'Gilmore Girls': Why it's a good choice to bring back on streaming
-
Molly Driscoll Staff writer
More episodes of the popular 2000s dramedy 鈥淕ilmore Girls鈥� may be on their way.
Netflix is reportedly in negotiations with 鈥淕ilmore鈥� creator Amy Sherman-Palladino and original stars Lauren Graham (Lorelei) and Alexis Bledel (Rory). If the project moves forward, the new content could be released as several 90-minute films rather than a season of TV. The original 鈥淕ilmore鈥� series is currently streaming on Netflix, where it has reportedly performed well.
The show centers on the family relationships between a grandmother (Kelly Bishop), a mother (Graham), and teenage daughter (Bledel), set in the quaint New England town of Stars Hollow, Conn.
One core character may not come back for the new installments. 鈥淕hostbusters鈥� actress Melissa McCarthy got her big break as the best friend of protagonist Lorelai, but Ms. McCarthy is now starring in CBS's "Mike & Molly" and headlining movies after a breakout performance in the 2011 鈥淏ridesmaids.鈥�
Ms. Sherman-Palladino left the show after its sixth season, and fans were less happy with the program鈥檚 darker seventh and final season.
鈥淕ilmore鈥� aired on the WB, then the CW. It co-starred Edward Herrmann (who died in 2014), Scott Patterson, Milo Ventimiglia, Liza Weil, and Jared Padalecki.聽
At the ATX Television Festival this summer, Sherman-Palladino that any future projects involving 鈥淕ilmore Girls鈥� characters 鈥渨ould have to be the right everything 鈥� the right format,聽the right timing. It would have to be honored in a certain way. And if it ever came around,聽we would all jump in and do it. And if it ever happened, I聽promise you I鈥檇聽do it聽correctly.鈥�
Netflix and other streaming services like Yahoo Screen and Hulu have picked up several canceled network shows. Is this resulting in better TV?
When 鈥淕ilmore鈥� was canceled, finances were reportedly more of a concern than ratings.聽But for many others, like NBC鈥檚 鈥淐ommunity鈥� and Fox鈥檚 鈥淎rrested Development鈥� and 鈥淭he Mindy Project,鈥� the shows all experienced low ratings when they aired on network TV, despite critical acclaim.
Yahoo Screen picked up 鈥淐ommunity,鈥� while Netflix scooped up 鈥淎rrested鈥� and Hulu took on 鈥淢indy.鈥�
Streaming services operate differently than networks (for one thing, Netflix is very secretive about its viewing numbers), so they may feel freer to take a chance on these shows. With 鈥淕ilmore,鈥� 鈥淐ommunity,鈥� 鈥淎rrested,鈥� and 鈥淢indy,鈥� TV viewers will get more episodes of shows that according to reviews are well-made and creatively satisfying.
