Although no show could truly replace The cast of Gilmore Girls was a big part of what made the show so special, but its unique tone also contributed to its cult classic status. Gilmore Girls might have been a dramedy about three generations of a dysfunctional family, but its quick-fire dialogue called to mind screwball comedies of the 1940s and its quirkiest characters felt like they could have been borrowed from one of David Lynch’s less disturbing projects.
ittedly, this tonal balance wasn't always easy to maintain. Gilmore Girls stories viewers could have lived without still made an irable attempt to bring both laughs and tears to the table. In this regard, star Lauren Graham’s next show was an underrated follow-up to her cult hit.
Parenthood Was Lauren Graham's True Gilmore Girls Replacement
Parenthood Had A Lot In Common With The Iconic Dramedy
Loosely based on the classic 1989 movie of the same name, Parenthood was a 2010 family drama that ran for six seasons from 2010 until 2015. Lorelai actor Lauren Graham starred as Sarah Braverman-Holt, a single mother raising her rebellious teen daughter and sensitive younger son after divorcing their rock star father. Although Graham’s character plays a major role in the show, Parenthood is distinct from Gilmore Girls in numerous ways.
My Most Hated Gilmore Girls Story Started A Lot Earlier Than I
The worst Gilmore Girls character assassination seems to start in season 7, but a re-watch proved it goes back much, much further than this.
For one thing, Sarah’s relationship with her daughter, Mae Whitman’s Amber, is a lot more strained than Rory and Lorelai’s almost sisterly friendship. For another, the action of Parenthood tends to be a little more serious and high-stakes than the plots that the Gilmore family faced in Stars Hollow. While some strange Gilmore Girls plots injected unexpectedly serious drama into the low-stakes series, the show as a whole was not as dramatic as Parenthood. That said, there is plenty for Gilmore Girls fans to love in the series.
Gilmore Girls Fans Will Find Similar Vibes In Parenthood
Gilmore Girls And Parenthood Have A Lot In Common
Like Gilmore Girls, Parenthood was another multi-generational family drama starring Lauren Graham as a single mother that ran for over five seasons. This alone proves that the two shows had plenty of tropes in common, but the similarities between them went beyond superficial descriptors. At the core of Parenthood's storytelling is a focus on family, dysfunctional as it may be, and this means that much of the show is cozy, comforting, warm in tone, and an easy watch despite moments of high drama.
From Craig T. Nelson and Dax Shepard to Joy Bryant and Bonnie Bedelia, the lineup of Parenthood is as impressively starry as Gilmore Girls at its best and everyone gets a chance to shine.
In that regard, picking up Parenthood offers viewers something very similar to what Gilmore Girls re-watches provide. Much like Gilmore Girls' many ing characters were a large part of what kept viewers coming back to the show, Parenthood has a stacked cast that includes many recognizable faces and memorable guest stars. From Craig T. Nelson and Dax Shepard to Joy Bryant and Bonnie Bedelia, the lineup of Parenthood is as impressively starry as Gilmore Girls at its best and everyone gets a chance to shine.
Nowhere near as devastating as the laughably tragic This Is Us, Parenthood was still a stepping stone from the idealized world of Stars Hollow toward something slightly grittier and more grounded.
Furthermore, the differences in tone between the two shows are no bad thing. Gilmore Girls sometimes struggled with more serious stories due to the show’s comedic charm, whereas Parenthood’s slightly more somber tone meant the show could address serious issues more regularly without ever getting too dour. Nowhere near as devastating as the laughably tragic This Is Us, Parenthood was still a stepping stone from the idealized world of Stars Hollow toward something slightly grittier and more grounded.
Will Lauren Graham Ever Return To Gilmore Girls?
The Series Star Seemingly Remains Open To Another Reunion
Although ’s worst episodes were regrettable, there is still an appetite for another return to Stars Hollow among the show’s online fandom. The show's star has expressed an interest in another reunion, and 2024’s Gilmore Girls X Walmart Black Friday ad proves Graham is open to bringing back Lorelai. However, even with series creator Amy Sherman-Palladino wanting to do another outing, it doesn’t look like this reunion will be coming anytime soon.
Parenthood is available to stream on Hulu.
Graham is currently working on the TV show The Z-Suite and has an movie, Twinless, coming out later in 2025. Amy Sherman-Palladino is working on the Prime Video ballet drama Étoile, meaning she would not necessarily be available for a reunion anytime soon either, depending on that project’s reception. As such, it is tough to know how long it will be before viewers know about the future of the series. Until a Gilmore Girls reunion is announced, however, fans of the show’s star always have Parenthood as a fun alternative.
Gilmore Girls
- Release Date
- 2000 - 2007-00-00
- Network
- The WB
- Writers
- Amy Sherman-Palladino
Your comment has not been saved