PENN BADGLEY is surprised his relationship with Gossip Girl co-star BLAKE LIVELY is so successful - because workplace romances never normally work.The couple has been dating for nearly two years after meeting on the set of the hit show. Badgley admits it wasn't "the smartest move" to get romantically involved with Lively, but insists they have a happy relationship because they understand each other so well. He says, "Having a relationship with someone you work with might not always be the smartest move. But it's been wonderful to be in a relationship where we can both identify with what the other is experiencing. We have an unbelievable trust and such a healthy relationship."

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Police officers have been called in to protect the cast of hit TV drama GOSSIP GIRL - after fans sparked security fears by storming the New York set at the weekend (begs05Sep09).Co-stars and real-life couple Blake Lively and Penn Badgley, and actors Ed Westwick and Taylor Momsen, were filming a party scene at Manhattan's Empire Hotel when hordes of screaming teen fans prompted complaints from guests. Police barricades and security guards were needed to keep the over-excited devotees at a distance. And according to the New York Post, Lively and Badgley's off-screen romance added to the furor. A source says, "All the people (were) waiting to get to the rooftop to gawk at them." Just last month (Aug09), the cast sparked outrage among residents in the city's quiet Gramercy Park neighborhood after fans swarmed the set to get a glimpse of guest star Hilary Duff.

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LEIGHTON MEESTER, PENN BADGLEY and HILARY DUFF are causing more controversy on the set of hit TV drama GOSSIP GIRL - New York residents have complained their neighborhood has been taken over by crazed fans.Duff is currently filming episodes as a guest star on the series, in which she plays a famous actress who enrolls at university with Vanessa, played by Jessica Szohr. The singer, Badgley and Meester filmed a dinner party scene at the esteemed National Arts Club on Tuesday (25Aug09) in Manhattan's elite Gramercy Park, attracting hordes of screaming teen fans - and complaints from local residents. A source tells the New York Daily News, "Residents were complaining that they couldn't even walk on the sidewalks because cables were lying all over the place. Plus, there were trailers and crazed fans everywhere." Duff sparked controversy on the set this week (begs24Aug09) amid rumors she had infuriated the show's cast after refusing to leave her trailer, causing a massive delay in shoot...

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GOSSIP GIRL actress BLAKE LIVELY was so dead set against co-starring with boyfriend PENN BADGLEY in the hit TV series, she "poisoned" their castmates against the actor after he landed his role.The couple, former childhood classmates, has shared the small screen since the TV drama made its debut in 2007, but the blonde beauty admits she wasn't always a big supporter of her real-life leading man, after learning he had won over her new bosses and was trailing her acting career. She tells Britain's Glamour magazine, "At first I was so upset that they hired him. I actually poisoned the whole cast against him. But then they noticed that he wasn't a jerk and was actually a really nice, charming person. "Almost immediately I realized that too, but it took me about a week to admit it."

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GOSSIP GIRL star BLAKE LIVELY is convinced the constant speculation about the stars' love lives is responsible for turning the show into a success. Blake Lively admits when the programme, about the lives of New York's affluent teenagers, first aired in 2007, she feared the show would be quickly dumped by The CW network after garnering less than spectacular ratings figures.   The 21 year old is convinced that as soon as the world media began writing about the stars and their personal lives, it fuelled interest in the second show and turned it into a ratings smash.   And although she doesn't like seeing her love life in newspapers, she accepts the media played an important role in her own success.   Blake Lively says, "Our show feeds off buzz and gossip. It is unfortunate to be the victim of it, but our numbers weren't amazing in the first year, so being in the tabloids helps keep our show on everyone's mouths."

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KRISTEN BELL is desperate for GOSSIP GIRL bosses to give her a role on-screen after serving as its narrator for two seasons. Kristen Bell has been with the hit series since its inception, as the unseen and unidentified Gossip Girl of the show's title.   But the Forgetting Sarah Marshall star insists she is now ready to bring the scandal-spreading narrator onto TV screens with a cameo role.   She tells the New York Daily News, "I've pitched (show creator) Josh Schwartz a couple of times for me to be on camera as a waitress or something but he wasn't buying it. But hopefully he'll change his mind in the future!"

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CHACE CRAWFORD is reportedly furious his name has been attached to the FOOTLOOSE remake - after hordes of teenage girls swarmed the set of his show to sing him the film's theme tune. The Gossip Girl actor was linked to the part made famous by Kevin Bacon in the 1984 classic after Zac Efron pulled out in March (09).   Crawford reportedly impressed casting bosses with a stunning screen test, and has expressed his desire to move into films.   But after the rumors surrounding his connection to the project was leaked to the press, the TV hunk has faced constant serenading from his female fans while filming hit show Gossip Girl in New York.   And TV bosses have been forced to hire extra security for the star after the musical bombardment - which has led Crawford to seek refuge in his native Texas.   A source tells E! Online, "They had to beef up security because more girls have been showing up to set every day singing Footloose.   "He coul...

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GOSSIP GIRL star CHACE CRAWFORD was left red-faced when he was propositioned by two forward female fans - in front of his conservative family. The 23-year-old TV hunk was celebrating his aunt's birthday recently, surrounded by close friends and family, when the saucy fans sent him a raunchy note scrawled on a napkin.   Crawford, who grew up in rural Texas, admits that's when the celebration took an awkward turn.   He says, "I take them (family) to a really nice steak place for a birthday. There were two women walking up the stairs. Of course it has to be the most vulgar statement written on the napkin... Everything I learned about women from growing up in Texas was thrown out the window."

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