Gossip Girl -- Are your kids watching it?

[EthansMom]

The reason I ask is that I watched this new show last night and had some concerns that I thought I'd pass along.

In the one-hour premier:

most of the characters are shown drinking to excess (three different scenes of kids drinking to excess by my count)

there were two or three scenes where characters were smoking pot or discussing it

there were two attempted rapes.

All this among a group of HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS on a show intended for a young audience!!!!!!

Now, I'm not the kind of person to censor other people and I don't care what shows your kids are watching. But you might. It's on at an 8 o'clock slot and definitely seems aimed at a younger audience. If your high schooler or middle schooler is watching "Gossip Girl" then you might want to watch an episode and see if it is something you want him/her to be seeing.

(Really, I'm not trying to stir a debate. It just struck me after I watched the show that it definitely wasn't the kind of show I would want my kids watching if they were in high school or middle school.)

 

[KAMLEM]

My DD are 11 and 13 and they absolutely won't be watching it.

 

[MoniqueU]

My oldest daubhet read all the books. I do not have a problem with her reading the books but I think I would have a problem with the show.

 

[SadieDog]

I didn't realize that the show started already. My DD 16 wants to see it. There is a lot of drinking and smoking in the books so it does not surprise me. In the line up I read, Gossip Girl will normally air on Wed at 9pm.

 

[EthansMom]

I didn't realize that the show started already. My DD 16 wants to see it. There is a lot of drinking and smoking in the books so it does not surprise me. In the line up I read, Gossip Girl will normally air on Wed at 9pm.

The premier was on last night. I'm not sure if there's going to be a second showing of it, but if there is, watch it with your daughter to see if it's what you want her to be watching. It definitely isn't "Dawson's Creek", "Seventh Heaven", or the like... The content is mature.

Other than the drinking, drugs, and sex, it wasn't such a bad show. I wouldn't have a big problem with it if the characters were in their 20s and the show was in a 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. time slot.

 

[yearbook50]

The show is normally Wednesdays at 9pm after ANTM.

Last night was just a repeat like they sometimes do.

 

[EthansMom]

The show is normally Wednesdays at 9pm after ANTM.

Last night was just a repeat like they sometimes do.

Thanks. At least, 9 p.m. is a more appropriate time slot!

 

[eh24fan]

I watched it and was surprised at the blatant drinking and pot by HIGH SCHOOLERS! I was really shocked when they were literally sitting at the bar at the hotel, drinking martini's.

 

[Robmom]

My DD (15) said she wanted to see that show. I read about all the horrible stuff going on in it and I will not let her see it.

 

[briar_rose_59]

I watch it and enjoy it. I'm in my 2nd year of college but most of the stuff on the show (drinking, drugs, sex) definitely happened at my high school. Maybe not quite as openly as on the show, but it was definitely happening. I started reading the books in high school though and loved them, and they were definitely more descriptive than the show. Of course, if you don't feel comfortable with your child watching it then by all means, that's your choice as their parent.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

DD is 10 - I was somewhat familiar with the books from seeing them at the bookstore and had heard enough about the show to know there was no way I would let her!!!! I truly hope girls her age are not part of the target audience!!!

Luckily, she is unaware of the show so far - not sure if she will start to hear about it in school.....

 

[Irin997]

Here's the real question....how sad is it that I'm 26 and I watch it,

 

[EthansMom]

Here's the real question....how sad is it that I'm 26 and I watch it,

Not as sad as the fact that I'm 34 and was watching it (and have Tivo set to record the next couple of episodes in case I like it). IMO, there's a difference between someone in his/her 20s or 30s watching Gossip Girl and a kid who is 13 or 14 watching it... add a bit more flesh and a few curse words and it might've qualified for an "R" rating.

 

[briar_rose_59]

IMO, there's a difference between someone in his/her 20s or 30s watching Gossip Girl and a kid who is 13 or 14 watching it...

I've got to agree, but I definitely think the target audience is more high school kids than middle school/grade school kids. JMHO
Another thing I forgot to mention in my other post, if they're following the book, the main characters (except Jenny) should be high school seniors. Still underage for the alcohol (and the pot is illegal regardless), but way different IMHO than a bunch of 9th graders getting drunk and such.

 

[Irin997]

Nice, at least I have some company!

With that said, I'd never let a high-school aged child of mine watch it. It's just too innappropriate.

 

[bluesaturn]

Just another note. They are not following the plot in the books closely at all. The drinking, drugs, sex were all in the book, but I think the show has really cheapened the plot laid out in the books. They made everyone unnaturally beautiful, while in the book there are people who actually don't fit in, aren't perfect, etc. The subtle tensions from the book were just ignored, I guess for a more "exciting" plot. In general I thought it was terribly done, so your kids might not even want to watch it.

 

[TimeforMe]

I watched this with DD19 last night and during the entire episode, we both kept asking "how old are these kids supposed to be?" because they were all drinking, etc. Weird.

 

[maelstrom]

I read the first Gossip Girl book and didn't really like it. I think I'd like the show, though, I just didn't know it had started already. Plenty of people in my high school did a lot of drinking (yes, at bars), smoking pot, and having sex. I think the book gets borderline unbelievable at some points (if you're underage and want to drink in a bar around here, you go to a small backwoods bar, not a posh hotel bar). But the city is a whole different story, I suppose. I don't know. I think high schoolers should be fine with it, and maybe an older middle schooler, depending on their level of maturity.

 

[Kath2003]

OMG it's Dawson's Creek all over again

 

[Brier Rose]

This is my DD's favorite new show! She's 15..will be 16 in a few weeks. I watch right along with her because I like it too!

I really don't have a problem with her watching at all! She definitely knows the difference between entertainment and reality. It doesn't make her want to run out to the nearest bar..kwim?

As if she could anyway!