The Gossip Girl Pun Index: Daddy's Home

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If you're one of those people who has been disappointed with where the third season of Gossip Girl has gone, consider the laboriously titled "Dr. Estrangeloved" a course correction. Free from the domestic bliss embodied by Blair and Chuck, this was an episode that got back to basics: back-stabbing, overly contrived plotting and cancer. Yes, that's right: Lily van der Woodsen, who was previously thought to be having an affair with her ex-husband, just needed him to help with her cancer treatments. And who plays the ex-husband? None other than William Baldwin, now one step closer to his future career as an Alec Baldwin impersonator. As always, there were puns, too. To the list!

· "On the Upper East Side, new days don't always bring new beginnings; but they almost always bring new surprises."

OK, this wasn't a pun, but Gossip Girl did say it while Grizzly Bear played on the soundtrack. So, awesome.

Puntastic rating: 5 out of 10.

· "Paging Serena van der Woodsen. After a lifetime in the daddy waiting room, it looks like the doctor is finally in."

Since Serena's estranged father is a doctor, Gossip Girl used his profession as an opportunity to go nuts. Or, y'know, mix metaphors.

Puntastic rating: 4 out of 10.

· "Spotted: Nate Archibald suffering from a broken heart. Too bad he doesn't realize Jenny's oath is less Hippocratic and more hypocrite."

Oh Gossip Girl, you cheeky scamp! Of course it doesn't really make any sense -- Jenny was trying to steal Nate from Serena and there was nothing hypocritical about that -- but since it kinda rhymes, who cares?

Puntastic rating: 7 out of 10.

· "On the Upper East Side, sometimes the wrong prescription is just what the doctor ordered"

In keeping with the doctor theme, Gossip Girl went for broke in the episode's final moments. Though a question for the ages: If it's the wrong prescription, how could it be what the doctor ordered?

Puntastic rating: 5 out of 10.

[Photo courtesy of The CW]