Gossip Girl maid steals show, dishes out job advice
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
Zuzanna Szadkowski delivered a recent keynote address that would make the Waldorf clan proud. Similar to surviving a break-up, losing a job can feel like there will never be another, she told her Barnard College sisters. But when the right one comes along, all other prospects fade away. Zuzanna speaks from experience, having transformed “Dorota” from a background servant into one of the most popular characters on Gossip Girl. “I didn’t know that bringing a tray of yogurt parfaits to ‘Mees Blair’ and the mean girls in the second episode of a new CW show would be my ‘in’ to building a career,” she marvels. But fans loved the subtle comic relief and were soon treated to her stunning backstory in six Chasing Dorota webisodes (click to watch)—where it’s revealed she is actually a Polish countess with a secret husband. Dorota eventually divorced him and is now involved with Vanya, the van der Woodsens’ Russian doorman, played by former Disney child star Aaron Schwartz. Blair’s confidante, in fact, is now pregnant, which should further enhance her storyline when the series returns with 10 new episodes beginning next week. Executive producer Stephanie Savage tweets that Monday also “kicks off a big emotional Chuck story that brings him and Blair closer than ever. Ed (Westwick) and Leighton (Meester) are at the top of their game in this arc.” No doubt, it involves the mystery woman Chuck saw at his father’s grave. There’s a maid with dark sunglasses and a trench coat who might be up for some more undercover work.
Source: Columbia Spectator
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One of the great plot devices for any primetime drama is the arrival of a mysteriously-absent relative, and two CW series will soon deliver family twists that strongly impact their leading bad boys. Longtime Gilmore Girls favorite Scott Patterson (Luke) will play the ex-con father of Liam (Matt Lanter) on 90210. Fresh out of prison, “Jack” is described as “silver-tongued, both glib and shady.” He opens a tackle shop on the marina to earn a quick buck—and Liam sees this as a chance to escape his wicked stepdad (John Schneider). Alas, we suspect it won’t end well. Local fans met Scott when WBNX brought him to Cleveland for a 2002 appearance; and most recently, he starred as the penny-pinching patriarch on Aliens in America. Meanwhile, over on the east coast, remember that shadowy woman Chuck saw at his father’s grave last week on Gossip Girl? That was sultry Laura Harring, who claims to be Chuck’s mother…you know, the one who allegedly died giving birth to the young titan. If you thought Chuck Bass was already messed up, just wait! Laura gained worldwide acclaim as the first Latina to win the Miss USA crown back in ’85. She later married German Count von Bismarck and, though now divorced, retains the title of Countess. The stunning beauty is best known for her role in the David Lynch neo-noir thriller, Mulholland Drive. Scott and Laura are two of the many new faces scheduled to drop in on our CW serials when they return in 2010. Stay tuned…
Spread the word and “stuff the ballot box” for several deserving CW series to receive national recognition at the first awards show of 2010. The deadline to vote for your favorite People’s Choice nominees is Tuesday, Dec. 8, and this competition encourages the public to cast a ballot as often as possible. Just log on to 
Gossip Girl fans are a vocal cadre, and the producers are listening. Last week, E! Online shared the creative team’s recent epiphany: more jaw-dropping storylines are needed. Mission accomplished! Monday’s Thanksgiving episode was easily the best of this season, setting up numerous entanglements going forward. And beginning tonight, the series gains a weekly encore between cycles of Top Model—perfect timing, because the holiday dinner scene is one of those rare classics that must be seen twice. With a remix of the strangely hilarious “Watcha Say” (by Jason Derulo) setting the mood, an affair is exposed, a surprise pregnancy revealed and a teen saboteur unmasked. And that’s before the gravy boat is passed! CeCe’s shocking arrival shreds the secret Lily is hiding from clueless Rufus; and that incriminating letter to Serena from Daddy…well, who else smells blackmail? Nate professes his love, while Dan’s “new face” is either nausea or romantic feelings for his best friend—quickly noticed by Vanessa’s meddling momma. For dessert, will Serena choose security or scandal? The entire episode is a rollicking, farcical thrill-ride from start to finish. Grab a second helping tonight! xoxo
Blake Lively will do a little moonlighting this weekend and certainly raise her stature in the entertainment world. The 22-year-old Gossip Girl actress becomes the first-ever CW star to host Saturday Night Live, an honor typically reserved for the most-buzzworthy performers. CW network forerunner The WB placed five young favorites in the SNL pantheon, beginning with Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy) in 1998, followed later by Jamie Foxx and Dawson’s Creek trio James van der Beek, Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes. Fifteen other WBNX stars have taken the reigns over the past 35 years, including each Friends cast member (except Matt LeBlanc), plus Melrose Place queens Heather Locklear and Laura Leighton, and Ray Romano—who was cleverly joined in his monologue by Everybody Loves Raymond parents Doris Roberts and Peter Boyle. Ironically, Boyle was one of SNL’s earliest hosts, guiding the 13th episode of the very first season back in ’76. More recently, Ashlee Simpson (Melrose Place) is noted for her lip-synching fiasco as musical guest four years ago. With Gossip Girl set in New York, it seems likely we could see Blake’s boyfriend, Penn Badgley, or other CW costars making sketch cameos. In addition to her Upper East Side shenanigans, Blake is currently featured as young “Pippa” in the big-screen film, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, and just finished shooting The Town, opposite Ben Affleck and Jon Hamm. Does the vivacious, oft-photographed beauty have some hidden comedic chops, as well? No one’s betting against Serena van der Woodsen. 
Here’s an awesome casting update that hits close to home…as in Cleveland. Parma Padua grad Sean Faris is in Atlanta today to begin filming (at least) a multiple-episode arc on The Vampire Diaries. He’ll play a former high school football buddy of Matt (Zack Roerig), with both guys employed at the Mystic Grill hangout. And, of course, we fully expect Sean’s entanglement with the freaky town’s supernatural entities and eligible bachelorettes. Often compared looks-wise to Tom Cruise and Travis Van Winkle (Jamie on 90210), Sean’s kept busy in film work since the conclusion of his two TV series, Life As We Know It and Reunion. The Bruins’ four-sport HS star (soccer, basketball, baseball, diving) put his natural athleticism to work in Forever Strong—where he played rugby opposite Penn Badgley (Dan on Gossip Girl)—and in Never Back Down, a mixed martial arts fight club drama. Smallville fans might also remember Sean’s appearance as one of LuthorCorp’s “experiments gone wrong” in season two. With two vampires and a rising death toll in Mystic Falls, nobody’s neck is safe for very long. But we can’t wait to see how our charismatic hometown star shakes up the dynamics on The CW’s biggest hit series ever.
Television’s biggest fall sweeps month is always a bonanza for viewers, as stars and stunts punctuate many storylines. There are some special treats coming up on CW dramas, such as popstar Lady Gaga performing her new single “Bad Romance” on the Nov. 16 episode of Gossip Girl, hints People; and an Upper East Side cameo by Spice Girl Victoria Beckham (Posh). Also, who do you expect to see first—Serena’s elusive father…or the allegedly-dead Bart Bass? Hmm. Moving to Tuesdays, conniving film villain Kelly Lynch settles in on 90210 as Ivy’s (Gillian Zinser) hot mama. Wonder how dating her daughter’s English teacher will play in the West Bev lounge? Over on Melrose Place, Nick Zano (pictured) has officially joined the cast; and no, we haven’t seen the last of Sydney (Laura Leighton). Turns out, Amanda had some unfinished business with the red-haired temptress, and that’ll unfold when Heather Locklear debuts Nov. 17. Fans of The Vampire Diaries can begin debating which of the new characters is secretly a vampire slayer! And don’t forget Legend of the Seeker, which premieres this weekend with two new recurring characters to cause havoc for Richard and Kahlan. Jolene Blaylock, best known as the Vulcan T’Pol on Enterprise, portrays a mysterious Sister of the Dark, whose powerful magic could destroy the Confessor. And Michael Whalley, 26, brings a bit of levity to his thorny role as Flynn. The actors have completed filming nearly half of Season 2 in New Zealand, and took some time for an interview with WBNX earlier today. We’ll post some of their comments here soon.
Awards Season is fast approaching and the one ceremony which relies on fan balloting needs our early input. The 36th annual People’s Choice Awards want to condense their list of potential nominees in each category from a dozen to the top five. There are ten television-related groups, plus 12 for movies and nine for music. If your favorite is not already listed, voters can also write in their own choices. Here are the current WBNX-related names which appear on the ballot: 
