Gossip Girl Author Loves the Show, Hates Vanessa

[Brian Damage]

Adaptations from page to screen can be bumpy, but Gossip Girl author Cecily von Ziegesar says overall Josh Schwartz and his crew have been spot-on.

“I’m a very faithful watcher… Generally I’m entertained and I think it’s great,” she tells MTV.com. Von Ziegesar does have one bone to pick with the producers: their depiction of the TV version of Vanessa, played by Jessica Szohr.

“I think Vanessa is one character they ruined,” she says. “In the book, she’s kick-ass and has a shaved head and wears lots of black. I think a lot of the readers who don’t usually read teen fiction identify with Vanessa,” In the show, Vanessa has more of a bohemian hipster look.

The author clarifies that it has nothing to do with Szohr, adding: “I just wish Vanessa was like she is in the books a bit more.”

She may disapprove of Dan Humprey’s bff, but von Ziegesar gives the rest of the characters a thumbs up, admitting she loves bad boy Chuck Bass.

“Leighton Meester is totally perfect for Blair, and Blake [Lively] is perfect for Serena. I was more worried they would insert Barbie-doll-looking people, which they didn’t,” says von Ziegesar. “I think the actors do a brilliant job. Chuck is my favorite character, and the way he looks and acts is in keeping with how he is in the beginning of the series.” –Christina Tapper

http://tvwatch.people.com/2008/10/16...hates-vanessa/