It’s possible that the show “Gossip Girl” could have had some ties to “The O.C.”, but I’m relieved it didn’t. In 2007, “Gossip Girl” reached the pinnacle of teen dramas and was one of the most beloved series of the decade. Inspired by Cecily von Ziegesar’s novel series, and created by Josh Schwartz, “Gossip Girl” transported viewers to Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Here, “Gossip Girl” chronicled the lives of a wealthy group of teenagers whose secrets were frequently revealed by an anonymous blogger called “Gossip Girl.
Prior to crafting “Gossip Girl,” Schwartz was responsible for another popular teen drama from the 2000s: “The O.C.” This series ran from 2003 to 2007 and unfolded in Newport Beach and its vicinity. The main character, Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie), was a troubled teenager who found himself living with the wealthy Cohen family. As the story progressed, both the Cohens and Ryan were navigating a fresh family dynamic while Ryan adjusted to an entirely new way of life. Although “The O.C.” and “Gossip Girl” share the same creator and similar tones, they almost had a direct link due to a spin-off of the latter.
Gossip Girl’s Spinoff Series Valley Girls Would Have Linked To The O.C.
Valley Girls Was Set In The 1980s
The popularity of “The O.C.” opened up opportunities for various spin-offs, though many never materialized. Interestingly, “Gossip Girl” almost spawned its own spinoff series, tentatively named “Valley Girls,” which, if produced, would have bridged the two shows by featuring younger versions of the characters and linking them to those from “The O.C.” The concept, masterminded by Schwartz, was to center around these characters, with New York City being swapped for Los Angeles to facilitate their meeting.
The initial installment of “Valley Girls” was essentially a season 2 episode of “Gossip Girl,” titled similarly, that took viewers on a trip to the 1980s. In these flashbacks, the storyline centered around young Lily (portrayed by Brittany Snow), delving into the series of events culminating in her first arrest. Concurrently, in the contemporary narrative, she grappled with Serena’s current predicament. This episode aired on May 11, 2009, and garnered positive reviews from critics, albeit with some criticism directed towards its excessive ’80s references. Unfortunately, the “Valley Girls” spinoff failed to materialize beyond this standalone pilot, which remains an episode of “Gossip Girl.
Why Gossip Girl’s Valley Girls Spinoff Never Happened
Valley Girls Was Only A Gossip Girl Episode
Although Valley Girls could have been entertaining, particularly if it connected characters from The O.C., the show had a slim chance of getting picked up prior to its release due to several reasons. At that time, CW’s fall line-up was already filled with few open spots, and Valley Girls faced tough competition from shows that had actual pilot episodes, unlike an episode from an existing show being used as a pilot. The competing shows included Melrose Place (2009), The Beautiful Life, and The Vampire Diaries, leaving no room for Valley Girls.
Initially, Dawn Ostroff, CW’s former President of Entertainment, mentioned that “Valley Girls” was being considered as a midseason replacement (as reported by Zap2it). However, she later disclosed that the show wouldn’t be produced immediately due to reasons. Ostroff stated that using “Gossip Girl”‘s “Valley Girls” as a backdoor pilot, rather than producing a full pilot episode, made it challenging for viewers to grasp the world of the show (according to E! News).
In the end, it was probably wiser for Valley Girls not to materialize because it would have been tricky to integrate into both Gossip Girl and The O.C.. It’s hard to imagine which characters from The O.C. would have connected with the Valley Girls, and it’s uncertain how their presence would have affected the narrative flow of The O.C..
While Lily’s youth might have been intriguing, she wasn’t as powerful a character as Serena or Blair to lead her own series, even with Snow’s impressive acting. Instead, Valley Girls functions better as an individual episode of Gossip Girl, and it avoids being entangled in the storylines of other teen dramas.
Gossip Girl Got A Standalone Sequel In 2021
Gossip Girl’s Sequel Lasted Two Seasons
The original series “Gossip Girl” didn’t spawn any spinoffs, but in 2021, it did release a separate continuation series under the same name. Similar to the original, this series is called “Gossip Girl” and takes place nearly a decade after the original Gossip Girl website closed, yet the enigmatic blogger reappears on the scene. Instead of focusing solely on New York City, the new Gossip Girl expands its reach worldwide. The story follows a fresh batch of affluent teenagers whose lives are under constant scrutiny and revelation by the anonymous blogger, highlighting the influence of social media and tackling mature themes that were absent in the initial show.
The standalone continuation of “Gossip Girl” ran for two seasons before it was taken off the air in 2023. It seems unlikely that we’ll see a spinoff, sequel, or crossover between “The O.C.” and “Gossip Girl” now, given the current trend of revivals and reboots. Both series are better served as unique yet parallel universes.
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2025-05-20 02:48