Gossip Girl (Season 3)

Season Three: 2009–10

Gossip Girl (Season 3)

The third season focuses on Blair, Dan & Vanessa getting into NYU along with movie star Olivia Burke (Hilary Duff), whom Dan starts dating; Nate getting into Columbia University; Serena taking a year off from school; Jenny becoming Queen Bee at Constance; and Chuck running Bass Industries, along with now adoptive mother Lily van der Woodsen. The first couple of episodes feature part of the summer vacation, respectively the week before the start of University and School. The role of "Gossip Girl" is slightly decreased throughout the season.

Many guest stars were cast throughout the season including Joanna García as Bree Buckley, a love interest for Nate; America's Next Top Model creator Tyra Banks as Ursula Nyquist, a larger than life actress whom Serena served as a publicist for a short time; William Baldwin as William van der Woodsen, Serena and Eric’s father, Lily’s ex-husband and Rufus’ long-time rival; and cameos by Lady Gaga, Tory Burch, Jimy Fallon,Plastiscones, Georgina Chapman and Sonic Youth.

The ninth episode of the season caused a significant amount of controversy. Parent groups urged the CW not to air the episode that contained a threesome. The preview for the episode revolved around an "OM3" theme. CW ignored these requests and announced that it was going to air the episode as planned.

Robert John Burke, who played Chuck's father, Bart Bass, returned for A Chritmas Carol themed episode in December, while Desmond Harrington returned as Chuck's uncle Jack with a major storyline affecting Chuck and Blair's relationship again and involving Chuck's estranged mother Evelyn Bass Fisher (Laura Harring).

The season focused hugely on Jenny Humphrey's development and downward spiral. She spends a good part of the season alienating herself from Eric, her former best friend, and chasing after Nate, who has his heart set on Serena. At the end of the season, due to her one night stand with stepbrother, Chuck Bass, and new drug dealing habit, Jenny's father and Lily send her to Hudson, New York,  to live with her mother. Other story lines include: Blair and Chuck's attempt and ultimate failure at having a successful relationship; Dan and Vanessa moving from friends to something more; and Serena's attempts to find herself through a new job and brief love affairs with Carter; Nate's married cousin Tripp; and eventually Nate himself.

BY - BRUNA