John Stephens inks deal as 'Gossip' guy

Will also develop new projects with Warner Bros.

By Nellie Andreeva

June 20, 2008, 01:00 AM ET

Writer-producer John Stephens has inked a two-year overall deal with Warner Bros. Television.

Under the seven-figure pact, Stephens will join the studio-produced "Gossip Girl" as an executive producer while also developing new projects.

Stephens was recruited to "Gossip Girl" by executive producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, for whom he worked on Schwartz's Fox teen drama "The O.C."

"I was a big fan of 'Gossip Girl' -- probably embarrassingly big for a 36-year-old man -- so that, and the prospect of working with Stephanie and Josh again meant I probably would've worked on the show for free," he said. "It was a real bonus when they offered to pay me."

Still, Stephens had trepidation.

"It's exciting when you join a show that has a lot of momentum and awareness, but it is also a little bit intimidating," he said. "You're always afraid you're going to screw up."

Before "The O.C.," Stephens worked on WB Network's "Gilmore Girls."

"That's my specialty -- I work on shows that have 'Girl' in the title," he quipped.

While he has made his career on one-hour series about teen angst, in his own development, Stephens is looking to stay closer to the tone of "L.A. Demonic," a project he developed for WBTV last year.

"I really want to make character-driven genre shows that have a comedic slant," he said.

Stephens is repped by WMA and attorney Karl Austen.

John Stephens inks deal as 'Gossip' guy

Will also develop new projects with Warner Bros.

By Nellie Andreeva

June 20, 2008, 01:00 AM ET