It's fall, and for many that means it's “Gilmore Girls” season.
Although its original run ended in 2007, the series about the mother-daughter escapades of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore has remained a viewing juggernaut, often returning to the top 10 of Nielsen's streaming chart during the fall and winter months. . Consider it a reassuring symbol of a pre-pandemic world that is less digital and focused on pleasant small-town life.
A gazebo on the Warner Bros. film set, often featured on “Gilmore Girls,” will be decked out in Christmas decorations for the studio’s “Holidays Made Here” festivities.
(Visit to the Warner Bros. studios)
Capitalizing on the show's continued popularity, the venerable Warner Bros. Studio Tour has once again made “Gilmore Girls” a centerpiece of its holiday offerings. From December 18 to January 5, a portion of the studio's backlot will be remade in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, with looks at key filming locations and props, as well as costume contests and cookie decorating activities.
“Holidays Made Here” festivities will be available as part of all studio tour offerings, a spokesperson says, with tours departing between 9am and 3:30pm daily except Christmas Day . Warner Bros. tours start at $73, but several add-ons and deals are available for additional fees. Danny Kahn, vice president and general manager of Warner Bros. Studio Tour, said the firm is showcasing properties that embody “the warmth, charm and community spirit that define the season.”
Those who analyze and study the series say it makes sense for fans to return to “Gilmore Girls” during this time of year, or to start it for the first time.
After all, “Gilmore Girls” sometimes appears organized around the academic calendar, says Rachel Davidson, co-author of “Gilmore Girls: A Cultural History” with Lara Stache, which begins in the fall when Rory Gilmore’s character (Alexis Bledel) Is accepted into a prestigious prep school. The show focuses on several generations of Gilmores and follows Rory and her mother, Lorelai (Lauren Graham), as they navigate family challenges, often around the table with Lorelai's parents.
A scene from the 2023 “Holidays Made Here” event, featuring a snowman inspired by Bjork from “Gilmore Girls.”
(Visit to the Warner Bros. studios)
“The title sequence of 'Gilmore Girls' also captures the feeling of autumn, with its aerial view of a small town scene surrounded by the warm tones of autumn leaves,” says Davidson. “The colors and sepia-toned aesthetic of the intro create a welcoming, nostalgic tone that aligns nicely with the fall season, making it feel like a quintessential fall show.”
It's comfort food, says Haley McIntosh, who co-hosts the rerun podcast “Gilmore to Say” with Tara Llewellyn.
“Right now, people are starting to watch Christmas movies to get into the Christmas spirit, and there are a lot of people who feel comfortable diving into 'Gilmore Girls,'” McIntosh says. “Everything is very autumnal. Regardless of whether it's a spring episode, it will still feel like fall. There's an emphasis on small-town community and crazy town events, but it's very welcoming. It's the TV show equivalent of soup season. “It’s too welcoming to ignore.”
Warner Bros. “Vacation Made Here” Studio Tour
Warner Bros.' “Holidays Made Here” will invite guests to the show's Luke's Diner for coffee and pastries and will highlight pivotal locations from the series, including the town gazebo, the official Stars Hollow sign, Lorelai's house and antiques. from Ms. Kim. Guests are encouraged to come in costumes inspired by the show (Warner Bros. promises trivia contests and costume gatherings at 3 p.m.) and the key to the “Gilmore Girls” holiday spirit will be seeing a snowman inspired by Bjork.
Bjork's sculpture is found in the season 2 episode “The Bracebridge Dinner”, which also features a snow-laden sleigh ride. “It's fun and whimsical, perfectly capturing the cozy, festive atmosphere of the show,” says Davidson.
“The show is about family, including found family, and that's probably why it feels so appropriate for Christmas,” Stache says.
However, it is unknown if Warner Bros. will try to capture the smell of snow.
“Some of the most iconic episodes took place in winter,” says Llewellyn. “Lorelai says, 'I smell snow.' That is one of its traits. You can smell when the snow comes. She loves the snow. So I understand why Warner Bros. chose this season to focus on. That is the season in which the main characters thrive.”
