It’s summer, and that means not so much new TV. But some of The CW’s hottest shows are still stirring things up with beach scandals, casting stories, and directing rumors. Here’s a roundup of the latest scoop on Gossip Girl and 90210.:

*It’s not just Manhattan and Brooklyn anymore! Chace Crawford spilled that Gossip Girl will expand its horizons this fall — the cast will be shooting scenes in the posh Hamptons, and we can expect some “beach scandal.” Oooh! We wonder who it involves…

*Speaking of Chace Crawford, if you’re in the market for his London lawn chair (!?), CasaSugar has found it. We’re more in the market for another kind of, ahem, Chair (Chuck/Blair action, that is).

*And speaking of the Hamptons, NyMag.com reports that a mere four people showed up to a recent Gossip Girl casting call in the Hamptons. Seriously? There have to be more than four GG addicts in the area, right?

*But don’t feel too bad for the cast. All three Gossip guys have earned a well-deserved spot on People’s Single & Sexy Men of 2008 list. Congratulations to Ed, Chace, and Penn.

*Ed’s also featured in People’s Where The Boys are photo gallery. His band The Filthy Youth played at NYC hotspot The Annex.

*On to 90210! Eonline’s Kristin reports that the 90210 premiere may be two hours — and as previously reported, Tori Spelling will definitely appear in the premiere! No news on whether or not Donna and David are still together, though. We’re psyched to see Tori in her element.

*But first, we have to send our sympathy her way. Tori’s pug Mimi LaRue passed away Tuesday at the age of 11. We’re so sorry to hear that, Tori.

*Meanwhile, TVWeek.com says that Jason Priestley’s in talks to direct some 90210 episodes.

Wendell in New Orleans: I’ve heard conflicting reports about Michelle Trachtenberg being on the new season of Gossip Girl. Do you know if she’ll be back?
I’m told there has been a little back-and-forth but that so far, M.T. has not been asked back for season two. Michelle herself said: “[Josh Schwartz] has told everyone that everyone is coming back and that it’s going to be like a crazy, wild cast of a million people, so I’d love to, I think it’d be great fun. It’s a character I’ve just thoroughly enjoyed…and pretty sexy.” Schwartz-love, bring her back so I can practice my Tae-Bo kicks at the screen! Wouldn’t be as much fun without someone to boil our blood.

Silas in Tacoma, Wash.: Have you heard this rumor about CW president Dawn Ostroff leaving her job? What does this mean for my fave shows like Gossip Girl?
According to my inside source at the network, there is some truth to the rumor. There have apparently been some talks with potential replacements, and the scuttlebutt is that Ostroff is looking for a new gig. Apparently, one way or another, regime change at the CW is likely to happen sooner rather than later. As for Gossip Girl, fear not. There isn’t a chance in Hades any new prez would kill that show.

Spoilers under read more Read the rest of this entry »

“I don’t think network TV really has the balls to make one of their [teenage] series regulars gay.” That’s what Gossip Girl’s Penn Badgley told me last Fall when I spoke with him over the phone — guess he wasn’t a big Dawson’s Creek fan — but even the writers on his own show are proving him wrong.

Now that Eric van der Woodsen (Connor Paolo, photo, left) is out of the closet, will he disappear into the shadows? Perhaps do another stint at the Ostroff Center, leaving more room for storylines about scheming and hot hetero sex? Executive Producer Stephanie Savage says not. We will indeed watch this young kid come to terms with his sexuality over time, see him dating and maturing. “One of the reasons we wanted to do this story was because we’d have places to go with Eric’s character,” Savage explained. “It felt like a really organic way to dimensionalize and activate Eric, so Connor Paolo would have some great stories to play next year. I think he does a terrific job and is up taking on more than he has up to this point.”

As for Asher, Eric’s first love-gone-wrong, he may be heading back to the Ostroff Center after last night’s very public humiliation. Savage tells me his Gossip storyline is over for now, but they really enjoyed working with Jesse Swenson (photo, right), the actor who played him, so there’s no reason why Asher couldn’t rear his ugly, Upper East Side head again later…

SOURCE Zap2it.com

Marcos in Chino, Calif.:  I’m ashamed to admit I can’t stop watching Gossip Girl. Any scoop on Blair and Chuck?
Do not despair! The show’s charms are bigger than all of us. Blair and Chuck continue to dance around each other, and things get complicated in the season finale…But not as complicated as things get for Lily! Let’s just say she isn’t done with Rufus, but she will also be walking down the aisle to Bart.

Fabrizio in New Orleans:  More Gossip Girl! I love that show.

Serena goes on a downward spiral and Nate, Chuck and Blair team up to help her.

Nancy Jo in Owatonna, Minn.:  Oooh! Juicy scoop about Eric van der Woodsen hooking up with Jenny’s new boyfriend. Thanks for that, Kristin! How will Jenny take it?
Not well. And it will knock her out of the Queen B circle for the time being.