‘Gilmore Girls’ makes you want to hug your TV

By JOHN HANSEN

May 4, 2001

I’ve always been a fan of dark, depressing TV. But while I appreciate feeling cold and empty after an episode, such as this season’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” episode where Buffy’s mom dies, I’ve recently discovered that warmness and cuteness can be the traits of a good show as well.

The show that turned me on to this notion is “Gilmore Girls.” I know that watching (and taping, and re-watching) “Gilmore Girls” won’t earn me any manliness points, but I can’t help it.

I love this show not because it’s depressing as hell, but because it’s warm, fuzzy and cute. These attributes are normally associated with fluff, but “Gilmore Girls” has made them into high art thanks zippy writing and the adorable relationship between Rory (Alexis Bledel) and her mom Lorelai (Lauren Graham).

Producer Amy Sherman-Palladino deserves a place among the modern TV geniuses, but it certainly helps that Graham and Bledel are the cutest mother-daughter pairing ever.

Thirty-two-year old Lorelai and 16-year old Rory are like best friends. When parental roles do come into play, it’s often Rory who takes on the mature role, telling packrat Lorelai to remove from her closet “anything you’d be embarassed to be wearing in a car accident. Then meet me downstairs in 10 minutes.”

Even without the witty exchanges, the parent-child relationship on “Gilmore Girls” is refreshing simply because it contrasts with all the dysfunctional families which have become the norm on TV, notably in sitcoms like “Grounded for Life” and “Malcolm in the Middle.”

Even dramas with loving relationships are characterized by constant failure of parents and children to see eye-to-eye. “Gilmore Girls,” in fact, plays this out through Lorelai and her mother Emily (Kelly Bishop), who completely lacks a sense of humor. Surprisingly, Emily is a very likeable character despite her flaws. The same can be said of all the inhabitants of Stars Hollow, Conn., which like all fictional TV towns, includes both the amenities of a big city (Lorelai runs an inn) and the endearing traits of small towns such as white picket fences, vegetable stands and of course, quirky characters.

Filling a cast with loveable supporting characters is no easy task; just look at “Ed” or “Felicity,” which are undermined by secondary characters who are supposed to be colorful comic relief, but are merely annoying. That’s not a problem on “Gilmore Girls,” which includes the obsessive chef Sookie (Melissa McCarthy); Jackson (Jackson Douglas), who develops mutant vegetables; and most notably, Luke (Scott Patterson), who turned his dad’s hardware store into a restaurant without changing the sign or décor.

While the Lorelai-Rory relationship is clearly groundbreaking, the show’s more conventional elements also seem fresh. In fact, the unrequited romance (an obvious TV staple) between Luke and Lorelai is the show’s most endearing running plot. While Rory’s new school exploits are a major plotline, you won’t find ridiculously angst-ridden struggles over relationships, sex or drugs ala “Dawson’s Creek.” Rory is intrinsically loveable that she gets along well with everyone, even Paris (Liza Weil), who constantly fails to make Rory feel as insecure as she does.

“Gilmore Girls” has shown that darkness, depression and angst aren’t the only traits of good TV. Besides, there’s something to be said about feeling warm and fuzzy at the end of the hour instead of cold and depressed.

What: “Gilmore Girls” Season 1

When: 7 p.m. Thursdays on The WB

Starring: Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Melissa McCarthy, Scott Patterson, Kelly Bishop

Executive Producer: Amy Sherman-Palladino

Grade (episodes 1-20): A+

“Gilmore Girls” Season 1 (2000-01, WB) — This is one of those rare shows that’s not only entertaining, but it actually gives you a warm fuzzy glow while watching it. It’s nice to know that if I ever get depressed this summer, I can just pop in a “Gilmore Girls” tape and feel better.

Like so many TV towns, Stars Hollow, Conn. is a fantasy world. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows everyone else, the weather’s always great and you can sit down in a quaint little hardware store-turned-restaurant every day for coffee.

Some people might find the mother-daughter relationship between Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) somewhat fantastic since it digresses from conventional TV fare — they are best friends and any disagreement they have is reconciled in no time flat with a hug. While Amy Sherman-Palladino’s show has many strengths, it’s Rory and Lorelai who we keep coming back to.

With “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (and possibly “Angel” and “Roswell” too) moving to UPN, “Gilmore Girls” might be the only show keeping The WB’s reputation for innovation alive. A+

— John Hansen, NDSU Spectrum, Summer 2001