Dawn Ostroff says 'Gossip Girl' spin off could still get a spot on The CW schedule
See! Didn't I say the "Gossip Girl" spin off is still breathing?
Confirming what I told you yesterday, CW president Dawn Ostroff informed reporters at Upfronts this morning that the pilot revolving around Serena's mom circa 1980s is still in contention for midseason: "In all honesty the "Gossip Girl" spin off [is something] we'd like to find a place for as the season goes on. But we have to wait a minute and see where we are."
Ostroff said the network was in a very fortunate position, having produced just six pilots, all of which were strong candidates for pick up. "It was the toughest deal we've ever had, figuring out what to cut, because they all were really, really good," she shared.
Ostroff went on to explain that The CW will reevaluate later in the year, but will likely pick up a reality series for January launch, as well as another scripted show."
The possibilities of course include, among others, the "Gossip Girl" spin off and "Body Politic," a D.C.-based drama starring Brian Austin Green, Jason Dohring and Minka Kelly.
"Parental Discretion Advised" -- formerly titled "Light Years," about a foster kid that finds her biological parents who haven't spoken since the one-night-stand which produced her -- has already made the midseason schedule.
So what are the chances the "Gossip Girl" spin off is a go?
Word is, the "Body Politic" pilot turned out really well, but that it doesn't fit with The CW's vision of itself as well as the "GG" brand does.
Plus, Ostroff seems pretty happy with the "GG" spin off, saying producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage did an incredible job with it and that it doesn't need a lot of development, it's absence from the fall schedule was really just a matter of not yet having enough room for it.
Thoughts?
-Additional reporting by Rick Porter
Please, CW, go for Body Politic, not GG spinoff.
It may not fit into the rest of the CW schedule very well, but I was looking forward to giving 'Body Politic' a try. Moreso than a GG spin-off.
So, how about bring 'Priveleged' back in January? The folks @ the CW need to wake up!
I was looking forward to The Body Politic, as well, and the clips I saw were fantastic. It definitely had potential and a phenomenal cast. I still find it amazing that the network had such "strong" pilots, yet the only one they cut was the only pilot that insiders said had potential. I understand it doesn't exactly fit the network, but, with their current abyssmal ratings, isn't that a good thing? Wouldn't the smart move be to pick up something different that would bring in new and slightly older viewers. The only people who would be interested in the GG spinoff are GG fans...the network already has those viewers.
Korbi, any chance that Body Politic isn't completely dead? Or that some other network might be interested? I just hate seeing something that seemed like such a little gem go, especially when it would have been the only political show on television at a time when the country (particularly the CW's target demo) is more engaged in politics.
I'd prefer Body Politic, but I doubt that will happen, even though it seemed to be the best pilot they've got.
If they were scared of the political sounding title, call it 'U Street' or something, where the area is relevant to DC as Melrose Place is to LA..especially since it's about a group of 20 something's that live in the same brownstone apartment building...it may have politics, but it also has the normal CW hallmarks of sexy people, making friends, getting entangled in romantic relationships, working and keeping secrets underneath it all. Hell..call it Melrose East, but I can't believe the CW had Minka Kelly, Brian Austin Green, Jason Dohring, Gabrielle Union and Jenny Wade in the palm of their hand and didn't pick up their show when every blogger and critic thought it was one of the best CW pilots this year.
Sarah, I'm with you 100%. If only Dawn took a look at these websites and actually saw what we were saying. Every site is the same--comments filled with interest in Body Politic, yet they don't think it would have an audience. Such a great cast and an interesting show. Rename it if you have to and maybe change it to focus on the characters more than politics, but don't let it go, CW.
Love the lead actress on the spin-off. Wish she could be a more contemporary figure. I do not think the majority of the people who follow theCW will be that interested in a sshow about the 80s
Love the lead actress on the spin-off. Wish she could be a more contemporary figure. I do not think the majority of the people who follow theCW will be that interested in a sshow about the 80s
I'm liking the sounds of "Body Politic" (or am I just liking the fact that Jason Dohring is in it?!) but I do hope "Lily" (or whatever it is to be called) gets a chance and it does sound much more CW-esque.
"Body Politic" just feels more Fox than CW (not a good or bad thing, just a consid). We probably should quit saying "either or" for these shows. There will be holes for both.