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Life After 'Gilmore Girls'
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04-18-2008 11:25 AM
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author
 SaraC
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For fans of the “Gilmore Girls,” TV viewing as they knew it ended with a final look through Luke’s Diner window and a much too abrupt goodbye to their favorite characters. Since then, fans have been trying, in vain, to find a show that can fill the shoes left empty by the fast-talking mother-daughter duo. But Lorelai Gilmore -- known to many as actor Lauren Graham -- has no such problem...
 Since the finale, she’s been seen co-starring alongside Steve Carell in “Evan Almighty,” breaking hearts in “The Amateurs,” and supporting her recent project with Matthew Perry, “Birds of America,” at the Sundance Film Festival. I was lucky enough to catch up with her while she was in Philly filming her latest project, “The Dream of the Romans.” We talked about the final "Gilmore Girls” episode and her much rumored return to television.
So you’re shooting “The Dream of the Romans” now. Can you tell me a little bit about that?
It’s a romantic comedy starring Jeff Daniels, with first time writer/director John Hindman. So it’s smallish, but not the worst indie budget I’ve ever done. It’s a really sweet, funny movie about a man who writes the most popular book ever and becomes so famous and sought after that he goes into seclusion and then the story of how and why he comes out (of seclusion). And then it’s also the story of a young guy whom he befriends. It’s about the people who unwittingly cause him to rejoin the world.
And you are the love interest?
I’m the love interest and also a chiropractor.
So what do you do to prepare for that? Have you been to the chiropractor recently?
I’d never been to a chiropractor, so to prepare I went to one and got adjusted. But the problem is you can’t see what the guy is doing. And when we went to shoot it, the chiropractor they had couldn’t come. So, I just basically tried to wrench Jeff’s back in a professional looking manner. I’ve never played the role of someone who has a particular skill that I don’t have. At least I didn’t have to be a concert pianist or something… I’m not a bad massage giver, but I wouldn’t recommend that anyone let me adjust them.
I have to ask about the “Gilmore Girls” movie.
A movie?
Or a reunion? A reunion-movie? Is there going to be any reunion of any sort?
Well no one has spoken about it. I think the “Sex and the City” movie has ruined... a TV show can’t just end now. It’s implied that there’s got to be more. It never was an actual consideration, just a very sweet idea that came (it seems to me) from people who were sad the show ended and maybe sad the way it ended.
 What happened with the ending?
When it ended, it was a combination of things. The network couldn’t decide what to do and Alexis and I couldn’t decide. We weren’t thrilled with the way the last year had gone and we weren’t sure what the future would be. Her character had graduated from college and it was like, “What do we do after that?” We had many conversations that had to do with quality of life, because it was (for a million reasons) a really hard show to produce. We weren’t sure -- from every single standpoint -- what was the best thing was for us and the show. So, it ended a little abruptly. When we did what became the final episode, we weren’t even sure if that was the end.
In the pilot episode we shot through the window of Luke’s Diner -- this was the idea of our director -- and we did that same kind of shot for the ending thinking people would appreciate that kind of symmetry. But, that was the only thing we did to say “this is the end.” And it wasn’t until months after that when I got a call at a restaurant and my agent was like “it’s over.”
So is there anything you would have done differently if you had known it was the absolute end?
I had an idea it was going to be over because we had been negotiating. For both of us it was so many things. Could we get a significant raise, which neither of us had during those seven years? But, it was also about how we could guarantee the quality of the show. It was a lot of things together… financial, creative control and producers… Also, for most of that year, I was like “It’s done.” The show itself was telling us the story was over. It was actually just yesterday that Alexis sent me a text saying that it’s been a year since the show ended, but I really think we did the right thing.
After I was told, I learned that not only crew and producers, but other actors didn’t get called and people were upset with me in some cases. I would have handled that differently, even in terms of the wrap party being a thank you and goodbye instead of a “have a great summer.” You know, Ed Herrmann, who played my dad, walked into his video store in Connecticut and the girl at the counter said. “I’m sorry your show’s over.” and he was like “It is?”
I’ve seen enough “Behind the Music” -- or whatever the version about TV is called -- and I remember Joyce DeWitt talking about the end of “Three’s Company” and that nobody told her that is was over.
It’s like when you’re 13 and your friends stop liking you. You’re always the last to know.
And you only know when they stop inviting you to stuff.
You said that you feel like Philly is a real “Gilmore Girls” town. So does this bring up any nostalgia for you or a desire to work with Amy Sherman-Palladino again?
I do want to work on television again and I neither thank nor blame Philly for that. It’s the steadiest job and the best writing for women. I would look forward to doing something where I can have a hand in the producing of the show or the direction of the show. One of the things that I learned while I was on the “Gilmore Girls” is that I want the process to be collaborative.
Amy wrote me the best character I’ve ever had on television for sure, but I think if we worked together it would sound the same. She talked to me about doing “The Return of Jezebel James” and when I read it I thought it really was good and it wasn’t the same character; it wasn’t Lorelai. But, I thought if I do it, it will sound that way.
Going back to what you said about TV being the best writing for women, do you think it’s more of a challenge for women to work in film?
I still feel that I’m kind of working my way up and building a resume and there are plenty of people in film who have never seen a “Gilmore Girls” episode. I’m in a different place and in film it’s a different world. Having said that, I did three movies this year that I loved. Aside from the fact that my sister’s tired of taking care of my dog, I would do this for a while longer. You get to have a whole experience, and then you put it behind you and move on.
That’s something that I think most actors like; they are weird gluttons for the unknown and I think they get bored when they know where they’re going to be the next day. One of the things that happens when you’re on a show is you know what it is. That’s why “Gilmore Girls” is amazing to me because when I was well into the sixth and seventh year I would still get scripts that I thought were great and made me happy.
 In the fall it was reported that you had a development deal with NBC, was that sidelined because of the writer’s strike?
I pulled out of it during the writers strike and it was totally amicable. I really like the people over there. I think they’re really smart and I had met some cool writers, but I had just begun the process and then the strike happened and I wasn’t developing anything. I love the comedies on NBC and I felt like that was the right home for me, but I hadn’t found anything so I put it on hold.
There were rumors that you are supposed to be on “The Office” spin-off…
There were? I would like to go back to the day when the rumors were that I was Wonder Woman because, damn that Sienna Miller, she stole my rumor! No, I never heard that.
Would you like to develop an “Office” spin-off?
An “Office” spin-off? I dunno, it’s like spinning off chocolate ice cream, it’s already the best. (I don’t know if that analogy makes any sense…)
Looking back on your illustrious career, is there anything that you’re like “Oh my god, I can’t believe I did that! I’m so mortified, I can’t look at it.”
The problem is that I can’t answer that question honestly because to do so would hurt somebody’s feelings.
What about musical theater in college?
Yes, I believe I am the only Irish-Catholic girl to play the Puerto Rican Anita (in “West Side Story”). And I did go to the tanning booth to get my tanning-booth-tan, but I’m not sure that helped. But, in terms of my career, even when I started, I never had to turn down something that I didn’t like. I started working on shows that I liked - “News Radio” - and “3rd Rock from the Sun” was my first real job. I’m sure there’s something I’m embarrassed about; I’m sure it’s some outfit I wore.
Those are pretty great shows to start out with…
Yeah I think you usually end up with something that resembles your taste. I remember going in on “Baywatch” (or one of the Baywatches) and I was like, “Gosh I don’t know. This isn’t really my taste.” But, also, I am TOTALLY wrong for “Baywatch.” I was never faced with saying, “I’m sorry I can’t put the bathing suit on for you,” because they never really asked me to. I eventually ended up doing “Law & Order,” but I would end up auditioning for these procedurals and I just can’t be that dry. I tried to make the DNA information into comedy.
So what are you watching now?
I loved “Mad Men,” “30 Rock,” and all of the Ricky Gervais stuff. I thought [“Extras”] was such a genius comedy, especially the first season. It’s perfect because the guy wants one thing, to get a line on a show and every time he gets close, he messes it up. I just think it’s such a simple and great set-up. His shows don’t need to go on longer; he sets up such a clean arc.
And he knows when to end them…
Yeah the model is different here. If something’s good, then you milk it for as long as possible, so that everybody makes money in a different way. I think you would have a tough time going to a network here and saying “I want to do something that’s a big hit and then take it off.”
So what’s next for you?
I don’t know, I’ve been attached to this movie for almost a year. I think I’ll go back to L.A. and try to get my dog to like me again.
Look for the lovely and talented Lauren Graham opposite Greg Kinnear in “Flash of Genius,” to be released this fall and find out more about Lauren here.
Message Edited by SaraC on 04-18-2008 01:44 PM
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