New Gilmore: Just What We Needed

[Heading out to a Gilmore Girls gathering this weekend and was told my outfit looked familiar...]

"I wanna remember it all. Every detail."

Life (just like for the rest of us in the real world) has continued on for the folks in Stars Hollow, Conn., the small, idyllic town featured in the now iconic television series, Gilmore Girls.

In the recently released four part cinematic explosion of a mini-series, Rory Gilmore has become a 30-something who is working out how to exactly express herself in her writing and profession, while also staying true to herself. As she uttered the line quoted above, Rory longingly moved into feeling nostalgia of her past mixed with keeping her eyes on the future. It is a line that really slugged me in the gut, mostly because my extreme sentimentality that frets over time flying by too fast, constantly causes me to feel sad when I can't remember what I ate last Wednesday. (Yeah, it's bad.) Emotional folks like myself would like nothing more than to just "remember it all". Everything, all the little things, including meals.

While it may be impossible to recall every second of every day, we can give it a good shot. We can be present and write all our experiences down in a journal or turn it into a wonderful story that captures those marvelous aspects of our daily lives. 

That has always been the real magic of Gilmore Girls. Through the years, this show has brilliantly told the stories of day to day life (just with a little more flair and definitely more hats). Big milestones are also shown, like Rory's graduation from high school and college, but more often the stories stay away from big flashy events, unlike the shows that are known for their yearly holiday themed episodes.

Gilmore Girls did try their hand at a delightful Thanksgiving episode (hilariously featuring Melissa McCarthy in full on drunk Sookie mode), but the rest of the stories are almost always focused around the moments in a year that normally go unmarked by festivities - television habits, conversations with people at your job or with your neighbors, and those weekly family dinners. These situations sometimes feel boring while they are happening, but those connections will inevitably be what most people will want to remember when looking back through the years. I know I already do.

Where the show uniquely shines is in how these life events, big and small, are captured. The writers and creators of Gilmore Girls have always known how to really create a moment you will remember forever. For example, no one could forget Lorelai solemnly settling in for A Star Is Born marathon (there are three versions) only to be surprised with a romantic gesture at her door while the quintessential Judy Garland number, "The Man That Got Away" plays in the background. Pure storytelling gold.  

This new set of episodes/mini movies of course include several of these brilliantly written and memorable moments, none which will be remembered more than a totally showstopping, purely magical montage scene that takes place in the middle of the town square set to "Reflecting Light" by Gilmore songstress Sam Philips. Many will remember that song was first featured during  Luke and Lorelai's waltz at his sister's wedding (another memorable Gilmore moment for the books). That song can cause tears to start flowing right when the first cord is struck, evident even now as I play it to set the perfect mood for writing these thoughts. It is a beautiful, haunting song all on its own, but cast against the world of these characters, as Philips' voice has set the tone for the entire series, makes those warm feelings start bubbling inside every time it's played.

This new scene is one that creator Amy Sherman-Palladino must have been planning in her head for years. With grand execution, it feels like both a magnum opus ode to the characters and town, and also a wonderful summation of her creative talents. It is beautifully choreographed to the point that it could be a music video that both Sherman Palladino and Lorelai probably dreamed about starring in during their 20s.

Needless to say what unfolds is a real wow moment that will be blowing fans away for years to come. Even if that is your only take away from the four episodes, the resurrected series was still totally worth the nine year wait. The scene is that good - I'm not exaggerating.

Some are voicing disappointments with aspects of the revival, mostly general hatred towards an extended musical scene at Miss Patty's and a few plot holes, like who wrote that letter that Emily was so mad about?  However, even with a few story missteps, I adored every minute of the Stars Hollow gang being back together. 

For me, a person who has been reeling over grief, change, and trying to make sense out of using my journalism degree the last of couple years, this series hit very close to home. So close that it kind of freaked me out.  

Finding connections with Gilmore Girls is not new, since, like other fans, I have always seen parts of myself in both Rory and Lorelai. That continues into the new episodes, where at this time in my life I completely understand each of the stresses impacting the three Gilmore women and the journeys they individually take. So much so, it feels like this series was created just to give me a personal pep talk. And it worked. 

You know when people say that things come into your life just when you need them? These new episodes of Gilmore was that for me and I will forever be grateful for the kick in the motivational pants. I can bet others out there feel the same way.

Many people will not personally connect to the main story points, but, like always, there is something in the series for everyone. Witnessing the brilliant comedic and dramatic stylings of Lauren Graham and Kelly Bishop again completely makes it worth spending six hours on the couch. Of course getting the entire gang back together again is delightful, but those two women back playing the roles that feature their talents at their best is a welcome sight that will hopefully earn them the awards that they have always deserved. 

Graham and Bishop perfectly embody how their characters are starting to feel the years passing by. That combination of nostalgia and change as the central theme of the new episodes is what gives this reboot its strongest attributes and really made it a welcome return to the world of television.

Strong emotions tied to the past are fueling the characters on Gilmore Girls, as well as nearly everyone watching the new iteration of the series. Well, those nostalgic emotions accented with Chinese food and Pop Tarts, if your viewing party (with others or solo) is doing it right. If you watched the series when it originally aired, it's impossible to not drag up feelings of  the "old days" where gathering on Tuesday nights with family or friends in living rooms (or dorm rooms, like I did for the final two seasons) was an essential part of a week. Even if you are a newer fan who binged it with the ease and beauty of Netflix over the last year or several months, you can still be smashed with nostalgia just through the lens of the characters, who we have witnessed growing up in a fictional land through the magic of storytelling. 

We can try like Rory to remember it all, but that first step will be to start enjoying the moment we are in now, a time where nine years after it ended, we were gifted with new episodes of a treasured TV show. On the scale of life, this is a small, yet essential moment that, just like the world of Gilmore Girls has taught us, is one worth celebrating.

"The Boss" and Career Metamorphosis

Renaissance man. Wearer of many hats. Multi-tasker.  Jack of all trades. [I'm just realizing that all these idioms are so masculine.]

There has always been a lot of labels for someone who takes on many different jobs or is tremendous at multiple skills. These terms especially become relevant in today's world, as it seems like it is only becoming more and more popular for most people (out of necessity or fun) to have multiple jobs and interests that takes them throughout their day to day life.

Of course this doesn't just apply to us regular joe's (or how about regular jane's, eh?) - it is also very relevant for those working in the entertainment industry, especially actors. Some actors are good at one thing and will stick to gross out comedy or super serious period dramas for their whole life. Then there are actors that are continually morphing into new characters and performing in different mediums every time you see them - from theater, to TV, to the big screen.

There are even those bold, versatile entertainers, that have switched from being a musician to an actor. Sometimes you just never know what opportunities will arise and where that new move will advance you down the path of your life.

Melissa McCarthy knows this better than any performer in recent years.

She may be the star of the number one movie at the box office this weekend (The Boss), but one of her old hats got put back on the rack again this week. After months of drama and stress for fans, it was finally announced that McCarthy will be returning to the show that made her famous after all! New episodes of Gilmore Girls  without Sookie St. James would have been miserable - she provides a large chunk of bubbly heart, laughter, amazing cooking accidents, and makes up one half of the tremendous friend duo with Lorelai Gilmore. Even if she's only able be part of one scene, that's better than nothing at all.

Many years after leaving Stars Hollow, McCarthy became a bona fide movie star after Bridesmaids rocketed her into the spotlight and led to her first Oscar nomination. She's now considered top billing on all her movies, is producing her own scripts, and has become the muse of director/writer Paul Fieg (from former Heavyweights fame - never forget). What makes McCarthy admirable (other than her top notch lip sync skills), is that all her success hasn't gotten to her head (or at least it doesn't appear to have) and she couldn't be more thrilled to return to a TV show that used to find its home on a little network called the WB.

Other people who have made the transition to bigger stardom don't always like reflecting on their past. I'm mostly just referring to Mark Wahlberg. Calling him Marky Mark today is only for the bold. Allegedly he does not get "Good Vibrations" from the past. [Terrible pun definitely intended.]

Wahlberg really did conquer a rarity.  The transition from TV to the big screen is one hurdle, but morphing from a singer to an acclaimed actor is more comparable to that time Homer tried to skateboard over the Springfield Gorge. There's probably someone out there that could make that jump, but more will crash down to the bottom of the ravine.

Time has shown that it is definitely much harder for musicians to be taken seriously as actors. Yet, there are some legends who have successfully made the jump.

I got talking about Cher's Twitter presence yesterday (per usual - and if you want to live your best life you too should join Twitter just to read her tweets, which showcase the only proper way to use emojis ) and the conversation turned to people who started as singers and then successfully became movie stars. It's not about Mariah's turn in Glitter, or Christina's take on Burlesque, or Vanilla Ice's foray into Cool As Ice - these were one off gigs. I'm talking about actors who you can watch in a movie and you completely forget all about the fact that they were singers at one point in their life. The small group that fall into this category have found immense success - even being nominated for numerous Academy Awards.

Ultimately, acting wasn't just a whim for singers like Cher, Wahlberg, Dolly Parton, Will Smith, or Queen Latifah.

Out of that list, Dolly and Cher have since reverted back to their singer/performer status after their string of hit movie performances in the 80s and 90s (except for when they bring out the big acting guns for more recent flicks like Burlesque and Joyful Noise).

There's always an ebb and flow to everyone's life, but I don't see Wahlberg ever reverting back to his musical roots, but hey, you never know. The need to release some tunes might start pumping back into his veins.

There's also nothing wrong with moving on and looking toward bigger success. Much like McCarthy, the transition from TV actor to movie star status can happen, but it just might take some time. People like Jennifer Aniston, Tina Fey, Chris Pratt, and Steve Carell all got their start on the small screen and have now only continued to take over the entertainment world.

It is possible to convince people that you are capable of more than one thing, even if it takes awhile. But that doesn't mean that you always have to leave everything from your past behind.

Based on the box office numbers, the world can't get enough of the hilariously brassy characters that McCarthy has become known for in the film world, and yeah, I love it all too. Although, I only hope that in between all that lovely cursing and hilarious hi-jinx, McCarthy gets the opportunity (like in the wonderful St. Vincent) to be the leading lady that shows off some of that old school Sookie St. James charisma on the big screen as well.

Until next time. 

"Well, that was absurd, let's eat dead bird! "

Happy Thanksgiving brought to you by Robert Downey Jr., Holly Hunter, Anne Bancroft, Charles Durning, Claire Danes, Dylan McDermott, Geraldine Chapline, Steve Guttenburg, and Jodie Foster.




Home For The Holidays has been a yearly tradition in my world since we literally stumbled upon a copy of it nearly 15 years ago.

My family and I were spending Christmas at a cabin in the mountains. The cable didn't work, but there was a snazzy retro wood paneled TV, a VCR, and a copy of two movies. You guessed it, one was Home For The Holidays, which we'd never seen, and the other was a classic that we already adored, the Winona Ryder/Cher masterpiece, Mermaids.

In the evenings, after hikes, cooking, and plentiful board games, we were settled in for movie time. Cue to an hour later and our stomachs hurt from hysterically laughing.

Finding this movie might have been random and still it turned out to be an ever lasting memory. This Thanksgiving or next, think about checking out this flick. For the bombastic Robert Downey Jr. performance alone, it is worth it.


Until next time.

Can We Talk? - Jane Fonda Edition

[Jane Fonda finding out that dancing isn't always footloose and fancy free.]

To my generation Jane Fonda was spoken of as the gal who made workout videos and starred in movies with Lohan and Lopez.  Some of us had heard that she was a huge star and an Academy Award winning actress, but we hadn't seen any of the flicks that proved it. After all, who would believe it after being exposed to Monster In Law and Georgia Rule, even if she does shine through the madness.

As I grew older and was pushed into watching more iconic flicks, Jane Fonda's face often popped up - my dad insisted we watch Julia and Nine To Five, and in high school I fell in love with her and Robert Redford bashing about NYC in Barefoot In The Park. Slowly but surely I was definitely getting this whole Jane Fonda "thing".

Adding to the appreciation is her recent role as the owner of Atlantic Cable News on The Newsroom. It doesn't happen as often as it should, but it is a highlight of any episode when she bursts on to screen with a dramatic Sorkin penned monologue.

Recently I was motivated to watch even more Fonda starring productions.

As one does sometimes after an exhausting 6 day work week, it was Saturday night and I was laying, tummy down, nearly face planting on the couch, caught between some sort of delirium and sleep.  I found myself wanting to mix it up after a couple marathon-ed episodes of Orange Is The New Black and turned on the regular old cable TV.

And what did I happen to stumble across? Something most would think was a snooze, but movie fans would appreciate - an AFI award ceremony. This one was specifically honoring Ms. Fonda.

I love anything involving actor career retrospectives. They are always enlightening for movie fans obsessed with the mediums history.  Fonda's filmography and personal life story does not disappoint.

During the show, one of Fonda's acting clips was for a 1969 film I had been dying to see since it was featured on my "Movie A Day" calendar over ten years ago. At the time I had no idea Jane Fonda was in it, all I thought after reading the plot was, "Dance Marathon! What a fun movie!" People who have seen this cinematic spectacle know just how comical that thought was.

Last weekend I watched the Academy Award nominated, They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, for the first time and it blew my mind. It is bonkers, but director Sydney Pollack created one intense and extraordinary film viewing experience that entirely changed how I look at the world. Don't you love when a movie unexpectedly has that effect?

Be prepared, we're getting serious.



Before knowing the complete terror this movie would tackle, my impression was rather la-di-da on the topic. In my mind, back in the day people happily participated in a dance marathon to support a charity. Everyone joyfully jitterbugged for a 24-hour stretch, went home a little sleepy, and definitely feeling the need to give those tired gams a rest.

While those happy sounding events did actually happen, there was also a dark side. During the 1930s and 40s, a marathon could last for 50 or even more days and took advantage of a dreary American culture during the depression. It was for sport and monetary gain - a side of America I was too naive to even dream up. It's the real life Hunger Games. How was this even possible?

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? is a vividly enthralling movie that follows the participants in one of these horrid (and completely fascinating) type of dance competitions.

In the first minute there is a total sense of dread as each of the characters grimly files in to sign up for the competition. They have the clothes on their back and maybe one other outfit, they are unemployed ( a lot of out of work actors), and were aimlessly wandering with really no better place to go. They had heard about the brutality involved, but with their sights on a $1,500 prize and hopes of casting agents spotting them in the crowd, the couples buckle down to do whatever it takes to win.

That mantra to be the last couple left on the dance floor takes many contestants (played by many known actors including Fonda, Bruce Dern, and the grandma from Parenthood (!), Bonnie Bedelia) to extreme desperation. Especially in the scenes that don't involve dancing, but instead, running. If standing up for most of the day without adequate sleep wasn't crazy enough, when the competition started to lag, they would be forced to compete in "the derby", which involved running around a track that was set up on the dance floor.

Crowds from the bleachers would go bananas, cheering their hearts out, totally choosing to ignore the utter pain the contestants are battling. With dark circles under their eyes and gaunt looking faces, they look more like they are stuck in an internment camp, but one that comes with a disco ball. Not all dancing is fun. The complete suffering exhibited in the actors faces during these long, high intensity scenes will fill you with terror. Truly unforgettable.

People who shake their finger at the "controversial" movies of today, need to take two minutes to watch any movie from the 1960s and 70s. That's the essence of edgy, and rather dark cinema. No one makes movies like this anymore. It's a shame - they were controversial to prove a point, get people talking, not to make a buck.

Nearly immediately after the endcredits began to roll, I got my research hat on, and couldn't believe that almost all the accounts found in the movie were true to life - dancers only had 10 minute breaks every hour, they often slept sitting up against their partner, and crowds bet on which couple they thought would win. Just like horses - get it? I thought so.

I had no idea a form of entertainment like this existed, even though it really doesn't delineate much from other parts of history. From gladiator battles, to public hangings, and now mocking people as they audition for reality shows - we as a humanity have always found entertainment in suffering and humiliation. Sad when you think of it that way, right? Okay, so maybe this will get me to stop hate watching I Wanna Marry Harry.

My entire life I had wanted to compete in a dance marathon.  I always had this dreamy, idyllic idea of swing dancing the night away, in some adorable polka dotted dress with red patent leather Mary Janes. I had sufficiently thought that through over the years, which was only intensified after the airing of a Girlmore Girls episode back in 2002.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, with a title like, "They Shoot Gilmore's, Don't They", the entire episode focused on Stars Hallow's annual dance marathon and was a giant tip of the hat to the classic flick. I quickly made this connection after finishing the movie and excitedly cheered on the genius. I mean, has any other TV show penned an elaborate episode based on a somewhat obscure vintage movie? Proving again that the creative writing from that gem will never get enough credit.

Even with The Gilmore's taking a comedic perspective on such a humanitarian nightmare, I now confess to finding less interest in participating in a dance marathon. I wonder why? On the other hand, my interest in researching the history of this topic has highly intensified. I already dug up a few 1930s articles from my local paper that detailed some of these types of events in town. I'm bewitched.

Setting out to discover more flicks starring that classy broad Jane Fonda lead me to unearthing the unknown history of our cultures obsession with entertainment. Something tells me that if I had chosen to watch On Golden Pond first, it wouldn't have had the same effect. I would probably be obsessed with living in a cabin and going fishing, or something.

Either way, I'm only more intrigued to check out the rest of Fonda's filmography. Well, maybe except Barbarella.