Taylor Momsen was the subject of a long New York Observer piece last month. For those of you avoiding “Gossip Girl,” which returns at 7 tonight on the CW, Momsen is identified as the real “it” girl from the show. She plays the de facto villain, Jenny. Taylor, who just turned 15, finds herself the object of love and scorn from people well into their 20s.

“It’s funny because I forget that I look the same — you know, that I look the same all the time,” she said as she ate “Pinkberry” yogurt covered in Fruity Pebbles. “I have two different modes: I have my on-set mode, and then I have my mode with my friends and family. My Taylor mode. And when I’m in my Taylor mode, I forget that people still see me as Jenny.”

The second season, which starts Sept. 1, has aspiring fashion designer Jenny working as an intern for designer Eleanor Waldorf, who — of course! — is the mother of chief rival Blair (Leighton Meester).

“Jenny has put high school to the side and focuses on her career, trying to be a fashion designer, and to fulfill her goals of world domination,” said executive producer Stephanie Savage. Momsen said most of her real friends are fellow students at the Professional Performing Arts High School, where she will be a sophomore if she doesn’t opt for home-schooling this year.

“When (show creator) Josh (Schwartz) and I met Taylor, she really had that great quality; on the one hand being Cindy Lou Who, really sweet and just sort of delightful and smiley and funny, and she can act her age,” Savage said. “But she also has that Gus Van Sant side to her—very grown-up, very self-aware. There is an intelligent, watchful darkness that she’s got as well.”

Mandel’s mission

Howie Mandel told the Los Angeles Daily News he’s planning to do this game show gig for a long time.

“My goal is to try and outdo Bob Barker,” said the host of “Deal or No Deal” on NBC. “It’s such an amazing fit for me. After 30 years in this business to have this opportunity is amazing. Nobody is more surprised, thrilled and blessed than I am to be a part of it.”

Mandel is also host of a new syndicated version of “Deal” that debuts Sept. 8, and he’s one of the co-hosts of the Emmys Sept. 21.

“I’ve been taking dance and Spanish lessons for Emmys,” he joked. “I feel I must be prepared.”

Brenda and Kelly make peace

“Beverly Hills 90210” stars Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth, who didn’t exactly get along, are working together again on the CW’s new “90210,” reprising their old roles of Brenda Walsh and Kelly Taylor.

“It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be,” Garth told TV Guide. “I’m not much of a small talker, and I don’t think she is either. I was a little nervous because I hadn’t seen or talked to her in 14 years. Everyone was making it out to be such a big deal that I think we both fell prey to having that affect us.

“I think it will be OK,” Jennie said. “We’re both grown women, both professionals. Once we were working, it felt like a good fit.”

A third original cast member, Tori Spelling, dropped out of the show, reportedly because she was not being paid as much as Doherty and Garth.

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