Leighton Meester
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BirthDate BirthPlace |
04/08/1986
Marco Island, FL |
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OMG Chuck Bass! We Can't Get Enough Of Your Fashion — GALLERY
November 03, 2012 7:37am ESTGossip Girl’s Charles Bartholomew “Chuck” Bass is many things: a playboy-turned-romantic, hotel owner, business head, master-schemer. But perhaps the most important moniker he owns is Upper East Side fashionista. Over the last six seasons of Gossip Girl, we’ve seen Chuck wear some pretty out-there fashions, taken some daring risks when it comes to colors and prints, and watched him make even the most casual of days a walk down the runway. When it comes to Gossip Girl fashion, he is second only to Queen B, Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester). Makes sense, as they are the perfect couple – fashionably and romantically. Maybe if Chuck was portrayed by an American, he would lose some of his crazy and eccentric swag, but thank god he’s not: Brit Ed Westwick has put quite the European spin on the billionaire’s wardrobe. When we say goodbye to Gossip Girl once and for all on Dec. 17 when the two-hour series finale airs, we will get our last glimpse of Chuck’s weirdly awesome style. Before that happens, take a trip down memory lane and check out all the crazy fashions of Chuck Bass! THE CRAZY FASHIONS OF CHUCK BASS! Follow Sydney on Twitter @SydneyBucksbaum [Photo Credit: The CW] More: 'Gossip Girl': OMG! Chuck And Blair Get [SPOILER], But Who's Getting Arrested? — PIC 'Gossip Girl': Who ELSE Is Getting Married?!? — PIC OMG! Identity of 'Gossip Girl' Will Be Revealed! From Our Partners: Country Music Association Awards 2012: See the Best-Dressed Stars of the Night (PHOTOS) (Celebuzz) ’The X Factor’ Live Shows: 10 Things You Didn’t See on TV (Celebuzz)
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Food fight farewell for Gossip Girl
October 21, 2012 2:15pm ESTThe cast finished shooting their sixth and final season on Saturday (20Oct12) and they gathered together to celebrate the hit TV drama's huge success at a wrap party. But chaos ensued at the end of the evening as the stars indulged in a food fight with their special send-off chocolate cake. Photos of the carnage emerged on Twitter.com, including a snap of Crawford with icing smeared on his face and shirt, and another of him licking his fingers while cutting another slice of the cake. A shot of co-stars Michelle Trachtenberg and Penn Badgely with cream on their cheeks and in their hair also appeared online. The last episode of the teen show is due to air in December (12).
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'Gossip Girl': OMG! Chuck And Blair Get [SPOILER], But Who's Getting Arrested? — PIC
October 16, 2012 11:31am ESTA Gossip Girl photo is making the rounds today and it hints at a happy ending for Chuck (Ed Westwick) and Blair (Leighton Meester). In this spoiler-y photo, it looks like our two favorite schemers are finally putting that secret engagement ring Blair currently wears around her neck to good use: a wedding in Central Park! Blair is in a blue wedding gown, a subtle and realistic nod to the fact it won’t be her first trip down the aisle. (Prince Louis, if only you were merely a dream.) And unlike Blair's royal wedding last season, this affair doesn’t seem to be a big event – the only witnesses are Chuck’s uncle Jack, Blair’s stepfather Cyrus, Serena, Dan, Nate… and, oddly enough, Georgina, who Blair hates. There doesn’t even seem to be a real photographer on hand to catch the nuptial kiss: Serena is taking a pic with her phone. Of course, this wouldn’t be Gossip Girl without some drama added into the mix. The ceremony is interrupted by the police who pull Chuck away from his own wedding. So much for an Upper East Side fairy tale. Now, this wedding doesn’t seem to be in the style of Blair and Chuck (although, let’s be honest, the drama sounds right up their alley), so we're scratching our heads a bit. How did it come to this? Well, we dreamt up a few different ways the UES royalty could have gotten to this point. 1. Chuck and Blair both decided being real adults is just too darn difficult, and gave up on their pact to wait to be together until they both accomplish success on their own. However, they didn’t realize their contract was legally binding, and Chuck must spend their honeymoon in jail. Conjugal visits, anyone? 2. In the haste to get his hotel back from his father so he can finally be with the girl he loves, Chuck didn’t bother coming up with any crazy schemes and just took the lazy – and illegal – route of putting his dad six feet under (for good this time). Poor B, married to a murderer? 3. Chuck’s penchant for prostitutes finally catches up to him. It’s about time, really. 4. Or Chuck’s penchant for drugs finally catches up to him. Once again, it’s about time. 5. Blair finds out that Chuck is the notorious Gossip Girl, and they plan a quickie wedding before he is arrested for invasion of privacy and slander. How do you think Blair and Chuck ended up in this crazy situation? Hit the comments with your theories. Gossip Girl airs Mondays on the CW. Follow Sydney on Twitter @SydneyBucksbaum [Photo Credit: Bauer Griffin] More: OMG! Identity of 'Gossip Girl' Will Be Revealed! 'Gossip Girl' Season Premiere: Was That an OMG or a WTF Moment? OMSG, It's A New 'Gossip Girl' Preview! — VIDEO From Our Partners: Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson Cuddle at Chateau Marmont: 15 of the ‘Twilight’ Couple’s Most Romantic Date Nights — GALLERY (Celebuzz) Reese Witherspoon Debuts Post-Baby Figure Two Weeks After Giving Birth — PHOTOS (Celebuzz)
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'Nashville' Premiere Recap: A Diva Dip
October 10, 2012 7:12pm ESTFans of Country Strong, Crazy Heart, Friday Night Lights and I Love You Beth Cooper rejoice! Nashville is here and it's a battle of the hair for Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere. The new drama is one of the most-talked about series this season and for good reason. All the things you love about a good country singin'/beer-drinkin'/floozy-hating' show are here... and the first episode starts off with a loud glittery bang. Of course, it's been scrutinized for being nothing new, and so I'm diving deep into cliché history to rank the moments (from 1 to 10) that deserve an eye roll, and those that actually stand out. Let's get started. Shall we? Welcome to Nashville: Big Fancy Homes We start off with a panoramic view of Nashville's fancy green pastures and straight into the fancy-schmancy home of our beloved Tami Taylor Rayna Jaymes (Connie Britton). Paintings on the walls, football on the big-screen, two little girls running around like adorable animals, kisses all around! How fun it is to set the scene of a drama -- we all know s**t's about to get cray, but for now things are nice. Really nice. Rayna's husband, Teddy Conrad (Eric Close), who we learn is a stay at home dad (for now), even takes some time to teach his kids about the family's assets. "We're a different kind of rich, called 'cash poor,'" he proudly says as they all hug and play in the narrow hallway. He is no coach Taylor (moment of silence, please). Not at all. Rating: 5, because family life of a country star is quirky, Rayna doing her own hair in her room(?!?), lessons about money. Bright Lights, Shiny Clothes Connie hits the stage decked in so much glitter she looks like a Powerpuff Girl. Her voluptuous wavy locks bounce to the beat of her catchy tune as she gives a soft nod to her band leader, Deacon Claybourne (Charles Esten). Bingo. We've got a new man one minute in and he seems like the perfect smoldering hunk for our dear Rayna. "Thank y'all!" she hollers to the crowd, and we fade to black. Rating: 9, because sparkles, potential lover, a blessing on stage. Naive Hopeful Backstage, a doll-like creature who goes by Scarlett O'Connor (Clare Bowen) comes running over to her uncle Deacon with her boyfriend Avery (Jonathan Jackson), and she genuinely praises the show and the goodness that is Rayna Jaymes. We quickly find out Scarlett works at the Bluebird, the town's honky-tonk, and that she's not a songwriter (she just writes poetry, okay). Scarlett is all doe-eyed and dying for a shot! But she can't, because she's scared. She only writes poetry! It's not her time… yet. Rating: 7.5, because innocent young girl who doesn't know the force of her talent, clueless boyfriend, Deacon connection. The Competition: A Pretty Young Sassy Thing We're introduced to Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere), the twentysomething country hit who's bound to take Rayna's hair by storm. She's trouble, all right. More trouble than Leighton Meester in Country Strong, that's for sure. All glittered up and popping out, Juliette makes some demands concerning testing her new fragrance and spirals into total diva mode when a phone call comes through from her mother. She's asked to introduce herself to Rayna and to "be nice" but this sassy-act wouldn't dare do such a thing. Juliette doesn't know how to fake it, apparently, which could be detrimental in the country world. "I'm always nice," she shoots back, puffing up her hair-sprayed bird's nest. Walking over to Rayna's dressing room, she sees Deacon and must, JUST MUST introduce herself by giving him intoxicating come-hither eyes. And he's hooked. Lord help us. She's on a mission to show everyone she's not to be messed with, and she makes that very clear to Rayna when she says her mom used to listen to her music before she was even born. Burn. Rating: 10, because a PYT with an attitude with a mission to seduce and take on a legend. Trouble for Rayna It has come to the country Queen's attention that she may not still be, in fact, the Queen. Her new tour isn't selling half as well as her last one and her music isn't grabbing the attention of enough younger things. According to her managers, she is left with the option of collaborating with Juliette on a joint tour of sorts, or shutting down her current one. The words "co-headline" has her in a furry, and she really goes mental when she finds out she wouldn't just be combining acts with Juliette, she would be opening for her! Blasphemy! Will she sell her soul to the minx or stand her ground as a class act? Welp, she has a few days to decide. The suspense, it's killing us all! Rayna confides in her husband about this mess and he thinks the whole thing would be GRAND. Go ahead, lie about liking Juliette, he insists, "You've lied about much worse!" He apologizes for letting the family down, not sure what that's about yet, but says if worse comes to worse they can always borrow money from her dad. Now, this really gets her goat. Rayna would rather wait tables than be like her sister. Hell, she'd sell her damn soul on the street! They're clearly on different pages, but ultimately she says she's just going to have to figure something else out. With that, she runs to her producer Randy's (Burgess Jenkins) house and asks if there's a way to get her a new hit song. There, she bashes the young Juliette, only little does she know the vixen is wrapped in silk sheets like an oil painting on his bed, hearing every scorn-laced word. "It sounds like feral cats to me! Why do people keep pretending she's good," a fiery Rayna shouts. Game on. Rating: 7, because the career problem, husband's unsupportive nature, family resentment, sex. Politics Nashville has a wealthy, powerful local politician who seems to rule everyone and, of course, that man is Rayna's father, Lamar Wyatt (Powers Boothe). Rayna comes running into an event that's proclaiming "Lamar Wyatt Day." (No, that is not a joke. Her dad is such a big deal, apparently, that there is no other way to convey this except for giving him his very own day!) Her sister Tandy (Judith Hoag) sits by his side, clearly the more-loved daughter. Ah, the family drama is a-brewin'. Later, Lamar has a manipulative sit-down dinner with Teddy, where he suggests he run for mayor. What a fabulous idea! Teddy has no political background — according to Rayna he doesn't even like politics! — but it's a way for him to get back in the spotlight and take control of his family. Teddy is totally drinking the Kool-Aid his opposite-of-cash-poor father-in-law is feeding him. Lamar says something about destiny and fate and makes passive aggressive digs at Teddy's submissive father/husband current status. Just days later Teddy makes the announcement he'll be running, with Rayna next to him smiling widely at the crowd. Rating: 6, because controlling father, easily convinced husband, supportive wife. The Bar Every good country tale has its bar. You know, the one bar that exists in all the land, where everyone comes to drink and sing and stir drama and find love. For Nashville that bar is the Bluebird. And no surprise here, Deacon finds time to sing some of his sweet tunes on the mic amidst touring and being all famous and everything. His niece Scarlett waits tables and Oh! Wait! There's Juliette! She may have a No. 1 hit song, but she can also casually sit back and listen to her biggest crush (apparently) strum the guitar like she's got nothing else on the agenda. (By the way, Juliette cries REAL TEARS while watching him play so we know she's not actually Satan.) After his mini-performance, Deacon finds Juliette standing up against his car, working her seduction magic. She asks him with heavily glossed lips to record a song with her, batting her brown eyes and assuring they could have "a lot of fun on the road." It's safe to assume she means sex. Rating: 10, because the bar provides exactly what it always does: a thickening plot line and the best music. The One That Got Away Here we have it, people. It's become crystal clear that Deacon and Rayna used to have something. Who am I kidding, we all know they still have something and it's about to get sticky, but for now we'll just have to live with a bit of the backstory. The two walk slowly and intensely over a bridge, rambling about their hopes, dreams, failures, the whole deal. Deacon tells Rayna that Juliette gave him a job where he'll get to write, and when her asks her why she never played more of his songs. Rayna replies by saying she was worried they were all about her. DING DING DING! Of course they're all about you, silly! He loves you! Country love! As if she needs more assurance, he confirms, "They are." Plain and simple. He seals his forlorn fate by saying he lost the one thing that could make him happy a long time ago. Oh this love runs deep, deep within his stubbled cheeks and distressed flannel. Rating: 9, because the love that could have been and maybe, just maybe, still might be. Family Secrets It wouldn't be a country show without some more family drama. We already know that Rayna and her dad aren't exactly pals, but this is about Juliette. Juliette and her strung-out druggie mom. Yep! The reason her mom keeps calling is for more cash money to support her drug habit. This is a sad turn of events. Juliette perches in a storage closet or something and cries and cries about her sad momma. Just then Randy appears as if from nowhere and that's enough to turn Juliette on. Randy is all like, HELL YEAH! as she quickly conceals her tears by thrusting her tongue in his mouth. Just when we were starting to feel sorry for the girl. Oh well, baby steps. Rating: 5.5, because showing the young star acting her age, using sex as a manipulative tactic. Game-Changer Rayna has her meeting with the label and they resurface the ultimatum. She almost begs, going through her resume and allegiance to the record company, but to no avail. And that's simply not good enough for the queen. After 21 years, she stands up, swings her strawberry blonde strands and sways out of the office. Sorry, fellas. WILL RAYNA FAIL? IS SHE DONE? Nope, we find out she is not. Because this episode has enough story lines for 45 Country Strongs. Back at the Bluebird, Scarlett's new local kind-hearted guy friend, who also just so happens to be a wonderful musician, insists they sing her poems on stage. Something they apparently practiced, for hours, because they are damn good. Of course, Scarlett has never sang on a mic. She sings like no one could possibly be watching, because Juliette wasn't just hanging out there or anything, and OF COURSE old-man legendary producer guy Watty White (J.D. Souther) is creepily sitting at the very back of the bar. And he hears something he likes. Oh he likes it, all right. He hears dollar bills and sold-out concerts. He quickly gets Rayna on speakerphone because she can so clearly hear every note that way. It looks like Scarlett's going to have to get over her stage fright because it seems she'll be joining the big leagues very very soon. OH, and I almost forgot, Juliette and Deacon are about to do IT. YES. Ugh, so very disappointed in him. Rating: 9.5, because the sweetest voice is always heard from the underdog and there's always always someone listening. Thoughts on the premiere? Was it everything you dreamed it would be? Will you keep watching? Sound off in the comments below. [Image Credit: Katherine Bomboy-Thorton/ABC/KATHERINE BOMBOY-THORNTON] Follow Anna on Twitter @thebrandedgirl More: Meet 'Nashville,' Y'all: Country's Strong With Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere TCA 2012: 'Nashville' Stars Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere Talk Music (City) ABC Debuts Trailers for 'Nashville' and More -- VIDEO From Our Partners: Biggest Comedy Movie Mistakes Ever (Moviefone) ’Prometheus’ Giveaway & Actors’ Screen Tests Revealed! (Moviefone)
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Leanne's Spoiler List: 'Smash' Will Shake Things Up, 'Vampire Diaries' Gets Intense
October 10, 2012 10:51am ESTVampires, Upper East Siders, Broadway beauties and suburbanites. There’s scoop on all these characters and more in this week’s edition of Leanne’s Spoiler List. So let’s get to it! I’ve got details on the Smashing plans for a new musical, chatted with the stars of Fringe about some mind-altering moments, and previewed tomorrow night’s premiere of The Vampire Diaries. Plus, dish on some hilarious upcoming moments on Suburgatory and Happy Endings and the return of a Gossip Girl rival! Go ahead and read on. You know you want to. 1. Smash: A New Twist for Season 2! The Season 2 premiere of Smash is far, far away. We still have to get through candy, costumes, cranberry sauce, crazy family get-togethers and Christmas before we’re reunited with our beloved musical drama. Luckily, Emmy award-winning choreographer Joshua Bergasse was kind enough to spill some major secrets to me about the new season. Emphasis on the new, people! “As great as the first season was, we can’t repeat it. We have to try new things, so we’re trying a bunch of new ideas.” Bergasse explains, “New characters are getting musical numbers, we’re using some special effects and we’re using television and the technology a little bit more this season.” Of course there is one new thing that is the most exciting of all: a new musical! In addition to “Bombshell," Smash will be featuring another Broadway bound show, and I was able to shimmy some details out of this choreographer. He reveals, “Of course we’ve got Marc [Shaiman] and Scott [Wittman] writing great songs again and then we have a bunch of new song writers…They’re writing contemporary, downtown songs for this show. So the choreography is a little grungier, a little edgier and it’s a whole new area for us.” Keeping with the show’s ultra-competitive rift between Karen (Katharine McPhee) and Ivy (Megan Hilty), Bergasse hints that it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if some of our core characters would be drawn to the spotlight in this new show. “I can only say this: Smash is inherently about the battle between those two women and so whether they are battling over that or they’re battling over something else, they’re going to be battling. I can assure you that.” Hell hath no fury like a Marilyn scorned! 2. Gossip Girl: Guess Who’s Back?!It’s time for a blast from our Constance past! One of the few (hundred) people that Blair (Leighton Meester) has victimized over the past five seasons is back. And honey, she’s going all Emily Thorne on Blair’s behind, because she wants revenge. (Cross-network references FTW!) While Gossip Girl has made me swear upon all that glitters not to reveal who she is, the blogger didn’t say anything about dropping a few one-liners to help you guess. The mystery Upper East Sider tells Blair. “I still have nightmares about nartinis and yogurt bombs. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night shouting, ‘Tights are not pants!’” Okay, okay, fine you’ve twisted the cashmere scarf around my neck tight enough. It’s Nellie Yuki! How and when this smarty pants makes her return is something I’m keeping hush-hush, but I will say this: Nellie and Dan (Penn Badgley) share a sweet and slightly sad moment together. Oh and she’s got a Dior bag that would gladly trade my apartment for. 3. Suburgatory: Roo’s and Romance!The new season of Suburgatory starts next Wednesday and now that I’ve watched the premiere, I’m happy to say it definitely won’t disappoint! After spending the summer at her grandma’s in NYC, Tessa (Jane Levy) is desperately trying to find a way to feel a connection to her MIA mama (who we now know will be played by Malin Akerman later this season!) So Tessa decides to enter the Chatswin talent show—aka the Fall Follies—and those who love the show’s beyond catchy theme-song will be quite pleased. Also here’s your Royce Pet Update: No sign of Yakult, but Dalia’s (Carly Chaikin) amazing kangaroo makes a brief appearance. Bonus fun fact: 'Roos love Red Vines.Now let’s fast-forward to episode ten of the season. Yes, I know it’s a bit far away, but this scoop is so juicy that I just have to share it: Tessa’s getting a fella! Oh and not just any fella, a football player. We’ve met him, he’s hilarious and also equal parts sweet and slightly stupid. Fans, you know exactly which ab-tastic guy I’m talking about. Anyways, now that Tessa has a new beau, she is introduced to the “Football Girlfriends”—Think Stepford Wives but with a peppy cheerleader twist—and she quickly realizes that baking cookies is not just a way to pass the time, it’s a way of life.4. Fringe: LSD in 2036?Things have been pretty dark this season on Fringe — the world has been taken over, Walter's brain was scrambled due to Observer torture, and the food tastes like crap. But according to Jasika Nicole, some fun may be found via a certain substance that has stood the test of time in Walter's lab. "There is a scene where we are in his lab, and he has all these secret hiding places. 'We’re like, 'How does this last for 20-something years??' I won’t say anything more about it because it’s pretty funny... He’s got a lot of secret hiding places. John Noble laughed when we asked him for further detail, but didn't deny that a little somethin' somethin' was going down. "There is a little case of something or other [in the lab]. I think you know what it is, that's why you asked the question! But… I think you'll find a case of something down there. It's twenty years old, but…" I bet it still does the trick!5. Happy Endings: Jobless and Power-Hungry! If Happy Endings doesn’t make you happy, then I’m not sure we would get along. To me, this show has everything. And by everything I mean a group of friends who hang out, get into shenanigans and also throws the occasional love interest into the mix. Plus any show that includes pajoveralls, invisible hula-hooping and the one-liner, “What’s up skanks?! Wheeeee! Ugh, I’m fat,” is perfection in my book. I caught up with Eliza Coupe and Damon Wayans Jr. on their set a few weeks ago, and the sexually charged duo teased what’s coming up for their characters this season. Wayans says “I like the fact that Brad is unemployed right now. He’s having a lot more fun, he gets to wear a lot less suits and he’s just having a grand-old time.”This grand old-time includes hanging out with our favorite lazy-man Max (Adam Pally), and learning how to get the most out of life, without paying for it. And as for Jane? Coupe says that Jane could not be more thrilled to be the new breadwinner in the relationship. “She gets to do the whole type-A personality thing which is to work and take control.” Jane finds that her super-intense personality shines when she is accepts a job as a car salesman and Coupe says that hilarity is sure to ensue, “There has been a lot of things going down at that dealership, a lot of weird things. There’s been some animals involved…It’s just a lot of her wanting to be one of the guys too, and seeing how that pans out.” I’m sure it’s going to be amahzing. 6. The Vampire Diaries: Transitions and Triangles!Tomorrow night is the season premiere of The Vampire Diaries and putting it lightly, it’s a heart-stopping 48 minutes of absolutely intense perfection. Watching Elena (Nina Dobrev) come to terms with the fact that she is now “dead…ish” makes you feel all of her heightened emotions in such a short amount of time. I’m pretty sure I blacked out for a good five minutes because I didn’t breathe at all during one scene in particular: Elena choosing whether or not to transition. Oh and as for all those memories that she was compelled to forget? (cough*Damon*cough) Get excited because not only does Elena remember them, she relives them! Not to worry Stelena fans, Elena and Stefan (Paul Wesley) share some truly beautiful moments together in an unexpected place. Kat Graham teases that this premiere is one that fans should be beyond excited to see. The actress says, “The first episode back, that was the hardest episode for me to shoot so far, it was so intense. After that I mean it really sets the standard so everything just gets bigger and better from there.” It’s true. After watching the second episode, it’s safe to say that the fourth season of The Vampire Diaries is unlike anything fans have seen before. Graham agrees saying, “The whole season is like a transition into a lot of it into a new ways of living, a new life for all of them. There is so much sadness and heartbreak and change and it’s so uncomfortable and you’ll see that you’ll se everyone trying to avoid it.” But they can only avoid their grief for so long. By the end of the second episode you’ll see the Mystic Falls gang address all that they’ve lost over the past three years and the result is a chilling (and slightly tear-inducing) scene.What are you most looking forward to on the new season of The Vampire Diaries? Excited to see the return of Nellie Yuki on Gossip Girl? Intrigued by the new musical on Smash? Wish you had a pet kangaroo like Dalia, too? Of course you do! Share your thoughts in the comments below! Follow Leanne on Twitter @LeanneAguilera—Additional reporting by Shaunna Murphy.[Photo Credit: ABC, NBC, The CW, FOX]MORE: Leanne’s Spoiler List: Is There a New Love Triangle on 'The Vampire Diaries'? Leanne's Spoiler List: Will There Be Another Death on 'Revenge'? Leanne’s Spoiler List: What's Next for Leonard and Penny on 'Big Bang Theory'?
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'Gossip Girl' Premiere: 5 Things You Need to Know
October 08, 2012 1:47pm ESTHollywood.com here. Your one and only source truly obsessed with the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite. This evening marks the very last season premiere of Gossip Girl and while many fans are dreading the beginning of the end, we at Hollywood.com are absolutely thrilled. No, we’re not excited to say goodbye to our favorite Upper East-Siders. It’s just that we’ve seen the premiere and there is only one way to describe it: OMFG. To get you intrigued for all the sexy scenes, party-crashing plans, and unbelievable hookups, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 things you need to know for tonight’s season premiere “Gone Maybe Gone.” Here goes: Chuck, Blair, and Something Sparkly: Chair fans will be happy, and I mean very happy when the episode begins. The first word that comes to mind? Sexy. When we see our favorite scheme-loving couple, Chuck (Ed Westwick) and Blair (Leighton Meester) are getting hot and heavy in a Monaco hotel room. But when you fast-forward four months later, we were surprised to see that the newly rekindled duo has actually spent their summer apart! Not to worry Chair fans — this power couple is making sure that they take care of their individual needs before ending up together for good. “Blair, I love you will all my heart.” Chuck reassures her in the back of his limo. Swoon! As for that sparkly part? Let’s just say that it’s a miracle that Blair can stand up straight with that large (and absolutely gorgeous) rock weighing her down. But shh! That last part’s a secret! Gossip Girl Begins Her Final Bow: After last season’s debacle with Serena (Blake Lively), it’s safe to assume that Gossip Girl wants absolutely nothing to do with the “legs for days” blonde. In fact, while everyone was panicking about Serena’s whereabouts, the mystery blogger coolly explains, “From all over the world, our favorite upper east siders are asking the same question. But I couldn’t care less. Serena van der Woodsen is dead. At least to me.” Yikes! But fans really begin to sense that the end is near when the know-it-all of the Upper East Side says, “Call me superstitious, but I believes this fall could be my last season.” Of course we all know that Nate (Chace Crawford) still has that tape of her… The Quest for “Sabrina”: Serena is currently MIA (again) and Chuck, Blair, Nate, Dan, and, yes, even Georgina are on a mission to bring her back. While some assume she’s back on drugs like we saw in last year’s finale (Who was that creepy guy?!), Georgina (Michelle Trachtenberg) is hoping Ms. van der Woodsen is hauled up in some looney bin so Dan can have an exciting ending to his new book. So where oh where is Serena? You can just ask her new alter ego, Sabrina from Wisconsin. It seems that Serena/Sabrina’s new man is not the brightest bulb in the box if he actually believes that this former queen bee would actually hail from Wisconsin. The fearless fivesome do eventually track down their old friend at a wedding, and you won’t believe who’s wearing white! Rufus Has Got a New Roomie: In Lily’s (Kelly Rutherford) panic to find Serena, she visits the closest thing to a father figure that her daughter has ever had: our beloved Rufus (Matthew Settle). But her visit is quickly cut short when she is baffled to see that her ex-husband’s new housemate is… Ivy! We soon learn that Ivy has got some secrets hidden in that stringy lifeless hair of hers and it looks like she’s going to use the sweetest guy in Brooklyn as the newest pawn in her games. Do not make her waffles, Rufus! It’s a trap! Dan’s Naming Names: At the encouragement of Georgina (and by “encouragement,” we mean snarky and sarcastic teasing), Dan (Penn Badgley) is finally getting over his writer's block while hiding out in the countryside of Italy. Georgina is determined for Dan to have the best tell-all book of all-time saying, “Real names this time. No holding back. Everyone gets exposed.” And speaking of exposed, all you Dair fans will be pleased to know that Dan does indeed confront Blair for all of her wrong-doings. After all, why would she give up “unconditional love” if she isn’t actually, technically, with Chuck at the moment? Hmm… good point Lonely Boy. How are you feeling about tonight’s last premiere Gossip Girl fans? Are you Team Chair or Team Dair? What are you hoping to see in this final season for your favorite characters? Give us the dirt in the comments below! Follow Leanne on Twitter @LeanneAguilera [Photo Credit: Giovanni Rufino/The CW] MORE: OMG! Identity of 'Gossip Girl' Will Be Revealed! OMSG, It's A New 'Gossip Girl' Preview! — VIDEO TV Tidbits: 'Gossip Girl' Heats Up, Liza Minnelli Gets 'Arrested'
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The Oranges Review
October 03, 2012 2:21pm ESTA great cast can be a powerful weapon. In the case of the new family dramedy The Oranges it's the saving grace. The formula for a quirky suburban dissection is on full display in the feature from TV veteran Julian Farino and first-time writers Ian Helfer and Jay Reiss which follows two best friend couples Terry and Carol Ostroff (Oliver Platt and Allison Janney) and David and Paige Walling (Hugh Laurie and Catherine Keener) whose BFF relationship implodes when David strikes up a romance with the Ostroff's daughter Nina (Leighton Meester). The scandalous affair lights a fire under the well-to-do New Jersey families and when David realizes that his connection with Nina is deeper than just a one night stand their white picket fence lives completely crack. Even with a divisive subject matter (to follow love or to stick with family?) The Oranges floats by without much edge. David and Nina's romance begins with passion but is entirely void of sexual fire. As it evolves they become complacent and boring — everything David hated about his first marriage. That would be a great twist but The Oranges isn't satire. The conflict comes with the scowling world around the unlikely pair the Ostroff's distraught over their daughter's choices Paige off exploring other options for her own now-single life and David's daughter Vanessa (Alia Shawkat) juggling her own aimless path as a furniture designer. For a risky life choice David and Nina's decision to declare their love for one another doesn't come with many repercussions even in the "squeaky clean" land of Jersey. But the cast turns The Oranges into one to watch. Laurie has a life beyond the uptight Dr. House playing David as a compassionate conflicted acceptedly selfish man. It's easy to see why he falls for Meester's Nina who isn't simply a 20-something with an interest in older guys. They both see qualities in each other that are apparent to the audience and they play it with energy not present in the material. There's a been-there-done-that feeling to Platt and Janney in The Oranges but only because they're continually perfect as the hilarious overbearing parents. Sadly Keener goes to waste; another indie vet she spends most of the time of screen until one momentous outburst that arrives without build up. Farino adeptly directs The Oranges and avoids the eye-rolling tropes that go hand and hand with movies of this nature (I'm looking at you head-on shots featuring Linus-like characters moping about). He knows how to let his actors play and when you have a man like Laurie in the lead that's a must. The movie never peels back the rhine to find something new to say about the 'burbs but with great actors in tow The Oranges rises above the lookalikes. ="font-style:>
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Leighton Meester lived with Hugh Laurie and Allison Janney for film role
October 02, 2012 7:15am ESTThe Gossip Girl star appears in the film as a young girl who has an affair with her parents' much older neighbour, played by the House star. She has now revealed she lived with Laurie during the shoot, along with The West Wing star Janney, who plays her mother. They were joined in the house by Meester's onscreen father Oliver Platt and actor Adam Brody, and Meester admits she enjoyed living with her co-stars. She tells the New York Daily News, "It was a wonderful experience. We actually did become like a family. Hugh would be playing piano in the den downstairs, while I played my guitar. Oliver (Platt) brought his kids in and really acted like my dad. We all had dinner together every night."
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The things they say
September 19, 2012 5:00am EST"She's very sexy - obviously! She's definitely my girl crush." Actress Leighton Meester can't take her eyes off Spanish beauty Penelope Cruz.
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The Things They Say
September 19, 2012 5:00am EST"Those scenes are never easy but it was an enormous help that Leighton was on House. But I'm sure if we hadn't known each other we would have somehow found our way. We had a very good time doing it." Hugh Laurie on re-teaming with former House guest star Leighton Meester, who played his love interest in new film The Oranges.
