Machine-gun Gilmore wrap-up

Get it? Like their machine-gun witty banter. Yeah, that was lame, sorry. Seems like the Gilmore Girls got much the same lameness in their sending off. Sad, considering what a quality show it's been for such a long time.

Surprised I'm a Gilmore fan? I was, too. I'm really not the type, huh? When the show started seven years ago I was about halfway through college and not really that enthused about the idea (if I was even aware of its existence at all) of a mushy, girly show about a single mom and her genius daughter. I was 18 or 19 years old and, obviously, a guy.

I'd just gotten my first TiVo, too, but space on there was limited and saved for choice content like Alias or Ed. Then I flipped to a rerun at some point -- maybe when it was replacing some canceled show after Smallville or something. It was funny, and interesting, and the writing/dialogue was kinda quick and intelligent, like Ed's (probably my favorite show in, well, ever).

It grew on me after a few episodes and proved to be among the most intelligent, hip, shows I've ever seen. It's got a massive cast of characters, all of whom were reasonably interesting (Emily and Richard, Lane, Babbette), or at least tolerably quirky (Luke and anyone related to him).

But it tapered off as Rory grew up and grew apart from Lorelai (their season-long spat a couple years ago was definitely the show's jump-the-shark moment) and it seemed the show and its characters lost direction -- then the creators left the creative team, and as you can tell by the modest link between those two words, the show was doomed from then on.

That's exactly why the show didn't get the bon voyage it deserved. Everything was tapering off and there were no significantly important storylines to be interested in anyway. It's obvious the show wasn't prepared to leave, either... or the finale's storyline would never have even been an option.

Every single relationship couldn't correctly be tied up in the hour allotted. It was like packing up to go after thanksgiving dinner and saying goodbye to all of your family members -- quick hug and a kiss on the cheek because you know you'll see them on Christmas. Or like getting the call that you have your dream job waiting for you, and you have to be on a plane in three days. Those little goodbyes and see-you-laters were all there was time for.

And that's what they did. Lane and Rory had a quick chat, all the secondary characters had their brief moments, Lorelai and Emily quickly made peace. Deep down I feel like that's a bit of a cop-out. But maybe it was the most fitting sendoff the CW could offer.

Yes, the party was sweet, and it's nice to know that Luke and Lorelai end up together. Yes, the Lorelais' goodbye was executed perfectly. But everything else was just rushed, and, as Lorelai said, it's not fair that there's no time to be sad until it gone.

See, there, I got all mushy. Maybe I'm better off watching something with explosions and car chases.

RIP Gilmores....

Gil-no-more

I'll probably write a little on this later and a full post-mortem after the finale, but I wanted to make sure I posted this before starting work. From AP:

LOS ANGELES -- Goodbye Gilmore Girls.

The sharp-witted saga of an independent mother and daughter that added to the luster of the young WB network, will end its run after seven seasons. The show, which last year moved to the CW network created by the merger of WB and UPN, will air its final episode at 8 p.m. May 15, CW and producer Warner Bros. Television announced Thursday.

Gilmore Girls, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel and created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, "helped define a network and created a fantastic storybook world featuring some of television's most memorable, lovable characters," CW and the studio said in a joint statement. They thanked fans for their "passionate support" promised to give the show "the send-off it deserves."

Ratings had dipped this season for the series, which lost Sherman-Palladino as its guiding hand because of a contract dispute. Sherman-Palladino and her husband and fellow executive producer, Daniel Palladino, left after failing to come to terms with the studio on a new deal, and the series struggled creatively and in the ratings this season.

The April 24 episode drew fewer than 4 million viewers, down about 25 percent compared to the same time last year. As production on the show got under way last fall, its future then uncertain, Graham speculated about the final chapter.

Sad news, especially for CW, but not a huge surprise.