episode 4.5 stars out of 5.0 and praised 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...
and guest star 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...
's acting and storylines. Mark O. Estes, from Tv Overmind, also enjoyed the fact that the episode had "explored more adult themes than usual." Gerard McGarry, from Unreality Shout, had said that the season premiere was "brilliant," while Alexis James-Whitehead, from Buzz Focus, had said that the episode was "less sizzle than fizzle." 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...
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:...
's performance was praised during the next episode "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...
" was also a trending topic
Trending topic
A trending topic is a word, phrase or topic that is posted multiple times on the social networking and microblogging service Twitter. Trending topics become popular either through a concerted effort by users or because of an event that prompts people to talk about one specific topic...
on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
on the night the episode aired. The season has a 75/100 score of Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, indicating mostly positive reviews.
Erik Adams from The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
reviewed the direction of the fourth season following the fourth season premiere. "By the time a television show reaches its fourth season, the characteristics of its main ensemble ought to be deeply entrenched and immediately recognizable to regular viewers. But on the occasion of Gossip Girl’s fourth season première, the ongoing teen soap—and its characters—are allowed some reinvention. The CW’s flagship franchise is in a precarious position: it’s a show that’s both out of time and losing its sizzle." Adams cited the show's expensive art direction despite the economic woes outside of the show and the doubtful following of the Gossip Girl world considering the rise of micro-blogging in celebrity culture. Adams praised the development of Blair and Serena's relationship, declaring their friendship as "[...]the great, central romance of Gossip Girl."
Brian Cantor of Headline Planet expressed disappointment with the show's performance for the season premiere, stating "[Gossip Girl] considerably [has] less critical interest and buzz than there had been for past seasons; the show no longer even has the “pop culture phenomenon” claim to soften the blow of ratings releases." Judy Berman of the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
in contrast, defended the show's creative form during the midseason finale The Townie
The Townie
"The Townie" is the 76th episode of the CW television series, Gossip Girl, as well as the eleventh episode of the show's fourth season. The episode was written by Amanda Lasher and Stephanie Savage and directed by Joe Lazarov. It aired on Monday, December 6, 2010 on the CW.The episode is currently...
, stating "Whenever I start to think that the show has run out of material[...]-- it unleashes a showstopping hour of sparkly melodrama that reminds me of why I'm still watching." With the airing of the season finale TV Fanatics Steve Marsi assessed the fourth season stating "[...]it's not a stretch to say the past season was uneven at best, lacking some of the continuity, humor and drama of the past. It's hard to put one's finger on in a sense, since many episodes were enjoyable. But there was a certain OMG-can-you-believe-this-happened factor that just wasn't there."