I’ve never watched Gossip Girl before, but I’m watching it tonight. Right now. Since I’m writing for tweens and YA’s, I thought I should check out the show whose characters seem to be all over the internet. What’s all the fuss about?

Despite the show’s pretty glaring flaws–everyone’s rich, there’s not a person of color in sight, and it has that annoying voice-over reminiscent of Sex and the City–I got into it (okay, I’m slightly embarrassed to admit it). I like Blake Lively, who I know from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movies. The others I’ve never seen or heard of before. The guy who plays Chuck totally reminds me of a vampire, but since all things vampire are popular right now…I can see how this might be appealing.

A few months ago, a well-known critic from the New Yorker, Janet Malcolm, reviewed the Gossip Girl series (the books). I thought she’d hate them, but she made the point that the writer, Cecily Von Zisegar, is poking fun at her main characters while simultaneously sympathizing with them. She’s not a fan of the show, however, and I quote, “Without Von Ziegesar’s fast, mocking, commentary to propel them, the TV episodes are sluggish and crass–a move from Barnney’s to Kmart.” Read Malcolm’s review.

What do you think? Enlighten me. Please.