Development
What books inspired the traits of all the characters?
Gossip Girl
The "Gossip Girl" book series was originally supposed to be adapted into a film starring Lindsay Lohan with head "Gilmore Girls" creator Amy Sherman-Palladino. When the film project did not get off the ground, Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz took over the project to create a television series. As of October 2006, Schwartz was working on the pilot. He said: "I was very skeptical. I don't want to do "The O.C. NYC". But I thought the books were smart. The characters are worldly in a way that Orange County kids aren't." The characteristics for each character in the pilot were based on the first "Gossip Girl" book. In January 2007, the show was given the green light by The CW.