TV

My Guilty Pleasure: 'Gilmore Girls'

 

My Guilty Pleasure: 'Gilmore Girls'

 

Since we’re witnessing the ‘The Golden Era of Television’ (well, the third one), it’s pretty easy to sing the praises of such shows like ‘Mad Men,’ ‘Homeland,’ ‘Modern Family,’ and basically everything on HBO. But, let’s face it: we like the bad stuff too. Whether it’s teary-eyed confessionals, stupid pranks or staged catfights, we all have a TV guilty pleasure (or two) that we simply cannot quit.

So that’s why I’m rounding up my favorite television vices each week, so that we can all find solace in knowing that someone else is watching – and enjoying – the same vast wasteland.

Because the first step in healing is admitting that you have a problem.

This week’s Guilty Pleasure: ‘Gilmore Girls.’

Here’s a little known secret about myself: whenever I feel sad, or sick, or just plain mopey, I go into my DVD collection and pull out the complete series of ‘Gilmore Girls’. I don’t know what it is about those girls and their fellow (quirky) Stars Hollow residents that instantly make me feel better about myself (maybe because their lives seem cut from cotton candy and a Norman Rockwell painting, or that I am super glad I don’t know anyone who speaks that annoyingly fast) but it’s my go-to medicine.

Networks just don’t make shows like ‘Gilmore Girls’ anymore. It’s hard to remember the television days of yore when we welcomed sassy over disgruntled or tidy, happy endings over blood-soaked weddings, but we did. And you know what? Feeling good actually feels good. So, grab a blanket and curl up. Here’s why ‘Gilmore Girls’ makes everything feel better.

Those Opening Credits


There’s really nothing more welcoming and down home-y than that opening warm-and-sepia shot and the smooth sound of Carole King’s voice singing her classic, “Where You Lead” (which she croons alongside her own real-life daughter). I mean, clips of fall foliage interspersed with cute footage of Rory (Alexis Bledel) and Lorelai (Lauren Graham) surely makes everyone feel like sipping on a warm mug of cider, believing that someone will follow them to the ends of the Earth, right?

Lorelai’s and Rory’s Relationship

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0shLINhTH4

Being an only child, I can totally relate to the super close bond these two gals share. Movie nights with mom really are a thing, and, yes, having intense, sometimes immature fights, are also apart of the package, as is sharing pretty much everything, like the time when you lost your virginity and stole that boat. Having a relationship with your mom that has some seriously blurred boundaries a la ‘Chinatown’ (“She’s my sister AND my daughter!”) is a strangely wonderful thing, and Lorelai and Rory depict it perfectly.

The Stars Hollow Gang

My Guilty Pleasure: The Gilmore Girls 

Seriously, has there ever been a weirder charming, yet so effing strange, group of characters portrayed on a single TV show? I think not. From type-A (which also stands for Annoying) Paris Gellar to the super strange Kirk (what does he do for a living?) to eccentric cat lady Babette, the sexpot dance teacher, Patty, and bossy, nosey Taylor, Stars Hollow is home to a colorful array of characters. They might not always see eye-to-eye with each other (those wacky town hall meetings can attest to that), but who will rally and unite if the Gilmore girls (or anyone else) need them to.

Melissa McCarthy, yo!

 My Guilty Pleasure: Gilmore Girls

Before Melissa McCarthy starred in ‘Bridesmaids,’ got an Oscar nom for it, and then became this mega awesome movie star who can carry her own film (!!), she starred as Lorelai’s best friend and business partner, Sookie St. James. Sookie was sweet and perky and not anything like the Melissa McCarthy we know and love today. I’m not sure anyone thought it would be McCarthy who would be the breakout from the cast (‘cuz Graham is seriously cool, too), but while rewatching McCarthy’s pitch-perfect performance, it’s actually quite clear she’s got the goods.

Guest Stars Galore!

 My Guilty Pleasure: The Gilmore Girls

One of the most fun things to do while watching reruns of ‘Gilmore Girls’ is spotting all the fab guest-stars-before-they-were-stars who found themselves in Stars Hollow. Oh, look! There’s Adam Brody (pre-Seth Cohen) romancing Lane! And Lorelai’s on a date with…Don Draper (Jon Hamm)?! Then, of course, there are the recurring characters (mostly dudes) who went onto star in their own shows: Matt Czuchry (Logan) finding fame on ‘The Good Wife,’ Jared Padalecki (Dean) on ‘Supernatural,’ Milo Ventimiglia (Jess) on ‘Heroes’, ‘Mob City,’ etc., Chad Michael Murray (Tristan) on ‘One Tree Hill,’ David Sutcliffe (Christopher), who starred in ‘Cracked’ and popped up on ‘Private Practice,’ too.


Details
Person:
- Alexis Bledel
- Jared Padalecki
- Jon Hamm
- David Sutcliffe
- Lauren Graham
- Milo Ventimiglia
- Matt Czuchry
- Melissa McCarthy
Show:
- Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
Network:
- WB
- CW

Written by: briannehogan
Apr 15th, 2014, 12:55 pm

Images courtesy of the WB, CW

Anonymous


Message Posted On Sep 11th, 2014, 11:36 am
It's just the same for me. I always love this show, the humor, the actors and the wonderfull little town of stars hollows. It's the best thing to watch for me when i'm bored or feeling down. I just love it.
WhateverWorks


Level 1 (48%)
Points: 0.2
Since: 25/Dec/13
Message Posted On Apr 17th, 2014, 8:01 pm

I love the Gilmore Girls. They need more shows like this on the networks. (I don't for the record watch HBO shows. I don't even think they belong in the Emmy nominations) -- Crime dramas are good and everything. I watch several. But a fun, quirky feel good show is hard to find these days-- in the hour long genre. I won't bother with anything that's half hour. Not worth my time.

Eureka (SyFy) was another show that was good for the whole family to watch. Nothing too gory, too violent, or too sexual was on it and it was still really good and funny. Also. Crazy science!  

Just my two bits that's off topic a bit... The networks need to stop being sheep. Meaning, stop the trending madness! Come up with something different than your competition for crying out loud. There can only be so many vamp shows, or zombies or whatever has caught the whim of the networks at the time. 

 

But yes. The Gilmore Girls is wonderful. And I don't feel guilty in the least for enjoying it. :) 

Related news

Sara Rue To Write New Comedy For The CW

Sara Rue previously appeared on the CW network last season, hosting their..

CW Picks Up "Melrose Place" -Er, "The L.A. Complex"

CW tried to revitalize the 90s hit “Melrose Place” in 2009. The..

What Shows Are Networks Picking Up for 2012?

TV shows are finally back from hiatus, but networks are already looking..