When “Gossip Girl” ended in 2012, two distinctly important things occurred. First, viewers finally discovered who was the titular Gossip Girl. And second, and perhaps more importantly, it meant that the beloved CW drama starring Blake Lively and Leighton Meester as highly privileged teen socialites in NYC could never have a crossover episode with future smash-hit TV show “Nobody Wants This.”
Sigh. Imagine the possibilities! Maybe Blair Waldorf’s Jewish stepdad Cyrus Rose is a friend of the Roklov family and introduces Blair as a rival love interest for Rabbi Noah. Or maybe Joanne would get to say the iconic line from the “Gossip Girl” Passover episode, “Baruch Atah ay dios mio!” It’s frankly a tragedy that fans of the Netflix’s hot rabbi show never got to see these worlds collide.
However, thanks to “Gossip Girl” star Penn Badgley, we’re now getting a tiny glimpse into what a “Nobody Wants This” and “Gossip Girl” crossover might’ve been — with a little bit of “You” thrown in, too.
“In the finale of ‘Gossip Girl,’ it was revealed that the very lovely Kristen Bell was lending her voice to my character, to Dan Humphrey, who is the real Gossip Girl,” Badgley explained in a new Instagram reel promoting the fifth season of his show “You.” “I thought I would repay the favor. I’m going to put a little narrative spin on Kristen’s show ‘Nobody Wants This.'”
Cut to the infamously sexy ice cream scene from season one of “Nobody Wants This.”
As Joanne and Noah walk down an L.A. sidewalk, eating ice cream and chatting about Noah’s ex, Penn adds playful and hilarious quips for Joanne’s inner monologue as a mixture of his “You” character Joe Goldberg with a little bit of Gossip Girl thrown in. “Was that supposed to make me feel better?” Penn says when Noah offers that his ex Rebecca looks better without make-up. “I know the friend zone is usually a cold, dark place suitable for frozen delicacies to bury your feelings in by the shoveful, but this is torture,” he adds after Joanne tells Noah he should get back together with Rebecca.
The entire crossover scene is delightful. But what takes the cake is the ending. “Seeing you take charge, seeing your eyes piercing into me, makes me certain this undeniable connection can’t be locked away,” Penn narrates as Noah and Joanna are about to kiss.”Makes me certain that what I want isn’t just friends,” He goes on, before adding, “What I want… is Adam Brody.”
Wow. Same, Joe Goldberg/Gossip Girl, same.
Netflix, thank you for this beautiful gift. If you’re taking requests, please do a “Nobody Wants This” and “The O.C.” crossover next!
