So It's A Show?: Keeping Up With The Gilmore Girls

Season 5, baby! And the only way to celebrate this big milestone is by inviting our moms back to celebrate with us! We ask them about their memories of the ‘70s sitcom Laverne & Shirley, why they loved the show, and what TV shows do differently today. Also, who is more like Laverne and who is more like Shirley? Does Sookie have anything in common with Laverne and Shirley’s neighbor Squiggy? And should we be drinking milk with Pepsi? Find out as we kick off the fifth season of Gilmore Girls! Other pop culture we ref: Happy Days, Mary Tyler Moore, Angela Lansbury, The Preacher’s Wife, A League of Their Own, Big, Mork and Mindy, Ariana Grande, WandaVision, Frasier, M*A*S*H, Runaway Bride So it's a show? Twitter (https://twitter.com/SoItsAShow)So it's a show? TumblrSign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)

Well, we’re here again with another episode about an ‘00s CW show about an exceptionally bright teen with a very close parental relationship and in a relationship with a rich boy named Logan. Plot twist: It’s Veronica Mars! In Kyla’s latest rewatch of our other fave CW series, she realized this teen detective show loves pop culture refs almost as much as the Gilmores, so we had to do some compare and contrast with how they’re used. We revisit some of our past refs—including but not limited to the Beatles, Casablanca, Citizen Kane, Pretty in Pink, and This Is Spinal Tap—and find other fun crossovers between the series. Other pop culture we ref: Archie Comics, Barbara Eden, Keith Richards, Mommie Dearest, National Velvet, Omar Sharif, Sid and Nancy, The Thomas Crown Affair, Xanadu So it's a show? Twitter (https://twitter.com/SoItsAShow)So it's a show? TumblrSign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)

We're rebroadcasting a favorite episode because a new movie Mank is coming out soon all about the making of the pop culture we discuss in this previous episode. We'll be back with a new episode in 2 weeks. In this ep we ask, “So it’s the greatest movie of all time?” aka Citizen Kane. Then we ask, “What the heck does this have to do with Christopher’s parents on Gilmore Girls?” We dig into interviews and textbooks to discuss why this movie was so groundbreaking, all the random ways this movie connects to our fave TV show, and how many crazy voices we can use to say, “XANADU, XANADU!” You’re the Best/You’re the Worst: Gilmore fights Easter Egg Hunt: How Emily grieves in S1 vs. AYITL Other pop culture we ref: My Super Sweet 16, Hamilton, Arthur, Michael Jackson, La La Land, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Anna Faris

Lorelai is looking for a man like Aragon (um, Luke much?), and we’re looking for an excuse to talk about some of our favorite movies. We love The Lord of the Rings almost as much Dean does, and we have almost as many memories of watching these movies and reading the books by J.R.R. Tolkien as we do of watching Gilmore Girls. Whether they’re naming their pets after characters, planning a LOTR birthday party, or eating elevenses, the residents of Stars Hollow are referencing these movies almost as much as the presenters at the 2004 Oscars did! Plus, we talk why it would be great to be a hobbit, why we still love Orlando Bloom, and what we know about the upcoming Amazon series. Other pop culture we ref: The Godfather, Casablanca, Star Wars, Titanic, Ben-Hur, Katy Perry, Dawson’s Creek, The Shape of Water, The Sandlot, Zoey 101, The Italian Job, The Outpost So it's a show? Twitter (https://twitter.com/SoItsAShow)So it's a show? TumblrSign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)

As kids we shared our toys with all the girls and boys, but today we share our pop culture references. We’re nearing the end of season 4 with a mish mash of refs from an episode full of lots of Dean and Jess drama and lots of Liz and TJ comedy. Why does Jess want everyone to think he’s reading Punk Planet magazine? How are Jackson and Sookie’s arguments like a 1950s workout? What does the music change at Friday night dinner tell us about Emily? Why is the officiant at Liz and TJ’s wedding so obsessed with board games? And can you say, “Leslie Van Houten?” Join us for a super-sized ep and find out! Other pop culture we ref: Dynasty, Valley of the Dolls, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Lords of Flatbush, Richard Simmons, Dorothy Parker, “The Monster Mash,” Norah Jones, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, Veronica Mars, The Bachelor, Toy Story, Iron Man 3, Iron Man 2, Thor, Agatha Christie So it's a show? Twitter (https://twitter.com/SoItsAShow)So it's a show? TumblrSign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter

Laps are an illusion, and so may be the plot of the Lords of Flatbush. But the career boost this movie was and the impact these characters had on future tv show and film characters is no illusion at all. We talk the lords—and the lord who almost was—while also trying to understand New York neighborhoods (spoiler alert: we're still staring at our map). Other pop culture we ref: Gaslight, The Outsiders, Happy Days, Rocky, Elton John, Princess Diana, Grease, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Star Wars, American Graffiti, Wizards of Waverly Place So it's a show? Twitter (https://twitter.com/SoItsAShow)So it's a show? TumblrSign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)

Put on your ball gowns and grab your...pool floaties? Lorelai is comparing a family catfight to Dynasty, and we’re not sure what that has to do with formalwear or swimming pools. We talk the ‘80s TV hit and the 2016 reboot of the series, which both feature plenty of family drama but have some notable changes between the two. We talk about how the Carringtons’ family feuds compare to the Gilmores’, how Dynasty has reflected culture in both versions, and...an alien abduction!     Other pop culture we ref: The Love Boat, Hart to Hart, Rocky, Happy Days, The Waltons, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Columbo, Princess Diana, Billy Dee Williams, Gossip Girl, The O.C., The Princess Diaries, Dallas, Desperate Housewives So it's a show? Twitter (https://twitter.com/SoItsAShow)So it's a show? TumblrSign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)

Surf’s up, beach partiers! If beach volleyball wasn’t enough for you, great! We’re going back to the beach with Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon. Summer may be wrapping up for us, but it was never ending in the Beach Party movies, which featured plenty of surfing, dancing, and repeating plot lines. How did these movies reflect teenage culture when they came out? What modern pop culture do these ‘60s movies remind us of? And how in the heck are Dean and Lindsay like these mid-century pop singers? Pack up your surfboard and favorite peanut butter sandwich, then come find out with us! Other pop culture we ref: Fembots, The Beatles, The Patty Duke Show, Happy Days, The Love Boat, High School Musical, Full House, Hairspray, Grease, The Shaggy Dog, Mickey Mouse Club, Stevie Wonder, Paul Anka So it's a show? Twitter (https://twitter.com/SoItsAShow)So it's a show? TumblrSign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)

We feel the need...the need for beach volleyball! We’re going back to the ‘80s again for a closer look at Top Gun, the fighter jet blockbuster that launched Tom Cruise to stardom. How does this movie compare with the real Top Gun in the Navy? What other pop culture has used this same pop culture ref? Why does all beach volleyball attire seem so uncomfortable? And why doesn’t Paris feel the need for beach volleyball? We do our best to answer all those questions and get the scoop on the long-awaited sequel, Top Gun: Maverick. Other pop culture we ref: The Outsiders, Footloose, Marathon Man, 30 Rock, Pirates of the Caribbean, Hot Shots!, Planes, Independence Day, Pearl Harbor, Hamilton, Transformers, A Few Good Men, Law & Order, Harry Potter, Airplane!, Serena Williams So it's a show? Twitter (https://twitter.com/SoItsAShow)So it's a show? TumblrSign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)

Who wrote The Frog Prince, Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood? The Brothers Grimm! And who wrote a terrible letter telling Richard not to marry Emily? Perhaps someone even more terrifying! This ep takes a closer look at the fairy tales you probably grew up on, as well as the much more gruesome versions you probably didn’t. We talk a not-so-great movie with Matt Damon and Heath Ledger, our favorite fairy tales as kids, and why the Grimms would be shocked by a certain letter found in the Gilmores’ basement. Plus, a special fairy tale story reading courtesy of Kyla’s mom! Other pop culture we ref: Happy Days, Fame, Hogan’s Heroes, Pirates of the Caribbean, Shrek, Sydney White, Forrest Gump, Syriana, Brokeback Mountain, The Road to El Dorado, Hamilton So it's a show? Twitter (https://twitter.com/SoItsAShow)So it's a show? TumblrSign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)

If you liked World War II, you’ll love this episode! And if you love Lane’s cousin Christine, you’ll love her reference to Hogan’s Heroes, the ‘60s sitcom that was set in...a German prison camp? Believe it or not, this TV show was controversial for a second and a hit long after that. We talk about the real experiences of the cast during WWII, how this show translated to German audiences, and the most spacious floorboards imaginable—both in Hogan’s bunker and in Lane’s bedroom. Other pop culture we ref: The Donna Reed Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Kill Bill, The Love Boat, The Beatles, Schindler’s List, Spongebob Squarepants, The Sandlot So it's a show? Twitter (https://twitter.com/SoItsAShow)So it's a show? TumblrSign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)

Who wrote about giant wasps, talking horses, and eating babies? Paris Geller knows the answer! In this ep we’re trying to figure out what the hey “brobdingnagian” means—and how to say it. We cover the 1726 novel Gulliver’s Travels (where the word originated), as well as other words the same author invented, why this novel was controversial when it came out, and how the 2010 movie adaptation got Scarlett Johansson the role of Black Widow. Other pop culture we ref: Arthur, Animal Farm, Iron Man 2, Cats, Begin Again, The Devil Wears Prada, Pacific Rim, Alice in Wonderland So it's a show? Tumblr (https://soitsashowpodcast.tumblr.com)Sign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)

Yo, Adrian! We’ve got on our leather jackets and filled our glasses full of raw eggs to talk about another Best Picture winner. We want to know why Lorelai thinks Jess Mariano is like Rocky Balboa, the classic sports underdog hero from a writer/director who lived out a Cinderella story. We talk about a bunch of sequels, a famous statue, and a dog named Butkus. And while we were trying to get “Gonna Fly” out of our heads, we also found some unexpected connections between the two actors playing the characters Lorelai is comparing. Other pop culture we ref: Citizen Kane, The Godfather, This Is Us, Matt Damon, Charlie Chaplin, Black Panther So it's a show? Tumblr (https://soitsashowpodcast.tumblr.com)Sign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)

Stay in school and read a book, kids! Or...do what we did and watch the movie instead of reading the 800+ page novel. We may not know if the book is better than the movie, but we do know we loved the 2012 adaptation of Anna Karenina! We talk about the gorgeous costumes, a horse called Frou Frou, and a whole bunch of complicated family relationships. Then we gotta talk about the man who wrote the novel, the Anna Karenina principle, and all the drama caused when Jess comes back to Stars Hollow. Are all happy families alike? Or is every family unhappy in its own way? Other pop culture we ref: War and Peace, Pride & Prejudice, The Great, Greta Garbo, Billie Eilish, William Shakespeare, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Harry Potter So it's a show? Tumblr (https://soitsashowpodcast.tumblr.com)Sign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)

When the bells start to chime, you know it’s Hart to Hart time! But who knew this ‘80s TV drama could be so educational? We sure didn’t, which is why we needed to watch a few episodes to figure out how it would help Luke and Lorelai break into a church. We talk about hypnotism, detective procedurals, and how this show is related to a new HBO documentary. Plus, our butler Max makes his first appearance! Other pop culture we ref: I Dream of Jeannie, Columbo, The Thin Man, Natalie Wood, Dorothy Parker, Angela Lansbury, West Side Story, Monk, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Parks & Recreation, Cary Grant, William Holden, Murder on the Orient Express So it's a show? Tumblr (https://soitsashowpodcast.tumblr.com)Sign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)

It was the beginning of an incredible time—bad time, good time...Ragtime! Richard and Emily are having a not-so-incredible time because of their visitors while we’re having a bad time watching a movie but a good time discussing it...Ragtime! If that makes no sense, well, neither does this 1981 movie. It kicks off our conversation about the architect Stanford White, whose murder led to the Trial of the Century. Along the way, we discuss fireworks, how his story relates to current events, and what our fave characters are probably doing in quarantine. Plus, Kyla has a cool surprise about Richard and Emily’s house! Other pop culture we ref: Fame, Ishtar, Norman Mailer, The Nanny, The Real Housewives of New York, American Girl dolls, LOST, Tiger Woods, The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Glee, O.J. Simpson, Falcon Crest, Charmed So it's a show? Tumblr (https://soitsashowpodcast.tumblr.com)Sign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)

Swish swish! We’re back with the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad to talk all the Tarantino, samurai swords, and complicated plot of the Kill Bill saga. Since Lorelai is comparing Emily to Uma Thurman’s revenge-focused Bride and Rory is dressing up as the ball-and-chain-wielding Gogo, we gotta talk about how these blood-soaked movies relate to the Gilmores. We cover (some of) the influences on this film, why the Japanese cut of this movie was different than the US version, and why we were surprised we both liked this pair of movies. Other pop culture we ref: The Godfather, Eminem, Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, Star Trek, Lady Gaga, Lady Snowblood, Clint Eastwood, Bruce Lee So it's a show? Tumblr (https://soitsashowpodcast.tumblr.com)Sign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)

It’s Gilmore Girls meets Eminem! Rory is trying to sell a rewrite of an article to Doyle, and B-Rabbit is trying to sell his music in Detroit. We take on one of the Gilmores’ most recent pop culture refs with the help of an Eminem super fan. With Heather’s help, we talk differences between the movie starring Eminem and the real Eminem, how it compares to Fame, and whether Rory’s sell on this article holds up. Other pop culture we ref: Fame, Glitter, Britney Spears, Cool as Ice, the Oscars, Jane the Virgin, 50 Cent So it's a show? Tumblr (https://soitsashowpodcast.tumblr.com)Sign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)

We're rebroadcasting this episode (originally our episode 64) in preparation for next week when we tackle a two-in-one reference, involving Fame. Enjoy! We’re gonna live forever, just like Michel and Debbie Allen! We’re talking about paying in sweat in the various versions of Fame. How did the characters in Fame pay in sweat? Did the cast really go on to achieve Fame? And how are Luke, Lorelai, and Nicole paying in sweat at the Independence Inn? Plus, we check in on the real school that inspired the story and what modern movies it connects with. Other pop culture we ref: Liza Minnelli, Baby Driver, The O.C., Veronica Mars, How I Met Your Mother, Footloose, Step Up, High School Musical, Raise Your Voice, Bunheads, Jennifer Aniston, Awkwafina, Al Pacino, Grey’s Anatomy, That’s So Raven So it's a show? Tumblr (https://soitsashowpodcast.tumblr.com)Sign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)

Bada bing! Is this the most-referenced piece of pop culture on Gilmore Girls? While we’re focusing on one reference in the only Emmy-winning episode of our favorite show, we can’t ignore how many times The Godfather has gotten a shout-out. What did the real mafia think of this movie? Why did it have so much Oscar controversy? And how do the Corleones compare to the Gilmores? We complete the Holy Film Trio by covering this classic, its history, and a bunch of other pop culture picks that reference it until we run out of quotes just like Lorelai. Other pop culture we ref: Citizen Kane, Casablanca, Misery, Mommie Dearest, The Outsiders, Errol Flynn, Claude Monet, You’ve Got Mail, Frank Sinatra, Zootopia, Modern Family, Tuck Everlasting, Parks & Recreation, The Rainmaker, Avengers: Endgame, The Irishman So it's a show? Tumblr (https://soitsashowpodcast.tumblr.com)Sign up for our TinyLetter! (https://tinyletter.com/soitsashow)