LIPGLOSS is NOT the Filipino Gossip Girl
Since the pilot episode of Lipgloss aired on August 16 at TV5, a huge buzz has been going around the internet about it. The show is being compared to the CW hit TV series, Gossip Girl. In my opinion, the show’s plot is similar to that of Gossip Girl, but I refuse to tag Lipgloss as the Philippine’s own version of the show.
I am not trying to bash my country for trying to copy an already established show, all I am saying is that, they could have chosen a different plot and different character references. Just watch the video below and you will see what I mean.
I haven’t seen the pilot episode but I found this YouTube video circulating on the web.
What is up with the super tacky background music? What I find so bad about this show is that Sam Concepcion is there! What?! Apparently, he IS “Gossip Girl”, the moderator of lipgloss.com.ph (which does not exist). Plus, Mikee’s character as reference to that of Chuck Bass’? C’mon! It is funny enough that TV5 dubbed Spongebob Squarepants in Tagalog, but why create a show that is similar to Gossip Girl?
I know some rich kids but they surely don’t talk the way those Lipgloss characters do. “I’M RICH, I’M RICH, I’M REALLY REALLY RICH!”
Helga: And who the heck names their kid Julivee?
Me: Maybe she was conceived after her parents ate at Jollibee?
Oh, and Face of the First School Day? Man, I think I just puked in my mouth. Eww.
According to Saab, who plays Meg in Lipgloss: (click to enlarge)
Okay, so it’s not the Philippine version, but IS inspired by GG. There should be a difference, right? Then how come the plot is TOO similar to that of GG?
- There’s a website.
- The best friend - boyfriend plot.
- The guy who doesn’t want to follow his father’s footsteps.
- The guy who thinks “Money is power” (hey, Chuck Bass?)
- The girl social climber who wants to fit in.
The list can go on, but you get the point, right?
There are so many blogs talking about it and hating it. I am not against any of the actors/actresses of the show, all I am saying is that the writers could always come up with another interesting plot. Where have all the talented writers gone?
The richer, the badder. Doesn’t that line give you the shivers? Pfft.
Well, I can’t wait for the second season of Gossip Girl. September 1 is just around the corner!
Bookmark this entry:
August192008 » Trackback URL
Filed under TV Queen.
Write a Comment
Like this entry? Subscribe to my feeds now!
26 Comments
Ordered from oldest to newest comment.
Sarah
August 19, 2008 @ 10:38 pm
LOL!!! Honestly, I don’t watch Gossip Girl so I have no clue. Or get what the buzz/hype is all about. I watched one episode though… more like bits of it.. that one with Michelle Trechenwhatever, I think she’s supposed to be the sister of one of the girls or something. and something about being a lesbo.. lol…
Sarahs last blog post..Mm Mm YEAH!
Quote
Isadora
August 20, 2008 @ 8:59 am
I can’t help myself. I have to post a comment saying that I couldn’t agree with you more. I myself missed the pilot of Lipgloss but after seeing those YouTube videos and reading what you had to say you’ve definitely helped me come up with an opinion. Everything is too GG and it’s not good (best friend-boyfriend summer hook up? Come on!).
Tama ka, writers should be able to think of fresher ideas cause that’s basically part of their job, right? But I guess we can’t blame them. The real culprits here are (most probably) the bosses. They’re the ones who dictate what is to happen with everything that goes on in their network e. Someone probably thought that since GG is so popular, making a Pinoy TV show based (a little too much) on it would click.
Quote
Olivia Kitty
August 20, 2008 @ 10:09 am
LOL! That is a rather poor imitation, opps I mean interpretation of Gossip Girls.
Quote
Felisa
August 21, 2008 @ 6:13 am
I don’t watch Gossip Girls so I don’t know what I’m comparing them too. All I know is that a lot of them need acting classes 
And I definitely agree with you, there seems to be a shortage of writers with fresh ideas nowadays. It’s sad.
Felisas last blog post..So many choices…
Quote
Rommel
August 24, 2008 @ 2:18 am
Wow. Its kinda interesting. Anyway, the girl playing the “Blair”-ish role is kinda effective ah. Para talagang si Blair. ^_^
Rodjun is kinda okay too. Very Nate. HAHA.
Rommels last blog post..Ninoy Aquino Day
Quote
chloe
August 25, 2008 @ 4:49 pm
I couldn’t get over it as well, sobrang mali talaga na pati GG babuyin nila. Come on, pati ung sa poison ivy episode where B talked about ostroff ginaya din nila. My brother saw that on one of their eps, not that we watch it. lol! who would watch that cheap show? hahaha! Sunugin ang tv5!!
Quote
Erica
August 26, 2008 @ 6:03 pm
From what I read, the Philippine Gossip Girl is not this but the other one directed by Laurice Guillen.
Ericas last blog post..The Good, the Bad and the Funny
Quote
Miss Dré
August 26, 2008 @ 9:33 pm
From what I read, the Philippine Gossip Girl is not this but the other one directed by Laurice Guillen.
Hi Erica,
They are just trying to steer us from not liking the show, Lipgloss. The public who have seen Gossip Girl can see beyond their schemes of diverting our attention to this other show, “Hush Hush”.
Quote
Inez
August 29, 2008 @ 12:53 am
Whether or not this is the Pinoy Gossip Girl is just a small piece of the “Oh Crap this Show Looks Like Crap” pie. Why can’t writers come up with something that doesn’t try too hard to look like a Western copy of something? Maybe have new plots revolving around school kids, but without looking too escapist, or too real either? Maybe hire new writers? Maybe stop thinking that Pinoys want to watch only extreme things, from super luxury to extreme poverty? Maybe there’s a middle where we can all meet and still enjoy TV? Whatever happened to variety?
Quote
brooksane
September 6, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
why dont we just look for the positive side of the show?
pinoy naman sila eh..
so why dont we just support them
im watching it everysat and for me its beautiful..
i dont watch gossip girl so ihave no clue but all i can say i like this show even many doesnt..
san concepcion is great here..
well opinion ko lang naman..
Quote
Inez
September 10, 2008 @ 12:25 am
I don’t think the show’s being Pinoy in origin can justify watching it. Just because a show is Pinoy, I don’t think any Filipino is under any obligation to watch it, let alone patronize it or praise it. I think we’re all entitled to our own opinions on the basis of the show’s quality. If a show is of low quality, I don’t like it, whether it’s from the Philippines, the US, or a remote village in the Andes. This show is trying too hard to look classy - the seams are showing, and it’s disappointing.
Inezs last blog post..Your Own Dip!
Quote
pao
September 10, 2008 @ 10:22 am
it’s not always the writers’ fault talaga kapag ganyan ka-blatant ang panggagaya sa mga US tv series or sitcoms. yung mga nagpopondo ng shows din. they think that more filipinos will watch it kapag ganon. as a viewer, my personal opinion about lipgloss (as well as the myriad of shows that are “based on” US shows) is that it’s a waste of MY time. nobody else has to share my opinion, but that’s how it is for me.
if more filipino viewers would stop patronizing time-wasting shows, then maybe producers won’t put money in them anymore. i agree with inez, just because it’s filipino-made doesn’t mean i’m obligated to appreciate it. this culture of mediocrity isn’t something i feel obligated to uphold, just because i happen to be filipino.
paos last blog post..Protected: Being a Filipino among Filipinos.
Quote
davidplastique
September 10, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
you don’t need to bash the country’s media. It does that itself. this is another way of how the media makes people think that poor people are happier and all rich people are *ssholes and b*tches.
The profiles are the worst sh*T i’ve ever seen!!!! It looks like cheap audition tapes to a reality show. The background music, yes tacky, extremely tacky. The scenes tacky. The story line, unoriginal. But i have to say, the “Blair” girl in the show, actually does kinda look like Blair from the REAL GG. Acting sucks, english sucks, setting sucks. The FACE OF FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL?!? I think i died a little bit inside.
I need to reformat the my computer now after making it go through that!
Quote
whoa
September 10, 2008 @ 8:04 pm
lol, were you the one who left a comment on Saab Magalona’s tumblr listing the similarities?
Helgas last blog post..TV5?S LIPGLOSS: LOCAL SHOWBIZ TRYING TO DO GOSSIP GIRL.
OH my EFFING hell! this is an EPIC FAILURE! gossip girl is just awesome! but THIS lipgloss shit? this is like a show made by a bunch of pathetic rejects from hollywood. no offense, but this is a FAILURE.
here’s what gossip girl would say,
“THEY SAY PEOPLE LOVE COPYING THINGS WHEN THEY LOOK GOOD…BUT SOME JUST DON’T KNOW HOW.”
ugh pls dont make ur image cheap! philippines should lok good but not in this way! it doesn’t even help!
Quote
K. Audrey
September 10, 2008 @ 8:07 pm
As ALWAYS. Philippines has a lot of shows that are copied, like Pinoy Big Brother, the stupid drama with Gerald Anderson and Kim Chiu (was the same plot as the movie “If Only” starring J.L. Hewitt, I also saw a snippet of the Filipino version of “The Lake House”…I’m not surprised at all. Na wa-wala na ang creativity and originality ng mga Pinoy. -______- I doubt anyone is going to watch it…although if there are any viewers, I think that’s just absolutely sad.
It’s also very biased. I mean, not all of us are inconsiderate and ungrateful brats with self-loving and world-loathing attitudes! Gossip Girl is ORIGINAL that’s why it’s a hit. This Lipgloss crap is just a xerox copy.
Quote
whoa
September 10, 2008 @ 8:11 pm
so many people out there are trying to make a good impression about PHILIPPINES since we’re considered WHITE people LOVER who enjoy ***** and money from Foreigners..and another shit show like this adds to that. wow
im sad..really sad. Philippines does not deserve this.
Quote
whoa
September 10, 2008 @ 8:42 pm
its a BIG TIME SHAME!
not only is it considered cheap, but also degrading.
imagine what would US think of philippines
Quote
pao
September 11, 2008 @ 9:40 pm
so many people out there are trying to make a good impression about PHILIPPINES since we’re considered WHITE people LOVER who enjoy ***** and money from Foreigners..and another shit show like this adds to that. wow
im sad..really sad. Philippines does not deserve this.
“white people lover” is sad but true, for most filipinos. i think that the trend of copying shows says a lot about our culture. 
Quote
july
September 13, 2008 @ 10:46 pm
i think this is really a ripoff but it’s good to know that we can come up with shows like this. the summer scene was shot at alabang! i just wished they picked a more realistic venue. i haven’t seen any ep though, but this is really somehow pathetic.
Quote
diana
October 2, 2008 @ 11:27 pm
i haven’t seen GG so i rily can’t offer much comment about the issue
Quote
scart
October 3, 2008 @ 1:33 am
pano uso kasi ngayon sa pinas ang remake ng mga established shows ng ibang bansa. mukang cool sya pero para sa mga bagong kabataan lang hehehehe
scarts last blog post..Power of the internet…
Quote
Lipgloss Fan!
October 17, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
Yung mga comments dito medyo di na updated, kasi paganda na ng paganda ang story ng Lipgloss, naka break away na sila sa shadow ng GG no. Very Pinoy ang story. I heard there will be an EXPLOSIVE REVELATIONS pa nga this Saturday eh.
Let’s continue watching Lipgloss @TV5 @5pm.
Quote
grapes
October 27, 2008 @ 6:32 pm
*hi im grapes # 1 fan ninyo…lalo nac kyle crush qo xa..love u all
Quote
glitter
October 28, 2008 @ 9:15 pm
im lovin lipgloss na. omg. its better than gossip girl.xoxo lol.
Quote
Helga
August 19, 2008 @ 8:23 pm
lol, were you the one who left a comment on Saab Magalona’s tumblr listing the similarities?
Helgas last blog post..TV5?S LIPGLOSS: LOCAL SHOWBIZ TRYING TO DO GOSSIP GIRL.
Quote