What the Gossip Girls did on their summer vacation

It's crazy to think that Gossip Girl has been on summer hiatus for almost two months, yet the sun still manages to rise every morning. Two months since Serena has had the opportunity to fake-kill/fake-marry anyone. Two months since Blair has been able to plot anyone's demise. Two months since a Humphrey has been a prick, an Abrams has stormed off in righteous indignation and a Bass has smarmed everyone in his path.

I guess we have to take comfort in the fact that Nate Archibald — wherever he is, whatever he's doing — is making that one face he makes. It's the only thing that gives us hope as we wander in this gossip-less desert.

Well, that and the fact that Gossip Girl started filming its third season on Monday!

Here's a photo from the first day back on set:

Yeah, I have no idea who the non-Serena is on the right. I also don't know why Gossip Girl's producers would cast another leggy blonde character on this show. Between Blake Lively, Taylor Momsen and Kelly Rutherford, there's a leggy blonde for every demographic.

Plus, Michael Ausiello broke the news today that Hilary Duff is going to join Gossip Girl for a multi-episode arc. She'll play Olivia Burke, a super famous actress who ends up as Vanessa's roommate at NYU.

If you're keeping score at home, that's Georgina Sparks rooming with Blair, and a rich, entitled movie star rooming with Vanessa. If Dan ends up sharing a dorm with Lily and Rufus' love child, this is going to be the best season of television ever!

Anyway, while the Gossip Girl crew may be back, it's still another six weeks before we get a new episode. But do not despair: I have some inside information about what the Constance-Billiard girls have been up to on their summer vacations.

Leighton Meester guested in the just-released Cobra Starship music video, "Good Girls Gone Bad."

Basically the plot goes like this: Teenage girl attends underground party, which she amps up about a billion decibels when she texts the whole city to join her. The rager is going strong until undercover cops bust in and arrest everyone, except for Meester who disguises herself as the world's sexiest vice cop and walks right out.

So, you know, basically the story of Blair's life condensed into a three-minute fan video. Oh, and Meester sings. Yes, it's as awesome as you're imagining. See for yourself:

Blake Lively, meanwhile, has been in the UK promoting her new film, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, which is being eviscerated by critics as the most awkward movie ever made. Lively plays the young Pippa Lee, a debaucherous teen who gets up to some over-sexed, over-drugged hijinks, and then spends the rest of her life trying to keep the mania on lockdown. The film opens on July 10th in the UK, but still has no release date in the U.S.

Lively also attended the "The Model as Muse" gala at The Met, where her face acted all coy and her breasts threatened to take over the world.

So, you know, Serena's life condensed into a 90-minute movie.

Lively and Meester the CW upfronts presentation back in May, where Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello reported that the two were holding hands, and gazing at each other lovingly — which, again: just like their characters!

Also, Lively, you can stay, but that outfit has got to go.

Maybe you can try something from Anna Sui's new Gossip Girl-inspired clothing line for Target. The first images were released this week. One question: where are the headbands?

Got any more Gossip Girl news? Predictions for next season? And what have you been doing on Monday nights since the show has been on hiatus? Seriously, help me.