Gilmore Girls, the brainchild of the brilliant Amy Sherman-Palladino, continues to be a pop culture culture phenomenon more than two decades after it originally aired on The WB. The show, a bona fide charming blend of wit, humour, and the cosiest of vibes has not only stood the test of time but continues to resonate with newer generations worldwide.
Despite the series debuting 23 years ago, Lauren Graham, who brought Lorelai Gilmore to life, is more than willing to bask in the legacy of Gilmore Girls. Unlike most stars who grow to detest associations with their most famous work, Graham has no qualms about acknowledging the joy her show and character bring people even today.
But there is one particular subsection of the fandom who leave her thoroughly unimpressed: men who act surprised by how good Gilmore Girls actually is as a show!
Graham recently shared her thoughts on the enduring popularity of the show in an interview with inews. She mentioned how people underestimated Gilmore Girls even when it first aired in 2000 and how that trend continues, “At the time, I kept hearing people be surprised that it lasted, surprised that it was so entertaining, surprised that it kept finding a new audience. I don’t know what to make of that,” she reflects.
Graham has always been categorically bemused by the notion that some people categorise Gilmore Girls as a show exclusively for women or teens. The mere presence of the word “girls” in the title seems to trigger assumptions about its target audience. Graham countered this misconception: “Because I always thought, yeah, it’s smart. It’s funny. It’s about women. But it’s also about a lot of other things. I just took it for granted that, of course, this is an interesting relationship. Why wouldn’t it be?”
What adds a layer of irony to this situation is that Gilmore Girls had a female showrunner, Amy Sherman-Palladino, at the helm—a rarity at the time. Graham herself acknowledges the significance of this fact, noting, “It wasn’t until later that I realised that.” The actor, however, remains unfazed and sees all this surprise as a backhanded compliment.
A particularly amusing scenario unfolds when men confess to Graham that they enjoy the show after initially dismissing it as not meant for them. With a touch of humour, she suggests, “When men say to me, ‘My girlfriend made me watch it, and I really like it,’ I say, ‘You should start a support group because there’s a lot of you’.”
Comparisons arise when Graham points out the different reception received by Sherman-Palladino’s later creation, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Despite also revolving around two women, the period-piece setting, Graham hypothesised, seemed to have shielded it from the stereotypical label of being a “women’s show.” Graham speculates that the evolution of streaming platforms may have played a role in altering perceptions as well.
In the end, Lauren Graham’s bemusement at the persistent surprise regarding the broad appeal of Gilmore Girls serves as a testament to the show’s unique ability to transcend stereotypes and resonate with audiences across genders and generations. As the dialogue-driven series continues to find and fascinate new fans, you might even binge it once more!
