The Gilmore Girls Quiz That Only A Stars Hollow Resident Could Pass
- by Majda Grasswell
- – on
- in Movies and TV
If you're out on the road, feeling lonely and so cold, all you have to do is watch the world's coziest show: Gilmore Girls. Quirky, warm, sometimes painfully realistic, and other times not realistic at all, Gilmore Girls, and its beloved setting of Stars Hollow, have gained a cult following.
The show's recent revival means that old fans have the Stars Hollow gang back on their radars, while brand new fans tuned in around the country. We got another chance to witness Sherman-Palladino's unmistakable style, while the collab with Netflix meant that the show felt more contemporary and relatable.
But this GG quiz digs deeper, to the world of Stars Hollow pre-revival, as it was portrayed between 2000-2007. You might call yourself a super fan, but have you re-watched the episodes enough times to distinguish whether Rory's biggest hero is Christiane Amanpour or Hillary Clinton? Do you remember the suggestive name of Lorelei's lipstick during her spa weekend with Emily? Do you know the family well enough to be one of Emily's maids? Or one of Richard's business partners? Could you walk in to Luke's Diner or one of Taylor Doose's town meetings and be mistaken for a regular? Have you followed the show's history closely enough to know which actor secretly hates coffee?
You might think you know the Gilmore Girls, but this is the quiz that only a Stars Hollow resident could pass.
What is the name of Lane's mom's store?
Starting off with Lane, because she is the best best-friend ever and definitely deserves more screen time than she sometimes is given. Lane's relationship with her mom is, supposedly, meant to parallel Lorelei's relationship with Emily; both are strained due to differing values, but develop throughout the show and are obviously grounded not just in conflict, but also in love and care. Lane's mother, Mrs. Kim, is an extremely hardworking businesswoman and owns a shop right in the centre of Stars Hollow. Do you know what it's called?
What school does Rory attend prior to Chilton?
We learn in the very first episode that Rory has been accepted to Chilton, effectively kicking off the series by forcing Lorelei to reconnect with her parents in return for financial help. Rory spends the rest of the series between Chilton and Yale, both of which are extremely prestigious institutions where she is hugely (and sometimes unrealistically) successful. But what were Rory's days like before Chilton? Do you remember the high school that preceded it? Hint: her Stars Hollow friends continue to attend this high school throughout the series.
What was Luke's Diner before it was Luke's Diner?
Luke often talks about the history of his shop, which once belonged to his father. He is resistant to change, and clearly takes pride in maintaining the previous shop's memory and integrity (see: the episode where Lorelei tries to help Luke paint/spruce up the diner and he flips out). Luke's connection to his father was strong, and is a continuous topic throughout the series. But the shop did undergo a bit of change, as it was not always a restaurant. Do you know what it was?
What field does Richard Gilmore work in?
Richard Gilmore is clearly a very successful man. He cares deeply for his work, and freaks out after realizing that his beloved company may use his age as grounds to "phase him out". He responds first by quitting, and then by starting his own business, to which Lorelei acts as the first secretary. She ultimately leaves the quasi-job to someone more suited to deal with Richard, but the company stays in Lorelei's personal life through a strange scandal with a later lover.
Stars Hollow is located between which two towns?
Stars Hollow is known and loved as a town that houses artists, small business owners, and as Emily once calls them, "circus freaks". It's an incredibly beautiful town, and sometimes talked about as though it's much more rustic than it actually seems to be. Nevertheless, it's bordered by the extreme wealth that you might imagine when picturing a town in Connecticut. Which of these two towns are a short drive away from Stars Hollow, but still far enough to have completely different identities?
Where do Lorelei and Luke share their first date?
Ahh.. the long awaited moment! After Luke's eventual realization that he loves Lorelei (duh, Luke!) he starts to plan cute little quasidates for the soon-to-be couple to share. The most significant one takes place when Luke invites Lorelei to a very specific event... Do you remember which event it is? This is also the night where the two share a dance together. Hint: it's a place where lovers unite. It's a place where people kiss and dance and celebrate their futures together... ;)
When Paris meets Rory, why does she initially hate her?
Rory and Paris endure a long and winding relationship, both professionally and as friends. But it is not always positive or easy, and they begin their relationship as enemies at Chilton. Paris is suspicious of Rory from the very beginning, but obviously warms up to her and ends up being a consistently prominent character in the show. This is especially apparent in the revival, when Rory seems to have kept in even better contact with Paris than with Lane. But when Rory first arrives, what is Paris's primary issue with her? Pick the answer that is most applicable.
Jess and Rory are becoming friends, and then he leaves Stars Hollow. Why?
As with Paris, Rory's relationship with Jess begins on rocky footing. She's still dating Dean, but he never seems to see this as a huge barrier. It's clear from the beginning that he likes her (she's smart and booky, just like him), and he tries to get as much time with her as possible. When Luke finds that Jess is failing all of his classes, he comes to Rory in hopes that she will tutor him. The next day, Jess is gone. What happened that night?
Were Lorelei and Chris ever married?
Chris and Lorelei (or should we say "Lor") have a tumultuous relationship throughout the show, but he's pretty much always in the picture. We know that the couple were together in highschool, and that arrangements were made for their marriage after Lorelei's pregnancy. We also know that Lorelei and Chris's adult relationship is not always platonic, especially as Lorelei searches for the "whole picture" type of family with him and Rory. But do they ever actually make it marriage official?
Who is the notorious town gossip?
News travels fast in a small town! This is central throughout the show, and is most obvious when it comes to relationships; when Dean and Rory first break up, everyone knows, and it's all thanks to this loveable loud mouth. Then, when Lorelei gets sort-of-engaged to Max, this character leads as a stampede of residents follow her to Luke's diner and watch her break the news to him. But Luke is (apparently) cool about it, and has more questions about the audience outside his window than the engagement.
After Richard is rude to Dean during dinner, why does Emily make him apologize?
As their relationship becomes more serious, Rory decides to invite Dean to the special family dinner organized by her grandmother in celebration of her top marks at Chilton. Emily is surprised to see Dean when he arrives, but is ultimately polite, while Richard stays quiet and upset for the most of the dinner. He eventually bombards Dean with a series of questions about his future, and claims that Rory is special and needs to date someone who is also special. Marking her first fight with her grandfather, Rory storms out in defence of Dean, and Emily eventually tells Richard to apologize. Do you remember what prompts her to side with her granddaughter over her husband?
What is the name of Lorelei and Sookie's new Inn?
During the first few seasons, it is a recurring conversation between Lorelei and Sookie that they want to eventually start a business together. After having worked at the Independence Inn for so long, and knowing each other's specific business strengths, they devise a plan to take over an old Stars Hollow property and convert it into an inn. It isn't a perfectly smooth ride; they get into their first fight while trying to secure the property, and opening the space takes years. But once it's running, it's successful.
For her Harvard application, Rory must write about someone inspiring. Who does she initially plan to write about?
When the final year of high school rolls around and Rory begins to work on university applications, she is totally confident in her ideas and ability. But when she and Paris host a panel of administration officers to share advice with Chilton seniors, Rory realizes that her chosen figure of inspiration might be less revolutionary than she had thought. This spins her into a spiral of panic and self-doubt, but she eventually pulls through and submits a stellar app. Do you know who the original essay was going to feature?
Which of the GG stars actually hates coffee?
Coffee is a central part of Gilmore Girls. The amount of coffee consumed by Rory and Lorelei is at times laughable, and at times simply nonsensical (I've tried to keep up with their coffee consumption and it just isn't possible). Luke Danes is consistent in his criticism of their habit, but what does his actor, Scott Patterson really think? What do the three Gilmore Girls (Emily is also an impressive coffee drinker) consume in real life? One of them is a real-life coffee hater.
What is Luke's sister's job?
Liz is first introduced to the show in season 2, when she sends her misbehaved 17 year old son to live in Stars Hollow with responsible uncle Luke. We don't actually meet Liz until later, but there is talk of her; we learn that she stopped doing drugs, she has a boyfriend named TJ who she loves (Luke is skeptical) and has taken up a creative and somewhat sustainable job doing what she loves. Do you remember what this job is?
Which colour lipstick does Emily wear during her weekend away with Lorelei?
This one might sound hard, but if you've seen the episode you know that it's actually a pretty important point. Emily tricks Lorelei into a mother/daughter weekend at the spa, and Lorelei spends most of the trip trying to catch some alone time and avoid her mother. But after another routine fight, the two decide to head out for a goofy evening together, and Emily borrows a shade of lipstick from Lorelei that she had previously rolled her eyes at. What was it called?
Kirk once was in a band called...
It can be hard to keep track of all of Kirk's jobs; between the various shops he can be found in, the odd tasks he is called to do, and the "original" businesses that he creates (like Oober, the driving service out of his mom's car in A.Y.I.T.L.), we imagine that this guy's got a pretty full and impressive resume. But he's not just the town's all-purpose worker, he's also a renowned artist, with a history in film and in music. Referenced only once, and in the episode called "One's Got Class and the Other One Dyes", what is the name of Kirk's old band?
Who was Luke's first love?
When Lorelei offers to host a clothing drive at her house, she finds a jacket that is totally cute and totally her, and obviously buys it. The next day at coffee time, Luke sees her and totally freaks out. She doesn't know why at first, but eventually learns that the jacket belonged to his ex and first love. She comes to visit later in the season, and reconnects with Luke for a few episodes before hitting the road again. What's her name?
Who is April Nardini?
Alright, any fan of Luke and Lorelei as a couple might have had some beef with this character, who comes in as the unpredictable (though herself innocent) force that inadvertently breaks them up. Spiralling the couple into a new chapter of lies and unpredictability, April Nardini never really understood her impact on the couple's stability. It's pretty much her entrance into the show that makes them break up, though they obviously have enough personal issues and it can't all be blamed on her.
Which of these GG sweethearts actually dated in real life?
It's the classic audience move when you're watching a show with a good love subplot; you want the characters from the show to be lovers irl. It makes for better chemistry, and it's just more fun to know that your fictional faves might not be so fictional. This actually was the case for one of the show's famous couples, but do you know which one? Hint: it's not Luke and Lorelei - actually, the two were known for often butting heads on set.
Which of the following was NOT created by Amy Sherman-Palladino
Amy Sherman-Palladino is known for creating shows that, while all different from each other and unique, often follow similar tropes and common characters. For example, one of the shows listed below features a main character whose sense of humour is certainly comparable, if not almost identical to Lorelei. It also features a similar cast, with Kelly Bishop once again playing a mother figure (though one who differs notably from Emily). Which of these shows is NOT a Sherman Palladino original?
True of False: Emily writes notes and errands on her vanity mirror every day
Emily is a busy lady; between her meetings for the Daughters of the American Revolution, her book club, being docent at Nantucket Whaling Museum, and a volunteer for the Starlight Foundation and the Hartford Symphony, she has many things to keep track of. The GG wiki calls her a "Corporate Wife", but we know she's much more complicated (and more busy) than that. But with all of her activities, how does a lady like Emily Gilmore stay organized? Is it true or false that she writes notes and errands on her vanity mirror every day?
Who is Lane's first love
We tend to only think about Zack when it comes to Lane's love life, but there's actually a cutie who came before Zack and who should not be forgotten. There are, however, some similarities; he's a musician, he tries desperately hard to impress Mrs. Kim, and he plays in the same band with Lane and Zack. But he eventually leaves the show (hint: the actor left because he signed on to act in The O.C.. If this isn't the memory jogger you needed, we don't know what is)
Who is Dean's wife?
Dean starts out as the ultimate high school sweetheart; he is good to Rory while they are together, and though he may not be the bad boy she ends up wanting, he's caring and he loves her for who she is. There relationship gets complicated though, and he eventually cheats on his wife with her, despite having been apart for so long. He also admits that he has always loved her, despite being in other relationships. Not cool, Dean. Not cool.
What is the first line of the show?
The pilot is fun to rewatch because it is set in a totally different town, and it's clear that the producers didn't have the concept for the show 100% set. That said, the important things remain consistent; the show starts with Sookie creating something delicious, Michel complaining about his ennui, and Rory getting everything she wants. It also establishes the relationship between Lorelei and her parents, as well as Lorelei and Luke. In fact, the episode ends in his diner. But where does it begin?