The CW had shows (and has shows) that fit the Gossip Girl prototype, and it's no secret that it's trying to clone Gossip Girl's success.

Why is the network clinging this hard to the Gossip Girl model?

In a word, heart. This has always been evident in show like Gilmore Girls, as well as in past classics like Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the emotional connection drove the series), Felicity and Everwood.

While Gossip Girl is high-gloss, guilty-pleasure trash on one level, it often upends its own superficial, designer fashion-label obsessions with irony, wit and even despair. That and terrific characters. In short, it's all heart, baby.

There will be no Gossip Girl spin-off starring Taylor Momsen (Jenny Humphrey), as was rumored earlier this summer - at least not yet.

But there's no question that this season The CW is churning out Gossip Girl clones on an assembly line and leaning on nostalgic affection for the old 90210 brand to carry the network into an uncertain future.

Can 90210 make it? And can Gossip Girl live up to its enormous buzz in its second season? Only time will tell - but we certainly hope so.

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