Connor Paolo
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Below are four more cast interviews with the stars of Gossip Girl, who give us all the latest dish on their characters as we gear up for an exciting third season.

We previously heard from Ed, Jessica, Taylor and Penn. Now here's Connor Paolo with some insight as to what we can expect from Eric van der Woodsen ...

Follow the jump for interviews with Matthew Settle (Rufus) and a few of the new season's supporting players, Sebastian Stan (Carter) and Chris Riggi (Scott) ...

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Yesterday's batch of Gossip Girl set photos showed Chace Crawford and Joanna Garcia filming scenes and a number of other cast members arriving to work.

Today, we have another batch of pictures for you, featuring some of the same cast members we know and love, and the return of another recurring character.

Here's a picture of Blake Lively and guest star Sebastian Stan, appearing on the show for the third season. Looks like Carter Baizen is back in a big way ...

What do you think Serena and Carter are up to?

Click to enlarge plenty more pictures from the Gossip Girl set below. As always, we'll be posting more images for you to discuss as they become available.

Blake Lively let loose in a sexy sheer top and denim cut-offs, Penn Badgley looked like his usual, laid-back self, Taylor Momsen and Connor Paolo made appearances and Chace Crawford filmed scenes on heliport with new guest star Joanna Garcia.

All in a day's work on the Gossip Girl set.

Here's Chace and Joanna (of Privileged fame), who will be playing Nate Archibald's new love interest, Bree Buckley, early in the upcoming third season ...

Do you think Chace and Joanna will make a good on-screen pair?

We'll post more images as they become available to us. Needless to say, we can't wait for Season 3 to begin. Click to enlarge this batch of Gossip Girl pics from the set ...

Gossip Girl's youngest cast members, Taylor Momsen (Jenny Humphrey) and Connor Paolo (Eric van der Woodsen) filmed a scene for the hit show in New York's Upper East Side last week. Wonder what they're talking about ...

GOSSIP GUY AND GIRL: Connor Paolo and Taylor Momsen shot some scenes for Gossip Girl in Manhattan's Upper East Side last week. [Photo Credit: Splash News Online]

Gossip Girl star Connor Paolo, who plays Blake Lively's little (and recently outed) brother, Eric van der Woodsen, has reportedly rejected an offer from the show to become a series regular, according to Entertainment Weekly.

So what's the deal?

Is he scared to be gay-cast, as Thomas Dekker allegedly was, circa Heroes?

It doesn't look like that's the case. According to EW's Gossip Girl sources, Connor Paolo is "totally comfortable playing a gay character."

More likely, it's about simple dollars and sense.

The deal that was put before Connor would not guarantee that he'd be on all episodes produced, or ASP as it's called in the TV business. Rather, the contract called for him to appear in half of the 25 episodes scheduled to air in Season Two.

That's about what he's been averaging as a recurring player as it is.

Basically, by remaining a free agent of sorts, the 18-year-old secures the same gig with none of the strings attached.

"He probably didn't want to commit to being ninth fiddle on a show," one TV agent opined. "Sure, he'll make less money than a full-time [Gossip Girl] cast member, but he's free to accept other opportunities in TV and film should they come along."

"It's not a bad move if you have aspirations to do other things."

A Gossip Girl rep declined to comment, as did the star's agent.

New contract or not, Connor Paolo remains happily committed to TV's hottest soap for the foreseeable future. Schedule permitting, of course.

Gossip Girl star Connor Paolo, who plays Eric van der Woodsen, recently sat down for an interview with BuddyTV. Here's what Connor had to say ...

Q: So, I wanted to start out by asking you about any upcoming story lines that you've got coming up?

Connor Paolo: Well, the relationship between myself and Jenny really begins to evolve because she has to deal with people back at and stuff like that. And who better than Eric van der Woodsen, because he's awesome? He's really rough when he's cornered, so he's a good guy at your back. My relationship with Chuck also evolves because he goes through some pretty difficult times, and Eric does his best to be there for him.

Q: Can you give us a hint about what kind of difficult times Chuck will be having?

Connor Paolo: Probably not, but they're really difficult.

Q: OK, we'll just have to wait and see, then. I was going to ask you about Eric and Jenny because you guys are supposed to be really good friends, but we haven't seen those two characters very much together.

Connor Paolo: Me and Jenny really join forces in a big way for the Thanksgiving episode because we get involved in a lot of the stuff that she's dealing with with her parents, living away from home. So she comes to Eric for help and for advice and for a shoulder.

Q: And how about Eric's super-cute boyfriend? Will we be seeing him more?

Connor Paolo: Well, you know, I think when your last boyfriend wound up dating your best friend, you really can't get any worse. So, I think we will be seeing him a bit more just because I think Eric is due for a nice person in his life.

Q: So you've gotten to work with Taylor Momsen and Ed Westwick, but who among the cast do you really enjoy working with?

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Gossip Girl star Connor Paolo (Eric van der Woodsen) posed with some adoring fans who greeted him on the set of the show in midtown New York City this week ...

GOSSIP GUY: Connor Paolo is terrific as Eric van der Woodsen, and despite playing a relatively minor character, the 18-year-old actor is frequently mobbed by fans.

At least as of this posting, we've heard of no plans to have any new Gossip Girl characters come out of the closet this fall.

Sources report that Eric van der Woodsen (Connor Paolo) will have a love interest or two in the second season of Gossip Girl.

Eric should be it for same-sex love, though if the book series is any indication, Gossip Girl could get even more gay with each season.

According to cast member Penn Badgley: "By the end of the series, I think they got so bored writing the same things for 12 years, they were like, 'Let's just make 'em all gay.' Chuck ends up gay and has a monkey on his shoulder that dresses in similar outfits."

Penn is just kidding... we think.

Connor Paolo made headlines and raised eyebrows on Gossip Girl when his character, Eric van der Woodsen, came out of the closet.

In a recent interview, the actor, 17 - who co-star Leighton Meester says is the biggest flirt on the set - talked a little bit about what it's like to star on Gossip Girl and to be a pseudo-celeb in general ...

Q: So a year ago would you have been at one of these things, and would you have imagined being introduced as Connor Paolo from Gossip Girl?

Connor Paolo: It's been an experience. To be a celebrity in New York City - I consider myself at the small end of that. So I'm shocked this stuff happens. There are many different aspects of the business. There are many different aspects of being an actor, and this is one of them.

Q: You guys are always getting spotted on the street too.

Connor Paolo: Well, Blake Lively, who is this big [he gestures very high], you know, like a towering moon goddess, and I have these highlights, and Chace Crawford you can spot from the moon, and Taylor towers over everyone. You've got a lot of people with really bright hair.

Q: Does it feel weird when people stare from the other side of the street?

Connor Paolo: No. Being a New Yorker makes you numb to thinks very, very quickly. So for the first day, sure.

Q: Do you have any hopes for the new season?

Connor Paolo: I'm hoping for some Eric-Chuck Bass time. And Eric gets badass. And I just hope it keeps going the way its going. I think it's great.

Q: Any other summer plans we should know about?

Connor Paolo: Being awesome.

We've said it before but we'll say it again - what a great episode!

In "All About My Brother," Georgina Sparks (Michelle Trachtenberg) outed Eric Van der Woodsen (Connor Paolo) at the dinner table, and threw us for a loop - but then she one-upped herself by blackmailing his sister, Serena (Blake Lively), threatening to reveal their dark secret.

Pushed to her limits, Serena confided in her friend Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) and revealed a truth more shocking than a sex tape.

"I killed someone," she said.

Gulp. Looks like Serena's in for a rough stretch.

As for Eric, maybe he can rest easy now that he's come out. In an interview with People, Connor Paolo, 17, talks about what's next.

People: How does it feel to be playing a gay character on a popular TV show?
Connor Paolo: I'm an actor and it's a part. Being gay is nothing but another way to live your life. It's just who he is.

People: A lot of gay teens will be excited to see someone gay on the show. Are you ready for that?
Connor Paolo: I guess it's a possibility that fans could take Eric's coming into his own as a source of inspiration. He does it with a degree of gentility and self-respect. He doesn't make apologies for who he is.

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