The Untold Truth Behind the Shocking Cancellation of Gossip Girl's Lily Spinoff

Summary

Gossip Girl almost had a spinoff called Valley Girls, which would have focused on Serena's mom, Lily, as a teenager in the '80s.

The spinoff was not given a green light because of unfavorable timing, low ratings for the pilot, and the decision to have a backdoor pilot instead of a complete pilot episode.

The network demonstrated their excitement for developing a spinoff, with CW executive Dawn Ostroff expressing confidence in the producers' skills to turn any idea into a triumph.

Gossip Girl, a popular teen drama, continues to attract viewers long after its conclusion. It almost had a spinoff focused on the character Lily. Based on the book series with the same title, Gossip Girl depicted the scandalous lives of Manhattan's privileged elite as they faced the challenges of extreme wealth. The show remains a significant part of pop culture, with viewers identifying as either "Serena or Blair" and eagerly anticipating the iconic Thanksgiving episodes.

Having been one of The CW's biggest successes, Gossip Girl received a reboot in 2021. However, in 2009, there was a potential addition to the Gossip Girl universe with a prequel spinoff called Valley Girls. A backdoor pilot for Valley Girls aired as the 24th episode of Gossip Girl season 2, titled "Valley Girls." The episode introduced the story of what Valley Girls would have been about, while also following the Gossip Girl characters during their senior prom.

The CW Passed On Lily's Spinoff Due To Bad Timing (& Poor Pilot Ratings)

The CW's desire to expand Gossip Girl is evident considering its immense success. However, their plans for a prequel spinoff centered around Lily were unsuccessful. Following the airing of the backdoor pilot episode, Dawn Ostroff, the network's former president of entertainment, was asked about the possibility of green-lighting Valley Girls during a television press tour.

Ostroff responded negatively, stating that one of the reasons for not proceeding with the show was the disadvantage of having a backdoor pilot instead of a full pilot. This hindered viewers from fully envisioning the show independently. Furthermore, the "Valley Girls" episode did not achieve high ratings and is often considered one of the least essential episodes in the series. This could be attributed to its lack of alignment with the overall storyline.

What Valley Girls Would Have Been About

Valley Girls would have depicted Serena's mother, Lily, during her teenage years in 1980s Los Angeles. The show would have explored Lily's rebellious nature, including her time in jail, similar to her daughter's experiences in the main series. Viewers would have gained insight into Lily's past as a groupie, a subject frequently referenced on Gossip Girl, as well as her struggles with her parents' divorce. The role of Lily was intended for Brittany Snow, while Krysten Ritter would have played her sister, Carol.

Although the network initially considered a spinoff focused on Jenny Humphrey, as revealed by Entertainment Weekly, they ultimately chose to spotlight Lily's backstory to avoid losing a main cast member, Taylor Momsen. The network's enthusiasm for any type of spinoff was evident, with Dawn Ostroff stating, "I would support the producers in any endeavor, even if it involved a series about paint drying. I have that much faith in them."

Source: Entertainment Weekly