Who's Watching Gossip Girl

How old is too old or how young is too young to watch Gossip Girl? I can’t seem to figure it out. This new evening hit soap opera is red-hot and played by characters who are still in High School. Move over Beverly Hills 90210, because Gossip Girl is not only about the ultra rich high school Manhattan socialites living the good life in the upper east side, but kids who are clearly keeping up with the life of mature, sophisticated and manipulating adults.

Sitting in front of the television with my hot cocoa in hand, I wondered if I should be embarrassed by watching the show. It is about high school kids, none-the-less, and I didn’t even watch 90210 when I was in my 30s because it seemed much too young for me. Now that I’m in my, um-hum, 40s, I am finding it super hot to watch kids half my age living a life that I’m still not living yet. Let’s face it, they clearly attend more parties and social engagements than I do; and they get to and from these ultra-fancy social engagements via a limo in which they most certainly finish off their evening, or early morning, having sex within its sleek back seats with whomever guy they’ve ended up with that evening. Hey, when’s the last time you’ve had sex in the back of a swanky limo? Or better yet, when’s the last time you’ve had sex?

Lies and manipulation is another game these young Gossip Girls like to play. I don’t have that interesting of a life to actually manipulate or, better yet, blackmail someone who had dissed me. Take for example Blair who wanted to do-in her ex best friend. Well, clearly, five seconds spent at their local hot happening bar and this gossip girl has got a phone-photo of her ex BFF’s mom kissing a man that is clearly not her ex BFF’s dad. Oh, I’ve gotcha now, Gossip Girl!

The only thing I will catch at my local hang out bar is a bad cold or a man three times my age trying to pick me up. But Gossip Girl, Serena, likes to drink her martinis and do her men right there at the bar especially after doing a sexy dance number on the actual bar. If you can’t imagine doing that at your local hot happening place at the ripe old age of 17, then can you image sucking down martinis at 17? I couldn’t even handle a beer, which I could only get with my fake I.D. How’s gossip girl doing it?

Oh, the life of the Manhattan social scene where money can buy you anything, including a man, or a much younger man if you happened to be my age, that is. Or even afford you a super smart student to take your SAT for you because you forgot to actually get up after your one too many diet colas with an ex BFF who clearly wanted to finish you off with a little addition of a liquid drug added to said cola to ensure a good night’s rest. Oh, you nasty Gossip Girl. But don’t worry, because one phone call to your new super-rich and powerful stepbrother and he’ll take care of it, not prob. I guess you’ve dodged another bullet there, Gossip Girl!

Oh, a day in the life of NYC’s twenty-first century teens. Is it really this vogue? Or does the show just want you to watch the steamy, super-hot soap opera with your entire family, including your impressionable teenage kids? Yeah, my 14 year-old walked by my room and asked me if I was watching Gossip Girl. Oh, my!


In this article, it seems that teenage kids watching shows like this are finding themselves getting pregnant ... so a close eye and a little chit-chat with your teen about shows that seem to be geared toward teenagers (I thought it was) but really not? Yikes!

Read more here about sexy TV influence on kids.

Why Watch a Soap Opera when the Palin Story is On?

I noticed some moms, through other mom blogs, are having trouble believing or accepting that Sarah Palin can handle the job as Vice President given that she has five kids: one going off to Iraq—emotionally I don’t know how she’s handling that; the next eldest (teen) is pregnant, this has got to be a blow for the family and for the conservative message of “family values” and not to mention the boyfriend (aka father to be) who seems scared sh**less to me or is that just my opinion? Her other kids are still very young; and her youngest, Trig, we all know has special needs and is only 4 months old, and that Palin actually went back to work after only 3 days of giving birth—Wow!

This is one mom (that scares the hell out of me) and who has got a full load already. And I’m not so sure she is emotionally ready to be the second highest in command—I’m wondering when on her calendar, or list of things to do, her breakdown is schedule for? I, for one, hope that she has a nanny and a team of specialist to help Trig along because, as some know, special needs kids need everything from lots of attention to special ed. teachers and therapies—it’s a hard job, and for most of us, it can only be—their one job.

Some moms are having trouble with how her 17-year-old daughter’s pregnancy is or could, again, be “romanticizing” pregnancies and drawing attention to vulnerable teenage girls (as role models)—as in the Jamie Lynn Spears pregnancy. I’m sure that reality has already set-in for Spears, now that her child is a few months old—just imagine if she had a special needs child?

Another point was made that if Palin didn’t work (and was a stay-at-home mom) then her teenage daughter might not be in this predicament in the first place. Something to think about (I will admit that it had crossed my mind.) and it doesn’t bode well for the working mom. It’s such a shame. But at the same time magnifies the significance of the “Mom” job as the most powerful and hardest job one can hold; not to mention, mom’s with special needs children who will certainly feel the wave of appreciation from the Palin story.

As a mom and as a woman, I am certain that Palin will do everything in her power (and she will have power) to make sure that her kids and their kids are cared for and helped on so many different levels. Especially, Trig, whom I’m holding a very strong place in my heart; along with most others—I’m sure. If elected, I think Trig will be the most loved child to ever hold high office.

I'm looking forward to hearing from Sarah Palin tonight--she is intriguing!!