How I learned to stop worrying and love "Gossip Girl"

After secretly indulging in eleven episodes of the lifestyles of the over-privileged and beautiful, I've decided to come clean and just admit that I can't get enough of CW's "Gossip Girl."

True, there are a few similarities in the fall season's newest teen drama to creator Josh Schwartz's previous work on "The O.C." (boy from the wrong side of the tracks lusts after wealthy socialite etc), but since the show based on a set of bestselling novels, that could just be pure coincidence. Either that, or the authors of all teen dramas are severely lacking in creative imagination.

Narrated by the omniscient "Gossip Girl" (voiced by Kristen Bell of "Veronica Mars" fame), the show follows the lives of her fellow trust-funded Upper East Side teens and has heralded as the teen drama for a generation ruled by text messages and blogs. Having never read the books, I can't comment on the authenticity of the show - nor do I want to delve into whether the show is an accurate reflection of privileged Upper East Side teens. Who cares, honestly?

Here's what I do care about: the ridiculously good-looking twentysomethings playing teenagers (aren't there some ugly and rich people in this world? Please explain Donald Trump), backstabbing and scheming that would make Shannen Doherty blush, hip fashion that may launch the show into the "Sex and the City" realm and predictably melodramatic plot twists. No doubt it's a guilty pleasure, but it's not like I'm watching reruns of "According to Jim," right?

Thanks to the writers strike, tonight's episode is the first of a potentially season-ending two-parter but it's more than likely the show will be picked up by the CW for another season of salacious rumermongering we can all indulge in guilt-free.

"Gossip Girl" airs on the CW at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays.

--Malavika Jagannathan, mjaganna@greenbaypressgazette.com