Lily van der Woodsen Could Be Kicked Off Gossip Girl Because She's Stuck in L.A.

When we ran into Kelly Rutherford in the Hamptons over the summer, she seemed to be doing well. Having recently returned from Europe, Ms. Rutherford was attending a fundraising carnival in Water Mill with her family--a well-dressed German businessman husband and a two-year-old son named Hermes Gustaf--and basking in the glow of her recently revived acting career. After her recurring role Melrose Place in the 1990s, she'd sort of faded away, but thanks to her role as Lily van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl, she was once again in the spotlight--and seemed quite happy to be there. 

Fast forward to 2009 and things are decidedly different. Since engaging in a publicly unpleasant divorce battle with her husband, Ms. Rutherford, who happens to be pregnant with their second child, now also risks losing her role on the show.

According to TMZ, the judge in the actress's divorce case won't let her take off for New York with her son to film the show; Mr. Giersch apparently doesn't want his wife to take their son to New York with her because, he claims, she gets very stressed out while shooting. She asked for permission last week, but the judge didn't allow it and said he'd reconsider next week. And now sources on the show tell TMZ that if Ms. Rutherford doesn't return to shoot the show by Jan. 27, the producers will have to cut her role in some episodes. And if there is further delay, she may be cut from the show altogether.

First Bart, now Lily? Please don't say Chuck could be next.