TOO early to tell if the 2021 Gossip Girl iteration has the style, vibe and essence of the 2007-2012 original. But I'm quite excited for this Generation Z reboot of a millennial classic because it retains Eric Daman as the resident fashion stylist. And just like that, the fashion lust-heavy Sex and the City is also being revived.

I wasn't into the 90210 redo, the remade Dynasty nor the prequel The Carrie Diaries. I'm not spellbound by the new Charmed. Will & Grace should have been Jack & Karen (and Beverly). The Friends cast was right to do a reunion and not a revival. I have yet to investigate if Perry Mason is worth a binge.

However, I'd watch every drop of Charlie's Angels and every lap of RuPaul's Drag Race in every language. I also support the fan clamor for a comedic take on GMA's Encantadia with Rufa Mae Quinto as Ynang Reyna Mine-a, Pokwang as Danaya, Candy Pangilinan as Amihan, Ai-ai delas Alas as Alena and Eugene Domingo as Pirena. But, I would love Roderick Paulate to be Cassiopeia.

'TEMPTATION ISLAND'

WHEN it comes to camp, this 1980 cult classic by Joey Gosiengfiao about spoiled brats competing for the Miss Manila Sunshine contest is incomparable. It starred actual pageant queens Azenith Briones (Miss Photogenic, Mutya ng Pilipinas 1975), Jennifer Cortez (Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 1978), Bambi Arambulo (Miss Maja Pilipinas 1977) and Dina Bonnevie (first runner-up, Miss Magnolia 1979). They get stranded in a desert island without food, water and shelter, slowly losing their sanity. (Also, the delectable Alfie Anido).

The "faithful" 2011 "tribute"by Tony Martinez starred screen queens Heart Evangelista, Rufa Mae Quinto, Lovi Poe, Solenn Heussaff and Marian Rivera. What they lacked in comedic skills, they made up for in fashion thrills. Designer Ferdie Abuel was the main costumer for Heart, Ivarluski Aseron for Solenn, Louis Claparols for Marian, Eric de los Santos for Lovi, Veejay Floresca for Rufa Mae and Cherry Veric for Mikael Daez.

'GOSSIP GIRL'

THE 2.0 version on HBO Max is an "extension" of the original, based on the books by Cecily von Ziegesar. It's still about the dangers, trials and tribulations of entitled teens living their lives online but only less white and less straight. There's more representation, more inclusivity and certainly more fashion.

The OG launched the careers of Blake Lively, Penn Badgley, Leighton Meester, Chace Crawford and Ed Westwick. The reboot will surely catapult to stardom newcomers Emily Alyn Lind, Whitney Peak, Eli Brown, Johnathan Fernandez, Jason Gotay, Thomas Doherty, Zión Moreno, Adam Chanler-Berat, Jordan Alexander, Evan Mock, and Savannah Smith.

Gossip Girl is still voiced by Kristen Bell. In the original, she is the "one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite." This time, she is the "one and only source for the truth behind the scandalous lies of New York's elite." Dan Humphrey (Badgley, in a WTF reveal) turned out to be the secret tattler GG. (I thought it was Dorota, Blair's delightful maid.) The new version, however, GG is a group of teachers at Constance Billard led by Kate Keller (Tavi Gevinson) using an unverified Instagram account.

"If your clothes were on Gossip Girl, that was a moment," Alice + Olivia designer Stacey Bendet told fashionista.com. "It was like having your clothes in InStyle or Vogue." For the Alice + Olivia's Fall 2021 virtual presentation in February, Bendet consulted with Daman, the Gossip Girl stylist, saying, "We wanted it to feel true to what the original was, but also think forward to what is the next Gossip Girl. We wanted it to feel modern and now, but also wanted to reference some of the moments and characters of the past, and I think he helped us put a little bit of a spin on everything."

As Zoya Lott, Whitney Peak plays the less privileged outsider among the wealthy teens. But in real life, she is the first breakout style star. Whitney, born in Uganda and raised in Canada, is the latest US brand ambassador of Chanel. "Honestly, I never dreamed I'd get the attention of such a reputable house, let alone the pleasure of working with and representing them," she told Vogue.com. "I'm looking forward to showing how versatile and timeless Chanel is."

'AND JUST LIKE THAT'

THIS is the title of the new chapter in the Sex and City saga, after the 1997 Candace Bushnell book, TV series (1998-2004), two movies (2008 and 2010) and a prequel (2013). Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristen Davis are reprising their roles as Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbes and Charlotte York, but Kim Cattrall as Samantha Jones is sadly not joining the reboot.

Set against New York's changing political and social climate in terms of calls for justice and racial equality, and in the midst of a pandemic, the currently filming reboot follows the three friends "as they navigate the journey from the complicated reality of life in their 30s to the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s."

Sex and the City is regarded as one of the most fashionable TV shows of all time, thanks largely to the genius that is costume designer Patricia Field. Makes me wonder: Will a show about friendship and fashion bedazzle in a viewing landscape dominated by zombies? n

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