As mentioned yesterday morning before our little site malfunction, a recent night in PJs watching a bygone Gossip Girl (the Ivy Week one, where all the kids vie to escort Ivy League school ambassadors to a ritzy cocktail function) got surreal for a quick sec as the camera panned past Dan Humphrey's dad's band and we caught a glimpse of a dude who was a dead ringer for bountifully locked Sam Champion bassist Jack Dolgen. Turns out omg, it totally was Jack, lolz! We even have this slightly blurry screen cap to prove it (slightly blurry 'cause the camera pans past him faster than Chuck Bass can find another girl to date rape).
[Left to right: Dan Humphrey's dad, some dude, Jack Dolgen]
Considering this was probably the most access we'd ever get into the set of the show we didn't expect to be watching this far into the season but still totally are, we shot a couple of quick questions over to Mr. Dolgen about how this all happened and about the cutest girl with the most absurd fictitious name in television.
STEREOGUM: So Jack. We were watching Gossip Girl -- explain yourself. How'd this come about?
JACK DOLGEN: My friend Kmart referred me to the producers because they wanted a "guitar coach" for the show ... someone to help one of the actors prepare for some of his scenes, basically making sure he knew what to play and looked like a musician. I met one of the assistant directors and he asked me to be the guitar player in one of the episodes.
STEREOGUM: Got some Sam Champ fans at Gossip Girl now?
JD: We seem to have some supporters over there.
STEREOGUM: Ever been on a show before? Or your first 'acting' gig?
JD: First time on network television. I did theater when I was little and in high school. I was Hansel in Hansel & Gretel. It's all been downhill since then.
STEREOGUM: Pretty sure you know by now, we watch a lot of TV over here. And of course our ears perk up when we hear tunes we know and love on the tube; it's happening a lot these days, this season in particular. What do you think about the trend?
JD: I watch my fair share of TV, too. I love hearing good music on television. It's fantastic that there are people out there selecting music for shows who have good taste. When it comes down to it, I'd rather hear the Jealous Girlfriends on a TV show than Crazy Town.
STEREOGUM: Yeah, definitely. Sometimes they get caught up in cool-chasing, though. Like last week's Chuck -- which is already targeting indiephiles -- had this scene where the titular character said "Arcade Fire's first album is 42 minutes and 15 seconds ... it's like an auditory aphrodisiac." And then when he pressed play on the CD player it was "The Weight Of The World" by Editors! And they didn't even acknowledge that switch up. Arcade Fire don't license their stuff easily, but the writers were so stuck on working in a hip reference that they played this weird sort of musical swap out. Seems more insulting to fans in that case, but we digress. So, can we expect another cameo from you at the season-end cliffhanger? Should we petition?
JD: Petition, picket, protest.
STEREOGUM: Did you get to talk to any of the pretty people in the cast, music tastes or otherwise? Any dirt?
JD: Everyone on the set was really nice, from cast to crew. I gave a bonus guitar lesson to the guy who plays the kid who's always trying to rape chicks. He's British. Nice guy.
STEREOGUM: Where exactly did you guys film?
JD: We did that scene at some weird religious college in downtown Brooklyn. All the interior apartment scenes are shot in the studio in Long Island City and a lof the show is shot in the upper east side.
STEREOGUM: Yeah, also noticed 'em in our neck of the woods, filming a scene outside the Sunshine theater on Houston. Think maybe now Alexandra Patsavas will place a Sam Champ song on the show? "Like A Secret" during a night-in-Dan's-hood (Williamsburg) scene would be ace.
JD: Totes probs maybs. Put in a good word for us.
STEREOGUM: Tell us Serena van der Woodsen isn't that perfect in real life, too.
JD: She seemed pretty pumped to go to the Timberlake concert after the shoot, but who wouldn't be? That guy's money.
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If you watched that episode, you may remember it opened with an a cappella cover of Fergie's "Glamorous" by the St. Jude's choir. If you do remember that, you deserve to keep it forever.
The Gossip Girl Choir - Glamorous" (MP3)
xoxo,
Stereogum
[Pic of Jack from the Champ's set at Mercury Lounge 4/4/07]
