I’ll probably never see an episode of Gossip Girl, just like I never watched a frame of The O.C. or Dawson’s Creek. Soapy teen drama has never been my thing. However, I can respect those shows, and I can respect the advertisers who know what makes them popular.

That’s why I’m impressed by the latest ads for Gossip Girl, which show the cast in steamy positions, branded with quotes from major media outlets about how degenerate they are. To wit:

These ads are brilliant because they tell kids that if they watch Gossip Girl, they will be rebelling against their parents. Could there be a better incentive to do something?

And really, all those hand-wringing quotes have done the show’s job for it. Now, the rebellious teen on the go doesn’t have to waste time watching barely objectionable material. She knows that if she wants to piss off her mom, she can go straight for Gossip Girl. Thanks, Boston Herald!

I can’t find the original review from The Boston Herald–you have to pay to read older stories–so it’s possible the critic made his comment in a cheeky context. But The Parent’s Television Council was genuinely appalled when it called the show “mind-blowingly inappropriate,” and their outrage is charmingly naive. Have they not yet realized that anything they attack will instantly become more desirable to the young people they’re trying to protect?

Here’s more evidence of how out of touch they are: A PTC spokesperson said these new ads reek of desperation. Which… come on. Every time the PTC (or any other lame, sweatshirt-wearing group of fogeys) tries to discredit the ads, they make them more valid.

I’ll bet at least one person who lambasts Gossip Girl used to secretly listen to heavy metal records or sneak into to R-rated movies, and I’ll bet that person doesn’t see the connection.