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Gilmore Girls aired from October 2000 through May 2007. I was a big fan during its original run because I loved the relationship between Lorelai and Rory, and really related to Lorelai’s relationship with her own parents, Emily and Richard. When I turned 32 I had this big extensional moment, realizing that I was Lorelai’s age when the series started, only she had a 16-year-old and I had a two-year-old.
There’s a Gilmore Girls documentary coming out soon cleverly titled, Drink Coffee, Talk Fast. So far, several former stars are confirmed to be taking part, including Kelly Bishop, Jared Padalecki, Keiko Agena, Sally Struthers, Chad Michael Murray, and more. Notably missing from the cast list is Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel, who gave a nod to Stars Hollow when they reunited to present an award at this year’s Emmys. Entertainment Weekly recently caught up with Lauren on Sunday and asked her why she wasn’t participating in the documentary. Her answer was pretty straight-forward: She’s not participating if the GG series creators, Daniel Palladino and Amy Sherman-Palladino, aren’t involved.
During the September 14 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Graham was asked whether she was going to be a part of the upcoming Gilmore Girls documentary, Drink Coffee, Talk Fast, which was previously titled Searching For Stars Hollow. Graham replied that she had not yet filmed for the documentary because the creators of Gilmore Girls, Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, aren’t involved with it.
“I don’t do anything the creator of my show isn’t a part of, so, so far, no,” said Graham during the Entertainment Tonight interview.
The Hollywood Reporter reported that several Gilmore Girls stars, including Kelly Bishop, Jared Padalecki, Kathleen Wilhoite, Keiko Agena, Sally Struthers, Liz Torres, Emily Kuroda, Rose Abdoo, Matt Jones, Grant Lee Phillip, and Chad Michael Murray, will appear in Drink Coffee, Talk Fast. A few of the show’s crew members, such as Stan Zimmerman, who was a writer and producer for Gilmore Girls, director Jamie Babbit, and casting directors Jami Rudofsky and Mara Casey, were also interviewed for the project, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, one of the documentary producers, Jim Demonakos, explained that Drink Coffee, Talk Fast “will reveal how Gilmore Girls came to life, why it continues to resonate across generations, and how its unique blend of humor, heart and pop culture shaped a devoted worldwide fan community with an in-depth look at its creation and the connections it continues to foster.”
“This documentary is for fans of the show but also for anyone with an interest in cultural history and how it affects individual lives,” stated Demonakos.
In another statement, Meghna Balakumar, who co-directed the upcoming documentary with Kevin Konrad Hanna, said that they have “shot more than 100 hours of footage and have already unearthed stories, commentary, critiques, and more.”
“And we’re continuing to shoot more interviews [with the Gilmore Girls cast and crew] in the coming months to present the most complete, full and truly new story of the show’s impact and legacy that is only possible at this historical moment,” stated Balakumar, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
While speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the red carpet for the 2025 Emmy Awards, Graham shared why she believed Gilmore Girls has had such a devoted fanbase, nearly two decades after the original show ended. The actress credited the show’s fun, fast-paced dialogue and the bond between Lorelai and Rory as to why fans are still obsessed.
“I think it’s the incredible writing that kind of meets you no matter what age you are. You keep rediscovering the language. And I think it’s the relationship at the core because who doesn’t want to be best friends with their mom and their kid,” said Graham to the publication.
This documentary sounds fascinating, and I’m sure that everyone involved has done so earnestly. That said, it’s noteworthy that in addition to Graham and Bledel, Melissa McCarthy, Liza Weil, Milo Ventimiglia, and Sean Gunn also haven’t interviewed for Drink Coffee, Talk Fast. I bet that some of them end up giving interviews eventually. As for the Palladinos, I wonder if there’s a reason why they haven’t participated yet. Is it scheduling conflicts? Money? Do they want to keep their cards close to their chest in case they do their own documentary one day? Have they been in contact with Lauren and some of the other cast members to ask them not to participate?
I agree with Lauren’s assessment about GG’s staying power. The writing is sharp, the relationships are enviable, and the situations are the perfect balance between relatable and soap opera.
photos credit: Marion Curtis and Saeed Adyani for Netflix and Getty
“I don’t do anything the creator of my show isn’t a part of, so, so far, no,” said Graham during the Entertainment Tonight interview
Not entirely accurate, LG. You did season 7 without the Palladinos…
I’d imagine she was also under contract and don’t she is in that category of actors that has the money to fight a lawsuit or could afford to walk away with no career repercussions.
It’s hard to imagine doing a documentary about, in part, “how Gilmore Girls came to life” without the couple who thought the whole thing up.
I was a diehard GG fan…in part because I could relate to the mother daughter dynamic (the older 2 GG…no kids for me) but more so because I love pop culture and talk fast. Also from New England, was living in TX and the opening credits made me pine to go back and try life in a small New England town (the 2nd Newhart, based in VT, had a similar effect).
I’ll still watch older episodes and the finale of the original, though skip the Logan/Christopher seasons.
As fascism bears down on top of us more and more, i retreat into comfort shows and this one is at the top of my list (also, Duchess Meghan’s cooking show- as someone who isn’t domestic at all- it is like the warmest hug of a show, it is practically meditation)
My favorite GG moments are the ones where Lorelai has an unguarded, sweet moment with either of her parents. They don’t happen often, but they bring a tear to my eye.
And yeah, much like i would never watch a scream movie that didn’t include Sydney Prescott, i would not see the point of watching a doc about the show that didn’t involve Graham, Bledel, and the Sherman-Palladinos.
I mean- that’s the heart of the show.