Gilmore Girls’ Scott Patterson Reveals the Scene That Makes Him Cringe

by

Scott Patterson’s next mission, should he choose to accept it? Keeping a straight face.

Lorelai Gilmore actress Alexis Bledel loves the show’s unique and playful spirit, but there was one joke that the actor who played Luke Danes found difficult to say.

During a recent interview with TopMob News, Scott shared a funny story about a conversation with Luke Kirk. Scott explained, “I’m a big Tom Cruise fan – it’s hard not to be! But Luke jokingly asked me, ‘If you were telling Tom Cruise where to sit when everything was full, where would you send him?’ I immediately replied, ‘To an acting class.’”

Although he personally didn’t agree with the idea, and found it difficult to express, Scott admitted he thought it was very funny.

Honestly, that’s what grabbed me about the show and made me a total fan. I think a lot of us are just *over* everything being so polished and everyone trying to please each other. This show is a breath of fresh air – it’s genuinely clever, hilarious, and doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it’s also really touching and focuses on a charming small town. It’s just… really good TV, and I absolutely love watching it.

Scott was drawn to the show’s unique humor and film-like quality, which is what finally made him watch it – nearly 15 years after it ended in 2007.

He mentioned he’d watched the very first episode when it came out. But then he decided he’d never watch it again, explaining he just couldn’t bear to see himself on screen.

However, when *Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life*, a four-part continuation of the series, was released in 2016, Scott’s opinion started to change after he was made to watch the first episode at the premiere.

The actor from *Sullivan’s Crossing* said he was really impressed with the movie, describing it as a high-quality romantic comedy with excellent acting, directing, and cinematography. He felt it was exceptionally well made.

Four years later, while stuck at home during the COVID-19 lockdown and searching for something to do, Scott Patterson came up with an idea: a podcast where he rewatched (or, for some things, watched for the first time) his old work. This led to the creation of his iHeart podcast, *I Am All In…Again With Scott Patterson*.

“So, I started giving my unfiltered opinions of everything,” he said. “It’s just understanding what the fan experience was when they first laid eyes on this beautiful show.”

Like so many Gilmore Girls viewers, Scott, “became hooked very quickly.”

He was really impressed with how clever and humorous it was, saying it perfectly matched his taste. He also admired the show’s willingness to satirize subjects others avoid, praising the writers’ bravery and expressing a lot of respect for their work.

Honestly, even after all these years – 25 years since it first came on! – I still can’t believe how flawlessly everything just *worked* with that show. It’s like all the stars aligned, and it’s all thanks to Amy Sherman-Palladino, really. She’s a genius, and I truly believe she’s the reason it was so perfect.

He recalled that at the start, everyone involved realized how fortunate they were to get the parts. It was a period when many famous movie actors were starting to appear on television because the film studios were producing fewer movies. Because of this, none of them expected to be cast, and Amy tirelessly advocated for each of them, prioritizing finding the best actors for the roles over seeking established names.

Amy didn’t just support her fellow actors, including Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel—her calm and steady presence was also a source of stability for the entire production.

According to Scott, this creator was deeply connected to her feelings and relied heavily on her intuition. He believes that ability to trust her instincts is what made her special.

It’s no wonder he still thinks of his time on the show as a wonderful experience, often saying it ‘continues to offer unexpected benefits’ even after all these years.

For a look back at the BTS secrets that helped bring Gilmore Girls to life, read on.

The charming town of Stars Hollow, the setting for the popular show, was actually inspired by a trip creator Amy Sherman-Palladino took to Washington, Connecticut. She was captivated by the town’s friendly people, local traditions, and a particularly memorable inn, all of which sparked the idea for the series – even influencing some of the very first lines of dialogue.

Sherman-Palladino told Deseret News she hoped to evoke the same feelings in viewers that she experienced while exploring the charming town, saying, ‘If I could do that, it would be amazing.’

Oh my gosh, can you believe Alexis Bledel basically came out of nowhere to play Rory? She’d only done *one* tiny, uncredited acting job before even auditioning! And she was still a student at NYU when she landed the role! It’s just…amazing to think about how fresh she was when she became Rory Gilmore. It makes her performance even more incredible, knowing she didn’t have a ton of experience beforehand!

Alexis Bledel shared a story on Late Night with Seth Meyers about her auditions for a role while she was a student at NYU and feeling quite ill. She said she was called back to audition around six times. Despite not having much acting experience, she admitted to becoming a little impatient and even having some attitude. Surprisingly, the casting director loved it, declaring Bledel ‘their girl!’ Bledel remembers asking if they would keep calling her back, and the director responded that her attitude was ‘perfect’.

3. Gilmore Girls without Lauren Graham as Lorelai? Unimaginable, right? But it almost happened.

In her 2016 book, *Talking As Fast As I Can*, Alexis Bledel (credited as Graham in the source) recalled receiving the script for the *Gilmore Girls* pilot while she was staying at a friend’s apartment in New York City. At the time, she was waiting to learn if her recently completed NBC series, *M.Y.O.B.*, would be renewed for another season or cancelled.

Luckily, the project *M.Y.O.B.* didn’t move forward, which meant Graham could play the quick-witted main character. This was also beneficial for any other actresses who were being considered for the role.

She described a rare and intense connection she feels when reading a script she loves. It’s a feeling of instant recognition, almost like meeting an old friend, combined with a possessive urge to fully immerse herself in the character and block out everything else.

Scott Patterson stood out as the only actor to audition for the role of Luke Danes. He instantly impressed the casting directors with his portrayal of the diner owner – a character who was both endearing and a bit grumpy, and who would eventually become Lorelai’s husband.

According to casting director Jill Anthony, Amy declared she was completely satisfied with the actor they had found. Anthony told Vanity Fair, ‘She said, ‘I don’t need to see anyone else – he’s perfect.’

But Patterson never thought he was going to sport Luke’s signature hat and flannel shirts. 

The actor told *Glamour* that it was their second audition of the day, after already having gone to three. They’d only practiced one scene when they were expected to know two, but they just went ahead and did their best. At that point, they didn’t even care about getting the part—they knew *Gilmore Girls* was destined for bigger stars. The script was just too good, and they figured they were wasting their time. They were already running late for another audition and worried about getting a parking ticket, so they politely asked if they could leave.

Before Jared Padalecki became famous playing Dean Forester, Rory’s first boyfriend, two other Canadian actors were let go. The reason? The show’s writers changed the character to be more mainstream, according to an interview with Vanity Fair.

Both Ryan Gosling and Chris Pine tried out for the show. Casting director Jami Rudofsky shared at the 2015 ATX TV Festival that Gosling’s audition, surprisingly, didn’t go well.

Chris Pine shared that his father, actor Robert Pine, helped him land his first professional audition, though he doesn’t recall what the role was. In a video for *W Magazine*, he joked it might have been for a boyfriend.

Despite becoming a major comedy star, Melissa McCarthy initially faced resistance when Amy Sherman-Palladino cast her as the quirky chef Sookie. Sherman-Palladino explained at a 2015 TV festival that executives were hesitant because McCarthy brought a unique energy to the role. The character wasn’t written with any specific physical traits in mind; Sherman-Palladino simply wanted someone genuinely funny and talented. Although she immediately knew McCarthy was perfect, it took a few episodes for everyone else to agree.

In the original pilot episode, Alex Borstein played Sookie, but she had to leave the show due to her commitments to *MADtv*. She later returned in smaller roles as a harpist and stylist. Amy Sherman-Palladino later cast Borstein in *The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel*, where she won two Emmy Awards for her performance.

Interestingly, Jackson Douglas, who was married to Borstein at the time, secured a regular role on *Gilmore Girls*. Sherman-Palladino actually wrote the character of Jackson, Sookie’s farmer boyfriend, specifically with him in mind. Initially planned for just a few episodes, his strong on-screen chemistry with Melissa McCarthy led to him staying with the show for all seven seasons.

Liza Weil initially tried out for the role of Rory, and although the show’s creators were impressed with her audition, they felt she wasn’t quite the right fit. Weil remembered being told that if the show was picked up, they might find a part for her, but she assumed that was the end of the line. Surprisingly, they didn’t just find a role—they actually wrote the character of Paris, Rory’s rival-turned-friend, specifically for her. Despite Paris becoming a beloved character, Weil was hesitant at first about playing such a sharp and difficult person.

Looking back, I was shocked by what they wrote,” the *How to Get Away With Murder* star said with a laugh. “I couldn’t believe they’d even consider it! Now, though, I take it as a compliment and I’m happy it happened.

Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham had amazing on-screen chemistry, but it was surprisingly accidental! They didn’t even meet until the first day of filming. In fact, Bledel was so inexperienced with acting that Graham would gently guide her – even physically, by touching her arm – to help her stay in the right position for scenes. As Graham playfully explained on *Today*, people often comment on their chemistry, but she jokes that it was because she was essentially directing Bledel during filming!

Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham famously ate most of the food their characters, Lorelai and Rory, ate on screen – and fans know that was a significant amount! Bledel mentioned on the *Today* show that she dislikes it when actors pretend to eat. However, after repeated takes and some stomach discomfort, Graham admitted they eventually started using spit buckets to manage the sheer volume of food.

Oh my gosh, this is *amazing*! Apparently, Alexis Bledel actually dated two of her on-screen boyfriends in real life! I heard it straight from the casting director, Mara Casey – can you believe it?! It just makes everything about Gilmore Girls even more perfect, knowing that some of those sparks were real!

Back in 2016, I told *Life & Style* that we actually considered using Alexis’ real-life boyfriends in the show. She had dated Jared and Milo Ventimiglia, and also an up-and-coming actor from New York named Chris Heuisler, who even appeared as a guest on the show. He was a really nice guy.

Sean Gunn first appeared on Gilmore Girls as the DSL installer, Mick. He later became a recurring character named Kirk, known for having a different job in each episode. Gunn explained that creator Amy Sherman-Palladino simply forgot she’d already given his character a name!

The WB network considered a spin-off series featuring Milo Ventimiglia, and the third-season episode “Here Comes the Son” was essentially a test episode for the new show. Tentatively titled *Windward Circle*, it would have followed Jess’ life in Venice Beach, California, but the project was canceled due to financial constraints.

As the seventh season of *Gilmore Girls* concluded, there was discussion about potentially creating a spin-off series that would focus on Rory’s life as an adult, after Alexis Bledel indicated she wouldn’t be continuing with the show.

Graham told TV Guide that he initially said he wouldn’t return to the show. The producers then considered continuing with just Alexis, but Graham explained that both he and Alexis were hesitant. Ultimately, they both decided they didn’t want to continue without each other.

She explained that they’d really considered all options, and for a while, they even discussed her taking on a behind-the-scenes role instead of appearing on screen as much.

When contract talks fell apart, Stars Hollow was stunned to learn that Amy Sherman-Palladino and her husband, Daniel Palladino, wouldn’t be back for the seventh and final season of the show.

According to Amy Palladino, they couldn’t reach an agreement with the studio on a new contract. Her husband, Daniel Sherman-Palladino, added that they had attempted to negotiate a multi-year deal, but were unsuccessful.

She explained that negotiations involve compromise. There are many factors at play in any deal, and what they were requesting wasn’t unreasonable – they simply wanted to ensure the show continued successfully.

Although they had already chosen Dave Rosenthal to take over, Amy Sherman-Palladino described handing over control as “terrifying—like a total nightmare.”

And she’s since revealed she’s never watched the final season.

For years, people speculated that Lauren Graham and Scott Patterson didn’t get along while filming *Gilmore Girls*, even though their characters, Luke and Lorelai, had amazing chemistry. Many fans thought this tension was why the couple broke up during a controversial storyline in season six. However, Graham later told *TV Guide* that the rumors weren’t true.

She acknowledged the situation was exaggerated, but clarified she had a friendly relationship with David Sutcliffe, who played Rory’s father. She understood some people might have assumed she was favoring him because of their friendship, but insisted that wasn’t the case.

Graham shared the fans’ disappointment and frustration with the way Luke and Lorelai’s relationship concluded in the original series, feeling it lacked a clear resolution.

I really enjoyed the chemistry between Luke and Lorelai, but I didn’t feel their story had a proper conclusion,” she told TV Guide. “It felt unfinished, and we didn’t know if it was truly over. Amy [Sherman-Palladino] wasn’t involved in the final season, so it’s hard to say—it just didn’t feel resolved.”

When Amy Sherman-Palladino left the show after season six, the series finale didn’t happen as she’d initially envisioned. She often spoke about this, playfully hinting for years about the “last four words” she had planned to use to conclude the story of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore.

Following the show, nearly every interview with Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino included questions about the secret final four words. However, they intentionally remained tight-lipped. As Sherman-Palladino explained to *Entertainment Weekly*, she didn’t want to reveal her ideas because she might revisit them if a movie were ever made, and she didn’t want to be constrained by what she’d already said.

When Netflix announced the show’s return in 2016, they confirmed the four-episode series would finally include those famous four words fans had been waiting for. You can find all the details here, and yes, it was worth the anticipation!

Edward Herrmann and Kelly Bishop, who played Lorelai’s parents Richard and Emily Gilmore, developed a close bond while working on the show. Their connection was so strong that Edward’s wife, Star Herrmann, playfully called Kelly her “second wife.” Sadly, Edward Herrmann passed away in 2014 at the age of 71 after fighting brain cancer. In his final weeks, his wife asked Kelly Bishop to come and spend time with him.

She explained to *Vanity Fair* that she was the only guest he’d asked to come. It meant a lot to both him and to her.

Bishop described the invitation as both a pleasant surprise and bittersweet. During the cast’s reunion at the ATX TV Festival, an empty chair was placed on stage as a tribute to Herrmann.

Read More

2025-10-13 02:19