andPOP » Leighton Meester

Gossip Girl Premiere More WTF? Than OMG!

Emma Renda — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:49:10 +0000

The cast of Gossip Girl spent the summer on extravagant vacations (in both TV-land and reality), but it seems the rest of the world isn’t too interested in their homecoming.

Thursday’s premiere finished with a 36 per cent decrease in viewers, compared to the 2008 premiere. It’s a shocking drop for a show whose cast spent their time off in the spotlight, generating a real-time version of gossip.

Leighton Meester made the music press recording a single with Cobra Starship and launching her personal MySpace with plans for a debut solo album.

Chace Crawford was voted this summer’s hottest bachelor by People Magazine, beating out the smouldering Robert Pattinson and, unexpectedly, Dwayne Johnson (better known as The Rock).

Then there was the somewhat misleading reports of Ed Westwick (Chuck Bass on GG) getting some male affection from his new co-star Neal Bledsoe, in a spoiler leak that reveals the two in an on-screen liplock.

A show that never skimps on budget, Gossip Girl also picked up mainstream guest-stars Hilary Duff, Tyra Banks and Sonic Youth, carrying on last season’s trend that picked up the likes of No Doubt and cast Michelle Trachtenberg in a permanent role.

You’d think that kind of clout would be enough to draw all of last year’s viewers, not to mention anyone who paid attention to this summer’s celebrity gossip.

It may take a few episodes to remind people GG has routinely been one of the more shocking, OMFG-inducing shows on television. Then again, its loyal viewers could have been seduced by this year’s vampire fetish, True Blood, a series coming fast on the heels of Twilight-mania.

Or it could be that we are getting our fill of the Gossip Girls via their real-life antics in which case Cecily von Ziegesar (author of the original novels) should be pissed.

Former Disney Star To Join ‘Gossip Girl’

Ilan Mester — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:36:18 +0000

“Lizzie McGuire” star Hillary Duff is set to join the cast of “Gossip Girl” for a multi-episode arc, according to EW.com.

According to reports, Duff will play Olivia Burk, a movie star enrolled in New York University to get the college experience. She ends up rooming with Vanessa (played by Jessica Szohr) at NYU, the same University attended by characters Blair (Leighton Meester) and Dan (Penn Badgley).

In December, Duff said to E! News she’d become a fan of the show, adding that her favourite character was Chuck Bass. “I don’t know why, because he’s so bad and terrible,” she said. “He is so sad that I feel bad for him,” she admitted.

The former Disney star was developing “Barely Legal,” her own pilot for NBC, but after the network passed on her comedy pilot, “Gossip Girl” producers found a spot for her on the show.

Expect to see Duff spreading rumours on the show during the season’s fourth episode which is slated to air on Oct. 5.

Under The Rock: Gossip Girl Goes Solo, Sort Of

Emma Renda — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:13:16 +0000

It’s no secret the Gossip Girls have it all, on and off screen, but I never imagined there would be the time or talent to squeeze in a music career. Turns out I am sorely mistaken.

Leighton Meester, famously known as the beautiful and bitchy Blair Waldorf of CW’s Gossip Girl, is launching her solo music career and made her first stop a guest appearance on Cobra Starship’s “Good Girls Go Bad”.

Now, I have a very hard time buying into the actor-goes-serious-musician career move considering the track record of oh, say, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Scarlett Johanssen, Lindsey Lohan, ad infinitum. And if all logic prevails, Meester will fare no better. I had my doubts that she would ever become anything more than just a Gossip Girl once the series dried up. But then she appeared on the cover of both Nylon Magazine and Cosmo in quick succession and all of the sudden she was everywhere.

To my chagrin, I assumed MySpace would be the last place I’d find her. But there she was, right next to Down With Webster and Anti-Flag. Leighton freaking Meester. I was hardly surprised when I saw that her vehicle for musical success was none other than Cobra Starship, the captains of the scenester team. This band is more connected than Kevin Bacon and to their credit, the bit of Gossip Girl they’ve added to the mix isn’t so bad.

Meester’s brief appearance midway through the song “Good Girls Go Bad” is a welcome break in the usually production-heavy, boy-bandish repertoire of Cobra Starship. But her throaty interlude adds a dose of sass that male deep-V T-shirts don’t quite pull off. With an almost – and I hasten to make the comparison but for timeliness’ sake, here goes – Amy Winehouse-esque whine, Meester’s verse is totally believable.

The song is all about good girls being tempted to the dark side by these dangerous pop-rockers, and Meester fits the bill, simply because of her on-screen persona. Essentially, Blaire is singing about giving in to the rebel type – that is, Chuck Bass – despite knowing just how bad for her it will be. It makes one wonder if Cobra Starship’s musical inspiration is gleaned from the CW’s Monday night line-up.

Granted, it may not be the worst place to turn. Gossip Girl has made a reputation for itself as a go-to trend factory, and music has definitely not been ignored. In one of their recent episodes, No Doubt appeared under the pseudonym Snowed Out and performed an Adam and the Ants song. The rest of the soundtrack ranges from ahead of the curve hip, such as Santogold, Anya Marina and Coconut Records, to an impressive selection of classics by Sarah Vaughn, Billy Idol, New Order and the list goes on. There are even some Canadian appearances by The Dears and Two Hours Traffic. Well-played, GG.

Meester’s tune with Cobra Starship doesn’t skimp on the stars, enlisting Kevin Rudolph (of “Let It Rock” ft. Lil Wayne fame) to producer the track. It’s hardly debatable this song has all the trappings to be a surefire summer hit. And it probably will be. So despite the fact that a full-length album from Meester makes me very, very nervous, I have confidence she has enough connections to at least try to do it right.

Minka Kelly Joins Cast Of The Roommate

Eva Lam — Wed, 13 May 2009 02:57:19 +0000

“Friday Night Lights” star Minka Kelly will discover the scary side of college after joining the cast of upcoming psychological thriller “The Roommate.”

As previously reported, the film stars Leighton Meester (”Gossip Girl”) as a college freshmen who becomes dangerously obsessed with her new roomie, Sara, to be played by Kelly.

The cast of the Screen Gems thriller is rounded out by Aly Michalka of the pop group Aly and AJ, Cam Gigandet (”Twilight”) and Matt Lanter (the new “90210″). Michalka will play an outgoing dormmate, Lanter will play Sara’s ex-boyfriend and Gigandet will play her current boyfriend, according to Variety.

The movie, which is being directed by Christian E. Christiansen, started shooting last week in Los Angeles.

Kelly recently finished filming the CW pilot “Body Politic” and will next appear in the romantic comedy “(500) Days of Summer.” Despite low ratings, the critically-praised drama “Friday Night Lights” was renewed for a fourth season by NBC last week.

‘Gossip Girl’ Actress To Star In Thriller

Eva Lam — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:45:30 +0000

Leighton Meester is headed for the big screen as the roommate from hell.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Meester, a.k.a. Blair Waldorf on the hit CW show “Gossip Girl,” is in talks to star in the thriller “The Roommate.”

The movie from Sony Screen Gems revolves around Sara, a college student who moves into a freshman dorm with a stranger named Rebecca. Unfortunately for Sara, her new roomie becomes obsessed with her, with deadly results.

Meester would play Rebecca, while the role of Sara has yet to be cast.

Danish filmmaker Christian E. Christiansen, who received an Oscar nomination in 2007 for best live-action short film, is directing.

Aside from “Gossip Girl,” Meester’s credits include several independent movies and guest appearances on such shows as “Entourage” and “24.”