First of all, when I complain about the preview montage being "mid-episode" I simply mean that it was actually placed within the episode, suddenly and unexpectedly as part of the show, rather than as a part of the opening titles like on Battlestar Galactica, for example. And I hate it on BSG too, if I'm being honest, but at least I know when it's coming and I can close my eyes. Gossip Girl's attempt was far more interruptive.
And I probably am overreacting a little but it's the straw that broke the camel's back. I don't expect too much from teen drama and I'm usually quite forgiving of its flaws, but so far I've found Gossip Girl to be unbearably obnoxious. From the awful narration to the heavy-handed use of "look kids we're hip!" music to the fact that most of the characters are so horrible, it's just not very good.
Even worse than that though - because, trust me, I am not above watching bad television – is that all these things serve to highlight how contrived and calculated a show Gossip Girl is. Taking all the usual conventions of teen drama and amping them up to eleven the way it does just screams that this show was made purely to fill the void left by The O.C. and to capitalise on its vagrant audience. The preview montage, to me, is a blatant example of its desperation to do so and that blurring of the art/commerce line is horribly unappealing and difficult to forgive. It's the kind of thing that devalues television as an art form.
As for the rest of the show, there doesn't seem to be any unique emotion, wit or intelligence to it at all. Often it feels like I'm watching just to hear the characters tell me what designers are in or what songs I should download from iTunes this week. One review I read actually described it as "wealth porn", and while I wouldn't agree with that exactly, that it's only unique point is its backdrop in this horribly vacuous, unscrupulous world doesn't do it any favours at all.
Maybe it'll grow into itself in time, but personally I have my doubts. Like most the characters on the show, Gossip Girl seems to live by the code that being good and being popular are two mutually exclusive things, and that the latter is far more important.
° Having just remembered writing this, I feel I should say that I thought Floyd Mayweather's performance at Wrestlemania XXIV (Sky Box Office) was absolutely fantastic - far beyond my wildest expectations. What could have been a horrible mess of a match turned out to be a finely organised, perfectly executed wrestling spectacle of old. I honestly think WWE, Floyd and the Big Show should be really proud of themselves. Excellent.
° It was confirmed by NBC this week that ER's 15th season will officially be its last. To my mind, despite my love for the show, that's good news. It was also confirmed that Noah Wyle would be returning for a small run to reprise his role as Dr. John Carter. To my mind, because of my love for John Carter, that is the best news ever.
° I don't really like bringing non-television opinion to this blog too much, but how amazing are Radiohead live? Watching them on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (Fridays, BBC1) this week I was just blown away (for the millionth time) at the purity and the magic of Thom Yorke's voice. They really are the kings of the live TV performance. From their faultless live performance to the aura of mystery and importance they carry, I find myself absolutely mesmerised every time I see them. You can watch their performance of 'Nude' here...
Or, for the sake of being all official-like, you could always watch it here via the lovely BBC iPlayer.
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