Lifestyles of the Rich and Bratty

The CW got a head start on the Fall's season's premieres, giving teeny boppers and teeny bopper wannabes alike something to watch, while we awaited the season's more meaty shows from the grown-up networks. Here's my take on the three CW shows I'm watching, which (coincidentally?) share one common theme of: "Don't you wish you were this filthy rich? Ha ha, oh but you're not! Sucks to be you!" (I'm likewise -- coincidentally or not -- eagerly awaiting the season premiere of Dirty, Sexy Money...but that's a totally different future post.)

Gossip Girl: No matter what the writers throw at me with this one, I'll keep watching. It's like a train wreck on a glamorous fashion runway, and I just can't get enough. Right now, I'm torn between wanting Serena and Dan together v. wanting to see more of the old, bad-girl Serena. I think the latter will prove much more entertaining. (And anyway, who needs Serena and Dan together on TV when you can see the actors who play them holding hands in weekly tabloid pics?) I'm also hating on Vanessa right now for being so naive and stupid (with telling the Duke about his wife's affair with her stepson). Nevertheless, I would like to see the relationship between Vanessa and Nate develop. I love seeing the rich boy falls in love with poor girl plot. It gives us girls hope.

90210: I've been concerned that this one won't survive. Watching this remake made me remember just how cheesy the original was (with a clear lesson learned from each episode's teenage angst story -- i.e., don't do drugs, don't have sex) which made me realize how difficult it will be to remake such a show nowadays, when the competition is shows like Gossip Girl, which provide excellent entertainment without no societal benefit whatsoever (my...how far we've come since the innocent days of shows like Dawson's Creek). The new 90210 has been trying to walk a fine line between Gossip Girl and the 90210 of days yore, with the more recent episodes being better than the first. I think the show has great potential, if done right...let's hope they can make it happen.

Privileged: I thought I liked this one...until I saw the second and third episodes, which just draaagged. They have to pick up the pace with this one. I'm already quite sick of the evil (but is she?) sister v. the angelic (but is she?) tutor plotline. Can we get on with it and get to something juicier happening? Something's missing with this show, and I hope they can fix it fast. I can only hold out for a handful more episodes.