'NYC Prep' vs. 'Gossip Girl'

Last night marked the premiere episode of Bravo's 'NYC Prep,' as 'Gossip Girl' herself might say, it's the cable network's "one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite."

Fitting, since the new reality series is drawing comparisons to the CW teen drama. But how do 'NYC Prep' and 'Gossip Girl' match up? Read our take, then decide for yourselves. -- By Andy Scott


Chuck Bass vs. PC
As far as TV bad boys go, 'Gossip Girl''s Chuck Bass takes the cake. But he's grown a bit soft since hooking up with Blair. Compared to PC's politically incorrect trash-talking, Chuck looks -- dare we say it -- innocent. Still, Chuck wins this fight. The reason: He's Chuck Bass. WINNER: 'Gossip Girl.'






Blair vs. Jessie
Jessie's tough, no-nonsense attitude on 'NYC Prep' is fit for a queen bee. Plus: She has a history with best friend PC, which is enough to put the fear in all of us. But no matter how many evil levels Blair may stoop to on 'Gossip Girl,' we'll gladly admit we still want to be her best friend. Even worse, Jessie openly admits to hating her CW rival, and she's yet to find a sidekick as hilarious and awesome as Blair's maid, Dorota. WINNER: 'Gossip Girl.'

Parents vs. Kids
The parents on 'Gossip Girl' play a big role on the show. They keep it grounded, while giving viewers outside the target tween audience something to latch onto. However, the idea of precocious teenagers running wild in Manhattan is almost too good to resist. Case in point: Kelli. On 'NYC Prep,' she shares an apartment with her brother while her parents are off in the Hamptons, giving her plenty of chances to go out and have fun -- even when she's grounded. If she keeps up the drama, we won't tattle. WINNER: 'NYC Prep.'



Taylor vs. Taylor Momsen
Taylor is 'NYC Prep''s public school constituent, so we automatically sympathize with her as she tries to climb the private school social latter. But until she starts cutting class, breaking into high end clothing stores and running away from home, we'll stick with 'Gossip Girl''s Little J. WINNER: 'Gossip Girl.'

Old Flames vs. New Love
We love Chuck and Blair together. But in just two seasons, almost every character on 'Gossip Girl' has hooked up with each other -- even Chuck and Vanessa -- so we're ready for something new. So far, the 'Prep' kids are on the prowl -- like PC, who snagged Kelli's "information," and Sebastian, who claims to "hook up with maybe two, three girls in a night, maybe more." Quotes like that are enough to excuse his hair flipping. For now. WINNER: 'NYC Prep.'

Scripted vs. Unscripted Drama
The kids on 'NYC Prep' are in control of their own storylines, and based on the season preview, we should be in store for a ton of watercooler moments. But can the show really cram together as many zany and outrageous moments as 'Gossip Girl' in only a handful of episodes? We'll believe it when we see it. WINNER: TBD.


Final verdict: 'Gossip Girl' has the better drama, characters and OMFG moments. But 'NYC Prep' still has time to build on its momentum, so we're willing to give it another chance. What's summer without gossip, anyway?