The producers of Gossip Girl have big plans for Eric van der Woodsen.

Plans that involve any brilliant 18-year-old's rite of passage, naturally.

“Eric was always going to go to college. And when you find out where Eric will be going off to college, you will see how that’ll shape up in season 5,” Stephanie Savage says.

This is an open-ended plot line, considering that Connor Paolo has signed on for a new pilot (ABC's Revenge). So this gives the show plenty of options for his future.

At least Eric was in this week's family photo. Unlike Jenny.

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.