Prior to the start of the new fall television season, I made a list of new shows that I was interested in watching. There weren’t too many on the list, as my viewing schedule was already packed with returning shows from previous years. But my Wednesdays were wide open, so I decided to give The CW’s Gossip Girl a try. I’ve watched the first two episodes of the series thus far, and think it’s going to be a keeper!

Gossip Girl is the latest series from Josh Schwarz, the creator, writer, and producer of The O.C. It’s based on the novel series by Cecily von Ziegesar, and has all the makings of a hit teen drama. First, we have Serena and Blair, former best friends who are now fierce rivals as they compete for the affections of Nate, Blair’s boyfriend who has already slept with Serena. Second, we have the Humphreys, Dan and Jenny, a couple of siblings who attend the same elite school as Serena, Blair, and Nate, but aren’t wealthy or connected. And then we have Chuck, the richest of the bunch — and also the sleaziest. He’s got “bad boy” written all over him, and is sure to cause tons of trouble before all is said and done!

What I really like about Gossip Girl thus far is how the writers incorporate technology on the show in a meaningful way, giving us, in essence, Teen Drama 2.0. The characters regularly send and receive text messages and photos on their cell phones, and of course there’s the Gossip Girl herself — an anonymous blogger who always has inside info on the latest happenings in the group. Her voiceovers provide great commentary about what’s going on with the characters.

If you haven’t tuned into Gossip Girl yet, you’re really missing out! The show airs every Wednesday at 9 p.m. Eastern, so be sure to tune in this week. To find out more about the show, visit the official MySpace Fan Page or check out these You Tube videos for episode previews and clips.