Based on the New York Times best-selling book series by Cecily von Ziegesar, Gossip Girl chronicles the lives of spoiled, overprivileged Manhattan prep school teen Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) and a truly ensemble cast including Leighton Meester, Kristen Bell, and Chace Crawford.

The students at Constance Billard School for Girls first learn that Serena, once the Upper East Side's most infamous party girl, is back in town the same way they learn everything in their trite little lives -- from the blog of the all-knowing and anonymous Gossip Girl. They may not know who she is, but they certainly rely on her blog for the latest scoop. Even Serena's closest friend, Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester), is blindsided by the fact that Serena has ended her self-imposed exile to boarding school and returned to Manhattan. Keeping track of all the friendships, relationships, and shifting loyalties in this super-spoiled world of the rich and beautiful is a full-time job, and it's the Gossip Girl's job to keep the students informed.

And to say the least, it's a full-time job keeping up with the Joneses as these ultra-fashionable teens wind their way from one relationship to the next and one spoiled friendship after another, alongside making appearances at some of the wildest high school parties seen on television so far. Gossip Girl, in many ways, has earned the tantalizing criticisms of parents' groups that have brought so much notoriety to the series already. It's exactly this zest and zing that will ultimately reveal layers to the characters not yet discovered, as well as propel this surprisingly inspired, thoughtful series into many more seasons to come. Warner Home Video has a hit on their hands with Gossip Girl -- it certainly lives up to the hype, and with one of the best sets of bonus features we've seen in some time, the DVD release is worth every penny. Take a weekend and catch up with Serena and company; you won't believe what's around the next corner.

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