Gossip Girl is an American teen drama television series created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage and based on the series of novels of the same name by Cecily von Ziegesar. It follows a group of students in Manhattan 's Upper East Side whose private and social lives are chronicled by the unidentified blogger "Gossip Girl".
A ratings hit in its early seasons, Gossip Girl received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences but became known for using negative critical reviews in its marketing. The series won numerous accolades, including 18 Teen Choice Awards. It gained a large cult following , influenced other teen dramas and spawned several international television adaptations. The series was followed by a standalone sequel , which aired for two seasons between and on HBO Max before being canceled for negative reviews and underperforming.
The series was criticized for its writing, pacing, and lack of the messy drama that made the original series compelling. The series focuses on a group of privileged teenagers who attend a prestigious high school in the Upper East Side of New York City.
Their private lives are constantly commented upon by an unknown blogger under the pseudonym "Gossip Girl". Gossip Girl chronicles the scandals and intimate details of the characters' lives during high school, college and in the years that follow. All of their ups and downs are available for the public to read about. Throughout this time, the characters strive to unveil Gossip Girl's true identity.
The series featured uncredited narration by Kristen Bell , who appears in every episode. Bell portrays herself in the series finale. By October , Schwartz was working on the pilot.
