Gilmore Girls Cancellation Speculations

[javalova]

Gilmore Girls Cancellation Speculations
By Arieanna

There are a lot of speculations about how Gilmore Girls ultimately came to be cancelled.

It was not a surprise to Alexis Bledel or Lauren Graham, both of whom felt it was time to move on. Each felt the production schedule to be too demanding, and the plot satisfactorily tied up at the end of the season.

However, if you listen to Lauren Graham’s Ellen interview, it did sound like the ultimate decision was not hers.

The network had negotiated for Gilmore Girls to return for a shortened Season 8 - just 13 episodes. Along with a hefty pay hike, things seemed all ready to go. But, in the end, they broke apart. Here are some speculations as to why:


The girls had agreed to a 13 week season with a very generous pay increase. All that was needed was the signatures. Then, after the contacts had been drawn up and approved by everyone’s legal team, the girls came back and told the network that they wanted to change the number of episodes down to 8. That was the deal breaker. It wasn’t worth it to the network. - SassyPaws at twop

In the end, perhaps time was simply against us. The negotiations were prolonged and I personally think everyone just gave up. And it does sound like Lauren Graham was sad about it:

Apparently the girls were under the impression that the advertisers had threatened the CW with withdrawing all network ad money if they did not deliver Gilmore’s coveted females teen audience. That led the girls to believe that they had the backing of the advertisers and could force the network do anything they wanted. They greatly miscalculated since apparently the advertisers are really pleased with the crop of new pilots and, though they like GG, they aren’t that concern with its demise.

Despite the public persona that has been presented by Lauren, according to my sources, she was totally shocked when the network ended negotiations and is not happy at all with the fallout that is rippling through Hollywood. - SassyPaws at twop

I really do understand how Lauren and Alexis could get tired. It was not just the number of episodes, but how long it took to film each one. Such extremely long days, back to back. I think the negotiations should have revolved around spreading that out, personally.


After reading this, I believe even more that the network can make this happen!

[aussiebee]

Hi,
I'm a long time reader, don't post a lot but I have a question.  Whose fault is it really that the GG will not be going on to an 8th season - the CW or the cast??  From everything I have read about this on the Net and listening to Lauren on the Ellen De Generes show a couple of nights back, I get the feeling that it was Alexis and Lauren who really didn't want to go on and neither one would sign without the other....

Please don't get upset at me for asking this.  I am a BIG fan of the show and love Lauren and Alexis, no one else could ever come close to having the great screen chemistry they have, sometimes I really began to believe they were mother and daughter, but of course reality kicks in!! .   I really do love this show and will miss it terribly, but I am just wondering why everyone is pointing the finger at the CW and blaming them for not bringing the show back.  Or am I missing something....

Aussiebee    (PS: Apologies to Heidi if I have put this in the wrong place! ))

[ChocolatGilmore]

   From what I've read it's a bit of both.

[aussiebee]

Thanks for posting this Javalova!!  I had asked a similar question about the workings of "blame" for want of a better way of putting it and this gives me a lot of clarity. 

Much appreciated!!

Aussiebee 

[minilorelai14]

to tell ya the truth its more of the casts fault the cw wanted them to stay on the air but ya sad to say but its the casts fault

[Lauren is my idol]

^ Yeah, it is...They didn't like the long schedules and stuff....it was basically Lauren and Alexis' idea to end the show.

[javalova]

I believe that it was a little bit of both, as well.  However, my question is if Lauren and Alexis just wanted out and were firm on not doing the show anymore, then why start "the talks" in the first place?  They just simply would have not resigned.  Why was Lauren surprised that the network threw in the towel?  It was obvious on Ellen, that she was still a little bit in shock.  There is something not being said, and I don't know if we ever will know what really happened. 

I believe both sides should have tried a little harder.  With only 13 epis, they could have stretched it out.  Maybe a new epi every other week to stretch out filming.  Sounds lame, but there are ways of working these things out.