S2E19 The Grandfather with Aaron Tveit

Broadway star Aaron Tveit joins Jessica to talk about playing “nice guy” Tripp van der Bilt on Gossip Girl. They walk us through a big episode for Tripp and Nate, “The Grandfather,” dishing about Tripp’s original name, Blair’s downward spiral, and van der Bilt family dynamics.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm Aaron tave I played Tripp Vanderbilt on Gossip Girl,
and we're rewatching The Grandfather. Welcome back, listeners to your
one and only source into all things gossip crul. You

(00:23):
know you'll love it. XO x O. Hello, and welcome
back to XO XO. I'm your host, jessicas Or. For
today's episode, we're rewatching season two, episode nineteen, The Grandfather.
This is a really great one. After losing Yale, Blair
self destructs and shows a side of her that we

(00:43):
have never seen before. But most of all, there's a
lot about Nate in this episode. He wrestles with this
feelings for Vanessa and Blair, reunites with this family, and
faces all of these crazy pressures that comes along with
being a Vanderbilt. And guess what Today, an on screen
Vanderbilt is joining me for his first ever episode of

(01:06):
Gossip Girl, Aaron Tivate. Aaron plays the Golden Boy Trip.
We'll dive into his relationship with Nate, his wife, and family.
Aaron's also just a star anyway you slice it Broadway TV.
Everyone loves working with him. His talent is just beyond
I'm just super pumped to have him here today, So
let's just jump right in. Aaron Tibate, Hi, how's it going.

(01:48):
This is so funny, isn't it. It's amazing Yet, just
like podcasts everywhere, I didn't even like I listened to
podcast but before doing this, it was just not as
aware of like how many people are doing them, how
many there are. There's literally it's like an app, like
there's just a podcast for everything. Like there's absolutely everything
doing it. It's been fun because I'm it's literally like

(02:10):
a walk down memory lane, and I never saw a
lot of the show, so it's just like bringing me
back and like also seeing everyone's like what they did
with their scenes because you read the script and you
did your storyline and went about your you know, your
day or your weak or whatever. So it's been fun,
but it's also like great to like see you. It's
like connecting me again with people I haven't seen in years.
I'm trying to think. I don't think i've seen you.

(02:32):
The last time is probably in l A. I can't
even remember how long that was. It's been years. It's crazy.
I was just with Ed and Chuck Chuck. Ed just
watched the episodes of the character Um Nate, Susanna, Aaron,
it was it's nuts. But everyone sends their love and yeah,

(02:56):
we had a little like thing in South Carolina. How
I mean, you are just your in it. Life's good.
Life is good. Yeah, everything's good, busy. I just finished
uh something, and now I like have time off and
kind of no plan for what's next for the first
time in a long time. And I'm actually very that's awesome.
That's that's good. Yeah, it's good. But how about you.
Congrats and the baby and everything in a mom the

(03:21):
craziest thing and the best. But yeah, it's it's awesome.
I definitely I got pregnant in the beginning of the pandemic,
not planned. It was a surprise and the best surprise
that ever happened. But um yeah, So now I'm just
like in that mom mode and you know, doing this
and kind of back and forth between l A and Arizona.

(03:41):
But yeah, and are you in New York right now? Yeah?
Still in New York. I mean, you know, I go
out there when I need to, but I'm here. I've
been here. I've been working in Vancouver a little bit
as people. Yeah, now I'm back here and just ready
for falling New York, which is the best time, So
which is the best time? Yeah, And you know, like
you always kind of Sebastian was that way too, and Phil,
like everyone you guys were always kind of just based

(04:02):
there and you popped wherever to work and then back,
which I think it's like the best way to have it.
That's nice. It's like, you know, I don't know if
you remember that, Like I'm from New York, like just
part of the city, So it's for me, it's always
been you know, it's not it's like my my life
is here too, Like I'm not just here to work,
like all my friends are here, my family's close. So
that's always been a very I've always felt that. That's

(04:23):
like I been a saving grace for me, is that
I've been very connected to that part of my life too,
like while being here. So it's been. Yeah, it's a
nice It's like always been like a really nice balance
for sure, because sometimes, like I wish I had that
when I was in l A, Like when I first
moved and left my family and friends, that was a
very hard things. Also, l A can be very isolating,

(04:44):
and then you're in this career or you know, industry
where it's like very hard to like figure out Okay,
yeah this job is coming or these hundred aren't coming?
And where are my friends? And where's my family? So
that is I wish I had I was really four,
and that I got got to kind of weather that
with people that I knew, you know, really close. So

(05:05):
I was looking, you know now like with some distance
looking back, it's like, oh, yeah, that was a really
lucky thing that I had, and I'm really great. Yeah, yeah,
that's awesome. Well, speaking of that, let's I'm sure everyone
listening knows this is Aaron Tobate and he played Trip Vanderbilt.
So we'll get into the rewatching a minute, but can
you tell us like how you got into acting and

(05:25):
like where you studied and and all that, because it's
your Your whole career and path is like very fascinating
and beautiful. And for those of you that have only
seen him on Gossip Girl, because this is a rewatch
of Gossip Girl podcast, let's like learn a little bit
more about you because you have a lot more than
than this role. Yeah, and um, you know, oh man,

(05:47):
how don't even start. I like grew up, not really,
I mean, I like did the school play every year
in high school. But I was like, not like a
theater kid or anything. I mean I say that when
people rolled our eyes because they're like, well, it must
be nice, but uh no, I just I went to school.
I went to school to I went to Ithaca College
to study music. I was. I was a voice major.
They have a great music school there, and kind of

(06:09):
the year that I spent away from acting, I was like, oh,
I really I really missed that. I wasn't happy being
a voice major. Had some friends that were studying study
acting there. They kind of said, why don't you try that?
And I said, Okay, I'll try it because like where
I grew up, I didn't know anybody that was an
actor at it, Like none of my no, one of
my family is an artist. Um a performing artist, I
should say. I just didn't know that was something you

(06:31):
could do, So I didn't, you know, I didn't pursue it.
And then and then I switched to acting my sophomore
year of college. And then I got cast in the
national tour of Rents halfway through my junior year. So
I was only studying acting in college for three semesters.
And then I got a job and that, which is awesome.
So you're like, maybe this is the right, this is
my right. Yeah, But to what you're saying, like about

(06:53):
when you're in something where your family's not in it,
and it's not like something that's like a ton of
your friends are doing or like a regular thing, it's
a kind of wild thing. Like when you say something
to someone like yeah, I'm gonna go, people are like,
what what do you mean? Can you even make money?
Where do you what do you do about that? So
that's like doubt that you were like, I'm going to
do this, and I think to like, you know, we're
we're a little bit older than maybe the kids today,

(07:14):
so you know, back then it was like you go
to college, you finished college, you get a job, right
like it was. It was a little more formal than
I think it might be now, you know, for better
or worse. So it just was never on my mind
that I could do this. And then yeah, and then
I started working and then I was like, oh, I'm
in I'm absolutely in love with this. Also, like that
show in particular, I had just I just seen that

(07:36):
show on Broadway maybe to two years before that, and
was like that kind of also seeing that show kind
of blew my mind because it was like, oh, this
is like music that I would listen to, but in
a musical for that. So yeah, So once I kind
of found it, I just poured everything I had into
it and then it kind of went from there. I
got I got really lucky a couple you know, really
good breaks when I was young, and then I tried
to kind of work as hard as I could to

(07:57):
keep it going once I got to New York, and
somehow I did, so it was good. Yeah, So that's
kind of how I got into that. And then actually
gossip Girl though, was one of the first television jobs
I had. So I moved to New York in two
thousand the end of two thousand five two thousand six,
I've been doing hair Sprang tour. I came here to
do hair Spur on Broadway and then you were in

(08:18):
Next to Normal at the time, aren't you. I was, yeah,
So I come on, I watched you know, I watched
the episode yesterday. I was like, Okay, when did I
When did we shoot this? So I figured it out.
So I had auditioned for I think I don't remember
exactly which part, but I had auditioned for something in
the first season I didn't get, and then I was
doing Next to Normal in Washington, d C. Kind of

(08:41):
the pre Broadway version, and I got, you know, I
got an audition for Trip for actually actually thinking. In
the audition it was Skip not Trip, which was yeah, Okay,
I'm Trip. I'm into trips. Skips gotta go. Trip is good,
but that was also yeah. So I made a tape
while I was down there, and then I came back

(09:02):
to New York and I was still doing Wicked. When
I came back to New York, shot these two episodes
of season two. Then I did the bunch of episodes
I did during season three where a while I was
shooting Next to Normal. So during that time that fall
because I did five or six in a row in
season three and that was like shooting the show, going

(09:22):
to Next to Normal at night or if the shooting
day went too long. Somehow I had it worked out
where I didn't have to go to Next to Normal,
so it was just like, you know, there, I I
remember telling people at the time, there was like a
six week stretch where I basically didn't have a day
off because you know, Next to Normal. We had two
show Saturday and two shows on Sunday. But I was
I was basically in a New Broadway show that was
a big hit, and I was on this amazing television

(09:44):
show that I had loved and watched that was so
New York centric at the time. Like the show had
it really had its finger on, you know, kind of
what was going on in New York. And I mean
even the music. I mean, watching that episode back, I
forgot that MG and songs, Oh my god, it was.
It brought back like all the fields that reminds me
of New York. It reminds me of Gossip Girl. Oh

(10:06):
my god, you're so right. I also think another episode,
I think that you know, we're I know we're not
doing all of them, but also I think Bad Romance
premiered on an episode Lady Gaga song the next season
and she came on, came on, and you know what's crazy,
I knew you were. I couldn't remember how many episodes
you did, but I'm like, I know he's in season three,

(10:28):
and then I know there was some sort of arc,
but I couldn't remember. It's just been so long. But
I remember too that like the producers and Chase and
I would talk about like everyone was just so pumped
to have you. It was just like crazy that you
had you were doing that play coming to set, like
because a lot of times even if you try to
do that and try to map out you could, they

(10:49):
would be like you take one or the other, either
do the player to the show because it's just not
so that's awesome. It was a weird thing I think
with my with the contract on Broadway. It was like
I already had it in my contract because I had
done those two episodes in season two. So then when
I went back, I had something. You know, I think
the Broadway producers didn't expect. They thought it was gonna
be like that was it, and they were like, yeah,

(11:09):
you can keep it in your contract. Well, then it
turned out that you know, the show wanted me for
you know, then the show wanted to do Broadway, want
to do the audience, the fans, and everyone's like we
need It worked out very very well for for me
in that way. But yeah, it was. It was really cool,
and it was you know, kind of instantly you all
embraced I I felt, and I you know, everyone on

(11:30):
the show and you all specifically like embraced me so quickly,
and you know, Chase and I became really good friends.
And I remember that, you know, the scene watching the thing,
that that first scene on the street, that was my
first scene I shot. And I think after that I
went and got barbecue with pen and Chase and I
remember like we went out and got food after after
we got back late, and it's just like that, you know,

(11:51):
that doesn't happen all the time. So I just felt
so kind of welcomed and embraced by everyone, and it
was just a really really fun thing. And it was like, yeah,
I was like, oh, I'm fine, A way to my
trailer for three hours. I don't care. I didn't have
that whatever, nothing else going on, no place, no nothing,

(12:12):
that's funny. It was so fun. And that's what watching
the episode yesterday, I was like, oh wow, right, I
was like I had no idea what I was doing,
but it was like it was just fun. It was
so fun. It was fun. And I also feel like
you brought a real like you were super professional. You
were a great actor, you know, because sometimes you don't
know on on certain shows, they you get a guest star,

(12:34):
they come on, they freak out they're not really sure
that you know, and not that they're not good. Sometimes
it's just the situation you you put people, and I
I it's for me sometimes I'm like, oh my god,
this is very like nerve wracking. But you came on
with a real confidence and calmness and really like we're great,
and you were also just cool you weren't it It felt.
I don't know if you remember me telling you this.

(12:55):
I'm like, you just don't seem like this like actor reactor,
who's going to do a plan coming here? You just
had a know like not that there's anything wrong with
being actory. I don't even know what that means. You
get what I'm saying, No, but you just had a yeah,
which I really always liked. And I always remember that
about you because I expected, maybe because yeah, someone who

(13:15):
was just like taking their plane reading it in between scenes,
which you might have been in your trailer, which is
also fine. I just just liked your like coolness and calmness.
Thank you. It was it was just it was like
I said, it was a dream. I mean I remember
telling people the time, they're like, wait, you're on this
You're on this hit television show and on the hit
show on stage at the same time, and I was like, yeah,
I don't really know what's going on, so I'm just

(13:36):
gonna enjoy every second of it. And it was. It
was awesome. It was really really that's awesome. And then
we'll just real quick, one more question about theater and
then we'll get into the rewatch. But how were you
when you found out about your your Tony Tony nomination
and then let's talk about the win. Yeah, I mean, well, again, amazing, incredible,

(13:56):
But all of that was, you know, it kind of
happened during the endemic to write like you know, Mulan
Rouge was we were nine months into the run when
the shutdown happened. The show was a huge hit, and
we've been working on it for I've been working on
it for almost three years already at that point, with
with development everything, and so you know, that was in March,

(14:18):
and then we found out we didn't know what was
gonna happen with the awards, and also like set to
that backdrop, awards also seemed kind of like so trivial,
does this even matter? You know, there was all these
questions and then ultimately that they decided to go ahead
with them. And uh, I think it was October. Yeah,
October the nominations came out. I was in I was
in Vancouver working on something else, and again like I,

(14:41):
you know, it's my first domination and so I was
so blown away excited. And it was also strange because
I was the only nominee in my category, which had
never happened before, so that was kind of a weird thing.
But then I just said, you know what, I'm not
letting anything take away from this. And and then of
course it took I think it was the law. Like

(15:02):
the Tonys then weren't until the following September. Usually the
nominations are in May. They happened a month later. It's
like boom boom done. So we all our nominations came
out in October, of the awards weren't until September of one,
but again almost almost a year. Yeah, and what actually
the Tonys were. We reopened brought Brulanus reopened on September

(15:26):
and the Tonys were September. So it was kind of
a saving grace though, because we went back into rehearsal.
All I was doing was being focused on the show reopening.
And then so the Townies are like, oh, they're happening,
so kind of got me on my and the It
was nerve wracking because even in the theater for the show,
there was a chance that I was not going to win,

(15:46):
so I had no idea. So that was like it
was a big it was a it was a wonderful
moment and tremendously grateful, but it was also like a
big relief because it was a lot of stress and all,
oh my gosh, well that's again so amazing and so awesome,
and I don't like having that feeling as an actor.
It's like I'm sure you you go and do your
performance and you're just doing the best that you can

(16:08):
do to bring this character to life. It's not like
you're like, I'm gonna do this because I know this
is going to get me a nomination or or win,
because that's just not how it works. So absolutely, and
I've never been you know, I just I really love
doing this facet So it was it's only like the
biggest cherry on top of all that, right, Like I
I only wanted to find like a career as an actor,

(16:31):
and the fact that I've been able to somehow continue
to work and continue to work in all these different areas.
That's all I ever wanted. So that kind of recognition
is just it just it made me feel seen by
my peers in the theater community. I think that's the
best way I can describe it, Like I really felt seen,
and that's it was such a big That was like
the biggest part of the gift of it to me

(16:52):
is that it was just like one moment they said
we see you. That was kind of what I love that.
It's really nice. You're like, yeah, it felt real good. Okay,

(17:14):
so let's get into this rewatch. So we are rewatching
The Grandfather season two, episode nineteen. The episode title is
based on the movie The Godfather starring Marlon Brando, al
Pacino and James con Okay, so this is where we
left off. The seniors at Constants put on a chaotic
class play, leading to heartbreak. By the finale, Nate bared

(17:37):
his soul on stage, Blair hit rock bottom, and Dan
discovered that miss Carr was the one sabotaging Blair. All right,
and let's let's get into the episode. So here's the
episode logline. Devastated by the recent plot twists in her life,
Blair turns her back on her prestigious way of life
in favor of a more wild and unpredictable lifestyle, causing

(17:58):
Serena and Chuck to have a serious concern for their friend.
Vanessa convinced his Nate that it may be time to
forgive and forget when it comes to his mother's family,
who abandoned Nate after his father's scandal. In a misguided
effort to be completely honest with each other, Lillian Rufus
agree to share lists of their past lovers peak. All right,
let's get into it. It starts off with Vanessa and

(18:22):
Dan just walking on the Upper east Side. It's snowing.
It definitely wasn't really snowing, right, it could see really,
I don't know if it was or if it was
like there was snow on the ground. So they had
to pivot and add something in, right, because even in
the voice over in the beginning it says like spring
on the Upper east Side, there's like a little joke

(18:43):
about it like still being cold. So I feel like
they probably ran into something where it wasn't supposed to
be snowing, but we just had to make it work.
They had to do something. Yeah, that's kind of what
I had the same thought when I was watching it. Actually, yeah,
because I feel like sometimes you have to they'll stop
filming something because if it's not gonna match on the turnaround,
then we're screwed for the whole half of the day.

(19:05):
But then they really only used one way, like one
one shot to you and and Chase and one shot
to Dan and I. Anyways, it's yes, someone's like, we're
on a budget, we got the time hard out. Um, okay,
So they're walking and this is the your first scene
and the first time we meet Trip, which I do
remember that because a lot of times too, you don't

(19:27):
do your first scene the first day. No, you're like
doing the last scene kissing someone before you even know
their name. You're like, wait, we just met one minute ago,
and now okay, so you're we meet Trip. And what
I love about what I'm finding and watching doing these
rewatches is there is so much that goes on in
one episode, Like someone dies, there's like a love child,

(19:51):
you come back obviously, so now I'm like, oh, ship,
we're meeting a Vanderbilt. Like, now there's gonna be so
many more jaw dropping bombs that are going to happen soon.
And yeah, I just remember to like Trip, like walking
to the Maserati, and I'm like, I love a Maserati
because they're like classy and chic but yet kind of
flashy without being too loud. And I for some reason,

(20:13):
when I was thinking about that watching it, I'm like,
that's kind of what Trip is. Like he's very discreet,
but there's a lat going on there, like there is
a competition with Nate. He is this political guy, but
like is it for the right reasons? But yeah, he's
like super calm and chill, do you know what I mean.
I'm like, he's kind of like a Maserati. Yeah, I
remember that car being parked on the street and I
was like, oh, this is I was like, this is mine?

(20:35):
Remember actually do remember? Okay, But all that kind of
informs everything you're talking about too, right, Like Like I
think like that day I was trying like not to
look down the lens. Right, it was like one of
my first days. I've only been on a set like
a couple of days before that, so I was like,
I feel like I kept spiking the lens like doing
that thing. So I was just trying to get through
that scene that was watching me and and I was like,
I was, actually, you know, it's so cringe e right,

(20:57):
like you're you're watching yourself, especially from like fourteen years ago.
But then I was like, Okay, got through it. Good job,
you got through the scene and you were great. But
it is to it's like you're hitting marks. It's like
fake snowing, snowing the lens, is there, the cars there there?
I mean, there's a lot going on, and you're it's new,
like it's a new character and trying to create like
some kind of history dynamic with Chase when you we've

(21:20):
never met, Like it's like the same thing, like you're
trying to kind of tell all that story with not
a lot of runways. So but another thing kind of
this is overall the episode I remember people. First of all,
I have to say, all the work that I've done,
Gossip Girl is the thing that I can be anywhere
on the planet and someone will say, oh my god,

(21:41):
you're that guy from Gossip Girl, right, which is crazy
to me, but it makes sense because especially like in
the last few years when it all was on Netflix
and there's like a whole new generation watching it and
all that. But the thing that people always still say
to me is like, man, you played like a real prick,
like you were announce and I like, I think the
beginning I was like, no, I'm not like we're talking about.

(22:02):
And then watching that back yesterday, especially our scene which
I'm sure we'll get to um we have at the bar,
I was like, wow, I was really I really went
full full prick on everyone, like really went there. Yeah
you did. But again, the way it was I don't
remember how it was written, but the way you played
is kind of that like slick where you're like, now
watching it, I'm like, oh, he was definitely trying to

(22:23):
tell me that he knew I didn't know that, but
in the scene playing that, I remember you, Oh he
told you about our trip. Oh no, it's this. It's
just like even the way you kind of like bounce stuff,
I'm like, wow, he's got like this like sneaky swagger
a little bit, but it's also like coming from like
it's kind of a shitty place. Also like those like
you know, this job, A couple of other things that
I did after this, like my first like four or

(22:44):
five television jobs. It was playing these kind of guys
like and I don't know what this says about me,
it's like a guy that looks like he's a nice guy,
but it's like a complete not a nice guy, right,
It's like it's like tricking everyone. Like they were to
like say like, oh, he's gonna be a nice guy,
and it's like, oh no, no, he's actual not he's
actually a terrible guy. He's actually terribly But you know what,
you're the You're not that at all. That's how good

(23:06):
of an actor you are, obviously, but it's also funny,
like Sebastian with Carter, he's like this slide, always has
something up this sleeve, super like nasty and like he
couldn't be like more sweet and humbling obviously too, it's
his acting, but that character when he came on screen,
I was like, all right, I forgot, like how slimy
he was too, which is life. Yeah, But it's almost

(23:29):
like they had to have some of those to play around,
you know, Chase and pen or Dan and Nate, just
because they were like kind of grounded in the sense
of always trying to do the right thing. I mean,
it's wild the way they what they've all done in
one in season two, and I'm like I cannot believe
what all goes on? Um okay. So then we get

(23:50):
to Chuck comes by Blairs again and he's bringing her
a gift because he found out that she is not
getting into Yale and he is just shocked, speaking of
Carter Basin when he comes to the bedroom half undressed,
and such a scandalous scene. That scene is so scandalous,
like yes, and isn't Blair just like in Lingerie? Yeah,

(24:10):
it Chucks like, hey, well you shouldn't be parting alone
and she's like I'm not and it's like walks out.
I was like, whoa, I didn't even remember this, you
know what I mean. Also, some of these one liners,
like Sebastian says something like what are you the good cop?
And bass cop? Like I was dying and I'm not

(24:34):
going to play Where's Waldorf all day? Chuck says or
something I was like dying because it's really good. Um okay.
Then we have like the parents situation, which I don't
remember that I cared this much about these storylines when
I was reading the scripts, not that I did in
it was just like, Okay, this is Lily's with Rufus
now and she was with Bart now She's with Rufus again.

(24:56):
But now watching it back, I really love I always
knew that. I loved how Kelly played Lily, her layers
of like trying to keep it together as a mom
and fight her love with Rufus and make it work
with Bart and be a step mom to Chuck. She
really liked the colors that she added to Lily and
brought out. It was really like beautiful to me. But
this situation with Rufus and Lily when she wants when

(25:17):
they want to make a list of their lovers, I'm like,
this is just a bad idea anyway you slice it.
Oh yeah, that's like it's never gonna go well, which
is so fun. But it's also really well written though,
because then that whole scene with Blake, you know, were
Serena's when that's like, mom, you can't tell him stuff.
My daughter telling their mother that, like you can't show
him that you like that slashes on your sheet, right,

(25:38):
It's like, you know, I agree, like their relationship is
really grounded. And you know, I haven't I hadn't watched
that episode probably since it came out either, and so
to kind of watch that. First of all, the show
is great, you know, what I mean. That's the other thing.
Watching it back, it's like, Wow, this show was so
kind of pitch perfect for the time and it holds
up really well. But yeah, I know that their relationship

(26:00):
it's really grounded, and it's really interesting, I think with
what you're saying to like, there are these two parents
that are trying to hold all this stuff together, but
at the same time, you know, are really having this
this great story between them. It's really it was good
and you always are kind of like like rufus that
you kind of do with Dan, he's always just trying

(26:20):
to do the right thing and make it work, and
he's like, well, you didn't want to say it, so
let's not talk about it. You know. He's always like
trying to find like the piece in everything, which I
like and so is Dan. But then we say this
almost every episode because it's wild Dan does that. But
then he's also so nuts because he ends up being
gossip Girl. So he's actually like exact opposite at all times,

(26:41):
right exactly. I'm like, wow, he's doing the right thing,
but he just literally threw everyone under the bus in
the same moment. Now, something is that something that was
obviously it was a bomb for all of you too,
write like y'all have know who that was going to be.
It could have been anyone, right, yeah, And we didn't
find out until like the last episode, like that week

(27:02):
or whatever it was. And I don't know. I can't
I asked Josh and Stephanie this once, and I can't
remember if they knew all along. I feel like they did,
and but I feel like watching some now or when
I would read the script and like it's definitely going
to be this person, or I'll watch something, I'm like,
maybe it's this, you know. But I think that they
kind of knew because he was a writer and because

(27:22):
he was kind of an outsider, like it made sense
once once they kind of said it, but yeah, throughout
we didn't know, which is yeah, yeah, I see what
you mean, because yeah, he is he is kind of
about even when he and you know, this is also
the way I think the pen went about it, which
is wonderful, is even when he kind of finally got
in with everyone, he was still kind of outside of

(27:43):
it all right, with that distant like observer thing. So
it does, you know, it makes it doesn't make a
lot of sense to when you think about it that way. Yeah,
even like this scene when we come to where the
reunion is for the Vanderbilts is like next little scene,
not little, he would just where the whole episode takes place.
But when we're walking with Nate and your grandfather and
all of Dan's little one liners, I'm like, oh, maybe

(28:08):
I can, maybe I do realize what this is. Like
it was just cracking me up because I do remember
Penn being like am I just saying one liners after
everyone's big paragraphs, like what's going on? Where did we
film that? Though? That out I couldn't remember. It's out
in um Old Westbury, Long Island. Okay, it's like a
big est state and it's it's actually it's the house

(28:30):
from American Gangster. I know it is. Yeah, it's like
we're it's like Amanda Sante who plays like the mafia
guy in American Gangster. That's his house. Like there's a
scene with Denzel and him on that back kind of
where you and Marine are having a scene game. There's
a scene that Denzel and so yeah, it's this it's

(28:50):
this biggest state out Long Island. Yeah, okay, I couldn't
remember where. I'm like, Long Island was it like did
we go to New Jersey? I like didn't know. And
the helicopter. I do feel like there was like a
situation where like we need to get like certain things,
and like a couple takes like we can't keep this.
I remember the situation. It was freezing outside, freezing cold,

(29:13):
and we all we all got to like duck in
that limo between there was a limit that we got
to duck in, and all the other poor people that
were background and everyone else were just standing out the
elements and it was cold enough. But then when the
helicopter landed, it kicked up all the snow and basically
made like a blizzard outside. So that was the thing.
So that's why again a decision was made. They were like,
we can only do this once or twice because yeah,

(29:36):
because it was they would have to match the snow
so they would have to re put it down. That's right,
that is where we were. I do always feel bad
about that, even when you have like a trailer and
then you're like wow, camera crew, extras whoever and they
don't get to I'm always like, yeah, it's always uh
about it too. But yeah, but that was that was
the thing that was like really ridiculous because it was

(29:57):
so cold. It was freezing, and that just kicked everything. Look,
they had a helicopter Commnce, but you know, James not
needs a helicopter, so it makes sense totally. And even
when Dan's like, oh it's fine, low, maybe there's like
a hot must be a hospital nearby, You're like, no,
grandfather's ride, grandfather's ride. Also the fact that I just

(30:18):
continually call him grandfathers I think amazing, it's amazing, it
was a super great I think it just adds to that.
That's like, of course Trip would call his grandpa grandfather,
you know what I mean? Um? And Okay, So when
when he walks out of the helicopter and comes up
like word, we find out at this moment that your

(30:38):
grandfather doesn't know that Nate's coming, but you kind of
insinuated to Nate that like you should come, it'd be great.
So Nate's under this, you know, has this impression that
he's going to see his grandfather Grandpa. I'm gonna just
say grandfather now, I'm like, why am I no? But
when he sees his grandfather that he knows. So Nate's
kind of and he was already kind of tripping on it,

(31:00):
like when he talks to Dan and Vanessa and wasn't
even sure about going because he hasn't talked to anyone
after the whole scandal with his dad, so he's kind
of in this space where he's like, why would I go?
They all kind of just left him high and dry,
like he didn't have anything, which for someone in high
school to go through what he went through with his
parents and then not talk to his family is a

(31:21):
really difficult I would imagine place to be in. Yeah,
especially because seemingly, like what you said to him in
that scene too, like they were really close and he
shared with you how close they were, so yes, So
to kind of be abandoned by by that at that
age is really tough. Yeah, you forget that these they
are on high school, right, I know. That's that's yeah,
that's really hard. I don't know. I I thought it

(31:43):
was like a big like an olive branch, you know
what I mean. I think that Trip really does care
about me, and even though they have like this kind
of very competitive, non competitive thing, I think he so Yes,
I think I'd like to think or maybe this is
how I went about it, even though ever, but he
thought I was just not a nice guy. I thought
it was like a big olive friend. Right, It's like, yes,

(32:04):
I'm not telling him the whole truth here, but I'm
very confident that grandfather will welcome him back, so why
don't you know? And maybe they're both being a little
headstrong and not making the first move, so maybe I'll
be the kind of intermediate here a little bit. So yeah, yeah,
I don't think Trip had his intention was to have
him come and have it like blow up in his face.

(32:25):
I think he knew like it's gonna go okay. I
don't Yeah, And that scene was played so well, when
he walks out of the helicopter and comes up, it
was just played so like subtly and great, and I
felt so like happy for Nate because he's just been
through a lot. It's a really nice moment. Again, chap
to James, Notton because he's awesome. And yeah, he played

(32:46):
it hopefully. They edited it beautifully. They really let that
hang for a minute. They didn't cut that off. It
was really I thought I thought the same thing. I
was like, oh, that's actually a really nice moment. Yeah
for sure. Um, And then what about when Blair when
we start to see Blair coming undone, like she's like
stealing glasses and she wants to be someone different and

(33:07):
nothing that Blair would do. The comedy that she brings
to this is like I was dying laughing at the
actual reunion or party when she's like busting everyone out.
It was so funny and the way, yeah, I mean
late and I've always thought it was very very funny,
but yeah, kind of when she gets to be unhinged
like that really really great. Yeah, to kind of just

(33:28):
watch her dealing with all those people in that way,
that's it's really it's really fun. It was really funny.
And then when Serena's talking about whatever went on and
um with Carter, with the Greek police and all this stuff.
We don't know what happened, right, I don't think so
they just they kind of leave that. I was like,
I want to know what happened. Yeah, I don't remember.

(33:51):
I was like, right once we started talking about that,
I was like, I knew that was gonna. I know
they have I know Serena has something on him. I
don't know what it is. And then I don't think
we ever find out what that is. Oh, I don't
even remember that's the thing, and like, are we going
to find out in a couple of episodes, but it
clearly was obviously something so gnarly that he's like going
to leave town because then it just leaves immediately, right, right,

(34:12):
But this is basically what's happening. Chuck and Serena. They're
basically like, hey, Blair's coming undone because of Carter. Like
Carter's like brainwashing her or something. Is that basically what
He's just a really bad bad influence. Yeah, he's and
I guess Serena knows that because he was a bad
influence on her at some point, So yeah, I think that.
And obviously Chuck hates him, so he's trying to get them.

(34:34):
But yeah, I think that they just think, in this
very low moment for her with all the college you know,
denial or whatever happened, that they're just trying to get
him away from her, and it works. Yeah, I'm not
going to buy. She's like Santor and he's like, I'm
going to buy. I'm on the plane. Thing. That was hilarious.

(35:09):
Nate Vanessa have talked about and planned a trip to Europe,
and trip comes up to Vanessa and nonchalantly but not
really drops the bomb on Vanessa that Nate's maybe getting
into politics with the family. Yeah. Also the thing that
made me left, I do this like weird like I
think it's because I was trying to like show the

(35:30):
trip was maybe a little drunk. Right. I do this
like really awkward hug to you, you know what I mean,
Like it's like a little it's like a little creepy,
like I get like a little it's like a little
two in your space. I do like a double high.
And I remember being like, oh man, that that's a
that's a choice, and it somehow made the edit, you know, right, Yeah,
but if it like worked, it was definitely like a

(35:52):
little too swarmy. It's like again like he looks like
he means well, but there's something there's something a little
off there. Yeah. Right. Also I remember not seeing too
when because that was one of my audition scenes, the
scene we played at the at the bar, and it
was a longer scene in my audition, And this is
something that informed I think how I went about it.
I had this whole line about how I wanted to

(36:15):
go backpacking in Europe during college and go to like
the Ross killed music festival and basically I had to
give that up and stay and do this internship. Right,
So that was that was in my audition scene, and
so that's it never was in the you know, it's
probably something that just got cut in a version from

(36:35):
from the shooting script. But it made sense, right because
because the fact that I knew that you and Nate
had these plans and so basically it's the same thing
that happened to me, Like I had these plans to
go have this like bohemian summer, maybe find myself, maybe
go another route, and it got I basically instead had
to step up to the plate and deal with this
family stuff. And so right that that's a that's an

(36:56):
interesting thing. Then watching my cousin do it, right, it's like, well,
part of me is like, well, it's your time to
do that, and another part of me might be jealous
that he was maybe going to get to have the
experience that I didn't get to have. So it's like
that it's a sticky right, It's like a sticky thing.
It's like you know, so so I think that's also
where it plays into me maybe and also you again,

(37:18):
like if this guy is really an asshole, you being
a bit of an outside or you your character not
really being of the same upper crust as the family,
So to kind of manipulate that a little bit was
it was fun. It was a fun thing to kind
of yeah, because it was we're coming from to totally
I'm like hey, and you're like and then I'm like heartbroken,
And then like cut to a little you know, moments later,

(37:41):
Vanessa standing there and Nate kind of says sorry and
walks up and takes this internship and and here's the thing.
It like touched me in a way when when Nate
goes what does he say, um, well, my grandfather believes
in me. It was like it was like the one
thing he just needed after everything he's been through. And
I feel like when I was watching it, I'm like, wow,

(38:02):
that was like so sweet. And then later in the
episode when Vanessa comes back up to and says, well,
I believe in you two, and I think you should
do that, I was like, that's that's a good girlfriend.
Like let him do what he needs to do if
that's with this family, like you can go do it
on a trip any other time. I thought the same thing.
Even the scene that you the two you had when
you were having parogies and he gets called by Trip
to go out the way that the way that Vanessa,

(38:23):
the way that you said, like no, go do that,
Like that's such a adult way to handle that moment,
you know what I mean, Like you don't expect like
an eight seventeen, sixteen, seventeen, eight year old kid to
do that. That's like such a wonderful Actually that's I
know it didn't work out, but it's a wonderful, healthy
way to go about that in a relationship. I was like, wow,
that's amazing. Yeah, I thought the same thing. That's what's

(38:44):
funny to watching Vanessa back. I'm like, there's certain things
where I'm like, this girl can't stand the Upper east Side.
But yet she's like dating Nate, she hooked up with Chocolm,
Like what are you doing? And then she'll do stuff
like that where I'm like, you are sweet new arm
return are trying to be and but yeah, I thought
the way she handled and then she goes to the
Humphrey Loft and she's with Dan and Jenny, and I

(39:04):
think she can feel that it's like over. Yeah, And
I think when you're in a relationship and if you
do really vibe with someone, and I do think her
and had a connection. I think there was something even
though they're very different in so many ways, I think
they found something in each other that they really really
enjoyed and liked. So I do think she felt that
it was over. And maybe if all the stuff with

(39:26):
Nate's family didn't happen, right, if he had had like
kind of a normal household and the last couple of years,
then then maybe and Vanessa really would have had a shot,
you know what I mean. But I think that he's
just in a place where that's like his wound man,
and like his father said, I believe in you. It's
like he just had to. Yeah, and I kind of

(39:48):
get it, Like watching now, I get it, but I'm
also like, it's too bad, it's sad, you get it.
But also that's a that's really brilliant writing because it
keeps Nate really likable, you know what I mean. It
doesn't make him seem like he's all of a sudden
abandoning you. It's like get you know, And that's really
smart writing because they don't you don't want your you

(40:10):
don't want your guy to be that unlikable, right, so
you got to you have to keep they have to
keep all of you, right, And that's the other thing
I kind of learned from this show and other and
you know, cut to when you were you know, I
was a series regular. It's like a lot of the
function of these guest stars, especially that are well written
with really good arcs, is to kind of be a
mirror and bounce all the stuff off the series regulars. Right.

(40:31):
So it's like I got to my job is like
to come on and kind of be a piece of
s H I T. So it made me able to
be the good guy, right, that's our function in the
in these situations, and I think they did that really
well with this, uh this storyline, they really did. It's right.
The way you articulated that was because it's really true,

(40:53):
Like it helps build the storyline and his character and
what you like about him, but also like opens your
eyes to other things with everyone because of you coming in.
There's a whole another dynamic you see between Nate and Vanessa,
which because we're breaking this down, it makes sense like
when you watch it as a show or when you're
doing you know, you're you're not looking into it like that,

(41:14):
you really like, yeah, I just think the show is
really well written and it's things like that. It's just
like it functions in a in a really specific way,
in a cool way. Yeah, what do you feel about
like the whole Nat and Blair thing? Oh, I just well,
it's you know, because it seems so fast, but at
the end of it, it's very fast. I didn't have

(41:34):
the thought though, like the scene they have on the
porch when you know, Blair says or one of them
say like, remember the first time you came here, you're
twelve or thirteen, And I thought, right, these two are.
They have a history where they're each other's first love, there,
each other's first everything, right, So there's so at this
moment for both of them where everything seems not settled,

(41:57):
everything seems to be slipping away to kind of go
back to that place that feels really safe for both
of them, you know. So you could think like, oh,
that's really faster, Oh that's really messed up because of
the situation with you, But but you kind of get
it again because for these people, you know, going back
to each other, it is like a safe place and
a place where they remember when they were both not

(42:19):
dealing with all the trouble that they're dealing with right then,
So again even that made sense, I thought, yeah, absolutely,
because it's also blared to in this like late and
what she did with her everything, like she's like coming
doun down at the party, she tries to seduce Chuck,
you know. Then she's like sitting there really being vulnerable
with Nate, like there's just so much going on, And yeah,

(42:41):
that's exactly what it was. She it's a safe place
with Nate because she just like out at everybody embarrassed.
Everybody literally is like pushing Chuck away when he's trying
to be right there, like getting down with Carter Bays
and who's just bad news. She's just there's a lot
going on there. And and yeah she finds this like
everybody navigates it so well. I mean, everybody's so good

(43:03):
on the show, like all all of you guys, all
the cast, it's just like everyone like you're saying, you're
dealing with all this different stuff. But the turns that
every it all, it all is. It's great that. I
was like, oh right, yeah, everybody's everybody so good on
the show. It could it could go off the rails
real quick, like everything you just said like that, I

(43:24):
think that's taken for granted, like what you just said
later and the stuff that she navigated in four scenes,
it's like that that was real quick. But it never
does know, and you could, depending on how someone plays
it or how they edit it, it could be something
where you don't find the where you like her, do
you know what I mean? Her sitting there and kind
of being so vulnerable and talking about when they first

(43:44):
met and doing all that brings you to a part
where you forgot that she was just an asshole to
a bunch of adults. It doesn't even matter, and she wasn't.
The whole show doesn't. The first episode isn't all all
about the two of them are together. But then you
find out we had this thing with Serena. Right, that's
kind of but it actually brought me back to like
remembering when I watched the first episode. I was like, oh, right,

(44:04):
this whole show started with these two as the thing.
And I was like, oh, there it is. You know,
it's good show. It's good I know, And and I
feel you're probably like laughing at me because I get
like really into it, and it's because I never watched
it so now, And I don't know if it's because
I'm a mom. You never watched an you never watched

(44:26):
any I had maybe seen like six episodes because in
the very beginning a few of us got so no
and then you you know sometimes you see scenes at
like a d R. Yeah right, but you don't that's
you're you're doing a d R. So it's not like
I knew what was coming after and not because I
was like, I think we were just working fifteen hour days.
We were missing. We didn't have I don't think we had.

(44:46):
We are yes if you miss kind of the airing,
you know, like everyone didn't have DVR, Like like, I'm
sure I probably could have asked someone at CW to
just send me things, but I hadn't seen. So this
has been so fun for me. But my sister the
other day was like the way you talk about it
and get so intense and like She's like, it sounds
like you're like the biggest fan, and I'm like, well,

(45:07):
it's just because it's so exciting. And I think because
we were there filming, I'm like, wow, what we did
was pretty rad because it really is a great it's
a great job, and I don't think. I know knew
that at the time. I knew it was a hit.
I knew the actors were great, I knew the writing
was great. But I think when I'm seeing it all together,
with the music and with everything, I'm just like, Wow,

(45:30):
they really hit they hit it, you know what I mean? Yeah, Okay,
let's get back to Lily and Rufus. And he's basically like,
let's just leave the past behind us. I mean, I
still couldn't believe she wanted to do that, And Serena
said something funny to her, like, what did she say?

(45:51):
I wrote it down? Mom, it's going to take him
twenty minutes to get through just the nineties alone. Sneakopee
get his little black book before you dropped dropped the
Yellow Pages on him. I'm like, oh my god, that's
so that's line. It's funny. But do you like the
way that they're painting Lily. It's like she just was

(46:11):
really just going with all these rock stars man and
just really having a good time, I mean, living her life,
I guess. And it's also like funny because it's almost
like parallel, like this past that she had, but she's
not like ashamed of It is almost like kind of
what happens when you meet Blake in the Pilot or Serena.

(46:31):
You know, like you come on and you're like, this
girl has some crazy past. We don't know what it is,
but we know it's not great, you know what, whether
it was rehab or drugs or they don't let you know,
but you know that it was something kind of like
you're worried about her, but Blake also played it in
such a way where you didn't care what it was,
you still wanted to like kind of go on this
journey with her. And I feel like they kind of
do that with Lily because just a couple episodes we

(46:54):
find out they have a love child. Rufus and Lily
have a kid, which I'm like, what, that makes a
lot of sense because that's something that I always thought
was so interesting about the show in general and the
way that Blake Blake played it. But also and there
casting of Blake right, like she's so caring and likable
as a person, She's so warm to everyone, So to

(47:15):
put her as this person with this really dark secret
past that has not kind of talked about, it's just
a really interesting thing because as an audience, what you're
what you know about the character is not what you're seeing, right,
So it's always this kind of this it's like at
cross purposes. So I just think it's the way she
went about it. Having her be that person is really interesting.

(47:37):
But you're absolutely right because that's how Lily is. Right.
She's actually arguably like the most regal person on the show.
Like she's almost has this like air of being. She's
like an air of royalty the way that she kind
of plays the part, even the way she is with
how she walks and she's being in Designer close, she's
so kind of elevated. And then to hear that she

(48:00):
was like partying with Trent restaurants slaugh Like, it's like,
what's totally But it's the same thing with with Serena
and and Blake. So yeah, that's a nice parallel it is.
And it's like again like it unfolds for me at
least where I'm like, whoa, Now this kind of makes sense.
I would have never really thought about that before. Um, okay,

(48:23):
do you want to do the closing Gossip Girl quote?
Do you have it? Let me find it. You know,
the one thing we didn't talk about for the episode
and if you want to is the football game? Okay? Wait, no,
I want to talk about that. That was still that
same day. I don't know if we shot everything that
one day. I think we were there for a couple
of days. The thing that I remember about, and it
was also I think maybe what bonded Chase and I

(48:44):
immediately is kind of both being former athletes, is they
had all these stunt guys that were supposed to do
that whole thing, like we were gonna do it, and
then we were like no, no, no no, no, no, no, no,
stunt guys. We're gonna play football, We're gonna tackle each other.
And we just went for it. And it was that
whole so you guys never did use guys. Yeah, it
was one of those things where the stunties come and

(49:05):
then they're just standing on the side. You know, all
those all that stuff was us, but it was so
fun and also me and that stupid yell sweater. Remember
we were asking the costume people like I'm going to
get this so muddy and dirty? Is that okay? And
they were like, yeah, go for it. I was like,
all right, cool, I'm gonna go there like we have
fifteen don't worry. But I was going to ask you,

(49:27):
watching this back, did you feel like there was some
sort of like wedding crashers vibe situation? Like I looked
over Brad, I'm like, this is definitely like even the
way you did something with the ball felt and I'm
not saying you mimic that by any means, like did
something that made me think of like Bradley Cooper right away,
and then there was like it just was very wedding
crashers to me totally, And that's something I think Bradley,

(49:50):
Bradley Cooper is that part and wedding crashes is so funny,
and that was that was definitely in my head when
I read this and what it was, especially with the football.
You know, it's like the crab cakes and football. That's
what Maryland does, right like that, that's like they have
that scene where they go too hard and winning crashes.
But no, that was definitely in my head for this
whole this whole thing. Yeah, well, I think it turned

(50:11):
out like great, but I yeah, I thought for sure
you guys had stunt doubles, not because I didn't think
you guys could do it, just because I thought one
if one of you would have gotten hurt. That have
been a really hard couple of days to shoot. Um too. Yeah,
I just the way it like flowed. I'm like, wow,
that just seemed very like choreographed, even though yeah, that
just did last time. It was one of those things

(50:32):
so very cool. Yeah, I love that. Um, let's do
the quote and then let's um, if you want to
tell us anything we should be looking out for. All right, well,
here's here's a quote. Oh boy, that's gonna be great.
Springtime a season for rebirth and new beginnings. For some,
it's a chance to turn over a new leaf. For others,

(50:52):
it's the surprise of seeing something bloom. But for yours, truly,
it's a reminder that on the Upper East Side, everything
old can be new again. XO XO Gossip Girl. That
was great. I love it. Also, Yeah, I was just
gonna say, yeah, I mean you were great too. But

(51:14):
I mean when I listened to it now, I'm like, whoa,
you know what a gig for her? She's like, oh yeah,
I'll just go in the booth and do my little
voice over for this episode. Yeah for ten minutes a day,
you know, probably come minutes a week. Um, Okay, so
what can we look. I mean, I know you're taking
a break, which you deserve, and I'm very excited for
you to just kind of like check out and do

(51:34):
do you for a minute, But um, is there anything
or charities you you support that you want to step
are just finished? I'm on this Apple TV Plus things
Schmicka Dune. It was a musical. It's a musical series.
We did. We did one season that already aired. We
just finished season two. The second season is called Chicago.
I don't know when it's I think it's out sometime

(51:55):
in the spring. It's it's a great show keeping Michael
Key and Cecily Strong from S and L of the
leads and the rest of us are a bunch of
musical leader actors. Who else. I love that. It's all
it's like a parody love letter of all these different musicals.
So Chicago, Apple TV Plus probably check it out and

(52:15):
I can't wait. Okay, great, okay, And uh I mean St.
Jude at the St. Jude Organization is kind of the
thing that I I that's like my charity that I
have to support the most. Me too, I love them,
so yeah, yeah, well thanks for coming on. Also, by

(52:35):
the way, speaking of St. Jude, what's really great about them,
if anyone listening doesn't know, is that no family sees
a bill from when their kids are going through the
treatment and all of that, which I think no family
should when you're going through something like that, And that's
a big part of it, to like try I thought
that was the most striking thing, you know, going there
is like you hear this, people say the same stories

(52:56):
that they're so caught up in what's happening and their
child and then like right at the end and like
they're about to deal with it and they say, oh
no and this is all taken care of and Nope,
they just can't even believe that that's possible. So it's yeah,
you know, not to mention that it's like the one
of the most advanced cancer places in the world and
I have to just us on children. It's amazing. Yeah,
I love that you're support them because me too. Um,

(53:18):
And I love that you came on and did this.
It was super so great to see you, so great
to watch the show. Yeah, And if we all find
ourselves in New York soon, like Chase and Sebastian and
Layton and stuff, we'll have to get together. Yeah, Aaron,
Oh my gosh, I'm so happy that you came on today.

(53:40):
You are just a rad human, so humble, so wonderful.
We loved having you on the show. Everyone's a huge
fan of you, from Gossip Girls to Broadway to everything.
Everything that you do people just really love and that's
pretty radical. Um listeners, I'll see you next week. I
have another great guest going on for the rewatch. You

(54:01):
might know her for her fashion or her messy relationship
with Serena, but that could also be a lot of characters,
so you might just have to wait and see. All right,
I can't wait until next time. X O x O
x O x O is produced by Propagate Content and Meat.

(54:24):
Jessica's or Our show is executive produced by Langley. Our
producers are Diego Tapia, Kristin Vermilia, and Hannah Harris. Original
music by Moxie and lun