‘Gilmore Girls’ at 25: With nods to Stars Hollow, fans flock to a recreation of a beloved show

by

Lauren Perlmutter is a huge fan of Gilmore Girls. She’s been watching it repeatedly for the last decade. Usually, she watches the episodes in order, and sometimes she’ll have it on as background noise while she works – just to enjoy the show’s comforting and familiar atmosphere.

“It’s like my bowl of chicken noodle soup,” she said.

I’m 23, and like a lot of people who adore Gilmore Girls, I wasn’t even born when it first came out on October 5th, 2000, on the WB. My mom, Joelle, used to watch it occasionally when it was originally on TV, and she later introduced me to it. We ended up watching it together, and it was so much fun experiencing it with her as a new fan.

The show, featuring Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore, a young mother raising her daughter alone, and Alexis Bledel as her teenage daughter Rory, is well-loved because of its clever dialogue and the cozy, welcoming atmosphere of its made-up town, Stars Hollow, Connecticut.

Similar to the Gilmores, the Perlmutters created a weekly Friday night ritual. However, instead of a stressful, required dinner with family members from three generations, they preferred to watch episodes of the show and simply enjoy each other’s company.

Lauren said she saw herself in the bookish Rory.

I was very focused on school. I worked incredibly hard, and I graduated as valedictorian from UCLA. My mom was in the audience, and we were making the same expressions they showed during Rory’s graduation. My speech was also quite similar to Rory’s,” she explained. “It was really special to be able to connect this story of two women raising each other, and then see it reflected in my relationship with my mom.”

Even though Lauren and her parents have very full lives – Lauren is studying to be a therapist at Pepperdine (she initially thought about becoming a journalist, similar to Rory) – they still manage to have a Friday night movie night every now and then.

To mark the 25th anniversary of the show, Warner Bros. Television Group created an exciting pop-up experience at the Grove. It aimed to give fans “a weekend in Stars Hollow” by featuring recreations of sets and plenty of autumn decorations. The Perlmutters were dedicated fans – they arrived first in line on Saturday morning, despite driving all the way from the San Fernando Valley.

Travel & Experiences

Visitors can expect to see iconic locations like Luke’s Diner, the home of Lorelai and Rory, the town’s gazebo, Mrs. Kim’s Antiques, and-believe it or not-a snow sculpture inspired by Bjork.

Even with a clear “no cell phones” sign – similar to the one at Luke’s Diner – fans were eager to take selfies and videos of the Gilmore Girls set recreations. The Stars Hollow gazebo, the iconic town sign, a copy of Lorelai’s Jeep Wrangler, and a beautiful display of 1,000 daisies inspired by a memorable proposal from the first season were all popular places for photos. Visitors also enjoyed going into Luke’s Diner for coffee and donuts. There was also a lot of themed merchandise available, from standard items like stickers, hats, and mugs, to more unique things like bath salts branded with Lorelai’s inn’s logo. It was a truly immersive experience!

Although the show’s audience is primarily female, many men also enjoy it. One attendee – a husband and father who came with his wife and daughters, who were bigger fans – explained, “every man had a crush on Lorelai.”

The cast of “Gilmore Girls” included Melissa McCarthy as Sookie St. James, Lorelai’s close friend and the chef at the inn, Scott Patterson as Luke Danes, the somewhat grumpy but endearing owner of the diner, Kelly Bishop and Edward Herrmann as Lorelai’s (rather conservative) parents, Emily and Richard Gilmore, and Keiko Agena as Lane Kim, Rory’s best friend who loves rock music. The series was created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, who later created the popular series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and other successful projects.

The series aired from 2000 to 2007 and, while it was a hit with audiences, didn’t receive much praise from critics. Over its seven seasons, the show earned just one Emmy nomination – and it actually won for its makeup artistry. It was a single win despite the long run of the show.

Books

Kelly Bishop reflects on the hit show ‘Gilmore Girls’ in her new memoir, ‘The Third Gilmore Girl.’

As a film and TV enthusiast, I was really surprised when the series didn’t get much critical attention. My friends, Serri Ferrante and Winona Parks, who both work in television, had a good point, though. They think the show’s home on the WB network – which was smaller at the time – and a likely limited budget for awards campaigns probably played a big role. It’s a shame, because the show deserved more recognition, but it makes sense when you consider the circumstances.

“I always voted for it,” Ferrante said, “but it was like a throwaway vote.”

Even so, as demonstrated by the many young fans who attended Saturday’s event at the Grove, “Gilmore Girls” experienced a significant resurgence in popularity thanks to streaming platforms.

Brittania Chacon, 22, from Mid-City, first came across the series a year ago through her TikTok feed. She notes that autumn is the ideal time to watch it-a sentiment shared by many fans. (Nielsen data shows the show’s streaming ratings increase each fall.)

Ferrante said that seeing a new generation of fans makes her “feel old,” but it also gives her a sense of connection to them.

You know, as a big fan, I’ve noticed people keep coming back to this show for a few key reasons. A lot of folks say it’s because the stories feel real, the writing is really clever, or they just love spending time with characters they’ve grown to care about. But something else I’ve heard is that it actually helps some families – especially moms and daughters – open up and talk about tough stuff. It’s like the show gives them a starting point for those difficult conversations, which is pretty cool, if you ask me.

Susie Park, from Glendale, shared that the show gave her a way to discuss difficult topics with her daughter, like dating, relationships, and the challenges of growing up. Her 13-year-old daughter, Ella, watched the entire series over the summer and quickly identified with a particular character. Ella confidently declared herself a member of “Team Jess”, a nod to how fans chose sides based on who they supported as Rory’s boyfriend throughout the show.

Susie shared, “It’s wonderful that this appeals to multiple generations and that I can share it with my daughter, and that she actually connects with it. She’s currently in the age group for sex education, but she found this much more useful than what she was taught in class,” as Ella suddenly laughed.”

Whether you’re Team Logan, Team Jess, or simply have a favorite character from the show, most viewers agree on one thing: they want to see more of Rory, Lorelai, and the charming town of Stars Hollow.

Back in 2016, much of the original cast and creative team came back together for a revival miniseries called “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.” This Netflix series consisted of four episodes, each representing a different season, and picked up the Gilmore family’s story several years later. Although many people were eagerly awaiting its release, the series didn’t receive particularly positive reviews from critics or fans. Some viewers felt that the characters behaved in ways that didn’t align with the qualities that made them so beloved and memorable.

Over twenty years since the show first aired, many fans are eager for more stories set in Stars Hollow. Graham, who recently met up with Bledel at the Emmy Awards, mentioned on the red carpet that she would be interested in making a “Gilmore Girls” Christmas movie. She seems enthusiastic about the possibility and it’s something fans would likely enjoy. It’s a popular request.

Whether or not the show gets another season, Gilmore Girls is widely considered a truly great series. Lorelai and Rory’s relationship will likely inspire discussions between mothers and daughters for many years to come. It’s a timeless story that resonates with audiences.

Eleni Zumot, who came to Saturday’s event with her sister, mother, and 9-month-old daughter Amelia (who was wearing a pink Luke’s Diner t-shirt), shared that she looks forward to watching the show with Amelia when her daughter is older.

“I think she’ll love it.”

Read More

2025-10-05 13:37