The CW's Gossip Girl delves into the world of teen elitism, with many of the show's plotlines revolving around sex, drugs and underage drinking.  The show has received criticism for its provocative subject matter, with some commenting that its portrayal of the teen socialites is downright unrealistic.  However, series stars Blake Lively and Penn Badgley have come to the show's defense, saying that although Gossip Girl does not totally mirror real life, it does present a lot of issues relevant to today's youth.

“I think that our show takes place at a heightened reality a little bit…  I think a lot of the realism is lost in the sparkle, and it's meant to.  You need that for the entertainment and the grit,” Lively, who plays Serena van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl, said on The View.  “But this stuff does happen and it's good that we get to address these issues.  It does open the door for conversations for parents to have with their children.”

Badgley, who appears as Dan Humphrey on the show, echoed his costar's statements, adding that the characters who are most engaged in the wayward lifestyle are the ones who have “the most shattered family lives.”

“You see the repercussions of it at such a young age,” Badgley said. “There's an element of it that's very realistic…  It is heightened reality because it is television, but they did get it from somewhere…”

Despite the criticism, Gossip Girl, a teen drama based on the eponymous book series authored by Cecily von Ziegesar, has proven to be a hit among teens, and is also one of the most downloaded programs on iTunes.   The show's success has come as a surprise to Lively, who has yet to get used to her fame.

“It's a little strange to walk down the street and see the big billboards,” she said.

Gossip Girls airs Wednesday nights at 9/8c on The CW.


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: ABC
(Image Courtesy of Just Jared)