Lauren Graham Exposes Shocking Gilmore Girls Paycheck Reality: No Netflix Residuals!

Lauren Graham is spilling some hot Luke’s coffee when it comes to her paycheck.

As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but share my excitement over the recent revelation by the captivating star of “Gilmore Girls”, who graced our screens alongside the extraordinary Alexis Bledel from 2000 to 2007 on the WB series, and in the 2016 Netflix revival. This enchanting actress has finally disclosed the compensation she now receives since the show’s popularity soared on streaming platforms.

During her March 19th interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Lauren stated that there are no ongoing payments or royalties from Netflix. However, she added that she has received payment in the form of love and appreciation instead.

In a recent conversation, Lauren shared that she doesn’t receive income from royalties, which are payments often given to actors and the creative crew behind TV series due to repeat airings, syndication, or streaming rights—a concern that has sparked discussions among actors in Hollywood. Notably, during the writer and actor strikes of 2023, residuals were a central issue. (It’s worth noting that Mandy Moore once disclosed her residual checks from This Is Us streaming were quite small, amounting to just 81 cents.)

For some fans, it might seem unexpected that Lauren isn’t receiving payment, given the significant rise in the show’s popularity following its release on Netflix.

Lauren mentioned that we’ve definitely expanded our reach beyond what it was on The WB. This new audience includes not only younger folks but also older generations and men who might have been reluctant viewers, forced by their kids or wives. I’m often taken aback when people recognize me, but it never fails to surprise me.

Despite not seeing a financial boost from her time on the show, the 58-year-old actress, who was in a relationship with Peter Krause (a co-star from Parenthood) from 2010 to 2021, has repeatedly expressed her deep gratitude for the opportunity to portray Lorelai Gilmore.

During my February visit on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, I couldn’t help but gush about the best role I’ve ever taken on. It’s not just a job for me, it’s a passion that ignites something deep within. I think it was pure magic – the ideal script at the ideal moment with the ideal author, and it holds such a special place in my heart.

Even though she cherished her previous role, the star from Z-Suite confessed that fans’ adoration could occasionally become excessively intense.

She remarked, “At times, it’s quite peculiar.” On one side, individuals sometimes tell her things like, “You were a part of my upbringing,” and she replies, “I certainly hope there were other adults around too.” Conversely, others say, “I just leave the show on in the background. It helps put my dog to sleep. We’re not really paying attention anymore; it’s just background noise.

Read on to learn more surprising secrets from behind the scenes of Gilmore Girls.

The quaint Stars Hollow setting, now renowned as one of TV’s favorites, was sparked by Amy Sherman-Palladino‘s surprising trip to Washington, Connecticut. Enchanted by the locals, customs she observed, and inn where she stayed, she departed with the idea for the series – even some of the pilot’s dialogue.

If I could manage to evoke in others even a fraction of the emotion I experienced strolling through this enchanting village, Sherman-Palladino shared with Deseret News, it seemed like pure magic to me.

2. Alexis Bledel, who at the time was a student at New York University with just one unaccredited acting role to her name, tried out for the part of Rory.

Looking back, I can’t help but remember the thrilling yet tumultuous journey I embarked on. As a student at NYU, I found myself mysteriously summoned time and again for auditions. In all honesty, I was far from an experienced performer, yet I was eager, even brash at times. Unbeknownst to me, my impulsiveness and slight edge seemed to strike a chord with the higher-ups. They’d say, ‘That’s our girl!’ And I’d respond, ‘Am I coming back for another round?’ To which they’d reply, ‘Just right, that’s perfect.’

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

In his 2016 book “Talking As Fast As I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (and Everything in Between),” Graham recounted, “I received the script for the Gilmore Girls pilot while I was in New York. I was residing in a friend’s studio apartment, anxiously awaiting news about whether the series I had just finished for NBC — Don Rooses’ M.Y.O.B. — would be renewed for another season or terminated.

Thankfully, M.Y.O.B. wasn’t chosen instead, leaving room for Graham to take on the quick-witted main role. This situation benefited not only Graham but also any other actress vying for that particular part.

She described her intense emotional bond with the character after reading the script as a unique moment of profound recognition that occurs infrequently. In simpler terms, it was like greeting an old acquaintance combined with an urgent demand for everyone to step aside because she had claimed the character for herself exclusively.

4. Scott Patterson stood out as the sole contender during the auditions for the role of Luke, captivating the casting team right away with his endearing yet grumpy portrayal of the diner owner who eventually became Lorelai’s husband.

According to Jill Anthony, the casting director, Amy stated, “I have no need to meet other candidates,” as reported by Vanity Fair. “She’s absolutely certain of that,” added Jill.

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

On that particular day, the actor explained to Glamour, there were three auditions on his schedule, and the second one was at hand. Initially, he had planned to rehearse two scenes for this audition, but only managed to prepare one. So, he walked in and gave it his best shot. By then, he realized he wouldn’t land the role on Gilmore Girls because the script was exceptional – too good, in fact, that it would be given to more recognized stars. With a ticket possibly waiting for him outside, he politely requested to leave and hurry off to his next audition.

5. Prior to Jared Padalecki securing the lead role as Rory’s initial love interest Dean Forester, two other Canadian actors initially cast for the part were let go. This was because the character had been revised to be less “unconventional,” as Anthony shared with Vanity Fair.

6. Both Ryan Gosling and Chris Pine tried out for the show, but it was Gosling who read for a minor role. Interestingly, casting director Jami Rudofsky revealed at the 2015 ATX TV Festival that Gosling’s audition didn’t quite hit the mark.

Meanwhile, Pine shared that it was his father, actor Robert Pine, who had arranged his initial professional audition for him, although he can’t recall what role it was for. In an interview with W Magazine, he humorously mentioned, “I guess I was up for a boyfriend’s part.

7. Despite Melissa McCarthy eventually becoming a major comedy star in Hollywood, Sherman-Palladino struggled to cast her as the endearing and quirky chef Sookie because people were unsure about her unique energy. Sherman-Palladino stated during the 2015 ATX TV Festival’s reunion panel that the part was not specifically written for a certain body type, but rather for someone who could deliver humor and act convincingly. Although Sherman-Palladino instantly recognized McCarthy as the ideal candidate for the role, she acknowledged that it was a challenging pitch and took some time before everyone agreed, but eventually they did after a few episodes.

8. In the debut episode, Sookie was portrayed by Alex Borstein, but she had to leave the part due to her commitments to MADtv. Later in the series, she appeared sporadically as a harpist and stylist. Sherman-Palladino eventually cast Borstein in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, where she won two Emmys for her performance on the Amazon sitcom.

9. Interestingly, Jackson Douglas, who was then married to Borstein, secured a more enduring role on Gilmore Girls after Sherman-Palladino wrote the part of Sookie’s farmer love interest Jackson specifically for him. Initially intended for only a few episodes, his on-screen chemistry with McCarthy led to a seven-season tenure.

“Initially, I auditioned for the role of Rory, but despite the producers finding me appealing, they felt it wasn’t quite the perfect fit. They hinted that if the show got picked up, they might have a role for me later on. I assumed that was the end of it.”

However, as fate would have it, they didn’t just find a role, they crafted one tailored to my talents – the character of Paris, who would eventually become Rory’s rival-turned-ally. Initially, I was hesitant about the challenging nature of the role, but I’m grateful they saw something in me that I didn’t see for myself.

In a playful manner, the star of “How to Get Away With Murder” humorously admitted that his younger self was taken aback by the written piece. He found it hard to believe they would dare to do such a thing! However, now he finds it incredibly flattering and is genuinely pleased about it.

11. The chemistry between Graham and Bledel was a happy coincidence since they didn’t cross paths until their initial day on set. To be precise, Bledel being a novice in acting necessitated that Graham would need to hold onto her character’s arm to ensure she hit the right spots.

“People say, ‘You two have such great chemistry,'” Graham humorously remarked during an interview on Today. “And I respond, ‘I’m clinging to her. That’s why.’

12. Instead of many other actors, Graham and Bledel typically consumed most of the food that Lorelai and Rory ate throughout the series, a fact well-known to fans, who recognized it was a substantial amount.

“I find it frustrating when actors don’t eat the food in the scene,” Bledel shared on the Today show. However, after numerous takes and upset stomachs, Graham admits they eventually resorted to spit buckets to make it through.

13. During the entire duration of the show, Rory Gilmore, portrayed by Bledel, was in real-life relationships with two of her primary onscreen love interests as revealed by casting director Mara Casey.

Back in 2016, she shared with Life & Style that we had a funny thought about dating all of Alexis’ real-life boyfriends at the time. She was seeing Jared and Milo Ventimiglia. Additionally, there was a young New York actor named Chris Heuisler who appeared as a guest star. He was a really nice guy.

14. Initially, Sean Gunn was presented as Mick, the DSL installer of Stars Hollow. However, he later became a regular character named Kirk, who had a distinct odd job in each episode. But why the name switch? Gunn himself explained that Sherman-Palladino had merely forgotten that he already had a character name.

15. The WB had plans for a spinoff featuring Ventimiglia, using the third season episode “Here Comes the Son” as a trial episode for the potential new series. However, the show titled “Windward Circle” focusing on Jess’ life in Venice Beach, California, never materialized due to financial constraints.

16. During the final season of Gilmore Girls, discussions arose about exploring Rory’s life as an adult since Lauren Graham opted not to rejoin the cast.

In an interview with TV Guide, Graham stated that he previously made a formal declaration, “‘I won’t be returning,'” at some point. Then, they considered, “Could we continue with just Alexis?” However, I don’t want to speculate about her intentions, but both parties had discussions back and forth. In the end, neither of us desired to proceed without each other.

She added, “They were brainstorming all possibilities. At one point, it seemed possible that I might be behind the scenes rather than appearing on the show in the usual role.

17. After contract talks hit a dead end, a shocking announcement was made in Stars Hollow: The duo of Sherman-Palladino and their husband Daniel Palladino would not continue for the seventh (and last) season.

Essentially, TV Guide was informed by Palladino that we found it impossible to reach an agreement on a fresh contract with the studio. Additionally, Sherman-Palladino mentioned their attempts to secure a multi-year deal.

She clarified, “Every agreement has its flexibility points.” She went on to say, “What we requested wasn’t outlandish or unreasonable. It wasn’t asking for the impossible. Essentially, it boiled down to ensuring the integrity of the program.

As I handed over the reins to our replacement, Dave Rosenthal, I must confess, it felt nothing short of terrifying – akin to a waking nightmare.

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

18. For quite some time, whispers circulated about discord behind the scenes between Patterson and Graham, even though their on-screen rapport as Luke and Lorelai was unquestionable. Fans of the show speculated that this tension might have contributed to the controversial split in season six’s plotline, yet Graham dismissed such assumptions in an interview with TV Guide post-series.

She acknowledged that the situation may have been exaggerated, but she clarified that her close relationship with David Sutcliffe, who portrayed Rory’s father Christopher, did not influence her decisions. She insisted that any assumption about giving him an advantage due to their friendship was unfounded.

Similarly to the fans, Graham also felt let down and aggravated by the way Luke and Lorelai’s relationship concluded in the show, leaving things unclear at the end of its initial broadcast.

She expressed to TV Guide, “I’m really drawn to the dynamic between Luke and Lorelai… For me, their storyline didn’t wrap up nicely. We weren’t certain if it was truly the end. Amy wasn’t with us during the last season, so I can’t definitively say how it ended because it didn’t get a proper resolution.

19. Since she left the show after season six, it didn’t conclude as Amy Sherman-Palladino initially envisioned. She often hinted at this, leaving fans intrigued for years about the “last four words” that were supposed to wrap up the Gilmore women’s storyline.

In interviews held over the years following their initial work, questions about the mysterious phrases often surfaced towards the Palladinos. However, they never revealed any specifics, intentionally preserving a secret should a film project arise. As Sherman-Palladino explained to Entertainment Weekly, “I wouldn’t want to fully disclose [my ideas]” because if we ever create a movie, I would be revisiting the same ground, and at that point, I might find myself in a bit of a pickle.

In 2016, when Netflix announced their revival, it became official that the four-episode series would culminate in the much-anticipated phrase. You can find out more about this momentous event right here. (Indeed, it was well worth the wait.)

20. Edward Herrmann and Kelly Bishop, portraying Lorelai’s well-to-do but affectionate parents Richard and Emily Gilmore, formed a strong bond. In fact, Herrmann’s spouse, Star Herrmann, affectionately referred to Bishop as his “second wife.” Sadly, Herrmann passed away in 2014 at the age of 71 following a struggle with brain cancer. In the final weeks before his death, his wife graciously allowed Bishop to spend time with him.

As a die-hard admirer, I shared that she was the sole individual who graced our presence. It held immense significance for both of them, as stated to Vanity Fair.

At the ATX TV Festival’s reunion panel, Bishop deemed the invitation as both moving and disheartening, while a vacant chair on stage was reserved to pay tribute to Herrmann.

2025-03-21 05:18

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