As one of the most iconic teen TV shows of the late 2000s and early 2010s, Gossip Girl garnered many fans during its dramatic six-year run and raised many questions about the identity of the eponymous Gossip Girl. Within the show, Gossip Girl was primarily a website dedicated to spilling the secrets of wealthy Manhattan teens, but she also provided informative voice-overs for the audience. Gossip Girl was there to narrate the show's most dramatic scenes, reminding audiences that each character's secrets were never truly their own.
During Gossip Girl's six seasons on The CW, fans speculated about the identity of Gossip Girl, though this secret would only be revealed in the final minutes of the series finale. The culprit was almost caught and revealed on several occasions, and many of the characters openly suspected each other of being Gossip Girl. However, the well-known actor who provided the voice of Gossip Girl stayed the same throughout the show and even continued her role in the 2021 Gossip Girl revival on HBO Max.
Kristen Bell Is Gossip Girl's Narrator For The Original Show & HBO Max's 2021 Revival
She Told Audiences The Characters' Secrets As They Were Revealed
From the outset, Gossip Girl's narration provided the tone for the show. Kristen Bell's voice-overs added drama and mystery to the secrets being revealed and often helped move the plot forward. Additionally, by using someone who never appeared onscreen as the voice of the titular character, the show's creators were able to keep Gossip Girl's true identity, Penn Badgely's Dan Humphrey - a secret for the entirety of the show's six-year run.
Beyond the final reveal of Gossip Girl at the end of the original series, Kristen Bell also served as the narrator for the revival series
Beyond the final reveal of Gossip Girl at the end of the original series, Kristen Bell also served as the narrator for the revival series which began airing on HBO Max in 2021. Gossip Girl's revival took a different approach from the original, revealing the identity of the new Gossip Girl early into the first season. However, as in the original series, Gossip Girl social media posts were read aloud to the audience by Bell, which helped recreate the sensation of secrets being revealed.
Kristen Bell's Gossip Girl Cameo Explained
Bell Made A Brief Appearance As Herself In The CW's Finale
Before becoming the voice of Gossip Girl, Kristen Bell was a teen icon in her own right, making her a fitting choice to star in another teen show. Bell rose to prominence with the role of Veronica Mars in the eponymous TV show, which aired in the years leading up to Gossip Girl's release. While fans of Veronica Mars likely recognized her voice, her cameo further solidified her place in teen television. Moreover, since the original show, Bell's career has flourished, so it is no surprise that the revival would want her to return.
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During the final episode of The CW's Gossip Girl, it's mentioned that there are auditions for a Gossip Girl show within the show that's based on Dan Humphrey's writing. In this scene, Bell addresses the camera with her iconic Gossip Girl introduction, then resumes conversation with fellow actor Rachel Bilson, each playing themselves. While the two actors practice their lines as Blair and Serena, they receive the information of Gossip Girl's identity at the same time as the audience. This creates a funny added layer to the final reveal of Gossip Girl and helps bring the show to an appropriate end.
Gossip Girl is a teen drama series that aired from 2007 to 2012, created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. Set in New York City's Upper East Side, the show follows privileged high school students navigating relationships and betrayals. At the heart of their tumultuous lives is the anonymous blogger 'Gossip Girl,' who reveals their secrets. The ensemble cast includes Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, and Penn Badgley.
Creator(s) Stephanie Savage , Josh Schwartz
Seasons 6
English (US) ·