Great8Mandate 2: Can “Gilmore Girls” be saved?
No issue seems to be of higher concern to readers of this blog than whether or not “Gilmore Girls” will return next season – which is wholly understandable, given that this isn’t Daily Kos, where readers’re absolutely rabid about the situation in Iraq and the whole Justice Department scandal, and anyway, “Gilmore Girls” is no doubt the best show whose fate hangs in the balance.
Nothing I’ve written about, here or in print, has elicited such passionate response. I wrote the entry linked above three weeks ago, and I’m still getting Email about it.
Including this one, which arrived Thursday:
“Hi Mr. Kronke, It's [NAME REDACTED ON ADVICE FROM KARL ROVE] ... one of your GilmoreGirls.org Great8Mandate fans. I hope you don't mind, but I wanted to try and get your opinion on the following. Recently, the news for a possible season 8 hasn't been very positive. This week both Kristin Veitch from E! Online and Michael Ausiello from TV Guide reported that season 8 looks unlikely because Alexis Bledel is apparently unwilling to sign on. However, just today Kristin also reported that, ‘With actual tears in my eyes, I must tell you that I’ve heard from several solid sources that the CW has decided not to bring “Veronica Mars” back for a fourth season. Though official word has not yet come down from the network, I did hear from creator Rob Thomas earlier this week, who told me things weren’t looking good...’ (An interesting side note is that Kristin's Veronica Mars news article was only online for a few hours. I'm guessing she was pressured to take it down.)”
[MAYORAL SIGNING STATEMENT: I've reconstituted the above link to take you to an update. What might’ve been originally scratched from the official website was the emphatic nature of the original headline, which the story itself didn’t justify. Though one still wonders just how often the estimable Ms. Veitch has occasion to invite fake tears in her eyes.]
Anyway, my correspondent continued:
“Here's what I'd like to ask The Mayor of Television ... assuming that Veronica Mars really is dead and gone, how can The CW afford (ratings wise/network wise) to lose both it and Gilmore Girls? Wouldn't it then be relying heavily on lesser shows that are already on their last legs and putting a lot of hope into new pilots? Couldn't that backfire terribly? Does a Veronica Mars cancellation give new promise to a Gilmore Girls renewal?
“Any TV expert insight would really be appreciated! Thank you for your time.”
Thoughtfully, and only nominally long-windedly, I responded:
“I don't think it's an either-or with GG and VM. With VM, it's the simple fact that the show just does not get very good ratings. People expected VM to do considerably better with GG as a lead-in, but it didn't really hold on to much of that audience. In fact, the Pussycat Dolls reality show, which seems far less compatible with GG, is doing much better in that timeslot. Part of the problem with VM may have been its serialized storytelling; we've seen what happened to all those new serialized shows that began the season. (When the show returns, it will be as a series of stand-alone episodes, but that may be too little, too late.)
“With GG, it's a matter of economics and casting. No one's left on contract (generally, actors sign a six-year contract with a show, re-upping a year at a time after that), and I’ve heard Bledel has already checked out psychologically [PARENTHETICALLY ADDED RUMOR REDACTED ON ADVICE FROM ALBERTO GONZALEZ, AND BECAUSE THAT’S JUST NOT THE WAY THIS BLOG ROLLS]. Lauren Graham is the lynchpin in all of this. If they can cajole her to return, they can piece together enough for a season eight.
“I would really hate to be a CW executive right now. The network's Sunday night is tanking, its Monday night is on the decline, they may not be able to bring back either of their Tuesday shows. That's half their schedule right there. Were things going better, they'd probably cancel "One Tree Hill," since it's not doing all that well, but all the holes in their schedule will probably preclude that. They'll probably bring back "Seventh Heaven" for another season, as well, if they can't hold on to GG and maybe even if they can.
“CW doesn't develop as many new shows for the upcoming season as the other networks, so they have less to choose from, and, as a columnist for the Onion noted, ‘all of the titles of the CW's pilots sound like they were taken from a “Mad TV” sketch about network executives.’ I'm thinking they're going to turn to some more really cheaply produced reality shows like Search for the New Doll, maybe cut an hour from their Monday sitcoms ("Seventh Heaven" did better on Mondays, anyway).
“Of course, I advocated shutting down UPN long ago. And The WB was doing well until they dumped Jordan Levin as its Entertainment president and brought in guys who decided to torpedo its focus on viewers 18-34 and cooked up all sorts of junk appealing to older viewers (i.e., people like THEM) and then it, too went off the rails.
“So The CW was always a marriage of convenience, and the children simply don't play together very well.
“Ultimately, I'd say that at this point, The CW will do whatever it will takes to bring back GG -- except bankrupt itself. Unfortunately, that might be precisely what it takes.”
Herewith, your challenge: Concoct the best/smartest/dumbest/cleverest reason The CW should bring “Gilmore Girls” back, along with a compelling strategy to lure Lauren Graham back for an eighth year. The winner will receive the coupon for a no-doubt-edible fast-food delectable item thrust upon me when I left Thursday night’s L.A. Kings' somewhat fruitless hockey game (see the below blog entry), as well as some entertainingly cheesy TV-related tchotchke that, in coming years, you might actually come to value (or try, immediately, to pawn off on susceptible eBay users). Enter early and often! CW Entertainment president Dawn Ostroff could probably profit off your insight now.
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About this blog
David Kronke was appointed Mayor of Television after a bloodless coup in 2000. Since then, he has improved infrastructure, championed greater educational opportunities and fought for reforms that have utterly erased corruption and incompetence from the television industry. Since Mr. Kronke has ascended to power, Television is a far better place.
Being a longtime Gilmore fan, I'm simply not ready to see the show go yet. I don't understand why the network and actors can't come to compromise -- I bet the network is [within reason] just throwing money at Lauren and Alexis. I, of course, would prefer for the entire cast to stay for a season 8, but if Alexis is really unwilling to participate I'd be happy if my weekly dose of Lorelai was increased. And by the way, happy birthday to Lauren Graham, who celebrates her 40th today!
Promis Lauren her fan's will always watch the show, and that it won't get worse than it is! Even if Alexis does not sign for next year, she should still do it because Alexis can guest star randomally and there are SOO many other storylines that can be done: Luke/Lorelai, Lorelai/Emilyand Richard, Lane, Sookie, the Inn, and StarsHollow in general, oh yeah, and April too!
I am a huge Gilmore fan! and I just can't let this show go after only seven sesaons. It would make me and millions of other people so happy to have another season of Gilmore girls. This show means a lot to me and I would hate for it to end!
It would be completely horrible if this wonderful show left televison! I can understand how the "Girls" want to stay together, & hopefully they can convince both to return. I, however, would continue to watch no matter what. GG with Rory as a regular wouldn't be quite as fun, but an occasional visit would be good enough! PLEAE LAUREN COME BACK! PLEASE ALEXIS!! I can't get enough of Stars Hollow, and the whole story line of L/L would be enough to bring it through. The writers have done a great job, turning the once dimishing story line with Christopher to the much acclaimed pre-DR GG. I think this show must continue...and ending now would be far too rushed and incomplete! Please help us bring GG back! Please!
GG Obessesed!
-Beth
Hi,
I'm a longtime Gilmore Girls fan an I just think it would be very sad if this show left at this time! I can understand why the show might not go on. It's expensive to produce and they want the girls to stay together. However, I would still watch the show even if Alexis weren't there. I think the show would not be as good, but I think that there should be an 8th season so the stories could tie up nicely. There are only a few episodes left and I wonder if it will be left with a messy ending if the season ends right now. Please, Lauren and Alexis, you need to come back to this show if only for a year! I think the writers are learning to do a good job with this show so you should come back! The show must go on because if it ends now, it would be kind of a sloppy ending and no one wants that! Please bring GG back for another year!
Thanks,
Shanna
My daughter and I (as well as many of our friends) are huge Gilmore Girls fans. We really feel like the show needs another season to end on a positive note. It's such a terrific show, with so many possible story lines to still do. Please make us loyal fans happy and do one more season! Do it for us and do it for the characters!! :)
Please, Lauren, Alexis and all of the rest of you...ONE more, that's all we ask!! :)
This incredelous show should indefinitly be saved. We have watched our Girls through six (soon to be seven) wonderfully marvelous seasons. We've been there for it all, and every Tuesday night, for many many years we've excitedly turned on the television set ten minutes early just in case it started a few minutes early. We've counted days and hours and mintues and seconds until we can watch our favorite characters exchange witty banter and progress with their lives. We cannot let this happen. I refuse to go down with-out a fight!
P.S.- Happy Birthday Lauren Graham. You are an amazing actress and a beautiful person. Congratulations.
I want GG to return! It just has to.. :)
This show NEEDS an 8th season. There are so many story lines that need to be completed. And I would still watch it religiously, even if Alexis didn't come back. We have to save this show!
Happy Birthday Lauren!
It's easy to tell by visiting various Internet entertainment communities that VM has a bigger ONLINE fan base than GG. However, GG has a bigger VIEWING audience. It's that simple.
Before I go on rambling, I would like to thank David Kronk for writing 2 articles on this subject and being so supportive of GG and the Great8Mandate!
Now onto the topic at hand!
I could name a million reasons the show should stay but that would take a while and would probably take up the page so I'll name a few!
Everyone could benefit from doing another season in my opinion.
The network is slowly but surely failing terrible, and falling apart! Half of their shows are on the verge of cancellation due to sucky ratings, they can't afford to lose (if I'm not mistaken) one of their top shows. The network will go down the toilet if they start getting rid of their top shows.
The actresses, I hear, want to move on to bigger and newer things. If they stay another year, they could have a whole years notice to set stuff up in there careers before the show ends. I'm sure they don't want to get stuck, when the show ends, with no jobs and no leads on a new job. In the position they are in right now, they could also convince the writers to do something more with there characters and storylines so that they get some attention drawn to them by movie/tv writers.
Now the viewers of course will benefit. The show is far from finished with storyline. If they end the show now, there will be so many loose ends, the show won't get a satisfying ending and after 7 years, they deserve a satisfying ending. Everyone does including the cast!
We still need to see
~ Luke and Lorelai together, happy and on there way to a family!
~ Rory with some sort of storyline such as a career or a lead on a career.
~ Lorelai and Emilys relationship at some sort of truce or on actual good terms.
and much, much more!
The show NEEEDS another season! Please give us Season 8!!
Um, Chelsea? If "millions of people" were actually watching this show, it wouldn't be in danger of cancellation. Therein lies the problem. And it becomes a dominoe effect with the expectations of the advertisers and the network and the viewers, and so on. If this were still a hit show, as it was in previous years, do you really think Alexis and Lauren would be jumping ship, or trying to? Hell no!
What "Gilmore Girls" really needs is a do-over of Season 7, with better writers who could tie up all those annoying loose ends and let us get on with our lives already. No April (who could drive practically anyone to child abuse), no Anna, no stupid newfangled Chris, no 5-minute marriage, no twins for Lane (and whoever thought that one up should be summarily fired), no it's-a-life-threatening-situation-oh wait-no-it's-not heart attack for Richard, no gratingly annoying new friends for Rory. More Kirk, more Emily and Richard, more Paris, more quirky Stars Hollow and its denizens. You know, the way it USED to be. A pipe dream, I know.
We all know in our hearts that Luke and Lorelai will get together in the end. That's a given. But the crappy and awkward journey we've had to endure for this season is inexcusable. There have been a couple of non-cringe-inducing episodes, but overall, it's sucked. Which, I suppose, is why so many of you ardent supporters want to see more. Because you somehow expect it to get better. Call me cynical, but I have no such high expectations of an 8th season, certainly not the way it's currently being produced/written.
For all of you who think I'm not a fan, you're wrong. I AM (or was) a fan, which is why I've hated to see this show disintegrate so badly this season.
Good luck with your mandate, or whatever it is, but if the show gets cancelled? Promise you won't all jump off a roof, mmkay? It's just a TV show.
We need a season 8! Gilmore Girls is easily one of the best shows on tv, it can't end this season! It would end an incomplete show. This is the only show i can get my husband to watch with me! Let's get that 8th season.
Happy birthday to Lauren Graham!
We need a season eight.I and many others are not ready to say goodbye to this fantastic show. It needs to have a conclusive end for the characters and the fans need to have time to prepare themselves for the end rather than finding out at the last minute. This show is still funny and smart and has a lot to expolre still. We need a season 8 of GG!
As a member of www.gilmoregirls.org I support their Great8Mandate. Gilmore Girls has been such an inspiration to me as a single mom of a 16 year old daughter who has had severe mental illness since she was 3 years old. Gilmore Girls has given me hope as a parent as well as laughter when I wanted to cry. I am modeling my relationship with my daughter after Lorelai's loving relationship with Rory and it's working. I am finally having a wonderful bond with my only child as a result of what I learned from Gilmore Girls. This fine show needs just one more season to fully tie up plots and come to an conclusion that fans can prepare for. Shis show has saved my relationship with my child and I'd like to see it be given the chance to end well. Please, just ONE more season is all I ask. Thank you, Lori
Hi,
I have a pretty selfish reason for watching the Gilmore Girls. I started watching the show after my husband died from lung cancer. I was working from home and when the workday would end...GG was on (the reruns). I started watching and even have purchased seasons 1-6 on DVD. I haven't enjoyed a show this much in 20 years. I just pray we get another season in Stars Hollow.
Noreen
Gilmore Girls can never be a finished story, as characters as rounded and
full as these will always have more to do, but they deserve the chance for an ending that is as well thought out and fully explored as the rest of the show has always been. The incredibly bittersweet relationship between Lorelai and Luke is a prime example of a storyline that has been around as long as this show has, and that deserves the chance to be finished with as much care as necessary, and the subsequent time that it so clearly merits. Similarly, it would be an intense disappointment if, having experienced with Rory the hurdles she has had to overcome in the path towards her dream of one day becoming a journalist, someone who just wants to be sure she sees... something, we were denied the opportunity to 'be there' as she finally realises her dream.
Gilmore Girls will never be over, not completely, but as it stands at the
end of Season Seven, it is also unfinished. A show this well made, well acted and well loved deserves a
proper ending.
Christopher: This town is like one big outpatient mental institution.
SAVE STARS HOLLOW!
I do believe that Gilmore girls still has a lot of potential. The last couple of episodes of season 7 were much better than most of season 6 and I think that the new writers finally found a way to capture the old "Gilmore girls feeling" in their episodes. They even got the characters back on track. Especially Rory and Luke. This is why I'm so sure that an 8th season would be an excellent opportunity to end this show in a way that gives credit to how great it has been overall.
I don't need to see a marriage between Luke and Lorelai. And I think it would be great to see Lorelai single for a while longer. But I desperately want to see them together eventually. I actually love the slow (! no more jumping ;) !) crawl.
I understand that Alexis might want to move on since she's been doing this for so long but I hope she sees how much this show needs an 8th season. I hope that she loves the show enough to realize that one more year won't hurt her or her career and at the same time would make millions of fans all over the world happy.
As for Lauren...I don't think Gilmore girls without Rory would be such a great idea so I really do understand why she wouldn't want to stay if Alexis doesn't. And I don't think anything or anyone could convince her to do so. So I guess we can only hope for Alexis to stay.
Give Gilmore girls an 8th season!
Thank you so much for writing a second entry on the fight to bring Gilmore back.
There's so much left to be wrapped up here, that it would be so sad if the show ended this season and we never got to see these stories resolved. Rory getting her dream of becoming a journalist fulfilled, Lorelai getting her "whole package." I've watched for seven seasons now, rooting for these girls to get those things, and there's no way for that to happen in the next 5 eps this season.
I hope Alexis and Lauren are really thinking about the characters and the fans here, and not just the money and the work load. While that latters are very important parts of contracts talks, I'd hope that they're really looking at the bigger picture of what one more year will give to the fans.
Thanks for bringing attention to our efforts, once again.
With Veronica fans now campaigning to save their show as well, I think it will be harder for us Gilmore fans to get our message heard. In my humble opinion Veronica has a bigger online audience whereas Gilmore has a bigger viewing audience. But I still don't see how the network can think to keep Veronica with continually poor ratings. Viva la Gilmore.
mayor of television - if you're out there, would you mind giving us your honest opinion on the odds of gilmore girls coming back? at this point i'd take 30% yes, 70% no - because that still gives me hope.
The show is Gilmore Girls - therefore it would be ideal to have all the girls back. And I like the onscreen solidarity transferring to real life. I like that Lauren wants this to continue as it has, with Alexis on board. But make no mistake, I would happily watch the amazing Lauren Graham without Alexis if need be. They have become public names, due largely to this wonderful show and I can't help but feel that ending the show at a point where most fans feel that it is one season too early, would lose a great deal of the fanbase they have spent building up.
This show, seven years old now, has always been of the highest quality. Those out there that are unsatisfied with it's recent directions (not me) still need to admit that it is by far superior to most other shows airing at this stage. We need a season 8 because that's what is required to give all facets of the story time to play out - with fan satisfaction to boot.
I'm also a big VM fan, but if I had to make a choice, Gilmore Girls would win out every time. There is no substitute. The gang at www.gilmoregirls.org are doing a great job with the Great8Mandate and I sincerely hope that success will be just around the corner.
Please, please, please....we need more time... one more year to give us time to celebrate it. there are only 5 episodes left this year - what, are they going to tell us the week before the series finale?
K.:
I really can't provide an educated guess without a glimpse into Lauren Graham's head. She might be using Alexis Bledel's imminent departure as an excuse to conceal her own desire to leave the show, or she might be saying she won't do the show without her as a negotiating ploy. Obviously, The CW wants it back, and they'd do well to maybe get her to agree to do 13 final episodes and then actually have a big finale to promote.
So she could be really reluctant to return, at which point the show's odds are about 25% at best, or maybe she's just testing the market, so perhaps it's 50/50. But remember, "Friends" came back for one and probably two seasons after everyone had expected it to go, so there's always hope.
I adored the first six seasons of GG, but if this year is any indication of the show's future quality, I say it's time to let it go live on a nice farm somewhere.
MoroccoMole: I can understand your reasoning, but the show is totally hitting its stride again. It's not exactly like AS-P left DR with the best storyline to kick season 7 off with. There's definitely another season's worth of plots left to explore. Lauren Graham if you're out there, Gilmore fans everywhere are praying for an 8th season. ;)
Bring back Gilmore Girls for an eighth season. I am a mom with a daughter in college and this show is a way for us to connect.
I, like all the other writers here and millions of people worldwide, am a HUGE Gilmore Girls fan.
In Australia the TV networks are only just showing Series 5 now, but the Series DVD's are a sell out as soon as they are released.
The GG is the smartest and best written show that's been on TV for years, and the actors exceptionally good. Why replace something as great as this with rubbish like reality TV (Pussycat Dolls come on).
PLEASE at least give us a bit of time to say Goodbye to Stars Hollow with Series 8 to round things off. Luke and Lorelai have to get together. Dont disrespect the last 7 Series by rushing to end things in a couple of espisodes. It can't and won't work.
AND CW can you really afford to lose another great show. (the slippery downward slope beckons if you do).
Lauren I love your work, please sign up with or without Alexis. There is still lots of Stars Hollow without Rory there every week.
See ya from OZ
Tis show has helped my three girls and I through some tough times. It brings hope, and happiness in our lives (well maybe not season 7 yet!) It would be a shame to rush end it after the season we endured. Please, do anything you can to help make season 8 a reality.
I agree with alot of what was said above. season seven was a real disappointment. so many frustrating non happening episodes. the characters didn't act like themselves, they acted like something out of stepford wives. we need the old dynamics of the show back and more of luke and lorelai. we waited for ross and rachel for 6 years of almost and then the end was too quick but still better than the last gilmore girls, the last episode left you feeling " is that It?!!!!!!!" come on finish the show with class and dignity not the same old boring stuff of season 7 bring it back and finish it right!!!!!
Ok,..so it's been how long? GG fans are still wanting them to come back,they've had a break,CW is blocked from many homes now. From what I've been told CW is crap. WOW the fans, and shock the TV world and bring them back!
Ok,..so it's been how long? GG fans are still wanting them to come back,they've had a break,CW is blocked from many homes now. From what I've been told CW is crap. WOW the fans, and shock the TV world and bring them back!
I am very angry about the Gilmore Girls going off TV! The last episode was a complete train wreck. I really enjoyed the show. I want to see a Spinoff series as soon as possible.. Sincerely, Donna Moore ps. I am tired of watching Walker Texas Rainger every night.
So,still no update on Gilmore Girls? This really bites!!Someone find out something,rumor mill says a movie is going to come out,hell I'd be happy if Amy wrote a book.ANYTHING to finish this up, I'd be really happy if they tossed out an 8th season.CW is about as worthless as tits on a bore,does anyone watch it? It's blocked at my place,and here,my friend house.(using her computer)..In my opinion Luke & Loralie are the best TV couple in MANY,MANY years!!...We MISS OUR Gilmore Girls,the town people and Friday night dinners!!