Tv Show Mad Libs

I love reading the recaps from Gossip Girl on various websites the Tuesday after a new episode airs. Websites tend to have smart, snarky and hilarious people write them up to the point where I sometimes feel I’m watching the episode just to supplement the recaps and not the other way around.

Last night (and every Monday until April 18^th) there was no new episode. As I sat here thinking about how sad I was to have to wait and see what’s gonna happen between Dan and Blair (I dare to Dair). I realized something: Gossip Girl is basically an episode of Law and Order: SVU just in a different context.  And really, the framework of any serialized television show is the same.

Plot Point	Law and Order: SVU	Gossip Girl	Template for other shows
Event of the Week	Crime	Party/Gala/Charity Fundraiser	Something exciting! Ex. spy mission, law case, family dinner
Sexual Tension of the week	Olivia and Elliot	Nate and Dan	Attractive person and another attractive person
Crazy Supporting Characters	Ice-T (I don’t even know his name on the show)	Eric, Vanessa’s outfits	Someone with giant hair or someone who is socially awkward
Guest Stars	d-list comediennes, ex Lost cast members, John Stamos	David Cassidy’s daughter, one of the Winklevoss twins, One Life to Live Alumni	Real Housewives of some town, old 80’s/early 90’s tv show stars, Scott Baio

Add some snappy dialogue + identifying details (ex. Gossip Girl uses headbands and low cut or high slitted dresses for Serena to wear) and you have a hit tv show! This framework fits with so many tv shows!  I only wish I could get a PhD in television.