Gossip Girl is an American television teen drama series based on the popular novel series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar, which revolves around the lives of socialite young adults growing up on New York's Upper East Side who attend elite academic institutions while dealing with sex, drugs, jealousy and other teenage issues.
The series aired in the USA on The CW from 19 September, 2007 to 10 December, 2012. There are 121 hour-long episodes in six seasons.
Gossip Girl premiered in South Africa on DStv's GO channel (which became Vuzu in July 2009) on Wednesday 3 September 2008, at 18h30. It later aired on SABC3 and was moved from Vuzu to M-Net Series for the final season. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 6 premiered on M-Net Series on Saturday 20 October 2012, at 20h30. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 10 episodes in the sixth and final season.
Season 1
Welcome to Manhattan's Upper East Side, where gossip rules and affluent prep-school students find themselves with the money, access and appetite to explore all the temptations New York City has to offer.
The privileged prep school teens on the 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 exclusive and complicated vicious circle relies on her website and text messages for the latest scoop.
Even Serena's closest friend, Blair Waldorf, is surprised to find that Serena has suddenly ended her self-imposed exile to boarding school and returned to Manhattan.
Once the Upper East Side's most notorious party girl, Serena keeps her reasons for returning mysterious, although they may have something to do with her younger brother, Eric.
Whatever the rationale, the change in Serena is obvious, especially to Blair, whose friendship with Serena has always been competitive and difficult.
When Serena was out of the picture, Blair enjoyed her time in the spotlight and she has no intention of going back to living in Serena's shadow.
Their uneasy relationship is further complicated by Blair's boyfriend, Nate, a young man who is uneasy with all of the privileges that have been handed to him by his high-powered father, Howie The Captain Archibald.
Now that Serena is back, Blair will have to fight to hold Nate's attention. It also remains to be seen whether Blair's loyal lieutenants, Katy and Isabel, will remain by her side or break ranks to follow Serena.
The tension between Blair and Serena isn't lost on anyone in this crowd, since they all live for gossip and scandal - along with fashion, shopping and partying in Manhattan's trendiest hotspots.
This is a world you have to be born into, full of wealth, power and people like Chuck. A friend of Nate's since childhood, Chuck leads a reckless life and constantly pushes Nate to explore his dark side.
The proverbial fishes-out-of-water at the prep school are Dan and his sister Jenny, middle-class kids whose background keeps them on the fringes of this exclusive clique.
Dan and Jenny are attending the school at the insistence of their father, Rufus, a former rocker turned art gallery owner who is determined to give his kids a first-class education.
Rufus has a history with Serena's mother, Lily, a socialite who hides her past as a dancer and rock groupie.
When a chance encounter brings Dan to Serena's attention, he suddenly finds himself dating the girl of his dreams. The more Dan discovers about the real Serena, the more he's challenged to make sense of her world.
Jenny is the youngest of the group and wants desperately to be accepted. The price she'll have to pay for popularity will take a toll, but at the moment, Jenny is just thrilled to have entry into this glamorous world.
Dan and Serena's relationship is further complicated by the arrival of Dan's female friend, a Brooklyn rebel and loner who doesn't approve of Serena's world of money, fashion shows and more fundraisers. His friend's attempts to pull him back to his roots will cause friction between Dan and Serena.
Keeping track of the shifting friendships, jealousies and turmoil in this wealthy and complex world isn't easy, but it's what Gossip Girl does best.
Season 2
Spotted: the privileged prep-school teens of Manhattan's Upper East side unpacking designer suitcases stuffed with shiny new secrets and hidden agendas courtesy of a scandalous summer in the Hamptons.
As the second season of Gossip Girl unfolds, nothing is what it seems.
Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) seems to be grappling with the loss of her true love Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley) by spending time in the arms of old flame Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford).
Though Serena and Nate may have spent much of the summer together, their rekindled spark may be hiding a much more salacious relationship between Nate and an older woman.
Meanwhile, Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) is licking her wounds and plotting her revenge on Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick), who stood her up for what should have been a summer of romance.
However, one man's loss is another man's gain: in this case, a mystery man who could outmatch even the mighty Bass in the battle for Blair's heart.
Backstabbing seems to be the order of the day, but are B and C simply hiding a true love too risky to face? Time will tell.
Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen) seems more determined than ever to ensure her future in fashion. As she toils away as an intern for nemesis Blair Waldorf's mother, Eleanor (guest star Margaret Colin), Little J had better watch out. Her gritty determination could end up turning her dreams of high fashion into a nightmare.
Smoothing out the wrinkles in Dan's lovelorn past and Jenny's fashionable future will require the steady hand of their father Rufus (Matthew Settle), whose own dreams of "what might have been" are reinvigorated after spending a summer on tour with his band.
While Rufus has been away, Vanessa (Jessica Szohr) has been busy minding the gallery. When Nate seeks out her friendship and things turns romantic, she finds herself in an unexpected triangle that will test her affection and allegiance.
Few people know the hard choices between love and sacrifice better than Lily Bass (Kelly Rutherford), who has returned happier than ever after a romantic globe-trotting summer with new hubby Bart (guest star Robert John Burke). But life as Mrs. Bass may not be the storybook she's presenting to her family.
With past, present and futures colliding, we'll need our resident super sleuth Gossip Girl more than ever to dish the dirt and navigate us through the shifting friendships, mounting jealousies and hidden secrets of our favorite Upper East Siders.
Season 3
Spotted: Our beloved Upper East Siders, all grown up and graduated. Though high school may be behind them, a future of love, scandal and, of course, secrets awaits.
Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) spent her summer in Europe. But it wasn't her shopping sprees that made her the new darling of the paparazzi.
As the first day of Brown approaches, Serena will have to decide whether she's ready to give up her new life as a celebutante to begin another as a college freshman.
And a visit from bad boy Carter Baizen (guest star Sebastian Stan) will uncover the real reason for her transformation.
Meanwhile, Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) and Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick) finally declared their love for each other.
But this isn't a couple that would ever be content spending their summer holding hands at the movies. And how they spent their summer may be the thing that saves them or the wedge that drives them apart.
Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen) traded in her Brooklyn loft for an Upper East Side penthouse when her dad, Rufus (Matthew Settle), got engaged to Lily van der Woodsen Bass (Kelly Rutherford). It's the perfect address for the new Queen Bee of Constance Billard.
But just because Blair gave Jenny that title doesn't mean the other girls at school aren't going to fight for it. And will Jenny be willing to pay the price it takes to be queen?
Things are looking up for Dan (Penn Badgley). NYU is the perfect place for this high school geek to redefine himself. But a return visit from "friend" Georgina Sparks (guest star Michelle Trachtenberg) will make things more than a little bit complicated.
Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford) has found a new flame, southern belle Bree Buckley (guest star JoAnna Garcia). Unfortunately, her family and Nate's family despise each other.
Will they be able to conquer their family rivalries? Were Romeo and Juliet?
Brooklynite and NYU freshman Vanessa Abrams (Jessica Szohr) has been spending a lot of time with a mysterious stranger. But this stranger may be more of an insider than anyone can guess.
Season 4
High society and low blows are back as Gossip Girl returns for its fourth season.
Season 3 ended with a bang as a heartbroken Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick) lay bleeding in the streets of Prague while Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) and a newly-single Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) jetted off to Paris for a fabulous summer abroad.
Meanwhile, Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford), fresh off his painful breakup with Serena, decided to take a page out of Chuck's playboy playbook just as Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley) discovered he was going to have to settle down and be a father... to Georgina Sparks' (Michelle Trachtenberg) baby!
Season 4 will open with a radiant Serena and Blair enjoying their grand and romantic summer in Paris... until Chuck mysteriously arrives in town with a new girlfriend and a new identity.
Blair swore off Chuck forever but will this changed man woo Blair into having a change of heart, or will Queen B set her sights on ruling Columbia University?
And as for that baby...?
The series stars Blake Lively as Serena van der Woodsen, Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf, Penn Badgley as Dan Humphrey, Chace Crawford as Nate Archibald, Taylor Momsen as Jenny Humphrey, Ed Westwick as Chuck Bass, Jessica Szohr as Vanessa Abrams, Kelly Rutherford as Lily van der Woodsen and Matthew Settle as Rufus Humphrey.
Season 5
Spotted: Our favorite Upper East Siders scattered around the world for one sizzling summer. If you think Manhattan had enough secrets and scandals to keep me busy, just wait until you see the souvenirs our sexy socialites have brought back home with them.
Looks like gossip is global as Gossip Girl returns for its hotly anticipated fifth season.
Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) has spent a fabulous summer with her fiancé, Prince Louis (guest star Hugo Becker), in her future kingdom of Monaco. But when Blair returns home from the holiday, this Princess-to-be will quickly learn that planning a royal wedding can be a royal pain. And the fallout from Blair and Chuck's (Ed Westwick) heartbreaking decision to let each other go isn't making life easier.
Meanwhile, Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) scored the perfect summer job in sunny Los Angeles, working for an A-list director.
Being in California has clearly allowed Serena to discover a new sense of purpose, but will the return of her cousin Charlie (Kaylee DeFer), in actuality a struggling actress Aunt Carol (guest star Sheila Kelley) paid to impersonate her daughter, threaten to ruin everything?
Only time will tell.
Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick) and Nate Archibald (Chace Crawford) enjoyed a hedonistic summer trip around the globe but, when they stop in Los Angeles to visit Serena, things quickly spin out of control.
Nate falls into bed with a sexy and mysterious older woman, Diana Payne (guest star Elizabeth Hurley), who has more in store for him than he knows. And a seemingly carefree Chuck is chasing down exotic adrenaline rushes that might put his life in real danger.
After a relaxing summer in the Hamptons, Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley) has his whole world shattered when he discovers that Vanessa (Jessica Szohr) has gone behind his back and found an editor to anonymously publish his autobiographical novel, "Inside".
Dan's terrified of all his friends and family reading his critique of New York high society, but will he say no to the fame and fortune that comes with being a published author? It's anybody's guess.
So watch out Upper East Siders, this season nobody's safe, and everybody's going to be sorry. XOXO... Gossip Girl.
Season 6
Six years after the first Gossip Girl blast rocked the Upper East Side and viewers at home, Gossip Girl returns for an unforgettable final season.
Season 6 opens with the Upper East Siders working together to find one of their own. Serena (Blake Lively) has gone off the grid, beyond even the reach of Gossip Girl. Her friends fear for the worst and hope for the best, but even they can't imagine where they will ultimately find her.
Meanwhile, Blair (Leighton Meester) has offered Chuck (Ed Westwick) her heart, but is her love enough to help him win back his empire?
Lonely Boy Dan (Penn Badgley) has written a new book that promises to make even more trouble than the first, and this time he has no desire to remain anonymous.
Nate (Chace Crawford) is determined to finally reveal the true identity of Gossip Girl, thereby making a name for The Spectator and himself.
Lily (Kelly Rutherford) and Rufus (Matthew Settle) turn on one another when Rufus makes a surprising new ally who threatens Lily and her family. Always ready with a scheme, Ivy (Kaylee DeFer) is prepared to stir up trouble.
Anywhere else it would be too much drama to handle, but this is the Upper East Side. And when Bart Bass (guest star Robert John Burke), Jack Bass (guest star Desmond Harrington) and Georgina Sparks (guest star Michelle Trachtenberg) show up to raise hell, it's a fight to the spectacular series finale.
Who comes out on top? That's one secret I'll never tell... xoxo, Gossip Girl.
Filmed in New York and based on the popular series of young-adult novels by Cecily von Ziegesar, Gossip Girl is from Fake Empire and Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios with executive producers Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, Leslie Morgenstein, Bob Levy and Sara Goodman.
Seasons
Note: the show moved from Vuzu to M-Net Series for the final season
Season 1 (18 episodes)
Channel: GO | Premiere: 3 Sep 2008 | Finale: 31 Dec 2008 | Wednesdays, 18h30
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 5 Apr 2010 | Finale: 12 May 2010 | Mon-Wed, 21h00
Season 2 (25 episodes)
Channel: Vuzu | Premiere: 1 Jul 2009 | Finale: 16 Dec 2009 | Wednesdays, 20h30
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 7 Jul 2010 | Finale: 1 Sep 2010 | Mon-Wed, 21h00
Season 3 (22 episodes)
Channel: Vuzu | Premiere: 20 Jan 2010 | Finale: 16 Jun 2010 | Wednesdays, 20h30
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 27 Jan 2012 | Finale: 22 Jun 2012 | Fridays, 20h00
Season 4 (22 episodes)
Channel: Vuzu | Premiere: 26 Jan 2011 | Finale: 22 Jun 2011 | Wednesdays, 20h30
Season 5 (24 episodes)
Channel: Vuzu | Premiere: 31 Jan 2012 | Finale: 10 Jul 2012 | Tuesdays, 19h30
Season 6 (10 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Series | Premiere: 20 Oct 2012 | Finale: 29 Dec 2012 | Saturdays, 20h30