By Rebecca Henely
Mayor Michael Bloomberg visited Silvercup Studios in Long Island City Thursday to celebrate the TV and film industry for its contributions of money and jobs to the city, in particular the hit TV show “Gossip Girl,” which will air its 100th episode Monday.
“This is a show that has captivated viewers across the country,” Bloomberg said.
The mayor declared Thursday to be “‘Gossip Girl’ Day” and presented a proclamation to the executive producers of the show, Stephanie Savage and Josh Safran, as well as its staff and stars: Blake Lively, Penn Badgley, Ed Westwick, Kelly Rutherford, Matthew Settle and Kaylee DeFer.
Savage said it has always been a priority to shoot the show, which follows the lives of young socialites on the Upper East Side and the unknown blogger, Gossip Girl, who writes about them, in the city. New York state offers a 30 percent refundable tax credit for film productions shot within its borders.
“We are honored to shoot in this city,” Savage said. “There is no G.G. without NYC.”
The 100th episode of “Gossip Girl” airs Monday at 8 p.m. on the CW network. The episode will feature the wedding of antiheroine Blair Waldorf to Prince Louis Grimaldi of Monaco.
Reach reporter Rebecca Henely by e-mail at rhenely@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
