The Parents Television Council surely didn't plan it this way, but a protest from the conservative watchdog group might do for "Gossip Girl" what a guy-on-guy kiss and coed romps haven't been able to accomplish this season: Boost the ratings, which have seen double-digit declines this fall.
The controversy stems from a multiple-partner sex scene planned for tonight's episode of the soapy CW drama, which the network has been teasing on-air as "OM3," in keeping with its suggestive, text-speak marketing. The threesome involves major characters on the show, though their identities haven't been revealed.
The controversy stems from a multiple-partner sex scene planned for tonight's episode of the soapy CW drama, which the network has been teasing on-air as "OM3," in keeping with its suggestive, text-speak marketing. The threesome involves major characters on the show, though their identities haven't been revealed.
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As has happened oh, about a thousand times in recent TV history, (over)zealous promotion on a network's part built up a sweeps episode, which caused much ink and many pixels to be expended in anticipation of the allegedly life-altering event. Monday night's "Gossip Girl" had the added juice of the Parents Television Council frothing at the mouth over the episode before having seen it.
The pre-emptive campaign and threats of indecency fines didn't work -- no affiliates or advertisers bailed on Monday's episode. And while the PTC has never met a mildly salacious storyline it didn't love to hate, this one really ended up being a snoozer.
(I'm going to discuss what happened in that portion of the episode now, so if you haven't watched yet and don't want to know, now's the time to click away. Alternately, if you don't want to waste your time on a lame plot thread, please read on.)
(I'm going to discuss what happened in that portion of the episode now, so if you haven't watched yet and don't want to know, now's the time to click away. Alternately, if you don't want to waste your time on a lame plot thread, please read on.)
Executive producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage said they're exploring new territory this season because most of the characters have graduated from prep school and are now in college, where experimentation is common. However, they're still working with the heightened reality of the Upper East Side and its wealth and hedonism.
Schwartz promises more cutting-edge content for the second half of the season. "We're not going to pull back," he said. "If anything, we'll be accelerating because we've gotten our footing with these characters being out of high school. The PTC may be writing a lot of letters this year."
TV analysts don't think the sexual tripling, which also will be seen in flashback on the Nov. 16 episode, is much of a stretch. "This is the latest risqué plot twist in a program that's all about them," said John Rash, senior vice president/director of media analysis at ad agency Campbell Mithun.
Schwartz promises more cutting-edge content for the second half of the season. "We're not going to pull back," he said. "If anything, we'll be accelerating because we've gotten our footing with these characters being out of high school. The PTC may be writing a lot of letters this year."
TV analysts don't think the sexual tripling, which also will be seen in flashback on the Nov. 16 episode, is much of a stretch. "This is the latest risqué plot twist in a program that's all about them," said John Rash, senior vice president/director of media analysis at ad agency Campbell Mithun.
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