Kristen Bell famously voiced the omnipresent narrator ofGossip Girl, and it’s a funny story about how she got the job. In the early partof Kristen Bell’s career, she appeared in three TV shows in quick succession that quickly rocketed her to mainstream fame:Veronica Mars,Heroes, and then,Gossip Girl. Despite never appearing in the series,Bell’s voice opened and closed every episode of the show with her narration, detailing all the scandalous events going on in the privileged lives of Manhattan’s upper-class teens, as the titular “Gossip Girl”.
Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Kelly Rutherford, and Penn Badgley all star in front of the camera as rich New York high schoolers whose lives are documented and gossiped about by Gossip Girl, who delights in telling fans of her blog about all the happenings there. It’s an interesting conceit that gives the audience an eagle-eye view of the show, allowing them to swoop in and out of stories while also offering a sense of detachment that makes all the seemingly serious events between characters feel a bit more tongue-in-cheek, helped along by Bell’s excited, snarky delivery.
Bell’s Show, Veronica Mars, Was Recently Canceled By The Network
How exactly Kristen Bell got this admittedly odd role is a funny story. When it was announced thatGossip Girlwas having auditions, Bell immediately thought about reading for the series. However, while most of thecast ofGossip Girlwere older than their characters, Bell decided that she was just a bit too old (viaYouTube). Bell called the head of The CW and asked, “Hey, remember yesterday when you canceled my show? Could I be the narrator on this other show?” That “other show” she’s referring to isVeronica Mars, which was canceled in 2007.
Obviously, Bell is being tongue-in-cheek here. “There was enough goodwill,” she said, and her call led to the head of The CW pitching the idea toGossip Girlcreators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, who agreed to it. It was the only job Bell can remember that she never received a note for. She just went into the voiceover booth, did her lines, and left until next time. Bell said she went into the booth for the pilot and decided that she was going to make it, “snarky and sassy and sexy”, and never changed her style.
Bell Didn’t Know Where Gossip Girl Was Filmed Because She Never Shot Any Scenes With The Cast
Kristen Bell Did All Her Voicework In Los Angeles
Because she only did voiceover work in Los Angeles,Kristen Bell never shot any scenes with the cast, meaning she had little clue about what an episode would look like until she saw it air on TV with everyone else. In fact, Bell did not even know where some episodes were filmed. She asked Adam Brody in an interview they were doing for their new show,Nobody Wants This, “I don’t even know where they shot- where did they shoot that show [Gossip Girl]?” (viaTikTok).
Brody jokingly responds, “Montreal”, and Bell is none the wiser, happy to go along with that. Brody then laughs and tells her it was New York, which figures, considering the show is set in New York City. It’s a funny part of TV creation that members of the crew may never end up meeting one another. Not everybody has a scene with everybody, andif someone doesn’t need to be on set, there’s no good reason to waste the money. That does result in someone like Bell not having the closest relationship with the actual making of the show, however.
Gossip Girl Star Leighton Meester Will Appear Opposite Bell In Nobody Wants This Season 2
Meester Will Play An Old Rival Of Joanne’s
The reason for that interview with Adam Brody and Kristen Bell is that they’re on a media tour forNobody Wants Thisseason 2, which is set to release in October 2025. The series follows the surprising relationship between an agnostic sex and relationship podcaster, Joanne (Bell), and a Jewish rabbi, Noah (Brody). Season 1 ended with Noah deciding he would put Joanne first above his duties as a rabbit.Season 2 is sure to see how these two will balance this recommitment to their lovefor one another.
Interestingly enough,Leighton Meester, who played Blair Waldorf inGossip Girl, will appear in the main cast ofNobody Wants Thisseason 2 as Abby, Joanne’s enemy from middle school, who is now a successful influencer and still has an axe to grind against Joanne. Beyond being a welcome addition to the cast, it will be fun to see the twoGossip Girlalums share the screen, considering they never did so inGossip Girl.
Gossip Girl
Cast
Set among Manhattan’s elite, this drama series follows wealthy teenagers whose scandalous lives are exposed by an anonymous blogger. The show delves into themes of betrayal, ambition, and the complexities of high-society friendships, as the characters navigate interpersonal conflicts and personal aspirations.
