History of Gossip Girl in Timeline
"Gossip Girl" is a teen drama series based on Cecily von Ziegesar's novels. Developed by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, the show aired on The CW for six seasons (2007-2012). It follows the lives of privileged Upper East Side teens whose secrets are exposed by the anonymous "Gossip Girl" blogger.
1976: Gossip Girl Episode Title References 1976 Film
The Gossip Girl episode "Bad News Blair" takes its name from the 1976 film "The Bad News Bears," showcasing the show's practice of referencing popular culture in its episode titles.
2002: IMDb.com Pro Launches
IMDb.com Pro launched in 2002, later ranking television shows based on their ratings over the following decade.
October 2006: Josh Schwartz Begins Work on Gossip Girl Pilot
By October 2006, Josh Schwartz, creator of The O.C., was working on the pilot episode for Gossip Girl, aiming to capture the sophistication of the characters from the books.
December 2006: Leighton Meester and Blake Lively Cast in Gossip Girl
Leighton Meester and Blake Lively were the first actors cast in Gossip Girl in December 2006, securing the lead roles of Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen.
January 2007: The CW Greenlights Gossip Girl
In January 2007, The CW network gave the green light to Gossip Girl, paving the way for the show's production.
April 2007: Main Cast of Gossip Girl Finalized
By April 2007, the primary cast for Gossip Girl was finalized, including Ed Westwick as Chuck Bass and Matthew Settle as Rufus Humphrey.
May 17, 2007: Kristen Bell Revealed as Gossip Girl Narrator
At The CW's 2007 upfronts on May 17, 2007, Kristen Bell was revealed as the narrator and voice of Gossip Girl.
August 2007: Gossip Girl Premieres to Mixed Reviews
In August 2007, "Gossip Girl" premiered with mixed reviews. While some publications praised the show, others saw it as a guilty pleasure.
September 19, 2007: Gossip Girl Premieres
On September 19, 2007, the teen drama series Gossip Girl, based on the novels by Cecily von Ziegesar, premiered on The CW network.
2007: Gossip Girl Garners Significant Advertising Revenue
In 2007, Gossip Girl earned $28.2 million in advertising revenue through partnerships with brands like Procter & Gamble, L'Oreal, Target, and Johnson & Johnson, demonstrating the show's commercial success and appeal to advertisers.
2007: Gossip Girl Episode Titles Draw Inspiration from Films and Novels
The titles of Gossip Girl episodes are inspired by various films and novels, such as "The Wild Brunch" referencing the western film "The Wild Bunch" and "Seventeen Candles" drawing from the coming-of-age film "Sixteen Candles."
April 2008: "Gossip Girl" Sparks Controversy with "OMFG" Campaign
In April 2008, the "Gossip Girl" "OMFG" ad campaign sparked criticism from groups like the Parents Television Council, who deemed the show inappropriate.
September 2, 2008: "Gossip Girl" Soundtrack Released Digitally
On September 2, 2008, "OMFGG - Original Music Featured On Gossip Girl, No.1," the first soundtrack for the show, was released on digital platforms.
October 28, 2008: "Gossip Girl" Soundtrack Hits Stores
Following its digital release, the first "Gossip Girl" soundtrack, "OMFGG - Original Music Featured On Gossip Girl, No.1," was released in stores on October 28, 2008.
2008: "Gossip Girl" Influences Fashion and Mobile Use
By 2008, "Gossip Girl" became recognized for its significant influence on fashion, particularly among young women, and its pioneering use of mobile technology in storytelling.
2008: "Gossip Girl"'s Second Season Premieres
The second season of "Gossip Girl" premiered in 2008, continuing the story of the Upper East Side elite.
2008: VitaminWater Partners with Gossip Girl
In mid-2008, VitaminWater struck a product placement deal with The CW for Gossip Girl, leading to the drinks being frequently mentioned in dialogues during the second season and helping fund the show's filming in the Hamptons.
2008: "Gossip Girl" Gains Popularity During Writer's Strike
During the 2008 Writer's Guild of America strike, "Gossip Girl" benefited from reruns, contributing to its growing popularity.
2009: "Gossip Girl" Inspires Fashion Line
"Gossip Girl"'s impact on fashion continued to grow, with designer Anna Sui creating a line inspired by the show in 2009.
2009: "Gossip Girl"'s Fashion Influence Grows
By 2009, "Gossip Girl" had cemented its place as a fashion influencer, with the show's costume designer noting the increasing use of high-end fashion from brands eager to be associated with the show.
September 13, 2010: Gossip Girl Season 4 Premieres with Parisian Flair
The fourth season of Gossip Girl premiered on September 13, 2010, featuring the first two episodes filmed on location in Paris, showcasing iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum.
August 2011: Connor Paolo Departs from Gossip Girl
In August 2011, Connor Paolo, who played Eric van der Woodsen, confirmed his departure from Gossip Girl after becoming a regular on the ABC series Revenge.
September 16, 2011: "Gossip Girl" Clothing Line Announced
Capitalizing on the show's fashion influence, Warner Bros. announced an official "Gossip Girl" clothing line on September 16, 2011, inspired by the styles of characters Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf.
September 26, 2011: Gossip Girl Season 5 Premieres with Los Angeles Setting
The fifth season of Gossip Girl premiered on September 26, 2011, featuring the first two episodes set in Los Angeles, marking a departure from the show's usual New York City backdrop.
October 2011: Gossip Girl Embraces Streaming on Netflix and Hulu
In October 2011, The CW signed deals with Netflix and Hulu to make Gossip Girl episodes available for streaming, marking the show's entry into the growing world of online streaming platforms.
January 2012: "Gossip Girl" Ranked High on SVOD Services
Data from January 2012 to January 2013 revealed that "Gossip Girl" was highly popular on Subscription Video-on-Demand services, reflecting its continued relevance even after its initial run.
January 26, 2012: New York City Celebrates "Gossip Girl" Day
On January 26, 2012, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg proclaimed "Gossip Girl Day" to acknowledge the show's positive impact on the city's economy and culture.
March 5, 2012: Chinese "Gossip Girl" Adaptation Announced
On March 5, 2012, plans for a Chinese adaptation of "Gossip Girl," titled "China Girl," were announced, with production set to begin later that year.
April 24, 2012: Joshua Safran Exits Gossip Girl
On April 24, 2012, Joshua Safran, co-executive producer of Gossip Girl, announced his departure from the show after the fifth season to work on the musical series Smash.
May 11, 2012: Gossip Girl Renewed for Final Season
On May 11, 2012, The CW renewed Gossip Girl for a sixth and final season, consisting of 10 episodes.
June 2012: Production Planned for "China Girl"
Production for the Chinese adaptation of "Gossip Girl," "China Girl," was slated to start in June 2012, but no further news about the adaptation was released.
July 25, 2012: Style Network Acquires Off-Network Rights to Gossip Girl
On July 25, 2012, Style Network announced it had acquired the off-network rights to air reruns of Gossip Girl, expanding the show's reach to a new audience.
August 15, 2012: Gossip Girl Reruns Premiere on Style Network
Beginning August 15, 2012, Style Network began airing reruns of Gossip Girl, providing fans with another avenue to revisit the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite.
October 8, 2012: Gossip Girl's Final Season Premieres
The sixth and final season of Gossip Girl, consisting of 10 episodes, premiered on October 8, 2012.
December 17, 2012: Gossip Girl Airs Final Episode
After six seasons, Gossip Girl aired its final episode on December 17, 2012.
2012: Gossip Girl Achieves Global Broadcast Reach
By 2012, Gossip Girl was broadcast in 197 countries, illustrating its widespread international popularity and appeal to a global audience.
2012: "Gossip Girl"'s Cultural Impact Recognized
By 2012, "Gossip Girl" was recognized for its cultural influence, being ranked among the top shows on platforms like IMDb.com Pro and AOL TV.
January 2013: Filming Begins for "Gossip Girl: Acapulco"
Filming for the Mexican adaptation of "Gossip Girl," titled "Gossip Girl: Acapulco," commenced in January 2013.
January 2013: NPD Releases SVOD Data
In January 2013, NPD released data on the most popular shows on Subscription Video-on-Demand services, with "Gossip Girl" ranking among the top viewed.
July 5, 2013: "Gossip Girl: Acapulco" Premieres
A Mexican adaptation, "Gossip Girl: Acapulco," premiered on July 5, 2013, featuring a new cast and storylines while maintaining the essence of the original show.
2014: "Gossip Girl: Acapulco" Airs in the US
Following its premiere in Mexico, "Gossip Girl: Acapulco" aired in the United States on Univision in 2014.
July 16, 2015: "Gossip Girl: Thailand" Premieres
"Gossip Girl: Thailand," another international adaptation, premiered on July 16, 2015, on Channel 3, showcasing the show's global appeal.
October 27, 2017: Chinese "Gossip Girl" Adaptation Premieres
A Chinese adaptation of "Gossip Girl," simply titled "The Gossip Girl," premiered on October 27, 2017.
November 2019: Kristen Bell Announced as Narrator for Gossip Girl Sequel
In November 2019, it was announced that Kristen Bell would be returning as the voice of Gossip Girl in the new sequel series. This news confirmed that the new series would be a continuation rather than a reboot, although it featured a new cast with no plot continuation from the original series.
February 14, 2020: Premiere of Gossip Girl Indonesia
On February 14, 2020, Gossip Girl Indonesia premiered on GoPlay, a video-on-demand service by Gojek, with Nia Dinata as the showrunner. This marked the launch of an Indonesian adaptation of the popular show.
January 1, 2021: Gossip Girl Finds New Streaming Home on HBO Max
On January 1, 2021, Gossip Girl moved from Netflix to HBO Max, WarnerMedia's streaming service and the parent company of Warner Bros. Television, the show's production company.
July 8, 2021: Premiere of Gossip Girl Sequel Series
On July 8, 2021, a standalone sequel series of Gossip Girl premiered on HBO Max. The new series, headed by original executive producers Schwartz, Savage, and Safran, introduced a different cast of characters and was set in a shared universe with the original series, but had no plot connection to it.