Unlike our own Jane Boursaw, I've yet to dive head first into the trashy teen world of The CW's Gossip Girl. I'm sure this comes as a surprise to no one, since my favorite shows tend to take place on spaceships or feature brooding vampires. But a recent addition to the cast might get me to start watching the saucy soap for the first time when it returns in September; one of my favorite sci-fi actors, Firefly alum Gina Torres, has signed on to play the recurring role of Gabriela Abrams, Vanessa's mother.

Gabriela is described as a warm and outgoing free spirit from Brooklyn who has been hiding out in Vermont. The show's privileged teens are in for one hell of a season if Gabriela is anything like Jasmine, Torres' duplicitous character from the fourth season of Angel. It's probably not crazy to think that Gabriela will have some kind of edge to her. I've heard some of the parents on Gossip Girl make Lucille Bluth look like Mrs. Cunningham.

Torres is set to appear in two episodes and expected to recur throughout the series. Gossip Girl's season premiere airs Sept. 14.

[Via TV Guide]