NBC’s Smash is about to get aGossip Girl injection.

Safran, who has been with the CW staple as an executive producer and co-EP and consulting producer since 2008, when Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage brought him into the Gossip Girlfold.The NBC drama has tappedGossip Girl showrunner Josh Safran to replace creatorTheresa Rebeck on the musical drama about the staging of a Broadway production, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Safran, who currently serves as showrunner on the CW series, replaces Rebeck, who stepped down from the helm of the freshman NBC series in March. She’s expected to remain a writer and executive producer on Smash’s recently announced second season.

Rebeck, who wrote the first three episodes of the series’ freshman run, is an established Broadway playwright, andSmash’s lead character, Julia (Debra Messing), is based on her. She has been involved with the series from its inception, adapting the script initially for Showtime and then later at NBC. The shift to broadcast entailed a rethinking of the drama, including such elements as who initially would win the prized role as Marilyn in the pilot.

Safran’s addition comes as viewers of both series have been vocal about the story lines on both series.

Despite early critical praise, Smash has been criticized of late for its focus on the personal lives of the characters attached to the production, including Julia’s marriage and subsequent affair. For its part, Gossip Girl viewers have been vocal about its skewed focus and on Blair and Dan

So, what does this mean about the future of Gossip Girl???

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/smash-gossip-girl-josh-safran-showrunner-315983

Producers Preview: Gossip Girl 5x21 Despicable B

Gossip Girl - Salon of the Dead Producers’ Previews

When Gossip Girl returns tonight, two members of the gang will be mourning something near and dear to them — and, let’s face it, us — their sex life.

No one could have foreseen this issue arising for Dan and Blair — least of all them. After a fairly lengthy period of love tango between the two, tonight’s episode finds them realizing that their dance in the bedroom needs some work. And while a lesser couple might take this as a sign of non-compatibility, executive producer Josh Safran says the issue is a little different for Dair. “Honestly, for Dan especially, he has loved her for years now, so when you have all of that expectation pent up, it can often go wrong. For Blair, this is a major step — to actually go there with somebody who she didn’t see that way for a very long time and only recently has begun to understand how much he cared about her. Then, she had those feelings herself. It’s scary,” he says. “It’s not necessarily chemistry as much as it is where they are emotionally.”

As with any relationship, he adds, the issue could make or break a pair. But, he assures, “The fun of this story is how they try to overcome it.” That’s not to say it’s smooth sailing after they (presumably) work their issues out in the boudoir.

After losing so much of her identity during her royal mess of a courtship with Prince Louis, Blair will slowly put the pieces of herself back together, says Safran. “I really do believe that Blair’s been through a lot and Dan definitely represents a different side to Blair. In a relationship with him, she’s discovering a different side to herself, as well,” he says. And while Dan will be key to helping Blair become the strong Queen B we once knew, “the question will be for Blair: is this where she sees her life going and how does she feel [about that]?”

But the rest of the season isn’t merely existential conflict, Safran assures. “We have some very vintage Blair stories coming up — like old-school Blair — because she’s definitely getting back to her former self. There’s one story in particular that is just really really super fun and hilarious. I just know the audience is going to love it,” he teases.

That leaves the question of dear old Chuck Bass — the other side to this love triangle of never-ending fan debate. While Dan and Blair get cozy, Chuck will be preoccupied with “some stuff apart from Blair” for the next couple of episodes, no doubt a reference to the return of his uncle, Jack Bass. And, says Safran, the heaviness of Chuck’s situation will begin to “affect him deeply,” leaving Blair with a choice to make. “Whenever Chuck’s been in trouble before, she always wanted to help because she cares about him. So the question is: will she help him because he looks like he needs it or will she not for the sake of her relationship with Dan?” he says.

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Gossip Girl 5x17 Producer’s Preview: The Princess Dowry

If you were disappointed that Chuck Bass stood merely a-stewin’ in the back of the church in Monday’s royal wedding ep – okay, so like, maybe he sent the vid to Gossip Girl, but we doubt it – looks like you may be in for more frustration ahead!

TVLine has scoop from exec producer Joshua Safran that Chuck’s days as a bad boy may be gone for good…

“We were very conscious to make sure that Chuck up to the [wedding episode] did not slide back,” Safran said, “because we do believe that Chuck has learned and is still continuing to learn. That evolution is real; it’s not just so easily lost or so easily gained.”

And while Safran says Chuck’s good ways will continue to be tested, he may very well hold his own. “I definitely think he approaches these tests now from a place of, ‘I really don’t want to slide back’ as opposed to, ‘Oh, it’s so easy to slide back, I’m just going to do it.’”

From the look of things in Monday’s new episode “The Backup Dan,” Chuck will be fighting for Blair (Leighton Meester)… but in a less forceful way that normal (wah wahhh!). It’s likely the re-emergence of his twisted Uncle Jack and his connection to returning guest-star Elizabeth Hurley could throw Chuck for a loop… but if he manages to keep his bad ways on lock-down, we’ll be completely convinced that he’s a changed man.

Don’t get us wrong, we’re all for Good Chuck – the dude’s earned some maturity after all he’s been through! – but we can’t help missing the wit and recklessness of old Chuck. And we’re pretty sure that if Season 1 Chuck saw Current Chuck, he wouldn’t even recognize himself in the guy…

Source: WETPAINT

Question: So if I’m to understand this week’s Gossip Girl correctly, the new man to come between Chuck and Blair is… God? —Aram
Ausiello: Yes, and exec producer Josh Safran is here with an explanation. “Religion has [always] been a part of Blair’s life,” he argues. “She went to confession as far back as Season 1. Even though she didn’t fully believe in it, she was there. We really did believe, especially in light of what has happened to Blair after the accident, that she feels even more strongly about this connection and this pull. It’s something that we’re not shying away from. It’s something that we will delve into in future episodes.” Safran concedes that the heavenly roadblock “is definitely a different thing in our show. But we believe in it, and we believe that this is where Blair is right now. Belief is a very personal thing, and it’s also very monumental. We’re not treating it lightly.”

Question: Serena is starting to feel like a guest star on Gossip Girl. What gives? —Emily
Ausiello: That’s pretty much the question I posed to Safran. “If you feel like Serena has been lighter this year, it’s honestly just where the story has taken us,” he tells me. “Last season was very much about Serena. That was the way we sort of looked at it. She had Juliet last year and that was the big driving story. This year we gave Blair the big driving story. And next season — if there is a next season — I would imagine the driving story, should it be the last season, will be the two of them and their friendship.”