The first season of Gilmore Girls , an American Comedy-drama television series , was released on October 5, 2000 on the WB television network. The season concluded on May 10, 2001, after 21 episodes. The season originally aired on Thursday at 8 / 7c. The series was moved to Wednesday nights on December 21, 2000.
Overview
The first season of Gilmore Girls introduces Lorelai Gilmore ( Lauren Graham ) and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Rory ( Alexis Bledel ), as well as the fictional Connecticuttown of Stars Hollow and its many quirky inhabitants. The central plot of the season is Rory’s acceptance to Chilton, an elite prep school, and Lorelai’s need to borrow money from her parents, Emily ( Kelly Bishop ) and Richard ( Edward Herrmann ) in order to fund her daughter’s education. Lorelai’s parents and her husband, Rory and her husband.
Lorelai’s relationship with her parents is not long after giving birth to Rory at age sixteen, she left her parents’ home and moved to Stars in order to keep them from imposing their privileged lifestyle on her daughter. Her parents, while still loving her a great deal, continues to resent her for this choice. Lorelai is a woman who has been living with her parents for years. It also leads to Lorelai feeling distressed by Rory’s positive relationship with her grandparents and obvious interest in their way of life.
In the pilot episode, Rory Meets Dean Forester ( Jared Padalecki ), a new student at Stars Hollow High School who has a crush on her. As the season progresses, she grows to have feelings for him, and they begin dating. Their relationship is briefly interrupted after. Rory professes her love for Dean in the final season, and they resume their relationship.
Lane Kim ( Keiko Agena ) and Fellow Chilton student Paris Geller ( Liza Weil ). She has been friends with Lane for over a decade, and the two remain close when Rory changes schools. When Rory first arrives at Chilton, her relationship with Paris is more than that of enemies than friends. However, as the season grows, the two grow closer, eventually forming a begrudging friendship.
Rory’s English teacher at Chilton, Max Medina ( Scott Cohen ). They date for several episodes, but break up when Lorelai begins to feel uncomfortable about how accepting Rory is of having Max in their lives. There is a clear attraction between her and Luke Danes ( Scott Patterson ), the owner of the local diner, but nothing ever comes of it. Lorelai also briefly reunites with Rory’s father, Christopher ( David Sutcliffe ), but turns him down when he asks her to marry him. Lorelai and Max reunite towards the end of the season, and he proposes in the final season.
Lorelai is close friends with Sookie St. James ( Melissa McCarthy ), the chef at the inn she manages. The two plan to eventually open their own inn together.
Cast
Main article: List of Gilmore Girls characters
Main cast
- Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore
- Alexis Bledel as Lorelai “Rory” Gilmore
- Melissa McCarthy as Sookie St. James
- Scott Patterson as Luke Danes
- Keiko Agena as Lane Kim
- Yanic Truesdale as Michel Gerard
- Kelly Bishop as Emily Gilmore
- Edward Herrmann as Richard Gilmore
Recurring cast
- Jared Padalecki as Dean Forester
- Liz Torres as Miss Patty
- Liza Weil as Paris Geller
- Sean Gunn as Mick / Kirk Gleason
- Teal Redmann as Louise Grant
- Shelly Cole as Madeline Lynn
- Jackson Douglas as Jackson Belleville
- Chad Michael Murray as Tristan Dugray
- Sally Struthers as Babette Dell
- Michael Winters as Taylor Doose
- Emily Kuroda as Mrs. Kim
- Scott Cohen as Max Medina
- Ted Rooney as Morey Dell
- Lisa Ann Hadley as Rachel
- Grant Lee Phillips as Grant
- Alex Borstein as Drella
- Mike Gandolfi as Andrew
- Dakin Matthews as Hanlin Charleston
- David Sutcliffe as Christopher Hayden
- Marion Ross as Lorelai ‘Trix’ Gilmore the First
Crew
The season was produced by Warner Bros. , Amy Sherman-Palladino and her husband Daniel Palladino, who was aired on the WB Network in the US. The series was created by Amy Sherman-Palladino , who acted as an executive producer. Sherman-Palladino served as the seasons show runner .
Episodes
| No. overall |
No. in season |
title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
US viewers (millions) [1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ” Pilot “ | Lesli Linka Glatter | Amy Sherman-Palladino | October 5, 2000 | 226730 | 4.6 |
| After Rory is accepted to Chilton, an extremely prestigious and expensive prep school, Lorelai’s difficulty in raising the tuition money forces her to ask her wealthy parents, from whom she is estranged, for a loan. The elder Gilmores happily loan their daughter in exchange for an end to the estrangement and a family dinner every Friday night. In her last week at Stars Hollow High School, Rory has a very cute new transfer student named Dean, which gives her second thoughts about attending Chilton. When Lorelai discovers that her ambivalence about Chilton centers on a boy, they argue about her future, but after the first Friday night family dinner at her grandparents’ house, | |||||||
| 2 | 2 | ” The Lorelais’ First Day at Chilton “ | Arlene Sanford | Amy Sherman-Palladino | October 12, 2000 | 226701 | 2.8 |
| Lorelai oversleeps on Rory’s first day of Chilton, and discovers that all her good clothes are at the cleaners. She throws on a tiny tie-dyed top, cutoff shorts, and cowboy boots to the dismay of Rory, the Chilton headmaster, and Emily, who have shown up for Rory’s first day. Lorelai and Emily leave after an awkward conversation in the headmaster’s office, bickering the entire way out. Rory’s day goes downhill from there. She has a three-year-old daughter who has been living with her children for years. | |||||||
| 3 | 3 | ” Kill Me Now “ | Adam Nimoy | Joanne Waters | October 19, 2000 | 226702 | 2.9 |
| When Rory announces that she has a chance to play at Chilton, Emily insists that Richard take Rory to the club and teach her golf. Although Rory tees off to a rocky start, she soon gets into the swing of things and has a great time walking and talking with Richard. Later, Lorelai’s mixed feelings about Rory enjoying her time with Richard at the club provokes an intensely stupid argument with Rory, which is soon resolved when Lorelai realizes that she is not losing Rory to her parents. At the Independece Inn, Lorelai has her hands full overseeing all the preparations for an ornate double wedding ceremony and quarrelsome twin brides, their exhausted mother, their twin grooms, Michel, and the rest of her staff. | |||||||
| 4 | 4 | “The Deer Hunters” | Alan Myerson | Jed Seidel | October 26, 2000 | 226703 | 3.1 |
| Rory receives the first “D” of her life, pushing her to study like crazy for the upcoming exam. She and Lorelai stay up all hours reviewing every detail about Shakespeare, only to over-sleep, causing Rory to miss the big test. Rory has a meltdown, telling off both Tristan and Paris in the process. Meanwhile, Lorelai meets Mr. Medina at the parent-teacher meeting and tells the headmaster after Rory’s meltdown. | |||||||
| 5 | 5 | “Cinnamon’s Wake” | Michael Katleman | Daniel Palladino | November 2, 2000 | 226704 | 3.1 |
| When both a distant family member and a neighbor’s cat die, Lorelai has to decide which wake to expect. Max and Lorelai get their feelings for each other out on the table, but what will Rory think of this? Meanwhile, Lorelai and Sookie awaits Chilton bake dirty; And Rory and Dean’s budding relationship takes a step forward. | |||||||
| 6 | 6 | “Rory’s Birthday Parties” | Sarah Pia Anderson | Amy Sherman-Palladino | November 9, 2000 | 226705 | 3.5 |
| It’s Rory’s birthday, and her grandmother and mother each plan a party representative of their respective styles. Emily’s elegant party so discomfits Rory that they argue. To make peace, Emily and Richard are waiting for Lorelai’s informal bash the next evening. | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | “Kiss and Tell” | Rodman Flender | Jenji Kohan | November 16, 2000 | 226706 | 3.7 |
| Dean gives Rory her first kiss; Fearful of her mother’s disapproval, Rory decides not to tell Lorelai for a little while; Lorelai gets stressed when she hears about the kiss from Mrs. Kim instead of Rory; Rory freaks out at first when Lorelai invites Dean over to watch videos and eat junk food, but ends up having a good time after all. | |||||||
| 8 | 8 | “Love and War and Snow” | Alan Myerson | Joan Binder Weiss | December 14, 2000 | 226707 | 3.6 |
| The first snowfall prompts Lorelai and Max’s first date. Lane is upset with Rory for being distracted by Chilton and Dean. Rory spends time with her grandparents and introduces them to frozen pizza. Meanwhile, Luke mocks and refuses to take part in the annual re-enactment of the Battle of Stars Hollow. | |||||||
| 9 | 9 | “Rory’s Dance” | Lesli Linka Glatter | Amy Sherman-Palladino | December 20, 2000 | 226708 | 3.9 |
| Chilton hosts a dance which Rory and Dean awaits, confirming that they are “boyfriend-girlfriend”. Emily sleeps over at Lorelai’s the night of the dance to take care of Lorelai’s injured back and to see Rory off. Rory and Dean fall asleep accidentally, causing Rory to arrive home at 5 am, which pushes Emily to think they had sex. Thus erupts another blow-up between Lorelai and her mother. | |||||||
| 10 | 10 | “Forgiveness and Stuff” | Bethany Rooney | John Stephens | December 21, 2000 | 226709 | 3.6 |
| Things are still chilly between Rory and Lorelai; Lane gives Rory advice about the right Christmas gift for Dean; Emily and Lorelai have a tiff about Christmas dinner, leaving Rory to go by herself; Dean and Lorelai patch things up; Luke makes a lonely Lorelai a Santa burger; Richard collapses and is rushed to the hospital; Luke gives a car-less Lorelai a ride to the hospital; Relieved that Richard’s collapse was only the end of angina, the Gilmores settle their differences. | |||||||
| 11 | 11 | “Paris Is Burning” | David Petrarca | Joan Binder Weiss | January 11, 2001 | 226710 | 3.7 |
| As Lorelai and Max grow closer, Rory begins to grow attached to the idea of Max in their lives, which freaks Lorelai out. Sookie and Lorelai have a frank talk about relationships. Lorelai tries to ease out of her relationship with Max during Parent’s Day at Chilton, but ends up passionately kissing him in his classroom just as Paris walks by. Story by the details in the newspapers about her parents’ messy divorce, Paris tells everyone in the lunchroom about Max and Lorelai to deflect gossip away from her and towards Rory. Rory confronts Paris, gets an apology, and offers a sympathetic ear, which is grudgingly accepted. Sookie asks Jackson out on a date and he accepted. | |||||||
| 12 | 12 | “Double Date” | Lev L. Spiro | Amy Sherman-Palladino | January 18, 2001 | 226712 | 4.4 |
| After Lorelai encourages Sookie to ask out Jackson, she finds herself on the double date from hell with Jackson’s cousin, Rune, which makes Luke jealous enough to finally work up the courage to ask Lorelai out. Meanwhile, Rory and Lane get into trouble when they double date with Dean and his friend Todd without telling their moms. | |||||||
| 13 | 13 | “Concert Interruptus” | Bruce Seth Green | Elaine Arata | February 15, 2001 | 226711 | 3.6 |
| Lorelai, Sookie, Rory, and Lane to expect The Bangles ‘ concert, but when Lane’s mother finds the truth, she bans her from going. Lorelai and Sookie, Ringtone to Cell Phone Madeline, Louise, and Paris, which backfires when Madeline and Louise take off with two mysterious boys for a party. | |||||||
| 14 | 14 | “That Damn Donna Reed” | Michael Katleman | Daniel Palladino, Amy Sherman-Palladino | February 22, 2001 | 226715 | 3.6 |
| An Evening of ” The Donna Reed Show ” reruns infects Dean and both Gilmore Girls – Dean expresses a longing for the type of family represented by the show, Lorelai helps Luke spruce up the diner with a fresh paint job and new curtains, and Rory Dresses up like Donna and fixes a 1950s style dinner for Dean while petsitting Babette’s new kitten; When the baby chick is the subject of Rory’s midterm project gets loose in the house, Lorelai frantically calls Luke to help her search the house; Both Sookie and Emily force Lorelai to confront her feelings for Luke; Christopher roars into town on his motorcycle, and agrees to stay at Lorelai’s and Rory’s during his visit. | |||||||
| 15 | 15 | “Christopher Returns” | Michael Katleman | Daniel Palladino | March 1, 2001 | 226713 | 4.0 |
| Wanting to play a big role in Rory’s life, Christopher settles in for his visit and lets Rory give him the grand tour of Stars Hollow. When his parents arrive in Hartford for a visit, Emily invites everyone to Friday night dinner, which turns out to be an unqualified disaster after Richard. In the aftermath of the ruined dinner party, Richard retreats to his study to calm down, Emily makes a plate for Rory in the kitchen and reassures her how much she is loved and regarded, and Christopher finds Lorelai on the balcony of her old bedroom Comforts her by repeating a little romantic history. The next morning, Lorelai awakens with a start, horrified that she forgot to help Luke paint the dinner after dinner on Friday night. Grabbing a jacket, She races to the diner still clad in her pajamas, and begins Luke’s forgiveness. He shrugs it off at first, it will be somewhat wounded when he realizes that Lorelai was with Christopher the night before. When Lorelai returns to the house, Christopher asks her to marry him and she regretfully turns him down, claiming he’s not ready for the responsibility of a family quite yet. Christopher returns to California with the promise of making a better job of staying in touch. The next morning, Lorelai surprises Luke by having the diner completely repainted when he arrives to open up for the day. Christopher asks her to marry him and she regretfully turns him down, claiming he’s not ready for the responsibility of a family quite yet. Christopher returns to California with the promise of making a better job of staying in touch. The next morning, Lorelai surprises Luke by having the diner completely repainted when he arrives to open up for the day. Christopher asks her to marry him and she regretfully turns him down, claiming he’s not ready for the responsibility of a family quite yet. Christopher returns to California with the promise of making a better job of staying in touch. The next morning, Lorelai surprises Luke by having the diner completely repainted when he arrives to open up for the day. | |||||||
| 16 | 16 | “Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers” | Lesli Linka Glatter | Story : Joan Binder Weiss Teleplay : John Stephens and Linda Loiselle Guzik |
March 8, 2001 | 226714 | 3.8 |
| Luke’s ex-girlfriend Rachel arrives in Stars Hollow unexpectedly, and immediately picks up on the attraction between Luke and Lorelai, which they deny. Rachel decides to stay for awhile, which leaves Luke and Lorelai with mixed feelings. Lorelai and Rory are amazed when Emily agrees to excuse Rory from Friday night dinner so that Rory and Dean can celebrate their three month anniversary. When Lorelai arrives for dinner, she discovers the source of Emily’s largesse – her mother has invited another guest – a man with whom she secretly hopes to fix Lorelai up. After a painful dinner with one of the world’s most boring men, Lorelai attempts to escape through the window of her old bedroom, but is caught in the act by Richard. When he is forced to admit that even he is bored by the man, He uncharacteristically covers for her and her herta getaway. Back in Stars Hollow, Dean treats Rory to a wonderfully romantic dinner, and then gives her a present: As they sit in the car, Dean professes his love, but Rory is unsure how to respond. | |||||||
| 17 | 17 | “The Breakup, Part 2” | Nick Marck | Amy Sherman-Palladino | March 15, 2001 | 226716 | 4.5 |
| Rory decides to engage in a flurry of activity to avoid thinking about Dean, despite Lorelai’s advice to wallow; Lorelai runs interference as the residents of Stars Hollow reach out to console Rory and Luke attempts to bar Dean from the diner; Rachel pitches in to help Luke out at the diner; Jackson prepares dinner for Sookie, and has a tough time keeping her out of the kitchen; Rory decides to expect Madeline’s party and takes Lane along for company; Lorelai decides to visit Max when she realizes how much she misses him; Lane is torn when she meets the perfect guy at the party; Rory attempts to befriend her girlfriend at the party, and when he hears her apologizes for her past bad behavior towards her and kisses her, she bursts into tears; At home, Rory sobs to Lorelai that she’s ready to wallow now. | |||||||
| 18 | 18 | “The Third Lorelai” | Michael Katleman | Amy Sherman-Palladino | March 22, 2001 | 226717 | 4.8 |
| Emily becomes unhappy at the prospect of a visit from Richard’s mother Trix; Paris is outraged when she discovers that Tristan Rory’s urging; Lorelai again, Emily opposes Trix’s Rory. | |||||||
| 19 | 19 | “Emily in Wonderland” | Perry Lang | John Stephens, Linda Loiselle Guzik | April 26, 2001 | 226718 | 3.7 |
| Rachel finds an abandoned inn that Lorelai and Sookie fall in love with; Lorelai and Rachel and the Rachel and the Rachel Lorelai. As Rory takes Emily on a tour of Stars Hollow, Emily hits it off with Mrs. Kim and Michel, but becomes distraught when she sees Lorelai and Rory’s first home; At Sookie’s urging, Lorelai gives Jackson’s cousin, Rune, a job at the Inn. | |||||||
| 20 | 20 | “PS I Lo …” | Lev L. Spiro | Elaine Arata, Joan Binder Weiss | May 3, 2001 | 226719 | 3.5 |
| Lorelai helps Luke for a birthday present for Rachel and goes wild outfitting him with a new wardrobe; Overwhelmed by sadness at her breakup with Dean, Rory is distressed to discover that Lane and Dean have become science project partners, and incensed to find out from Max that Lorelai has neglected to mention that they are dating again, so she argues with Lorelai and then Takes off for Hartford to spend the night at her grandparents’ house without telling her mother; When an angry Lorelai confronts Dean and discovers the truth about his breakup with Rory, she fears that she has taught Rory not to commit to a relationship. | |||||||
| 21 | 21 | “Love, Daisies and Troubadours” | Amy Sherman-Palladino | Daniel Palladino | May 10, 2001 | 226720 | 4.1 |
| Paris wreaks her revenge after Rory; Rachel leaves Stars Hollow after she becomes convinced that despite her protests, Luke is in love with Lorelai; Rory’s defense of the Hollow troubadour during a town meeting brings her back together with Dean, enabling her to finally say, and mean, the words that he’s been longing to hear; Luke and Max are the first to find out what they think of their lives. Max proposed to Lorelai with a thousand yellow daisies. | |||||||
Reception
| Season | Season premiere | Final Season | TV season | Rank | Viewers (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | October 5, 2000 | May 10, 2001 | 2000-2001 | # 126 | 3.6 [2] |
DVD release
| The Complete First Season [3] | ||||
| Set details | Special features | |||
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| Release dates | ||||
| North America | United Kingdom | Continental Europe | norway | australia |
| May 4, 2004 | February 6, 2006 | November 16, 2005 | November 16, 2005 | April 5, 2006 |
References
- Jump up^ ” ” Gilmore Girls “USA ratings” .
- Jump up^ “The Bitter End” . Entertainment Weekly Published in issue # 598 Jun 01, 2001. June 1, 2001 . Retrieved 2010-12-02 .
- Jump up^ Lecter, Scott (March 20, 2005). “Gilmore Girls: The Complete First Season” . DVD Talk . Retrieved February 20, 2012 .