Gilmore Girls Creator Reflects on Show’s Origins and Modern Reception

HOLLYWOOD, California — In a recent interview, Amy Sherman-Palladino, co-creator of the beloved series “Gilmore Girls,” discussed the show’s origins and its unlikely success on television, particularly as it marks its 25th anniversary.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Sherman-Palladino explained how the series about a mother-daughter duo, played by Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel, came to life amidst the intense environment of early 2000s television. The show first aired on The WB in 2000 and ran for seven seasons before concluding on The CW in 2007.

During the pitch process, Sherman-Palladino admitted she barely mentioned “Gilmore Girls” as a significant project. “I said, ‘I’ve got this sort of thing that’s like a mother and daughter, and they’re more like friends than mother-daughter,’ and they’re like, ‘Oh, we’ll buy that one,’” she recalled.

Reflecting on the show’s success, she attributed it to an element of “alchemy,” noting that she does not think such a show would be greenlit today. “We were really left alone to build our worlds and our characters. [Warner Bros.] gave up on even trying to give us notes on the scripts. They didn’t understand the scripts. It wasn’t soapy enough for them,” she said.

Sherman-Palladino emphasized that the show’s unique blend of fast dialogue and numerous pop culture references might not resonate with today’s television standards. “At every turn, we were not necessarily what they wanted or what they thought they needed, but it was a different time. Today, a “Gilmore Girls” would not get on the air. No way, no how.”

She also opened up about the stressful filming schedule, which involved shooting 80 pages in just eight days, without breaks or hiatuses. “It was very frantic. We were shooting 22 episodes, and if we didn’t get it, we didn’t get it,” Sherman-Palladino explained.

Despite the challenges, “Gilmore Girls” remains a cherished series, with a revival, “A Year in the Life,” released on Netflix in 2016. The series continues to attract fans who binge-watch its seven seasons on streaming platforms. As the cast and creators celebrate its legacy, there are ongoing hopes for further stories from Stars Hollow.