As Gossip Girl picks up more and more mainstream attention, there are few better examples of its acceptance into pop culture than this:

The New York Times recently interview creator Josh Schwartz. Here are a few highlights from the conversation:

Was the goal to create a Manhattan version of your hit tribute to California hedonism, “The O.C.”?
I think it’s an entirely different thing. To me, one of the biggest difference between the two shows is that New York City is a character in “Gossip Girl.”

But not a very appealing character — an ally in decadence among kids who hang out at the bar of the Palace Hotel and practice underage drinking.
I think it’s actually a very romantic view of New York. I don’t like shows that feel like they’re judging their characters.

How is the show doing?
It’s the No. 1 new show among teens. In New York, the show is kind of a crazy-huge thing already.

Do you give money to any charitable organizations?
I do. I give a lot back to U.S.C. And to my high school, the Wheeler School, creating scholarships for kids.

What kind of kids? For needy kids, or for gossip girls?
Not for the gossip girls. For the kids who otherwise can’t afford it.

Are you a gossip?
Not really. I’m too afraid of getting caught.

The past episode of Gossip Girl was centered around the fashion line of Eleanor Waldorf.

And it turns out the producers chose a real New York City-based designer to provide the fancy dresses and outfits that led to another fight between Blair and Serena.

Meet Abigail Lorick.

Lorick’s spring collection is made up of ready-to-wear separates and dresses, along with  jumpers in classic silhouettes. There are silk day dresses, sheath dresses with thin belts, crepe print skirts, and ruffled blouses.

Cigarette pants can be paired with a strapless top and a delicate scarf. Saturated blues and reds meet bright pop of yellow and colorful prints. Lorick’s designs are all inspired by her Amelia Island, Florida upbringing, made for a polite Southern girl going off to Sunday brunch.

Check out more at the designer’s official website, as it announces that the Lorick look is “always pulled and together and timeless, but still modern” and pays homage “to the well-mannered feminine paradigm of an era long gone.”

Coming up on the next episode of Gossip Girl…

Dan (Penn Badgley) goes above and beyond while planning for his first official date with Serena.

Meanwhile, Jenny attends Blair’s sleepover, where a revealing game of truth or dare is played; and Lily turns to Rufus when Eric goes missing from his treatment center.

We only have the lyrics for a few of these songs at our Gossip Girl music section, but here’s a look at a few tunes overheard during “Bad New Blair.”

• Moon River - Henry Mancini
• Invisible Men - Make It Bounce
• Tambourine - Eve
• Miss Eighty6 - Candy Store
• Alana D - Until You Can’t
• Sean Kingston - Beautiful Girlz

Not much to add on this post. We just wanted to say:

How hilarious is Chuck Bass?!?

Ed Westwick and his portrayal of this character makes us crack up. Just look at this Gossip Girl photo of him from last night’s episode, “Bad News Blair.” He’s so ready to play basketball!

Is Chuck your favorite Gossip Girl character? Tell us who is at our Gossip Girl forum!

This was our favorite episode yet of Gossip Girl.

Granted, it could have used a bit more of Taylor Momsen, but the characters of Blair and Serena were fleshed out quite well. And just how much do you love Dan?

If you missed any of “Bad News Blair,” or just want to relive the best moments, read through our recap right now. It’s chock full of Gossip Girl quotes and photos from the hour.

Also, remember to visit our Gossip Girl forum. Discuss the latest developments and your favorite characters with fellow fans.

Enjoy - and thanks for reading! XOXO, Gossip Girl Insider…

Ready for a new round of Gossip Girl quotes, pictures, discussion and, well, gossip?

It’s on the way tonight, as the fourth episode of our favorite guilty pleasures airs at 9 p.m. on The CW. It’s titled “Bad New Blair” and it promises to throw more fuel onto the fun-loving fire.

We’ve already posted a thread in our Gossip Girl forum dedicated to this episode. Go talk about it now and/or immediately after the hour is over tonight. We’ll see you there!

Remember, we’ll have the most detailed Gossip Girl episode guide on the Web after the show airs tonight. Enjoy!

Before we tune in for the fourth episode of Gossip Girl tonight, we were excited to come across this interview of Chace Crawford by TV Guide.

Let’s see what the hunk has to say…

TVGuide.com: It’s funny to see this teenage hierarchy in Manhattan, because I live in New York, but I never went to private high school here. Do you think the attitudes and some of the behavior is accurate?
Crawford: There’s definitely some degree of it being what goes into making a television [show], but I think it’s accurate in terms of the family pressure and the social structure of it all. Are there characters like Chuck [Ed Westwick] out there? [Laughs] I don’t really know.

But there are people in that vein of the whole Ryan Phillippe/Cruel Intentions type thing, and it’s great. I think Blair Waldorf [Leighton Meester] is one of the stand-up characters on the show. I’ve talked to some people who say the story is a mirror image of some things that do go on.

TVGuide.com: There are always going to be cliques, so even if it’s taken to an extreme with someone like Chuck, it’s still relatable at times.
Crawford: There are some corruptive individuals out there. I’ve heard that kids do take limos when they’re freshmen, and they’re not chaperoned, the parents are absent. Teenagers aren’t as dumb as everyone thinks. Especially in today’s society — it gets worse in terms of the partying early on. I don’t think it’s too over-the-top in that sense.

TVGuide.com: Now, obviously the biggest storyline is all the romantic turmoil. What can we expect to see between Nate and Serena [Blake Lively]?
Crawford: Ohhh, it’s all unexpected. They’re putting the brakes on that right now. He definitely has issues with Blair and mainly with his father, but I think it’s going to come back full circle. He ultimately loves this girl. He loves both of them, but they represent completely polar opposite things.

He loves Blair, he’s known her for years, but she also represents the negative side to his family, and Serena represents something else. She possesses something he wishes to obtain — not only to be with her, but to have the freedom she has in her life. I think he’s having trouble breaking out of where he is.

TVGuide.com: Will Nate and Dan [Penn Badgley] become friends even though they both have their eye on Serena?
Crawford: I like the possibility [of that]. It’s not going there [right now], but it’s always open. I think it’s going to happen.

Click here to read the full interview.

It’s impossible not to compare Gossip Girl with The OC.

Both shows were created by Josh Schwartz and both shows focus on the lives of well-off high school kids. With that in mind, here’s a comparison of various Gossip Girl character and characters from The OC…

Marissa vs. Serena: Serena (Blake Lively, right) seems to have it all, but in addition to a party girl reputation, dark family secrets and a disregard for high society, Serena one-ups the sulky Coop with a history of BFF betrayal.

Summer vs. Blair: Like Summer Roberts (Rachel Bilson, left), Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) is the queen bee with the designer clothes and riches to her name. But she lacks Summer’s loyal following: Blair’s hot boyfriend Nate has already cheated on her, while the return of ex-best friend Serena is putting her crown in jeopardy.

Continue reading this article …

This is nice to see.

Blake Lively took her dog for a walk recently and was joined by pop singer/train wreck Britney Spears.

The Gossip Girl star doesn’t look too pleased with Brit, though, does she? Maybe that’s because she’s treating Lively like one of her kids, completing ignoring the actress.