Sure, you can watch “Gilmore Girls” on Netflix. But you can’t win prizes or go behind-the-scenes with the cast that way.
Now in its fifth year, the “GilMORE the Merrier” marathon and sweepstakes has officially started on UPtv. Throughout Thanksgiving week, the channel is airing all 153 episodes of “Gilmore Girls.”
“GilMORE the Merrier” started Sunday and is currently airing episodes from season 1.
On Sunday, Nov. 29, the marathon ends with the cable premiere of “Gilmore Girls: Year in the Life” — the four-part revival that debuted on Netflix in 2016.
The marathon includes hourly prizes and insight from cast members Keiko Agena (Lane), Yanic Truesdale (Michel), Sally Struthers (Babette) and Liz Torres (Miss Patty), according to a news release.
“As the home for the ‘Gilmore Girls’ on television, we look forward to the ‘GilMORE the Merrier’ binge-a-thon Thanksgiving week tradition each year,” said Hector Campos, vice president of content strategy & acquisitions for UPtv, in a statement. “As we celebrate the fifth year of ‘GilMORE the Merrier’ and 20th anniversary of the show’s debut, we are thrilled to make this year’s ultimate fan experience bigger than ever with the addition of the ‘Gilmore Girls: Year in the Life’ movies to our holiday offering.”
“Gilmore Girls,” in all of its eccentric glory, came to life 20 years ago on The WB network.
Scott Patterson, who played diner owner Luke, recently spoke with the Deseret News about the show’s popularity.
“Things usually just sort of come and go — that’s the nature of the business no matter how hot a show they are,” he said. “And then maybe 50 years later, they come back and there’s the nostalgia play. But not only does (‘Gilmore Girls’) not go away, it just grows and grows and grows and grows. I could not have predicted that — I don’t think anybody could have.”
“Over the years, people keep discovering it and sort of passing it on to their friends and recommending it,” he continued. I think word of mouth after 20 years has made it a pretty iconic show. “And there’s always going to be an appetite for what I consider to be the happiest place on Earth — Stars Hollow. We’re in the happiness business. We produce happiness.”
“Gilmore Girls” is a happy show with sunny characters, but Patterson did weigh in on one major source of contention: Who should’ve ended up with Rory?
He’s Team Jess — and not just because he played Jess’ uncle.
“I just thought he was the most soulful of them,” Patterson said. “There was a lot of Jess in me when I was growing up, so I relate to that character. If I was a younger man, it would’ve been the character that I would’ve wanted to play and probably would’ve auditioned for.”
Jess also was the favorite in a recent Deseret News poll.
Of 1,560 responses;
- Team Jess — 51% (799 votes)
- Team Logan — 42% (654 votes)
- Team Dean – 7% (107 votes)
In 2019, 4.2 million viewers tuned in for UPtv’s “Gilmore Girls” marathon, according to a news release. You can view the full “Gilmore Girls” marathon schedule at uptv.com.