Hilary Duff To Perk Up “Gossip Girl”?

Hilary Duff is officially part of the “Gossip Girl” cast and will start appearing in episodes next season, which premieres October 5th. As hipster Vanessa’s new NYU roomate, Olivia Burke, she is looking for a very “authentic” college experience. Personally, I like that she is set to play a character that’s closer to the way she is in real life, rather than just a new kid on the Upper East Side. She was snatched up after NBC passed on casting her in their new show “Barely Legal.” Let’s hope she gets paired up with a love interest we don’t see coming like, oh, Dan Humphrey. [People]