Gilmore Girls in the Movies

April 30, 2013 By Rich 12 Comments

When was the last time your started lollygagging at the TV, pointing and gibbering at the screen because one of the Gilmore Girls alumni turned up where they shouldn’t? What, just me? Come on, ‘fess up.

lorelai and arlen

Sean Gunn (GG’s Kirk) turning up in Glee was a nice surprise, although he was criminally underused. And I always have a moment of re-acclimatisation seeing Kelly Bishop (Emily Gilmore) as the mother in Dirty Dancing. Uh, not that I watch Dirty Dancing over and over or anything.

They’ve had a fair run at the movies too, stand-outs being Milo Ventimiglia (Jess) in Rocky Balboa and Melissa McCarthy (Sookie) in Bridesmaids. Keiko Agena (Lane) recently won Best Supporting Actress for the short Lil Tokyo Reporter at the AoF Awards.

Prior to her blossoming career in publishing, Lauren Graham (Lorelai Gilmore) had a few good features under her belt. She was a Lorelai-a-like in the charming comedy The Answer Man (aka Arlen Faber), had a small part in the great Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, was underwritten in Evan Almighty and successfully played against type in Bad Santa.

Alexis Bledel (Rory Gilmore) carried on her Rory story in Post Grad, vacationed with her buddies in the enjoyable Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants and made the most of her baby blues in Sin City.

What’s your favourite non-Gilmore role from a Gilmore Girls actor? Extra points for anything really obscure.

Filed Under Actors, Alexis Bledel, Casting, Discussions, Gilmore Girls, Kelly Bishop, Lauren Graham, Melissa McCarthy, Milo Ventimiglia, Movies, Sean Gunn, Where Are They Now
Tagged With alexis bledel movies, lauren graham movies, melissa mccarthy movies, milo ventimiglia movies, Movies, tv appearance, TV Shows

“Bunheads” 1.17 ‘It’s Not A Mint’ – Recap and Gilmore perspectives

February 23, 2013 By Rich 5 Comments

“Bunheads” 1.17 ‘It’s Not A Mint’ – Recap and Review
Airdate 18 Feb 2013

love a man in uniform

Sasha returns to her grown up apartment, carrying grown up shopping including kitchen roll. Old lady neighbourmeyer is uncommonly not answering her door, even with Sasha’s offer of transportation to her MRI. Sasha’s leaves messages with Ginny and Boo and her phone’s voice-dialling can’t handle calling the police (911 being too much to dial in all the panic) and tries suggests connecting her to Polito’s Trattoria [wink - Jon Polito played the pizza guy in Gilmore Girls].

Talia and Truly join Michelle for an indulgent chocolate fondue as an impromptu hen night for Talia’s wedding to Old Guy Rick the next day. Truly calls maid of honour and Michelle spikes the fondue.

Roman, Sasha’s love interest, turns up as her knight in shining armour and wearing Sasha as a shell, sidesteps her scattered tangelos in the corridor. So not only does she have money to afford her own apartment, she’s got disposeable cash to match.  And either he really loves his padlock neckchain or he’s lost the key. Roman – find the key, dude. Weaponry around the apartment includes two baseball bats, a tennis racket, a pointy umbrella and a crowbar. Roman instantly loses the umbrella to the giant spider in the bathroom but makes it into the bedroom and declare the house safe.  Just as they get to the bed, Boo’s parents Rusty and Jordan (dad and mum respectively, in case the androgynous names had you wondering like me) turn up in answer to Sasha’s emergency call armed with the screaming Winkleburn kids and a sledgehammer, which Rusty also loses to the bathroom spider.

Next morning, Truly asks Michelle for dress advice during ballet rehearsals when Bash (Gilmore Girls’ one and only Kirk, Sean Gunn) turns up in town evacuation mode. There’s a fire in the woods north of town and with Fanny out of the country, he designates Michelle as co-captain for their area. With the position comes a ‘CAP’ cap (a cap with CAP emblazoned on it). Around the army cots being put up in the studio, Bash instructs Michelle on protocol, hands her a walkie-talkie and the promise of champagne if she’s successful. Melanie is capturing the event on her SLR.

Michelle: Fire torpedoes, fire torpedoes!

Bash is giving Michelle minimal captaining duties, including only registering  surnames X through Z. The town’s boys are present, including Roman, Carl (Boo’s beau), Jeff (Boo’s manager at the Oyster Bar) and Des (Melanie’s brother’s friend and her ever-present bugbear). Carl and Jeff bond over Tommy Lee Jones’ turn in Hope Floats and demonstrate why young men shouldn’t do TLJ impressions.

Talia is determined that the wedding goes ahead today, despite the emergency situation. Truly is even more determined to be maid of honour. Millie (GG’s Paris, Liza Weil), Truly’s sister,  jumps the queue since the whole town is scared of her.

Bash: To be clear, I like men and women equally. Both sexes work for me.
Michelle: Yeah that’s not gonna lead to any misunderstandings at all.

Ginny ogles the new boy, Frankie, as he changes into his Emergency Volunteer t-shirt (with good reason). Des knows Ansel Adams and advises Melanie against using flash to create naturalistic pictures, much to her disdain. Seeing Ginny doe-eyed over Frankie, Sasha hands her a drool cup but does nothing to douse her infatuation.

In the dancer’s changing room, Talia’s fiance Rick is caught at a checkpoint and can’t get into town but Truly says that they will find a way. Millie wants her crepe cook to cook crepes. Michelle finds a condom packet under a wardrobe and if that wasn’t drama enough, Bash tells her he has a mole in one of the other evacuation centres and their entertainments include juggling, singing and doing the conga. He tells her they need to step up the entertainment (hmm, wonder what that might include).

The girls and guys are playing poker, Michelle breaks it up in case an orgy breaks out. Talia’s Rick is being flown in by a good samaritan, in a helicopter.

Bash’s attempt at entertainment is Jeff and Carl playing duelling Tommy Lee Jones’. When this turns into fisticuffs over Jeff coming onto Boo, Michelle has the dancers perform their Billy Elliot’s dad’s dance routine – and mining hats off to Marguerite Derricks for another stunning performance.

safety dance

Truly is steaming the maid of honour dress she’s just made and Millie asks to use the room for a massage. Truly thanks her for the use of the helicopter and Millie says it’s worth it for a wedding. Although the two of them are unmarried, Millie doesn’t see it ever happening for her – her adopted Chinese child is enough for her. Truly however does expect marriage.  Bash pokes his head around the corner, marking a Kirk / Paris reunion.

Ginny sniffs Frankie’s jacket, Cozette spoils Skyfall (finally someone did it) and she likens Ginny to a sad, dying antelope that needs to be put out of its misery.

Talia is looking fabulous in her wedding outfit.

Talia: I was shooting for Marilyn singing Happy Birthday to Kennedy but with underwear.

Talia receives a text that Rick has fallen and broken his ankle. Michelle confesses that she doesn’t think Rick is suitable for her, that he’s making her give up on her dreams and she’s becoming someone else. Talia says dancing in New York is Michelle’s dream, not hers, not any more and besides, she’s pregnant. Gasp!

Over a kids’ group photo and some cute dogs, Des finally gets through to Melanie. He gets her to consider that she can’t think of a reason why they should be together – but then, she can’t think of a reason why not.  So why not?  Yay Des!!

Michelle throws the condom down between the four girls, Sasha, Melanie, Ginny and Boo, leaving everyone involved confused.

it's not a mint

 

She realises her mistake and takes it back but spawns a brilliant and educational conversation between the girls where we learn that Boo is on the pill but not having sex. As she’s eating what looks like a lettuce sandwich.

Sasha: …you’re on the pill but not having sex. That’s like having a superpower and not using it

Bash announces to the room that the fire is out. Cozette has told Frankie that Ginny wanted drawing lessons and he’s more than pleased to oblige. Ginny bounces as he puts his number in her phone. Bash contacts Michelle on the walkie talkie, channelling Lorelai as he pretends to be breaking up – denying her any success champagne. Instead, the returning firemen include Godot, the bartender surfer hunk and Michelle’s one-time fling – who also appears to be on the pill.

Discussion

Always pleasantly surprised to see familar Gilmore faces.  This week we have Kirk and Paris in person, Fran (Sasha’s unseen neighbour) and Emily in absentia.  Bash’s ‘breaking up’ on the walkie-talkie was a loving reminder of Lorelai’s effortless and guiltless ‘going in a tunnel’ excuses to Emily.   And speaking of Emily, Millie’s treatment of her crepe cook and masseuse were strikingly reminiscent of Emily and her maids.  As noted above, Kirk and Paris breathed the same air in one scene, the last time they did this was when they had a sleepover at Lorelai’s, remember?

Lorelai: So, did you get any rest?
Paris: Kirk talks in his sleep.
Lorelai: Anything juicy?
Paris: He deals blackjack.
Lorelai: Hm. Kirk?
Kirk [off screen]: Yeah?
Lorelai: Turn off the TV, come have your breakfast.
Kirk [off screen]: In a minute.
Lorelai: Now.

Things like this remind me how – as much as I enjoy Bunheads – I still love Gilmore Girls more.  With the possible exception of Michelle’s Old Guy jokes, which totally rock.

Whose condom?  If it’s not one of our quartet’s, does it even matter?  The sensible conversation it spawned on buying condoms and taking precautions if you’re not actively having sex was cool and I’m glad they came back to this after the sex discussion pact they breezed by a few episodes ago.

Michelle and Godot, Sasha and Roman, Ginny and Frankie, Melanie and Des, Boo and Carl. Talia and Old Guy Rick. Now almost everyone’s hooked up, who’s going to get broken up first?  If Gilmore Girls is a template, are you expecting some new male faces?

I love that Truly can whip up a dress out of a cotbed, seamstressing skills are a superpower shared with Lorelai. Who’s the guy for her? Has Millie really given up on finding a guy? And where’s Fanny?

Pics courtesy of ABC Family

Filed Under Bunheads, Guest Stars, Kirk Gleason, Liza Weil, Lorelai Gilmore, Paris Geller, Sean Gunn, Where Are They Now
Tagged With bunheads, bunheads recaps, Gilmore Girls, Kirk Gleason, Liza Weil, Paris Geller, Sean Gunn

Amy Sherman-Palladino and Sutton Foster talk Gilmore Girls and Bunheads!

January 4, 2013 By Rich 9 Comments

With Bunheads’ imminent return on Monday, DisneyInfoNet bagged a fabulous interview with Amy Sherman-Palladino and Sutton Foster. Fabulous why? Because they both talk at length about Gilmore Girls, the comparisons with Bunheads, the Gilmore Girls’ alumni showing up as cameos, casting Kelly Bishop (Emily Gilmore) and overflowing with as much love for GG as they clearly have for each other. Seriously, get a room guys.

Sutton and Amy Sherman Hat Palladino Welles

Sutton Foster: …one of my favorite shows was Gilmore, I mean of all time, and Amy’s one of my favorite writers, and we took a meeting and I basically fan-girled all over her, and then a couple of weeks later they called and were talking to me about this pilot.

Amy Palladino: …when I find a particular person who can knock it out of the ballpark, it’s like Orson Welles and his group of mad actors that he would use in everything – not that I’m Orson Welles, although I wouldn’t mind being Orson Welles someday – but the idea that you’re lucky enough in your career to collect people who are particularly good at the stuff that you like to write, and when you find them you want to write for them.  I find myself longing to write for Liza Weil, or longing to write for Sean Gunn, or longing to write for Todd Lowe, or Rose Abdoo … because there’s not billions of people out there who are special. And if you find a merry band of madmen who will come and make things wonderful, I will write for those people forever.

For EVER, guys.

DisneyNetInfo guy: … where do you get your inspiration to make shows with such great plots and interesting characters?
Amy: Well, I don’t know, just a lack of therapy, perhaps, no time to work it out on a couch with a man and an iPad. I love family interaction, and in a weird way Gilmore, obviously was family, but this show is a new kind of family, I’ll keep saying that, because it’s my favorite tagline ever, but it is about people who, you know, somebody once told me, “You just created your own family.” I don’t care what, if your family isn’t exactly what you need it to be, then go out and create it, find it. And that’s what this show is about. It’s about creating your own family, finding your own support system.

Listen to DisneyInfoNet‘s youtube recording or indulge in the full interview transcript at WeLoveSoaps.net, it’s good stuff.

From next week, I’ll be recapping Bunhead episodes as they air, with high hopes for some Gilmore-style nuttiness from the only woman who can bring it, Mrs Sherman Palladino Welles. If you haven’t crossed paths with Bunheads yet, it plays like a Gilmore Girls’ relation (happily, more akin to Jackson’s brother Beau than Jackson’s cousin Rune). Wacky adorable townsfolk – check. Kelly Bishop (Emily Gilmore) – check.  Attractive, likeable brunette with severe case of verbal diarrhoea – check.  Plus dancing interludes, teen angst and girl power. We’ve got a full set of first series’ Bunheads episode recaps (which if I may say, are just delightful) right here.

I’m particularly looking forward to Liza Weil’s (Paris Geller) cameo as dotty Truly’s sister and seeing what becomes of the girls’ relationships.  I’m hoping that Michelle actually comes back to Paradise after macing the Christmas performers, because otherwise it’ll be a really short series and how about more possums?

Bunheads airs this coming Monday, January 7 at 9 pm Eastern.

Pic courtesy of ABC Family

Filed Under Amy Sherman-Palladino, Bunheads, Gilmore Girls, Gilmore Girls News, Gossip, Interviews, Kelly Bishop, Liza Weil, Paris Geller, Sean Gunn, Todd Lowe
Tagged With Amy Sherman-Palladino, bunheads, Gilmore Girls, new series, Sutton Foster

“Bunheads” 1.09 ‘No One takes Khaleesi’s Dragons’ – Recap and Comments

November 2, 2012 By Rich 3 Comments

“Bunheads” 1.09 ‘No One takes Khaleesi’s Dragons’ – Recap and Comments

Airdate: 13 August 2012

bash

Michelle is in a coffee shop along with a long line of people, patiently reading books. Sebastian, the town’s coffee genie has returned from trouncing the French and Italians in a barista competition. Digging out her own reading material, she’s excited to see that her old chorus line buddy Richard is now choreographing Follies, which could get back her on stage.  Sebastian – or ‘Bash’ – diagnoses her coffee needs and begins sniffing coffee beans.

Fanny has been drilling the ballet class for hours, seeking a replacement to play Clara after Sasha’s rebellious storming off to become a cheerleader. During a begrudging break, Fanny finds Michelle’s phone so she can leave a message for Richard.

Ginny and Melanie are hiding in a bush outside, aware that nobody can live up to Sasha’s Clara. Melanie’s brother Charlie is still on chauffeur duty for Melanie, being on parental probation again for a kitchen herb-related offence and he gives Melanie and Ginny a ride. Ginny is jumpy and self-conscious around Charlie, now that she knows he likes her.

Sasha graces the local Oyster Bar to chat with Boo, Melanie and Ginny about her cheerleading experiences so far, the relatively (compared to ballet) undemanding nature and its social side.

Michelle’s back at Sebastian’s coffee place, leaving a second message with Richard. She then not only wipes out the counter, but in answering Fanny’s distress call (Fanny’s having bottomless mimosas at brunch with Michael and needs Michelle to open the school), she knocks Sebastian’s gigantic barista trophy to the floor. He and the huge line of customers are devastated.

Michelle finds Truly also opening the studio, Fanny having called her for backup. Carl and Boo are there to practice the Astaire / Rogers dance for the shiny new supermarket opening but after being brushed off by Boo’s friends, he’s distinctly cold towards her. Boo confides in Michelle that she likes Carl.

Michelle calls to leave another message for Richard, but hears him in the background and cottons on – she’s being given the brush off too. Fanny tells Michelle she is unwilling to approach Sasha without an apology.

Frustrated by Sebastian’s coffee rituals, Michelle tells him she doesn’t need his coffee due to the imminent supermarket. However, during her tap class, Sam informs Michelle that the Paradise Neighbourhood Committee is stopping the supermarket opening on a zoning technicality.

tappa

During a school basketball game, Sasha gets a dressing down from the head cheerleader – her kicks are too high and make her stand out. They need to be uniform. Melanie, Ginny and Boo turn up to watch Sasha. Boo sees Carl there too, laughing with a girl – Boo still hasn’t told the others that she likes him. Charlie shows up with his friend and sits next to Ginny, who becomes paralysed with nerves.

Charlie: “When I was five I swallowed a bug in Aruba. I freaked out so much my parents gave me a pina colada just to shut up.”
Ginny: “I like coconuts.”

Sasha gives the cheerleading team a reality check about the uselessness of their chants and the grey futures of the appalling team they support. Boo talks to Carl, he’s knows the supermarket opening isn’t going ahead so they no longer need to dance together – in fact, he’s going to give up dancing altogether and concentrate on school.

Evening at the Oyster Bar. Michelle is drumming up people to attend a Neighbourhood Committee, to turn around the supermarket decision and get it opened. She leaves an impression on Godot, the bartender surf-dude, as well as a stack of fliers.

Ginny is spending the night at Melanie’s and Melanie can’t help but notice Ginny’s nutty behaviour around Charlie. Ginny owns up that since she found out Charlie likes her, she can’t keep two thoughts in her head. Melanie comes down hard, spelling out the ‘bra code’, that Ginny cannot date Charlie because Boo likes him, period.

Michelle has suckered a meagre turnout at the Neighbourhood Committee but it transpires that they will not allow the supermarket to open – they’re protecting Paradise from pollution and the nation from dead duck fallout.

Carl drops by in response to Boo’s request to meet. She tells him she wants him as more than just a dance partner and they smooch.  They are interrupted by Melanie and Ginny, who in a heated discussion with Boo about whether the kiss means Ginny can date Charlie, fail to notice a disappointed Carl leaving the room.

bra code

Godot is helping a similarly dejected Michelle put away the folding chairs. He attempts to unload his laid back philosophy on her with some flirting, which she entertains, but defers with a smile.

Next morning, Michelle goes to see Sasha at cheerleading and as they watch the cheerleaders’ unimpressive exertions, asks her to apologise to Fanny. Sasha tries to explain that she’s got a lot of stuff going but Michelle tells her not to make a mistake, that life is unfair but she needs to deal with it. Sasha seems to take it on board.

broken spirit

There’s a present waiting for Michelle back at the house. It’s a coffee machine with a pink bow, which she hugs tight.

 

Discussion

Who’s the coffee machine from? The Neighbourhood Committee? Fanny or the girls? Kirk – I mean, Sebastian? I’m edging towards Godot.

The promised blowback between Ginny, Boo and Melanie’s brother Charlie finally comes to a head. Isn’t it OK for Ginny to date Charlie now that Boo’s kissed Carl? Or does Boo have dibs on Charlie forever?

Sean Gunn plays Sebastian the coffee guru as focussed as Kirk ever was. I think Kirk would probably have taken the job just as seriously, although I doubt his mom would have let him leave town for the competition. How did you find him?

Let’s talk boys. Who’s a better match for Boo – Carl or Charlie? What about for Ginny – Josh or Charlie? Who do you prefer: Josh, Carl, Charlie or Godot?

In contrast to Sam’s earlier comment that “improvement breeds expectation; expectation breeds disappointment”, Michelle finally chooses a role for herself with Sasha, telling her: “Quitting ballet now is a really stupid mistake.” Has Michelle accepted the role of mentor – a striking contrast from her initial rejection of the very idea of teaching – or merely peacekeeper, between Fanny and Sasha?

I’m not watching / reading Game of Thrones, but if anyone is – what’s the significance of the Khaleesi’s Dragons outburst?

All images from abc family

Filed Under Bunheads, Kelly Bishop, Sean Gunn
Tagged With bunheads, bunheads recaps, Kelly Bishop, rose abdoo, Sean Gunn

John Cabrera’s H+ Trailer from Comic Con

July 22, 2011 By arieanna 1 Comment

After 3 years, I’m happy to pass along the great news that John Cabrera‘s (Brian Fuller on Gilmore Girls) H+ web series is on the move!

The series is produced by Bryan Singer for Warner Premiere/Dolphin Entertainment. As you can see, the series does feature John’s long-time pal and Gilmore Girls co-star Sean Gunn (Kirk Gleason on Gilmore Girls).

The series just held a panel at Comic-Con, premiering the trailer you see below:

285062_135336309884351_131913630226619_241578_2759237_n.jpg
Sean Gunn in John Cabrera’s "H+"

H+ Summary: “The Digital Series takes viewers on a journey into an apocalyptic future where technology has begun to spiral out of control…. a future where 33% of the world’s population has retired its cell phones and laptops in favor of a stunning new device – an implanted computer system called H+. This tiny tool allows the user’s own mind and nervous system to be connected to the Internet 24 hours a day.

But something else is coming… something dark and vicious… and within seconds, billions of people will be dead… opening the door to radical changes in the political and social landscape of the planet — prompting survivors to make sense of what went wrong.”

You can follow along with the progress of H+ on Facebook or follow John himself on Twitter.

Filed Under Actors, Sean Gunn, Where Are They Now, Writers
Tagged With h+, john cabrera, Sean Gunn, web series, writing

Sean Gunn on “The Morning After” Show

April 26, 2011 By arieanna Leave a Comment

Sean Gunn (Kirk Gleason on Gilmore Girls) recently made an appearance on the Hulu highlights reel, The Morning After. Each day, they put out a 5-minute reel on last night’s television shows. Sean Gunn was guest host for the April 25th episode.

Check out his appearance here:

Filed Under Guest Stars, Sean Gunn
Tagged With guest star, Sean Gunn

“Super” Opens in the US

April 17, 2011 By arieanna Leave a Comment

Sean Gunn (Kirk Gleason on Gilmore Girls) and Gregg Henry (Mitchum on Gilmore Girls) both star in a movie written and directed by Sean’s borther, James Gunn: Super. The film had its film festival premiere a long time ago, but it only recently premiered in theatres. Secured with big names like Ellen Page and Liv Tyler, this looks to be a fantastic film!

SUPER: Movie Trailer. Watch more top selected videos about: Nathan Fillion, James Gunn

Movie Summary: When sad-sack loser Frank (Rainn Wilson) sees his ex-addict wife (Liv Tyler) willingly snatched by a seductive drug dealer (Kevin Bacon), he finds himself bereft and wholly unable to cope. But soon he decides to fight back under the guise of a DIY superhero called Crimson Bolt. With a hand-made suit, a wrench, and a crazed sidekick named Boltie (Ellen Page), the Crimson Bolt beats his way through the mean streets of crime in hopes of saving his wife. The rules were written a long time ago: You are not supposed to molest children, cut lines or key cars; if you do, prepare to face the wrath of the Crimson Bolt!

Check out dates you can see the film in the US here.

Filed Under Actors, Movie News, Movies, Sean Gunn
Tagged With gregg henry, Movie News, Movies, Sean Gunn, super
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