The Show

Thirtysomething Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) has made her share of mistakes in life, but she has been doing her best to see that her daughter - and best friend in the world - Rory (Alexis Bledel, Tuck Everlasting), doesn't follow in her footsteps. That may be easier said than done, considering that the two share the same interests, the same intellect, the same coffee addiction and the same eyes. Rory is more serious than Lorelai, but there are tendencies, especially in the love department, that clearly indicate she is her mother's daughter.

From the beginning, this unique mother-daughter team has been growing up together. Lorelai was just 16 when she became pregnant and made the tough decision to raise her baby alone. This defiant move -- along with Lorelai's fiercely independent nature -- caused a rift between her and her extremely proper, patrician, old-money parents, Emily (Kelly Bishop, Dirty Dancing) and Richard (Edward Herrmann, The Cat's Meow). However, 16 years later, Lorelai was forced to reconcile with them when she found herself in desperate need of money for Rory's tuition in Chilton, the school she went to so she could get into her dream school, Harvard. When the time came, however, Rory surprisingly chose Yale University, her grandfather Richard's alma mater. With Yale so close, Rory is able to visit home for laundry runs and the traditional Friday-night dinner with her grandparents at their elegant and oppressive house. In addition to continued bonding time with Lorelai, Rory stays in contact with her best friend, Lane (Keiko Agena, Felicity), who attends a local college and resolutely pursues her musical streak as drummer in a rock band, contrary to her conservative Korean mother's wishes. Another constant in Rory's life is the presence of intense former classmate Paris Geller (Liza Weil, Stir of Echoes), who is now her roommate at Yale. Rory also explores the world of college dating, after finally being able to leave good guy Dean (Jared Padalecki, Supernatural), her first love, and bad boy Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) behind.

Although her daughter has left the nest, Lorelai sees a bright new dream come true when she and fabulous chef Sookie St. James (Melissa McCarthy), her best friend, finally open their own inn, following the destruction of the Independence Inn in a fire. Now happily married with two kids, Sookie must divide her time between her new business endeavor and being a mommy. Meanwhile, Lorelai's longstanding friendship with Luke Danes (Scott Patterson, Little Big League), the gruffly charming owner of the local diner, has finally evolved into love.

Continuing to add to the unmistakable style of Stars Hollow is a colorful roster of town characters, including Miss Patty (Liz Torres, The John Larroquette Show), the local dance teacher and social commentator, haughty former Independence Inn concierge Michel Gerard (Yanic Truesdale) and Kirk (Sean Gunn, Pearl Harbor), the town's jack-of-all-trades and master of none.

Gilmore Girls was the first series to make it to air supported by the Family Friendly Forum's script development fund. An initiative between some of the nation's top advertisers and The WB, the program is intended to offer a greater array of compelling family programming on network television. The strong and loving mother-daughter relationship portrayed in Gilmore Girls reflects the growing reality of this new type of American family.

This heartfelt one-hour dramedy was created by Amy Sherman-Palladino (Roseanne), who serves as executive producer with Daniel Palladino (Roseanne), for Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Hofflund/Polone in association with Warner Bros. Television. Also credited as an executive producer is Gavin Polone (Stir of Echoes, Drop Dead Gorgeous).