Gilmore Girls Fandom Thrives 25 Years Later
A quarter-century has passed since the world first encountered Gilmore Girls, with its quick-witted, coffee-loving mother and daughter — yet you wouldn't guess it given the fervor of long-time devotees and the surge of enthusiastic newcomers.
Barely an hour after my September arrival at the A Weekend in the Life convention in New Milford, Connecticut — one of the locales said to have inspired the '00s (and enduring) phenomenon Gilmore Girls, featuring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel — I'm approached by at least five friendly strangers eager to strike up a conversation.
A figure akin to Taylor Doose, representing the local historical society, gestures towards the nearby gazebo (“It’s a bandstand!” I can almost hear him correcting me) as he recounts an Ohio man's marriage proposal to his Gilmore-obsessed girlfriend (now fiancé).
A woman reminiscent of Mrs. Kim — though far kinder, as a sign outside her shop proclaimed — is quick to share that fans have journeyed from Alaska, New Zealand, and France to visit her thrift store, The Hunt, in the town center.
A local woman whose demeanor, more than her appearance, echoes Miss Patty, interrupts my note-taking to inquire if I'm painting and, if so, whether I've explored the works of local artisans?
And finally, a mother-daughter pair, Kim and Lorelai (yes, the daughter is named after Graham's character), discuss their pilgrimage to this charming town all the way from Minnesota, after years of seeing their own family dynamic mirrored in the words and actions of the Gilmore duo.
This is the primary appeal for many of the approximately 1,200 superfans who made the trip for this specific Gilmore event — one among hundreds that occur annually, including conventions, trivia competitions, and even themed cruises.
“There’s a lot of challenging things happening in our world. Sometimes you just need to escape to that wonderful place that makes you feel good and brings you back home,” Kim shared with Us Weekly.
Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, the comedy drama entered our lives on October 5, 2000, introducing Lorelai Gilmore, in her thirties, and her brilliant teenage daughter, Rory. This verbally gifted and coffee-devoted duo were contrasted by the equally sharp Emily Gilmore (Kelly Bishop), Lorelai's aloof, high-society mother and Rory's adoring grandmother.
Beyond the intergenerational trio at the narrative's core, the residents of fictional Stars Hollow, Connecticut — reportedly loosely based on areas like New Milford — contribute a distinct quirky flair.
A brief overview: Richard Gilmore (Edward Herrmann) is the golf-enthusiast patriarch. In addition to the self-proclaimed town leader Taylor (Michael Winters), there's diner owner Luke (Scott Patterson), Lorelai's on-again, off-again romantic interest; Mrs. Kim (Emily Kuroda), the strict mother of Rory's best friend, Lane (Keiko Agena); and Miss Patty (Liz Torres), a dancer-turned-teacher and the town's chief gossip.
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Sookie St. James (Melissa McCarthy) is the clumsy but gifted chef who is Lorelai’s business partner and best friend. Michel Gerard (Yanic Truesdale) is the sharp-tongued French concierge at the inn where Lorelai and Sookie work. Add in more vibrant inhabitants of Stars Hollow (Sean Gunn, Sally Struthers, and Jackson Douglas, to name a few), as well as Rory’s schoolmates (such as Liza Weil) and her frequently discussed romantic interests: Dean (Jared Padalecki), Jess (Milo Ventimiglia), and Logan (Matt Czuchry).
Living Gilmore
While the series achieved moderate success during its seven seasons on the WB and the CW, an entirely new demographic was introduced to the comforting phenomenon of Gilmore Girls when Netflix added it in 2014. (The four-episode revival, A Year in the Life, streamed in 2016.) Even a quick check of TV schedules reveals a staggering 38 hours of Gilmore programming airing in a single week.
“I don’t even know how many times I’ve watched it anymore. I’ve lost count,” fan Liza Seipold told Us at the Decade Days–organized event. (Unsurprisingly for this community, her admission fee was covered by a fellow fan after learning Seipold's daughter was ill and she couldn't afford the ticket price.) “I watch it every day, practically. I’m obsessed. I mean, it’s one of my favorite shows ever. It’s my happy place.”
Retailers Danielle Restivo and Angelique Holm share a similar sentiment: “I want to reside in Stars Hollow. That’s the ultimate aspiration,” the latter informed Us, adding that “money is no obstacle” when it comes to how much she'd spend on Gilmore Girls–related merchandise or activities. (Other attendees disclose tabs exceeding $1,000 for their travel, plus branded sweatshirts, candles, blankets, and photos with cast members at roughly $70 each.)
Caitlin Broome and Skyler Laskowski, who bonded over their shared love for the series during college in North Carolina, journeyed north to participate and affirm their “Team Logan” allegiance.
Dedicated Gilmore viewers Meghna Balakumar and Kevin Konrad Hanna even took it upon themselves to produce Drink Coffee, Talk Fast, a documentary featuring interviews with Agena, Bishop, Padalecki, Chad Michael Murray, and others, funded by fellow fans through a Kickstarter campaign, which launched on Tuesday, September 30.
Many admirers perceive Gilmore Girls much as Lorelai and Rory described The Donna Reed Show to Dean in season 1: “It’s a way of life.” “It’s a faith.” Those very phrases were visible on several of Restivo and Holm’s sweatshirts available for purchase.
In addition to the 15-year-old Lorelai mentioned earlier, cast members tell me they've encountered countless fans named after Rory, Luke, and even more minor characters like Finn. The stars are approached by fans on clothing-optional beaches, in secluded global regions, and even in restrooms. “That’s probably the most bizarre,” Scott Cohen, who portrayed Max, Rory’s teacher and Lorelai’s early love interest, confided to Us.
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Cohen recalls an instance when a Gilmore Girls group attended a play he was performing in New York, showering the stage with daisies in tribute to the 1,000 yellow daisies his character used to propose to Lorelai. “Both a little embarrassing but at the same time fantastic,” he reflected.
Throughout the weekend, I observed 16 fans with tattoos celebrating the series, ranging from dragonflies to “Where You Lead, I Will Follow,” the memorable line from Carole King’s song that serves as the main theme. I met fans from Canada, Australia, Bahrain, and all across the U.S. I even overheard someone in the bathroom remark, “I don’t want to wash the hand that just shook Logan’s hand.” (Actor Czuchry was present for meet-and-greets.) And this is merely a glimpse into the global Gilmore community.
“Many of these individuals have become friends over the years,” states Jennie Whitaker, founder and organizer of the Fan Fest Society, which has hosted Gilmore-themed festivals, cruises, and gatherings since 2016. (Next: the Firelight Event in Guilford, Connecticut, scheduled for October 17–19.) “We’ve developed this incredible community that I’ve never witnessed in [anything] I’ve ever done — people who travel across the country for weddings, funerals, birthdays, adoptions [and] reunions throughout the year.”
Whitaker has personally seen “thousands” of Gilmore tattoos, and she observes fans exchanging tokens, or trinkets, annually. (“It was like the original Eras Tour,” she remarks about this custom that predates Taylor Swift fans swapping bracelets.) Whitaker has hosted Gilmore enthusiasts from all 50 states and 23 countries and even facilitated a wedding at one festival, with hundreds of attendees dressing up as bridesmaids. She has also heard powerful testimonials from local business owners regarding the impact these fans have on local communities.
“[One woman] approached us to say, ‘I sell more baked goods this weekend [than] I do over the entire course of the year,’” she recounts of the small Connecticut towns that host these events. “Business owners are typically very appreciative, because it’s a substantial influx of people coming in to spend money and boost tourism and simply be a part of their town.” Millions are embracing the metaphorical Kool-Aid — or rather, coffee — and the following is only expanding.
Lasting Impact
“It feels like the legacy grew significantly over time,” Kevin T. Porter, former cohost of the “Gilmore Guys” podcast (2014–2017), shared with Us. “It truly appears to be expanding in scale and in numbers every single year. It hasn't faded away in the manner one might expect for a show that hasn't been aired regularly in nearly 20 years.”
Why has this family-centric, community-focused dramedy from the pre-social media era maintained such enduring appeal — even to generations born after its initial run? (Hello, Reader, allow me to introduce myself: I was born on the day the season 1 finale aired in 2001.) Fans and cast members offer some explanations.
“There’s something about the series and the fictional town of Stars Hollow, by way of Connecticut, by way of the Burbank backlot in L.A., that simply makes people want to return there and immerse themselves in it as an escape, as a form of security, as an expression of romance, optimism, and idealism,” Porter noted. “Something keeps drawing them back, and it’s been quite remarkable to witness that growth.”
Most fans tell me they commence their annual rewatch at the start of fall, linking the comforting, warm emotions the show evokes with the changing seasons. (“I am an Autumn,” Richard Gilmore famously declared in an audio clip that annually dominates TikTok.)
“This kind of healing, therapeutic aspect of the show is undeniable,” cast member Patterson told Us. “I hear it constantly. I hear, ‘This show saved me,’ ‘This show got me through cancer,’ ‘This show got me through Iraq.’”
Patterson recalled a 2015 incident when he was approached by a man in military fatigues at the Austin airport. “We watched that show when we were in the middle of nowhere,” the veteran tearfully told him. “If we survived our deployment, we’d get back to the camp, and we’d watch your show. We lost comrades, and we’d return and watch your show. Because to us, that felt like America. It gave us hope.”
Gilmore Girls depicted small-town America during a period before technology, political polarization, and global pandemics fractured communities. Furthermore, it centers on a single mother whose life ambitions are raising her daughter and establishing a business — not finding a man to support her.
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“At the time, it was groundbreaking,” Tanc Sade, also known as Finn, a Life and Death Brigade member and friend to Rory and Logan in later seasons, told Us. “I believe it was the first show that celebrated intelligent women who weren’t reliant on men, who weren’t secondary characters. They weren’t there because of their appearance. They were smart, articulate, and humorous, and I think it resonated with a generation of women who required that.”
Female viewers who identified with Rory when the show first aired began to connect more with Lorelai as they started having their own children. “Now that I’m a mother with teenagers, I’m starting to agree with many things Emily says more than I used to,” fan Jillian Gardner told Us of her evolving perspective.
And both fans and cast members cannot praise enough the brilliance of Sherman-Palladino’s writing. Alongside husband Dan Palladino, a creative force on the series, she challenged actors with scripts brimming with clever repartee. Scripts were frequently twice the length of a typical show's.
“It doesn’t underestimate the audience's intelligence,” Patterson told Us. “The audience must rise to its standard. It’s clever. It’s incredibly, incredibly funny… It functions best as a light comedy, and then at the conclusion of an episode, you receive a powerful emotional blow. It’s wonderfully unpredictable. There are 50 to 60 excellent jokes per episode. No one else is doing it like that. Lorelai is essentially navigating life as a stand-up comedian, and a very good one at that.”
Ultimately, it appears what continuously draws fans back is the atmosphere of Stars Hollow — that autumnal, indefinable quality that acts as a comforting embrace for viewers.
“When it comes to entertainment, people are craving fundamental human drama and storytelling,” Porter told Us. “I think there’s a very clear sense of comfort to the show that makes people feel secure and good about revisiting it so frequently.”
Fans don't hesitate when I ask if they consider this a cult — albeit a welcoming one. They embrace the designation. Gilmore Girls provides them with community, helps them through difficult times, and unites their families. In the end, it feels like home.
