Gilmore Girl Marrying a Mad Man?
Who could blame Rory Gilmore for choosing ‘bad boy’ Jess over clean-cut all-American yes-man boyfriend Dean? But is the life-imitates-art turn of events the right move for gloriously photogenic Kimberly Alexis Bledel and Mad Man regular Vincent Kartheiser? Only time will tell if theirs will be one of Hollywood’s rare marital success stories (a la Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward), or another blip on the radar screen of hits and misses. For their sakes, I hope it works out, til death do them part.
I have to admit, Gilmore Girls is one of my favourite TV shows. I have the box sets of all 7 seasons and I am almost finished my 3rd viewing. I truly believe that the best shows and movies were filmed in the mid-to-late 1980s and into the early 1990s (Moonlighting, Ally McBeal, Cheers, Seinfeld, Frasier, Chicago Hope, Judging Amy, Providence). Classics like The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Tyler Moore, Rhoda, The Persuaders, paved the way. Though there are gems among more recent shows – Monk, House, Psych and the new Elementary are great.
But there is one show that is both recent and a classic – almost in a class by itself – the dramedy Gilmore Girls. This series ran from 2000 through 2007 and featured the most unique mother-daughter team to grace the small screen (in my humble opinion, ever).
Sixteen-year-old Lorelai Gilmore (played by raven-haired sapphire-eyed beauty Lauren Graham), the rebel daughter of well-to-do parents, gets pregnant. Instead of obediently marrying the son of well-to-do parents Christopher Hayden, the father, she runs away. And ends up in the tiny hamlet of Star’s Hollow, some 30 miles from Hartford, Connecticut, her birthplace – but a world away in lifestyle, people and relationships. Working as a chamber maid at the Independence Inn, Lorelei raises her baby girl with the help of her boss, and the lovable loonies who populate the town.
I won’t give anymore away, but if you’re looking for something to watch on Netflix, or if you find the DVD box sets on sale at Walmart, go for it. Start with Season 1, when the super-smart and oh-so-pretty Rory Gilmore transfers to Chilton, the snooty private school, on her grandparents’ dime. Then fasten your seat belts ‘cause you’re in for a bumpy but delightfully entertaining ride.
Warning: Rory and her gorgeous mom Lorelei talk faster than you can listen, and they reference obscure movie, TV, music and literary trivia. The box sets come with booklets of “Gilmorisms” that explain some of the lines they speak. (Anyone over 40 will love it and totally get it!) But it’s worth the effort to get to know this stunningly beautiful and original mother-daughter team, the quirky characters in their town, and the hoity-toity parents/grandparents, whose price for putting Rory thorough school is Friday night dinners ‘en famille’. Every week, the new maid will usher the lovely ladies in to dinner (because Emily Gilmore has a hard time holding on to her help). Then watch the fur fly.
You’ll probably end up feeling better about your own family when you see the Gilmores in action. Or maybe you’ll think, gee I’d put up with that if I had the money and lifestyle that comes with it. Either way, it will be an adventure you’ll enjoy more and more with each successive episode and season! And it will leave you wanting more…
verawrites 