The fifth season of Gossip Girl, an American teen drama based upon the book series by Cecily
von Ziegesar and developed for television by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage.
The CW officially renewed the series for a fifth season on April 26, 2011.
It was announced later that Taylor Momsen, who played Jenny Humphrey since the pilot,
and Jessica Szohr, who joined the series as Vanessa Abrams in season one, would not be
returning for the fifth season as regulars.
Kaylee DeFer was upgraded to a series regular status in her roles as Serena's cousin, Charlie
Rhodes, and aspiring actress/con artist Ivy Dickens.
Hugo Becker also reprises his role as Blair's love interest, Prince Louis Grimaldi of Monaco.
With the confirmation of the 2011–12 schedule, The CW television network announced that Gossip
Girl would be returning to Mondays at 8:00pm as a lead-in to Hart of Dixie.
It features 24 episodes.
The fifth season premiered on September 26, 2011.
Cast Episodes
Production The CW officially renewed the series for a
fifth season on April 26, 2011.
On May 19, 2011, with the reveal of The CW's 2011–12 television schedule, Gossip Girl
stayed on Monday night and moved to the 8:00 pm Eastern/7:00 pm Central timeslot as a lead-in
to Hart of Dixie, which is produced by Gossip Girl's executive producers Josh Schwartz and
Stephanie Savage.
The fifth season premiered on Monday, September 26, 2011.
Filming for the season began on July 7, 2011.
On August 3, 2011, The CW ordered two additional episodes for the fifth season, which will
now total at 24.
Executive producer Joshua Safran announced that he would be "pulling out all the stops"
to make the 100th episode of the show special, which is expected to air in January.
On the date of the season premiere, the show used footage of the New York cityscape that
showed the World Trade Center before the September 11 attacks.
Footage containing the World Trade Center have been omitted by films and TV shows such
as Sex and the City and The Sopranos to honor individuals who died in the attacks.
The network has not responded to criticism regarding the usage of the footage.
Despite dwindling ratings, series executives are confident the show will be renewed for
a sixth season.
Head of Warner Bros. Television, Peter Roth is also confident that the show will return,
stating, "I can't really say at this point, but I would hope and expect that there would
be at least another year—if not years—to come."
Later on, executive producer Stephanie Savage hinted that a sixth and final season is likely.
"We're not writing a series finale this year," said Savage.
She added "I checked in with the bosses to make sure we're not shooting ourselves in
the foot" and said the cast contracts run out at the end of the next season so "that
feels like probably an organic ending point".
St. Vincent performed "Cruel" and "Cheerleader" from her Strange Mercy album during the Valentine's
Day episode.
Cast
Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford, and Ed Westwick all returned
as series regulars.
Kaylee DeFer was upgraded to series regular status, while Taylor Momsen and Jessica Szohr
have been invited back as guest stars.
Kelly Rutherford and Matthew Settle also returned as regulars.
On April 6, 2011 10 Things I Hate About You star Ethan Peck landed a guest-starring role
on the show.
Peck made his debut in the fourth season finale and was in talks with producers for a recurring
role for the fifth season.
Peck would later film his scenes with Lively for the season premiere.
French actress and model Roxane Mesquida was cast as Beatrice, Louis' sister and Blair's
nemesis in a recurring role for the fifth season.
Actress Elizabeth Hurley has been cast as media mogul Diana Payne and will star in a
multi-episode arc with the character being described as "a sexy, smart, self-made media
mogul and an all-around force to be reckoned with."
Former Lost actor Marc Menard will join the cast in the potentially recurring role of
Father Cavalia, a handsome priest from Monaco who will preside over Blair's wedding.
Brian J. Smith, best known for his role on Stargate Universe, had been cast as a love
interest for Serena while she is in Los Angeles and would appearing on the show as Max, an
aspiring chef.
Connor Paolo, who is now a regular on Revenge, will not return to the show as Eric van der
Woodsen stating, "I'm done.
You should never go back in life.
Only forward."
In an interview with Elle magazine on August 16, 2011, Momsen stated that she had quit
the series to focus fully on her music career.
Hollywood stuntwoman Zoë Bell was slated to appear on the show and made her debut in
the season premiere.
New York magazine noted the appearance of American novelist Jay McInerney, who reprised
his role as writer Jeremiah Harris.
Aaron Tveit, who previously portrayed Nate's cousin Trip Vanderbilt in the third season,
returned to the show for a multi-episode arc.
Michelle Trachtenberg will reprise her role as Georgina Sparks, who was last seen in the
fourth season finale.
Her first appearance will be during the show's 100th episode.
Also returning is William Baldwin as Serena and Eric's father, William van der Woodsen,
for the season's seventeenth episode, set to air in February 2012.
It was also reported that Desmond Harrington who made a cameo appearance in the fall finale
will return as Chuck's Uncle.
Also guest starring is One Life to Live’s alum David A. Gregory as a friend of the real
Charlie Rhodes.
Cobra Starship's Gabe Saporta will make a cameo in season 5 finale.
Plot
Season five opens in Los Angeles, where a vacationing Chuck and Nate decide to visit
Serena, who is working on a movie set.
Back in New York, Blair learns that planning a royal wedding can be stressful, especially
with a baby on the way, and Dan discovers the consequences of writing candidly about
his closest friends.
Also, the surprise return of cousin Charlie will threaten to destroy the Van der Woodsen
family.
Confused about Chuck's sudden change, Blair is determined to prove his behaviour is an
act to win her back.
The series' 100th episode focused on Blair's wedding to prince Louis.
"I think it's our biggest episode since the pilot", said executive producer Joshua Safran.
Release With the move to 8:00pm, The CW charged $50,304
for a 30-second advertising slot before the fifth season began airing.
Ratings The season premiere was watched by 1.37 million
viewers and received a 0.7 rating in the Adults 19–49 demo, down 0.3 vs. last season's premiere.
Episode 23 hit a new series low, hitting for the fourth time a total viewership below the
1 million viewer mark, to 869,000 viewers and a 0.4 in the 18-49 demographic.
References