The Cast of New Gossip Girl Talks Old Gossip Girl
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The thing about a reboot is that it’s rarely judged outside of the context of its predecessor, especially when the original version ended its run less than a decade ago. We’re talking, of course, about Gossip Girl, the Upper East Side-documenting, star-making, headband-revolutionizing, drama-filled phenomenon that first aired in 2007. The original show turned its actors into household names and its style into a category of its own. Gossip Girl dripped in wealth and rye comebacks, and no storyline was too adult nor too absurd for these Upper East Side teens. Case in point: a risen-from-the-dead billionaire.
Now, the HBO Max reboot is bringing back the original’s landscape, though with a 2021 gloss. The new Constance Billard/St. Jude’s students are conscious of their wealth and—though the original cast members were, by every definition, influencers—these characters have a vocabulary that is oh so online. As Whitney Peak tells T&C, the reboot is “very aware.” The characters are aware of their predecessors (this storyline is a continuation of the original series), aware of their privilege (though not necessarily less willing to employ it), and aware of their constant surveillance (both by Gossip Girl herself and their fellow students). However, this “awareness” doesn't necessarily help the characters make better choices or quell the drama—but isn’t that the fun of it all?
Over Zoom, T&C spoke with Whitney Peak, Jordan Alexander, and Eli Brown about the new guard versus the old. In the reboot, Peak plays Zoya, a fish out-of-water, middle-class freshman who recently started at Constance. Alexander, meanwhile, is Julien, Zoya’s half-sister and the heart of New York society—she’s both an Instagram and Upper East Side influencer. Brown plays Obie, a shame-filled rich kid who turns to social activism to ease his guilt. On our call, the trio interacted like a friend group, peppering the discussion with running inside jokes. Below, find our full conversation where we talk representation, female friendships, and Eli Brown's love for Serena van der Woodsen.
What is one thing new Gossip Girl does better than old Gossip Girl and one thing the original did better than the reboot?
Whitney Peak: The new one covers a lot of bases in terms of this is now, and these are the types of people that exist, and they haven’t really been represented as much in the past. But, the first show did the extreme really well and the drama of it all.
Jordan Alexander: I think that our show does more humor. Monet (Savannah Smith), Luna (Zión Moreno), and Audrey (Emily Alyn Lind) are hilarious—bringing in a lot of comedic relief amongst the drama. The old episodes did something new. I’m not familiar with [another show similar to the original Gossip Girl] prior to Gossip Girl, so good for them for being on the forefront.
Eli Brown: To add to what Whitney said, it’s really cool that our show, beyond just being more diverse, [has] no labels. It’s not like the whole time we’re [saying], “Oh we’re very diverse” and I think that’s really cool. As for what the original show did better, I don’t know, it’s lost on me—help me, gals.
JA: They colored Serena’s hair really nice—blonde, beautiful. Everything for Eli is about Serena.
Eli, is she your favorite of the old characters?
EB: Yeah.
WP: She’s his favorite because he has watched every single season back to front… I’m totally messing with you—he hasn’t seen the show.
EB: I’ve seen the show!
WP: That’s kind of the running joke: in every single interview, Eli trying to answer all of these questions without exposing himself.
So, have you really not seen the show?
EB: Whitney’s lying. I’ve seen the show, I just haven’t watched it in its entirety. I feel like I can’t just pull from it like they can.
Well, let's try again—what are three things about the reboot that are very old Gossip Girl and three things about the reboot that are entirely new?
EB: Can I go first on this one? I think social media is very new Gossip Girl. It’s all over the show, which I think puts an interesting spin on it.
JA: Is that all you got?
EB: And blogging is very old Gossip Girl.
JA: Ha! There you go.
WP: I think the eloquence with which the Constance students speak and carry themselves is very old Gossip Girl. The relationships and the different triangles and the entanglements within the friend group is also very old Gossip Girl. Third, the parental dynamics are also very old Gossip Girl. And then, new Gossip Girl, obviously, social media, representation, and very… aware.
JA: I feel like more complex and deep female friendship is new Gossip Girl and I mean, handbags is old Gossip Girl and it’s also new Gossip Girl. Just like the prevalence of handbags—it’s important. I think Audrey mentions handbags four times [saying], “Swear on your Louis V!” And I had to learn that was a bag—I thought it was a word for your spirit or something.
Can you share a bit more about the female friendships?
JA: Yeah, I really love the female friendship between Julien and Audrey. Amidst a lot of surface level relationships, there’s a genuine friendship there. I also like the pursuit of Julien and Zoya in that they’re trying for something. They haven’t necessarily achieved it but they’re trying for it.
Eli, do you think the male friendships have the same depth on the show?
EB: I mean, there’s a lot going on there. In and outside of work too. I fucking love those boys so much. I just said a bad word and I apologize. Yeah, there’s a lot of depth there.
So, friendships and handbags?
JA: Yes—you heard it here first!
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