Executive producer Stephanie Savage talks Gossip Girl in 2009

So what will happen in 2009 on Gossip Girl as the new episodes return on Monday, January 5?

Gossip Girl executive producer Stephanie Savage gives us a little peek into the new year with her regular “Up Close with Stephanie Savage” segment, available on The CW Website.

In this clip, Savage talks about the extended season, new characters and an old favorite character coming back.

Savage said Gossip Girl fans can look forward to 12 more episodes — making that 25 total episodes for Season 2. Most shows such as this get only 22 episodes, but Savage said those extra three episodes will allow the show to go even deeper into the characters and their situations.

Due to last year’s writers’ strike, when the show came back from the holidays, it only had five episodes. So this is freakin’ awesome!

New characters will be introduced in 2009 (including Chuck’s uncle Jack played by Desmond Harrington, Dexter, who will make his first appearance in the episode “In the Realm of the Basses,” 2.14), though she didn’t reveal anyone by name.

And a favorite character from last year will return.

“I think it’s someone lot of people were hoping will return, and so we are very excited about that little surprise that will happen close to the end of the season,” Savage said.

Can anyone say Georgina Sparks?

Savage says in 2009 fans can look forward to all of the normal end-of-high-school fun — prom, graduation and after graduation — done Gossip Girl style. They also will be weaving in a bunch of other storylines that will help platform Gossip Girl’s season three and leading the characters to where they will be after graduation.