The Much-Teased Three-way Hookup on 'Gossip Girl’: Gossip Story

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.

Rolling stone:Gossip Girl Cast's Photo Section Watch

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.)

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.

Abuse Robin Givens Still Tryna Eat Off Mike Tyson On Larry Kin:Octobet 2009

Abuse Robin Givens Still Tryna Eat Off Mike Tyson On Larry Kin:Octobet 2009
(M)
Heavyweight Champion of the World Mike Tyson has been called a lot of things, starting with his real name: Michael Gerard Tyson. From there he moved on Kid Dynamite, then to Iron Mike to The Baddest Man on the Planet and finally to wife abuser - the latter a title no one wants to win.

Knock Out Abuse Against Women benefits victims of domestic violence founded in 1994 by Cheryl Masri and Jill Sorensen.

It’s been estimated that it takes 8 or 9 attempts to leave an abusive relationship. The events' headliner, Robin Given, agreed. “That’s about right,” she said. Would she ever be in an abusive relationship again? “Absolutely not.”

Some recent studies reveal that nearly 50 percent of women are impacted by domestic violence in their adult lives. “Abuse has several tag lines, but it’s always the same story,” she said.