Why Did Networks Push for Rory to Have Sex on Gilmore Girls? Amy Sherman-Palladino Reveals!

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On Saturday evening, the realms of “Gilmore Girls,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and “Étoile” intersected during PaleyFest LA, where creator Amy Sherman-Palladino was honored in a grand celebration.

The gathering, titled “A Tribute to ‘The Amy Sherman-Palladino Multiverse,'” saw the attendance of Lauren Graham and Kelly Bishop from Gilmore Girls, Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, and Luke Kirby from Maisel, as well as Charlotte Gainsbour and Lou de Laâge from the fresh series Étoile. Notably, Kirby is also a part of this new series. Amy Sherman-Palladino and her writing partner Daniel Palladino were present along with these actors at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre for a 90-minute discussion about the impressive body of work by this writer-producer.

The discussion kicked off by delving into Sherman-Palladino’s background as a dancer, her entry into writing for the show Roseanne, at which point she humorously remarked, “At that time, Roseanne was exceptionally unique. To begin with, Roseanne Barr was just one facet of her craziness; it’s quite distinct now.” The narrative also explored the origins of both her personal and professional bond with Palladino.

Later on, the author reminisced about presenting the concept of Gilmore Girls. She explained that at that moment, she was actually pitching something else, but when they inquired about other concepts, she responded, “There’s a story about a mother and daughter who are more like friends than typical mother-daughter relationships.” Surprisingly, they agreed to it, even though she hadn’t worked out any details beyond that initial idea.

Graham and Bishop shared stories about how they got involved in the show, including a challenge for Graham due to her being cast as Lorelai. Since she was already committed to another series at the time, it made scheduling a meeting with Sherman-Palladino difficult, which is why he decided not to meet with her initially.

The creator admitted he didn’t wish to develop feelings for her, as he wasn’t interested if he couldn’t be with her. However, fate had other plans and they eventually met. He confessed he secretly hoped his show would end so she would become free. Later on, Graham discovered that an executive swapped her for another actress NBC was keen on at the time.

Despite Gilmore Girls eventually achieving great success, Sherman-Palladino recalled the initial difficulties, such as weekly phone calls from the studio expressing their dissatisfaction with the show’s progress. These calls persisted during the majority of pre-production until she demanded they either terminate her employment or cease contacting her. In the end, they opted for the latter and sent flowers upon the premiere of the pilot episode.

Sherman-Palladino stated that ‘Gilmore Girls,’ which aired on The WB, was challenging to produce as it didn’t fit their usual teen soap or supernatural genre like ‘Buffy.’ They often received feedback about Alexis Bledel’s character, Rory, not having sex due to her being in high school, and comments suggesting more sexual scenes or Lorelai, portrayed by Graham, acting more as a mother. However, she explained that the show wasn’t about these elements.

Amy Sherman-Palladino playfully commented on the show’s tight budget, sharing that during filming at Warner Bros, they gratefully accepted water and leftovers from the Drew Carey Show. With virtually no funds, she humorously confessed to walking Lauren in circles around Burbank because they couldn’t afford to go anywhere. Despite Burbank having mountains, their show was set in Connecticut, so they had to make do with the limited resources at hand.

The discussion also included the widespread popularity of ‘Gilmore Girls’ following its release on Netflix and the heartfelt responses from fans. Graham noted, “People often tell me, ‘I watched it with my mom, sister, daughter, and it helped us get through a difficult period.’ It feels like a comforting refuge where they can enjoy something cherished with someone they care for.” Palladino added, “We frequently hear stories of people using the show to heal from surgeries, cancer, and other hardships. These tales are always moving because it’s not something we intended when writing the series.

The scene transitioned to the TV series ‘Bunheads’ by Sherman-Palladino in 2012 (complete with a video message from lead actress Sutton Foster), followed by ‘Maisel’, where the creator finally had a bigger budget at his disposal. After bagging 22 Emmy awards over its 5 seasons, Borstein admitted, “I feel like I’ve reached my end” regarding her career. However, Sherman-Palladino quickly put an end to any retirement talk, stating emphatically, “You’re not going anywhere – the idea of retirement is off the table.

Later on, Étoile made her appearance, showcasing a sneak peek of the upcoming Prime Video series. This series focuses on the dancers and creative personnel from two prestigious ballet companies, one in New York and one in Paris. They are embarking on an ambitious mission to preserve their historic institutions by exchanging their most gifted performers.

As a gamer, I usually delve into tales woven around my biological family because their stories are endless. But this isn’t about them; this is about the ‘families’ within these various dance companies spread across different cities. What drew us in was the chance to create a show centered on professionals, on those who transform into elite athletes. We were fascinated by the dynamics, the struggles they face, the exchanges, and even the hints of playful sexuality.

Étoile starts streaming April 24.

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2025-03-30 16:25