Lauren Graham Speaks Out on End of Gilmore Girls

As we told you last week, the CW show Gilmore Girls is coming to an end. Lauren Graham, who plays the show's Lorelai, sat down with TV Guide to give a behind-the-scenes take on the surprising decision, and what's in store in the future.

I hear you're going to have a lot more free time on your hands.
Lauren Graham: (Laughs) Yes, it would seem that way.

Are you relieved that it's over?
Graham: I feel that way, which is not without feeling mixed and thankful for the experience. But, yeah, I feel relieved.

All indications were that the show was coming back for 13 episodes. What happened?
Graham: Well, you know, there was a lot that went back and forth by the time the [13 episode thing] came out. I had sort of said to them a couple of months ago that I didn't see it coming back, and they had asked to just give them some time to figure something out that would make it work. Both Alexis and I felt tired, and also creatively like the show was in a place where we were either at the end or very close to it. We really couldn't imagine another season. I think they were trying to tempt us with 13, which was tempting, but ultimately it just wasn't going to work for them. We needed the situation to be so ideal, and I think it just wasn't meant to be. I do want to say that the studio and the network were very generous and very respectful in this whole process. We just didn't want to work the schedule we'd been working. But if we're working a lesser schedule, what is the show? The way we'd like to have done it would not have necessarily been good for the show. Right now you have me working six to seven days an episode, and Alexis doing about the same. To do anything less than that just wasn't going to be the same show. They tried to make it appealing for us, and we tried to be imaginative, but then at the end of the day it just felt like we were trying to do something impossible.

Did you and Alexis band together during negotiations?
Graham: Not in a formal way, but we certainly discussed what our hopes were. We were very open with each other. Most of our conversations were, "Can we imagine coming back."

Is it true that Alexis was the harder sell?
Graham: I don't think that's true. I did formally say at one point, "I'm not coming back." Then they thought, "Well, can we do it with just Alexis?" I don't want to speak for her, but we both went back and forth. Ultimately, neither of us wanted to do it without the other one.

Was that a real possibility?
Graham: If she was in a place where she wanted, like, her own show or her own spin-off... They were trying to think of everything. There was a time when we thought maybe I would produce and not be on the show in the same capacity. I've been at this for a long time; I feel ready to move on. But they were trying to find a way to make it work. There were a lot of scenarios. I had very open conversations with Dawn Ostroff. We tried, but they ultimately said, "You know what? This is just too complicated." And I felt so glad, because I don't think it would've been the same show for another 13. We were trying to find a way we could have a slightly easier schedule, and there was really no way to do that and still have it be Gilmore Girls.

Were you happy with the show creatively this season?
Graham: I was happy with the process. I really enjoyed [working with] the writers. I felt every year, even under Amy's leadership, that the show evolved. For the last episode, we tried to match the final shot with the first scene from the pilot, so we went back and watched the pilot — which I haven't seen for so long. And the show now is really different from that pilot, which was more dramatic at the time than your typical WB show. And I think it evolved and got more comedic over the years; every year was an evolution. This year was strange sometimes because I had a lot less to say, and that was really weird. For some people I'm sure that was great, but I would find myself in long scenes where I was not rattling on, and it was just really weird to me. And so I did sort of question, "Are we keeping this character consistent?" And they were responsive to me.

When we spoke last year you mentioned that you'd like to someday be given a producer credit, but you said there was no way Warner Bros. would allow it. Well, this year they gave you a producer credit. What changed?
Graham: I really felt strongly that I was doing the job of a producer. And in order to imagine moving forward — which I was imaging at the time — I really hoped they would recognize the different job I was doing. And eventually they very nicely did. When the creator of the show is gone, the actors end up being the people who have been there the longest. And I got more involved with where the story was headed, and felt that I was having more of an active role. I just thought it was warranted.

I heard that you requested some changes to the finale script…Graham: How do you hear these things Mike!? Where will all your moles go now that the show is over! (Laughs)

Good question! So, what changes did you ask for?
Graham: My feeling was [the episode] just felt too light to me — even as a season finale. I thought this should be an opportunity to say good-bye, or at least have some sort of acknowledgement of all these characters. I [also] wanted it to be more dramatic. And David Rosenthal was extremely responsive — moreso than he needed to be. So he went back and took another look at it, with more of an eye to, "How can we acknowledge all of these characters? Give everyone a moment." I felt it was important to go a little deeper.

Do you think Luke and Lorelai fans will be satisfied with how things end?
Graham: Yeah. You know, the other thing I felt strongly about is that this is a show that is ultimately about these girls. It started with this mother-daughter relationship, and we haven't been a show where big events happen. So I always worried that there would be some pressure to... (Laughs) My extreme example was always, "Double wedding!" I just didn't want there to be a big event. But there's definitely a direction [with Luke/Lorelai] that I think will be satisfying.

Were you surprised at how reluctant fans were to let Luke and Lorelai go when she went off and married Christopher this season?
Graham: Well, it was a tough story to follow. We got married really impulsively. I always wanted [the Luke/Lorelai/Christopher triangle] to be as complex as it could be so that there wasn't an obvious choice. It's like when you go see some romantic comedy movie and you're like, "Well, obviously she shouldn't be with that guy." They make it too easy. I just sort of wanted them to write Christopher in a way that made it a real love triangle. But everything happened so fast. The Luke and Lorelai story is where the show started. That should be the thing they're rooting for, because that's what the show set up. That makes complete sense.

Conspiracy theorists maintain that you pushed for a Lorelai/Christopher romance because of your prickly relationship with Scott Patterson.
Graham: You're the conspiracy theorist! (Laughs) I finally figured it out!

No, I'm not! You wouldn't believe how many questions I get about this. Is it much ado about nothing?
Graham: Yes, it was overblown. I mean, I am closer, personally, to David [Sutcliffe]. And we've gone to dinner together. I always thought that maybe people thought I was trying to give him some sort of advantage because we're friends. But that's not it. Like I said, when a show is continuing for so long, I didn't want there to be an obvious choice, because then the show is over; there's nowhere to go. So I always argued for other [romantic complications] because I thought it made the story better. But I always felt that it would cheat the fans to not have the [Luke and Lorelai] relationship be important in the whole of the show.

How would you characterize your working relationship with Scott over the years?
Graham: Totally great. It's a working relationship, like most of them are. But he was so great in that part. I really loved my scenes with him and the chemistry we had. Our banter was among the most fun stuff to do.

Is it bittersweet ending without Amy?
Graham: Yeah. What I hoped — and this is not to take away from David Rosenthal, who I had a really nice year with — was that she would write the finale. But that's not the way she works. She's either there 100 percent [or not at all]. She couldn't just come in and pick up another story that she didn't lay the groundwork for and finish it. I wish she had been more involved this year, because I was playing a piece of her that is so specifically her. I missed her writing.

Have you spoken to her since the announcement was made?
Graham: We e-mailed and we're supposed to have a drink this week.

Are you going to try and get her to divulge the final four words she had planned to end the series with?
Graham: Oh, right — I forgot about that. I think she would've given it up to me had we known this was the end. That was the other weird thing about ending the show like this. When we finished [shooting], there was a 50/50 chance we'd be returning. So when we left the wrap party, we were like, "Bye! See ya next season!" Had we known [this was it], I think she would've given it up and we would've worked it in.

Favorite memories?
Graham: Oh, gosh. There was a real kind of high — that's the only way I can describe it — when we'd get these big athletic speeches and then nail it after 35 takes. (Laughs) And that is a feeling that I really haven't had with another part. To do that language all systems have to be go; you have to really have a lot of concentration. And that feeling was really exhilarating. I'll miss that experience as an actor. And there was a specific sense of humor and music to the way [Amy] would write these speeches that I'll really miss. And these are people that I loved, whether I see them every day or not. Alexis and I fell over laughing many, many times — partially out of exhaustion. (Laughs) We really bonded in a very unique way. And I'll miss the feeling of [being around] a crew, all of whom I know and feel really at home with and really supported by. That was not an easy show to do and that crew was really great.

Favorite episode?
Graham: Oh my God. I literally can't even remember the last one.

Maybe a scene that stood out?
Graham: There really were so many. The dinner tables, while a drag to shoot because it takes forever getting all the angles, were really, really fun.

So, when's the Gilmore Girls reunion?
Graham: (Laughs) We're totally doing the Gilmore Girls movie. I'm never, ever going to do anything else. There's Gilmore Girls: The Musical. The line of clothing called Lorelai. And the perfume called Stars Hollow... No, you know, I'm promoting Evan Almighty, which comes out in June. And I have been reading a lot. And sleeping. (Laughs) But I'm auditioning for things, and I'm going to try and do another movie soon.

Would you do another TV series?
Graham: I would do another TV series, but not right away. I love TV. I think I'd do a half-hour single camera comedy. But I'm going to really just enjoy this time and make sure I'm ready to do something new. If I had the best thing in front of me right now I don't know that I'd be able to be excited about it, 'cause I think [you have to make room] to let the other thing pass. So, yeah, I'd love to take a year and see what else I can do.

Anything you'd like to say to the fans?
Graham: Just that I've been truly thankful for their support and for their fanaticism (Laughs) and their investment in these characters through all the ups and downs of a seven-year process. I can't tell you what a kick I get out of [hearing from the fans], especially the younger people over the years who have grown up with the show and have [developed] a bond with a family member from a different generation while watching it together. I hope when I'm 55 and I've been out of a job for a long time and those girls are running the studios that they remember Lorelai Gilmore.

Photo from TV Guide.

Gilmore Girls Canceled

OK, this totally sucks. I love this show. What am I going to do without my Luke, Lorelai, Rory, Logan and Lane fix? In recent months, there have been a lot of talk that Lauren Graham (Lorelai) wouldn't return to the show without Alexis Bledel (Rory) and there were hang-ups on salary and additional responsibilties, so I guess it's not a huge surprise, but you always hope they'll work it out.

CW and Warner Bros. TV have decided to wrap production on the dramedy, now in its seventh season, and will air its final episode on May 15.

Per Variety, "Money was a key factor in the decision, with the parties involved not able to reach a deal on salaries for the main cast members. Other issues, such as number of episodes and production dates, may have also played a role. In addition, CW execs may have been influenced by early internal reaction to their fall pilots. That the net is willing to move on without a key, albeit modestly rated, player indicates that the CW may like the state of its drama development."

"It was such a hard decision," said CW prexy Dawn Ostroff. "Everyone came to the point where we decided it was just time to move on. But I think everybody is walking away with good feelings. We all tried to make it work."

The CW and WBTV released a joint statement yesterday about the demise of the show. "This series helped define a network and created a fantastic, storybook world featuring some of television's most memorable, lovable characters," the statement said. "(We) promise to give this series the sendoff it deserves."

Photo from Variety.

Chatting with Asia, the Newest Pussycat Doll

Asia Nitollano, 19, a single mom from the Bronx was just crowned the newest member of the popular group, The Pussycat Dolls. She recently did a quick interview with Entertainment Weekly magazine to catch them up on everything that's going on in her life now.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Were you surprised that you won?
ASIA NITOLLANO: I couldn't believe it. I honestly knew it could be any one of us. I was just hoping, ''Let this be my chance, let this be my moment.'' And when they called my name, it was just, ''You're kidding me.'' I wanted to be like, ''Where's my mom?'' I couldn't wait to tell everybody. I always told my grandmother — she passed away — that ''I'm gonna make it, and I'm gonna buy you a house, and I'm gonna be famous.''

Have you talked to the Dolls at all this week?
I haven't really spoken to the girls. They're on tour with Christina [Aguilera], so it's kind of been hard with me doing the show and everything. But when I won, it was all love. I can't wait to meet up with them all.

And are you in touch with Robin Antin [the Dolls' founder]?
She's the sweetest. She's like a mother to all the girls on the show. And she cared about each and every one of us. She's always text-messaging me, asking how I am and stuff.

Does your daughter know about the Pussycat Dolls?
She'll be 2 next month. She knows ''Dontcha'' by heart. She sings it all the time. She's a dancer and a singer... She's the next Pussycat Doll, I'm telling you. She's gonna be the Pussycat Doll baby, start her own little group.

Are you still living in New York City?
I'm representing New Yorkers again! I met Jennifer Lopez. I love her. We both come from the Bronx and danced with the same dance company. [I'm] the next Asia from the block!

How was the show different from what you were expecting?
I really thought it was just gonna be dancing and singing the whole time. I didn't know there was going to be as much interaction, and it was crazy, living with a bunch of girls and being away from my baby. There's so much more to it than just a competition. It was a television show first, more than anything. I don't think they gave me much of a personality!

I'll bet it's nice to be free of the always-present CW cameras.
It was weird having them following you around, but after a week, you're over it. It seems normal now [but] you just want them to leave you alone sometimes.

Tell us something we don't know about Asia.
I wanted to rap. In high school, I'd try to make up rap songs, and all the girls would laugh at me. But I feel in my heart I was kinda serious about it.

What's your next step?
I have to wait till [the other six Dolls] finish the Christina tour. But I'm gonna be meeting with a label in a few weeks. I'm just enjoying the moment right now. I'm just gonna be a mom. I'm excited to make music. That's my life. That's what I've been working so hard for. I'm proud that I never gave up.

Photo from CW.

Mario Lopez's Next Gig

Former Dancing with the Stars contestant Mario Lopez is gearing up for his next job. He has joined the cast of the CW's Eight Days a Week, a new comedy about four twentysomethings who work for NYC movers and shakers. Lopez is set to star as one of the bosses.

Singer/actress Christina Milian, Johnny Lewis (from The O.C.) and Robert Ri'chard have also signed on, playing assistants.

Photo from Mario's own site.

America's Next Top Model Disrespectful?

The city of Santa Monica, California sure thinks so, which surprises the hell out of me. The show's ads were recently pulled from buses in Santa Monica after area residents complained that the show was disrespectful to women. A CW rep commented, "It's a jungle out there in bus marketing." Why is ANTM any different than any other ad featuring a waif model or underwear clad Calvin Klein guy? Inquiring minds want to know.

Photo from CWTV.

America's Next Top Model is Almost Here

The eighth season of CW's popular reality show, America's Next Top Model, premieres on February 28th at 8 pm with a 2 hour episode. Hosted by Tyra Banks, all your favorite judges are back, including Twiggy, J. Alexander and Nigel Barker.

This time, Tyra has included not one, but two, plus size contestants because she said with more than one, they will have someone else in the house they can identify with. Whatever the reason, I'm glad she did it. She said that this season does not feature the typical beauty that you would usually associate as a Top Model, and that ANTM works to broaden the usual definition of beauty.

Can't wait for the first episode? Check out a short preview clip right here.

Photo from CW.

New Show from The Pussycat Dolls

In my next life, I'd like to come back as a Pussycat Doll. But since that's not likely to happen, I can do the next best thing, and live vicariously through their new series. Coming to the CW network on March 6 at 9 pm EST, the new reality show, Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll, is a behind-the-scenes look at their search to find the next beautiful singer/dancer to join their troupe.

Thousands auditioned, but only one will make it. "Judges on the series include the group's founder and choreographer, Robin Antin, along with Ron Fair, Chairman of Geffen Records, and Grammy Award-winning performing artist Lil' Kim."

"As they guide the young contestants through auditions and challenges, the judges' personal styles sometimes clash, but their brutally honest critiques are intended to bring out the best in each performer. The Pussycat Dolls' lead singer and spokesperson, Nicole Scherzinger, is an inspiring role model to the participants. New dance routines in the Dolls' unmistakable style are created by Antin and co-choreographer Mikey Minden, who teach the girls one demanding number after another. In addition, Antin is on hand to take the participants through each challenge and demonstrate what it takes to become a Pussycat Doll. Antin's brother, hairstylist Jonathan Antin of "Blowout" fame, is on board for sexy hairstyle makeovers. Another important member of the team is singer/songwriter Mark McGrath, who serves as the show's host."

After a nationwide audition process, the judges narrowed the group to a final collection of nine , who then move into a loft in Los Angeles' fashion district during the competition. "Each episode has a specific theme - confidence, creativity and style are just a few of the themes addressed. Challenges include ballet dancing in toe shoes, designing an original Pussycat Doll-style outfit and learning a dance routine with male partners. In addition to Nicole, other members of the Pussycat Dolls provide advice and empower the girls to give their all during each challenge. Along the way, there are plenty of surprises, including celebrity guests and unexpected trips."

Photo from William Morris Agency.

Beauty and the Geek Winners Spill It

First, I gotta say it. Thank God. Up until this interview, Beauty and the Geek contestant Scooter was always called Scooter, so I thought it was his real name. Luckily, it's not. It's Alan. Last week, Alan "Scooter" Zackheim and Megan Hauserman won the Grand Prize of $250,000 in the Beauty and the Geek Season 3 finale.

TV Guide checks in with the winning pair. Here's what they had to say.

TVGuide.com: Congratulations! It must have been really hard to keep your winning a secret for this long.
Megan Hauserman: It was hard, but we didn't want to tell people, because we wanted it to be a surprise.
Scooter Zackheim: It was, in a perverse way, very cool to have this secret that you knew and nobody else did. To watch their reactions.... It was an interesting experiment for me.

TVGuide.com: Did people guess that you won?
Megan: No, we were like the underdogs! We didn't even think we were going to win.

TVGuide.com: Have you received your money yet?
Megan: We're still waiting. I think they lost our addresses.
Scooter: It might take up to a year, we don't know.

TVGuide.com: What are your plans for the money?
Scooter: Mine is going to go to some pretty boring things.
Megan: Calculators....
Scooter: A new computer. And I'm going to call up Drew for investment advice.
Megan: ...Star Trek conventions.... He is an amazing actor, so he is going to support himself while he pursues an acting career in Hollywood.
Scooter: That's true, actually.

TVGuide.com: Is this a new development? I did read that you were in theater at Harvard....
Megan: He has a huge theatrical background.
Scooter: I was working up in Montana, but yeah, I just moved down here a few weeks ago, and....
Megan: He's done several plays, Broadway quality.
Scooter: [Laughs] Megan's never seen any of my plays.
Megan: I've seen private performances, and I was very impressed. He played a wide variety of roles.
Scooter: You may have seen me in such movies as Brokeback Mountain, with Niels costarring.

TVGuide.com: How about you, Megan? Where are you living?
Megan: Actually, I just got engaged! And I have just moved down to Florida to pursue housewifeing and suntanning and online shopping. I'm in Jupiter, Florida, home of Tiger Woods and many other celebrities.

TVGuide.com: I love hearing you guys talk now. You sound like such a team who have been together for a while.
Scooter: We've gone from not talking to bickering like a married couple.
Megan: At the beginning, he wouldn't even talk to me. I chased him around. It was like a joke. He didn't want anything to do with me.
Scooter: I was kind of afraid of her.
Megan: Also, he really thought I had nothing to offer, that he could learn nothing from me. He's very smart, but I am smart in my own ways. Once he realized that, it changed our relationship.
Scooter: It's true. Then we became passionate lovers.

TVGuide.com: Don't tell Megan's fiancé!
Megan: He has a girlfriend, as well! On the show he told me in secret that he was in love with her and missed her a lot.
Scooter: We weren't together during the show, though.
Megan: And then they got back together, and now they are in L.A. together living the dream.

TVGuide.com: Did the show help you in your love life?
Scooter: Oh, yeah. I was able to reevaluate how I felt about relationships in general, what kind of person I was looking for. It helped me accept [my girlfriend] and our differences. I think before I had been looking for someone who was just like me or would be my best friend as well as companion. Afterwards, it was like, "We can have differences," because I became friends with all these girls who were way more different than [my girlfriend] and I are.
Megan: The opposite happened for me. I went home and broke up with my boyfriend at the time because of the show. I was with him for a year and a half, and I just got used to the way he was, thinking that it was normal, how critical he was of me, unaccepting and not happy with me the way I am. Just being around all these people in the house who were nice to you and did like you for how you are.... I got home, and the second I got in the door, I kicked him out of my house.

TVGuide.com: Good for you! Are you still working for Playboy?
Megan: I'm doing a lot more stuff for them now. I'm going to Playboy's Spring Break down in Cabo. And I was just at the mansion the other day for their Mardi Gras party. And on Playboy radio.

TVGuide.com: I'm so fascinated by the way you present yourself and the fact that you are a college graduate, with a degree in accounting.
Megan: I am! Six years!

TVGuide.com: Do you try not to seem smart?
Megan: I think I just may be out of practice. There was no use for it in my lifestyle. My vocabulary, due to [not] reading, is very limited. I can't really express myself properly, so I might as well just use smaller words.

TVGuide.com: You're expressing yourself well now. Did the show help you with that?
Megan: Absolutely. Even being around people like Scooter and some of the other guys who talk about things that I would never talk about with my girlfriends. Just to give you different ideas and viewpoints on different types of things — it was really eye-opening and expanded my way of thinking, just being around them.

TVGuide.com: What do you think Scooter needed to learn from the show?
Megan: I think he was very judgmental toward me and the other girls. Maybe judgmental is the wrong word. He didn't seem interested in anything from us, or our opinions. We were supposed to work together, but at the beginning it was more like he thought he should do his own stuff and study and prepare on his own, and that I should do the same. For instance, in the comedy challenge, he went off and wrote his own comedy thing, and I couldn't understand a word of it. I didn't get it. I was like no, that is not going to work at all. It was very intellectual, and I'm sure his friends would have thought it was funny. But for the average person, I didn't even know what the words meant!
Scooter: I'm definitely used to solo intellectual pursuit. I was not used to working with people in teams to begin with. Particularly with somebody who was so different. We had a hard time even carrying on a conversation, let alone helping each other study.
Megan: I was judgmental as well. I didn't really want to talk to him. I just wanted him to follow me around and massage me.
Scooter: I think your version of studying was that you wanted me to read all of your material and summarize it for you.

TVGuide.com: What was your favorite challenge?
Scooter: The most rewarding challenge was the farm challenge.
Megan: Also we got to work together on it. And because we worked together, it really showed our teamwork. We started out in last place. And then we got into the cow-milking part, and I was a natural. She just gave me her milk.
Scooter: It might not have seemed so fun if we hadn't won.

TVGuide.com: Megan, you were so close to winning the beach challenge. Drew told me that it was Scooter's fault the two-way radio didn't work.
Megan: It was. I want to set the record straight right now that Scooter was pushing the wrong button! They made me look stupid, when I was way ahead. I was literally 10 minutes ahead of everybody else. They didn't want to make the geek look like an idiot; they wanted to make me look like an idiot.
Scooter: I'm not a tech-geek. It was embarrassing.

TVGuide.com: For the first few weeks you were pretty safe in the competition. No one considered eliminating you.
Megan: Because Cecille and Nate kept winning, and they were good friends of ours. So we knew that they weren't going to send us in there.

TVGuide.com: Did the finale cause a rift between you and Ceci, Megan?
Megan: Not at all. I'm actually staying with her. I've seen her and talked to her more than anyone else on there.
Scooter: On the other hand, she despises me now.

TVGuide.com: How did you feel about her attitude toward the other teams?
Megan: I think everything was exaggerated. I don't think they showed all the different sides of her. She is very nice, and I'm good friends with her.
Scooter: At the same time, she is unabashedly self-centered. Most people, when they sent someone to the elimination room, it was a very sad thing. She was one of the few people who would get really excited when people left.

TVGuide.com: Do you owe Nate some of your prize money after he talked everyone into voting for you instead?
Scooter: I'm going to take him out. But I want to do that for all the geeks. It's such a strange thing. We did come a long way, and we played the game right...
Megan: ... but we still owe them. They voted for us. And throughout the entire thing we couldn't have done it...
Scooter: Yeah, people helped each other out. We all helped other teams study. It was a weird thing, because you set up this competitive challenge where people are going to get eliminated, and then you get a group of people where pretty much everybody wants everybody to stay.
Megan: It was very emotional. You spend so much time together, with nothing else to do but talk to each other.

TVGuide.com: But can you imagine talking people out of giving you all that money?
Megan: I don't think that's what it was about. I think he really enjoyed his time there, and that's what was worth it for him.
Scooter: I also think he could see which way the wind was blowing. People were asking him, "Why should I vote for Cecille?" and he really had no answer. He answered honestly. Integrity is the best way to describe him.
Megan: We love him.

It's Official: Sookie is Pregnant!

Actress Melissa McCarthy is probably best known for her role as Sookie, the chef at the inn, on CW's Gilmore Girls. Her rep has confirmed that she is expecting her first child with her husband, actor Ben Falcone.

The baby is due in May. The couple wed in 2005.

Melissa told People magazine, "We are so excited about the baby. I'm hoping the baby has a lot of Ben's calm traits and less of my spazzy ones."

Photo from People.