At a recent Emmy Awards ceremony, actresses Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel, who famously played mother and daughter, reunited to honor the beloved show that first brought them together.
Graham playfully remarked that “Gilmore Girls,” which premiered a quarter-century ago, seems to have permanently claimed the autumn season as its own.
Originally airing on October 5, 2000, on the former WB network, “Gilmore Girls” is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a flurry of activity. A new documentary, “Drink Coffee, Talk Fast,” is currently in production. Furthermore, popular brands such as Cotton On, Owala, and Vera Bradley have launched new “Gilmore Girls”-themed merchandise lines. The Vera Bradley collection, for instance, saw over 85,000 sign-ups for its email list and sold out completely within just five minutes. Even actors Jared Padalecki and Matt Czuchry, recognizable to fans as Rory’s memorable boyfriends Dean and Logan, recently teamed up for a Panera Bread commercial.
This commercial, coincidentally, promoted Panera’s fall menu, echoing Graham’s comments at the Emmys. Despite the series concluding 18 years ago, and its Netflix debut 11 years ago revitalizing its fanbase, along with a revival mini-series “A Year in the Life” nine years ago, a consistent tradition remains: each autumn, as temperatures drop and foliage transforms, many devoted viewers embark on an annual television journey to the quaint, fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut.
Social media platforms like TikTok are brimming with content declaring autumn as prime “Gilmore Girls” rewatch season. Enthusiastic discussions unfold on Reddit and Facebook, where fans debate the ideal start date for their annual viewing — whether September 1st or October 1st. Even Vanessa Marano, who portrayed April Nardini in the series, shared her own fall countdown on Instagram to mark the anniversary.
Kevin T. Porter, co-host of the “Gilmore Guys” rewatch podcast, points out that the show’s autumnal connection is deeply embedded. “The very first shot of the theme song features numerous orange-leaf trees, and the entire opening montage is bathed in warm, fall-like colors,” he explained. “It’s inherent to the show’s identity.”
Conceived by Amy Sherman-Palladino, the series centers on Lorelai Gilmore, played by Graham, and her daughter Rory, played by Bledel, whom Lorelai had at 16. In the idyllic, eccentric town of Stars Hollow, their dynamic often blurs the lines between mother and best friend. Their lives are interwoven with a colorful cast of townspeople, from quirky handymen to meddling neighbors, and, of course, a string of memorable romantic interests.
Since its introduction to Netflix, “Gilmore Girls” has experienced a surge in popularity, surpassing its initial viewership. Nielsen data reveals that in 2021, 2022, and 2023, it consistently ranked among the top 10 most streamed shows across all platforms.
However, the show’s autumn-centric reputation might be somewhat misleading. The very first scene, shot near Toronto, depicts Lorelai bundled up in a town with bare trees. After the pilot, production shifted to the WB lot in Burbank, California, meaning any subsequent fall ambiance was carefully created. A recent analysis by Mental Floss indicated that only 48 out of the show’s 153 episodes actually occur in the fall, with a slightly higher number, 53, set in the spring.
This begs the question: How did the series become so intrinsically linked to this specific season?
Sherman-Palladino herself stated that the concept of autumn was integral to her vision for “Gilmore Girls.” Following the show’s sale to the network, she and her husband, Dan Palladino (who also wrote, directed, and produced for the series), visited Connecticut. There, they were captivated by classic seasonal elements like hayrides and pumpkin patches, which deeply influenced their creative process.
“As a jaded woman, I initially thought, ‘This is like something a casting director arranged for us; people don’t truly live this way,'” Sherman-Palladino recounted in an interview last year. “But they do in certain areas, and that experience creatively fueled the remainder of the show. Much of the series explores Lorelai’s endeavor to craft a world where she and her daughter could mature together.”
Scott Patterson, who famously played Luke Danes, the beloved grumpy diner owner and Lorelai’s eventual romantic interest, suggested in a video interview that the show’s association with fall stems from its underlying family themes.
The series kicks off with Lorelai needing to mend ties with her estranged parents, Emily (Kelly Bishop) and Richard (Edward Herrmann), to secure funds for Rory’s private school tuition. This sets in motion a weekly Friday night dinner tradition that becomes a central pillar of the show across all seven seasons.
Patterson noted that autumn is “when families should naturally gravitate towards each other.”
Porter connected the show’s fall appeal to its warm, relaxed atmosphere. He described “a languid, almost leisurely pace to everything on the show that makes it effortlessly enjoyable,” further emphasizing how “the inherent coziness” naturally links it to the autumn season.
Jennie Whitaker, who manages a P.R. agency in Austin and organizes an annual fan festival in Connecticut (held, fittingly, in the fall), believes the connection originates from perceptions of the Northeast held by those living outside the region.
“I associate Maine with sailboats in the summertime,” she elaborated. “But if you ask, ‘When do you want to visit Connecticut?’ I can’t imagine anyone suggesting a season other than fall.”
Kathleen London, who co-organizes “Destination Stars Hollow,” an annual event in her and Laura Boote’s hometown of Brighton, Michigan, posits that “Gilmore Girls” successfully filled a seasonal void in popular media.
“When envisioning a small town, you typically think of either Christmas or fall,” she observed, adding that Hallmark already dominates the Christmas-themed programming.
Indeed, “Gilmore Girls” prominently featured fall holidays over winter ones. For instance, in Season 3’s “A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving,” Rory and Lorelai juggle an astonishing four Thanksgiving dinners. And in Season 1, Episode 7, “Kiss and Tell,” Rory confides to her best friend, Lane (Keiko Agena), about her first kiss, all while dressed as pilgrims next to a festive cornucopia.
The franchise’s concluding episode, the “A Year in the Life” finale, is fittingly titled “Fall.” This episode famously delivers the four final words that creator Sherman-Palladino had always envisioned for the original series’ conclusion, a moment she was unable to deliver due to a contract dispute before the final season.
Rory: “Mom?”
Lorelai: “Yeah?”
Rory: “I’m pregnant.”
As Patterson aptly put it, autumn symbolizes family togetherness. For countless households, “Gilmore Girls” endures as a cherished shared tradition.
“It’s akin to a precious antique passed down from your grandparents,” Patterson remarked. “At many conventions I attend, you’ll witness four generations — grandmother, mother, daughter, and granddaughter — all connecting over the show. It’s truly remarkable.”