Like most television series, the cast of Gossip Girl is signed through six seasons. And though the show hasn’t yet been renewed for that sixth season, at the 100th episode party the president of Warner Bros. Television said that he hoped and expected the show to continue for a sixth season…and beyond.
A sixth season seems manageable, but beyond that? Could the show really go on without some of its major stars? Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, and Ed Westwick have all already expressed some desire to move on once their contracts are up. And Blake Lively’s ever increasing moves into film have shown her own desire to be off the show as well.
Let’s, for argument’s sake, pretend that Blake would actually be happy to sign on for another season after the sixth (simply since she hasn’t explicitly said otherwise, though clearly this is a farfetched idea), and only the three mentioned above left the show. That would leave only Serena, Nate, and Ivy (and, of course, Lily and Rufus, who would obviously be happy to renew their contracts). Could Gossip Girl pull a ‘One Tree Hill’ and be moderately successful with only those three characters returning?
Like One Tree Hill — which returned with some much-loved, original characters like Brooke, Hailey, and Nathan — Gossip Girl could bring back both Serena and Nate, who have been established as key parts of the series since the pilot. But would they be enough to carry the show? Even though they are a part of the original core five, Serena and Nate arguably don’t have the sort of dedicated, hardcore following that the other three original characters do. How many viewers would want to tune in strictly to see Serena and Nate?
Another obstacle Gossip Girl would face is the introduction of new characters. When One Tree Hill lost Lucas and Peyton they brought in a cast of new characters that people were interested in and related to. In the past, Gossip Girl hasn’t really been able to do that successfully. Most of the guest stars they attempt to bring in are unwelcome and not liked (examples would include Hilary Duff, Raina, the Prince, and the worst of them all: Vanessa). Ivy, of course, has somewhat broken this mold, but the writers clearly don’t have the best record. Could they introduce new characters that would keep viewers tuning in?
Personally, I don’t think the show stands a chance. If it loses Blair, Chuck, and Dan (and most likely Serena, if we are being realistic), there is no way Gossip Girl could possibly continue. The continued ‘success’ of One Tree Hill really is a once in a blue moon sort of occurrence that is most likely never going to be reproduced, especially not by Gossip Girl.
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Gossip Girl has been struggling since season 3, if it does get a sixth season it would be time to let the show have it's dignified death.
The show already got renewed for a sixth season!
Really? I hadn't seen that anywhere. I know the producers and everyone were pretty much banking on a sixth season, but I didn't think it was official yet...
The CW has not confirmed it was renewed.
I feel like Grey's Anatomy has done something similar. We lost Izzie and George, two of the original five, so the group/friendship dynamic of the first few seasons is gone, and I really preferred the show back then. I still watch for Meredith, Cristina, and Alex though. And I like some of the new characters that now dominate the screen time, but it just feels like two completely different shows to me.
However, I agree with you - I don't think Gossip Girl could pull that off. The heart of the show is Blair and Serena. Without both of them, I don't know how you keep it going. Maybe you could lose Chuck or Dan...but I don't know. Definitely not if you lost all of the three you mentioned. The show would just be unrecognizable.
Leighton Meester and Ed Westwick are really the only ones that I've heard about that are seriously considering not renewing their contracts after the sixth season. So, I feel like the writers could pull a Lucas and Peyton with them, and have them get together and leave the show. After that, I guess it would be one big Dan/Serena/Nate/Ivy love quadrangle. But I don't think that would really draw in many viewers. Although, like has already been said, Gossip Girl has been struggling since its third season. So maybe it's not about having a ton of viewers, but about having more viewers than the competing shows on the network. Which Gossip Girl apparently still does.
Penn talked about how he was only signed on for six seasons and would probably walk away after that in an interview with New York Magazine, so he probably wouldn't be in that love quadrangle mix. Sadly.
Blair, Chuck, AND Dan could run away together in a 3-way lovefest! :P
disgusting. I hope dan goes wherever jenny and vanessa are (I think it's called hatedcharacterville, but I'm not 100% sure...) and Blair and Chuck need to have a huge wedding!!
Leighton or Ed, I REALLY wouldn't have any interest in the show. Sorry, that's my opinion.
leighton, ed and penn wouldnt continue after season 6...and without them, the show just cant continue...even chace and blake wouldnt continue to be honest, GG without the coure 5 doesent make sense...all the actors are having so much succeed outside the GG world, specially blake, penn and leighton...so it wouldnt be like OTH, they wont stay, and im happy, 6 years is more than enough
I gave up after watching 1,5 seasons of GG so it's far from OTH record for me, because I lasted through 6 whole seasons of that show. :)
Season 6 for Gossip Girl is enough, I guess. If the 3 (leighton, ed and penn) will be out, there would be no Gossip Girl anymore.They are the only characters people love. And CHAIR definitely keeps the show going.But, it could be better if after 6th season , a movie will follow...:))
love the movie idea, but i must point out that the writer of the gossip girl book series did write a spin off book series about some triplets (I think...) so maybe GG will continue through them.... but will viewers continue to watch... now that's a tough question.
Yes there is a book series it's called "The Carlyles (Gossip Girl)".... it doesn't seem very interesting though..... :/