Document 6433962

Comments by
AMY SHERMAN-PALLADINO and DANIEL PALLADINO
Aragorn - Heir to the throne of men in the
Lord of the Rings trilogy. (Ep. 22)
“25, and then 30 . . . and then 45 and then 50, until we
find all 59 and take back the square! Yeah!” - Reference to
Arnold Palmer - Championship golfer. (Ep. 12)
Howard Dean’s uninhibited speech during the 2004 Democratic
nomination campaign. (Ep. 18)
Augustus Gloop - Bad rotund child from
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. (Ep. 4)
Adolphe Menjou - Popular silent film actor known for wearing
natty attire. (Ep. 14)
Barry White - Singer with the unmistakable deep voice who topped
the music charts in the 70’s. (Ep. 2)
Adrian - Rocky’s girlfriend in the Rocky films. (Ep. 13)
Blake Edwards - Film director and producer who worked with
Alfalfa and Darla - Characters from The Little Rascals
Peter Sellers on the Pink Panther movies. (Ep. 22)
television series. Alfalfa spent much time courting Darla. (Ep. 2)
Daniel:“I am of the legion of fans who can quote
Alfalfa extensively.”
Blossom Dearie - Squeaky-voiced cabaret singer and pianist. (Ep. 21)
Braille Institute - Non-profit organization for the blind. (Ep. 4)
Alive - 1993 movie about a rugby team trying to survive the freezing
weather of the Andes after a plane crash. (Ep. 13)
Brown Bunny - Controversial indie film directed by Vincent Gallo that
Amy:“Seriously, how do
you comment on ‘Brown Bunny’? What could I possibly say that
Roger Ebert hasn’t already covered?”
included a very graphic sex scene. (Ep. 8)
Anna Nicole - Model and actress most famous for marrying
billionaire J. Howard Marshall when he was close
to ninety and she was in her twenties. After his
death, she went into a long court battle with
Caiphas - High priest involved in the crucifixion of Christ.
her husband’s son over the inheritance.
(Ep. 7)
(Ep. 17)
Capone - Reference to Al Capone, famed American
Annie Leibowitz - Famous celebrity photographer
gangster of the 20’s and 30’s who
whose work regularly appears in Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair. (Ep. 2)
was arrested for income tax
evasion. (Ep. 8)
Annie Sullivan - Teacher of the deaf and blind, her relationship with
Helen Keller was depicted in the film The Miracle Worker. (Ep. 20)
Carpenters songs - Popular 70’s musical group made up of siblings
Karen and Richard. They had a string of soft rock hits
Dorf - Memorable Tim Conway character that golfed and was
part dork, part dwarf. (Ep. 18)
including “Top of the World” and “Close to You.” (Ep. 14)
Eartha Kitt - Actress and singer best known for playing Catwoman
The Carringtons - Dysfunctional family from
on the Batman television series in the 60’s. (Ep. 9)
the soap opera Dynasty. (Ep. 19)
Ebert - Noted film critic Roger Ebert, co-host of a television program
Casper - The friendliest ghost from the animated Casper series. (Ep. 17)
that critiques new releases, he also writes a review column
for the Chicago-Sun Times. (Ep. 8)
Clyde - Half of the infamous outlaw duo Bonnie and Clyde, who
committed murder and robbery during the Great Depression. (Ep. 11)
Ebola - Named for a river in Congo (formerly Zaire),
this virus is severe and often fatal in humans. (Ep. 12)
Cole Porter - Famed American composer known for popular songs
like “Night and Day” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” (Ep. 12)
Fagin - Character in Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, who is the leader
of a group of boy thieves. (Ep. 17)
Daria - Cynical MTV animated character. (Ep. 1)
Amy:“And my role model.”
Farrah on Letterman - Reference to Farrah Fawcett’s infamous 1997
appearance on The Late Show. Her behavior was unaccountably bizarre.
David Blaine - Street magician and stunt performer
who spent several days standing in a block of ice.
(Ep. 12)
Amy:“The craziest event to take place on television until the
Tom Cruise ‘I will jump on this couch cause I’m dating Joey from
Dawson’s Creek’ incident of 2005.”
(Ep. 22)
Donna Summer - Earned the title of “Disco Queen” singing
Fatso - 1980 film about an overweight man who has a
hits like “Hot Stuff ” and “Last Dance.” (Ep. 18)
hard time getting motivated to lose weight until he falls in love.
(Ep. 20)
Amy:“The funniest movie ever! Ever !!!”
Doobie Brothers - American rock band popular in the 70’s
for such hits as “Black Water” and “Takin’ It to the Streets.” (Ep. 12)
Foreigner - Middle of the road rock group whose songs included
“Cold as Ice” and “I Want to Know What Love Is.” (Ep. 12)
Doogie - Doogie Houser, M.D. was an 80’s
television series about a genius teenaged doctor.
(Ep. 2)
Frances Farmer - Film actress whose questionable behavior put her
in and out of mental institutions. (Ep. 13)
“get medieval on their ass” - Line from the film Pulp Fiction.
Heidi’s grandfather - Classic story of a girl sent to live in the
(Ep. 18)
mountains with her reclusive grandfather. (Ep. 3)
GI Jane - 1997 movie starring Demi Moore as the head-shaved
Henry Box Brown - Plantation slave who escaped
first female Navy SEALS trainee. (Ep.4)
to freedom in the North by shipping himself in a
3´ x 2´ box. (Ep. 2)
Gravlax - Raw, thinly sliced cured salmon. (Ep. 3 )
Hogan’s Heroes - Television sitcom of the late
Grey Gardens - 1975 documentary about a reclusive and eccentric
60’s that was set in a German POW camp during WWII. (Ep. 15)
mother and daughter holed up in a mansion in East Hampton. (Ep. 5)
Iran in ’79 - Iranian militants took U.S. embassy employees in
Groucho, Chico, Harpo, and Zeppo - First names of the
Tehran hostage in 1979. (Ep. 1)
Marx Brothers, a comedic troupe who performed on
vaudeville stages and in film. (Ep. 18)
Jack LaLanne - Bodybuilder and well-known fitness expert. He spent
Daniel:“In my
house growing up, we watched Jack LaLanne a lot. We never
exercised -- we just watched.”
years on television giving fitness instruction. (Ep. 21)
Hans Christian Andersen - Danish author in
the 1800’s whose work is the basis for many
modern fairy tales, including The Ugly Duckling
and The Little Mermaid. (Ep. 6)
James Spader / Pretty in Pink - Spader plays a rich, smarmy brat
in this 80’s teen flick. (Ep. 22)
Hare Krishnas - Members of a religious sect easily recognized by
their colorful robes and chants. (Ep. 2)
Jayson Blair - New York Times reporter caught plagiarizing and
subsequently forced off the paper. (Ep. 16)
Harry Chapin - Singer-songwriter known for his melancholy
hit about a father and son, “Cat’s in the Cradle.” (Ep. 18)
Jethro Tull - Progressive English rock band of the 60’s, considered
passe by boys Jess’s age. (Ep. 20)
Hart to Hart - Television series about a wealthy husband and wife
who play detective. (Ep. 11)
Jim Morrison - Lead singer of The Doors
who is buried in the Pere LaChaise cemetery
Hayley Mills - Played twins in The Parent Trap – a movie about
sisters trying to bring their parents back together. (Ep. 22)
in Paris. (Ep. 1)
Joan Crawford - Award-winning actress with
The Lords of Flatbush - Movie about greasers (50’s gang members
a reputation for being difficult. The book
with greased hair and leather jackets) starring Sylvester Stallone
and movie Mommie Dearest are based
and Henry Winkler. (Ep. 20)
on Crawford’s shortcomings as
a mother. (Ep. 21)
Lou Ferrigno - Bodybuilder and actor who played
The Incredible Hulk on the television series. (Ep. 14)
John Ashcroft - Over-reaching Attorney General during George
W. Bush’s first term. (Ep. 7)
Madeleine Albright - Nominated by President Clinton
and the highest-ranking woman in the history of the
John Nash - Brilliant mathematician who suffered from paranoid
U.S. Government when she was sworn in as the 64th
schizophrenia and was the inspiration for the 2001 film
Secretary of State in 1997. (Ep. 11)
A Beautiful Mind. (Ep. 3)
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi - Popularizer of Transcendental Meditation
Joy Division - Late 70’s post punk band. Later morphed into
around the world. (Ep. 8)
New Order following singer Ian Curtis’s death. (Ep. 15)
Matchbox Twenty - Much-mocked rock band led by
Keith Richards at Altamont - Guitarist for the Rolling Stones,
singer Rob Thomas. (Ep. 19)
performed at an infamous free concert in Altamont, CA, marred by
violence between concert goers and the Hell’s Angels. (Ep. 2)
Maxim - Magazine for young men, always featuring a scantily clad
woman on the cover. (Ep. 17)
Kids in the Hall - Canadian sketch comedy group with an 80’s-90’s
television series of the same name. Kids member Bruce McCulloch
Mel - The grumpy owner and cook at Mel’s Diner in the television
has guested on Gilmore Girls. (Ep. 14)
series Alice. (Ep. 5)
Kofi Annan - Secretary of the United Nations, known for
Metrosexual - Newly coined phrase used to describe a heterosexual
his astute diplomacy. (Ep. 19)
male with good fashion sense. (Ep. 18)
Kraftwerk - German electro-pop group credited with the growing
Ming Dynasty - Ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, the emperors
interest and development of electronic music. (Ep. 11)
of the Ming Dynasty were members of the Zhu family. (Ep. 12)
The L Word - Television series about the lives of a group of lesbians.
Mommie Dearest - 1981 movie starring Faye Dunaway as
(Ep. 15)
Joan Crawford – the screen legend and abusive mother. (Ep. 3)
Mrs. Robinson - Character in the 1967 film The Graduate.
Petticoat Junction - 60’s television series centered around the goings-on
Mrs. Robinson is a married woman who seduces a much younger
at the Shady Rest Hotel and its colorful country characters. (Ep. 18)
man. (Ep. 12)
Pink Floyd - Classic rock and roll band formed in the 60’s, best known
Mummenschanz - Pantomime group from Switzerland that
for the albums Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. (Ep. 7)
makes use of surreal masks and props. (Ep. 15)
Daniel:“The cover photo of the band’s album ‘Wish You Were
Here’ was photographed at Warner Bros.Studios, where
‘Gilmore Girls’ is shot.”
Nag Hammadi - In the 1940’s an important collection
of ancient texts dealing with the gospels was found
near Nag Hammadi in Egypt. (Ep. 13)
Pop locked - A style of dance, spin-off of break dancing. (Ep. 22)
National Velvet - 1944 Elizabeth Taylor movie about
Amy:“Oh Shabba doo and Boogaloo Shrimp, where are you now?
We need you so.”
a young equestrian named Velvet who hopes to win
England’s greatest racing event, the Grand National.
Prog rock - Short for progressive rock, featuring a combination of musical
(Ep. 5)
elements (classical, jazz, etc.) and occasionally over-wrought structures.
kids. (Ep. 8)
Daniel:“I hid the fact for years but th ere’s no denying it -I love progressive rock ! Long live ‘Gentle Giant,’ ‘Van der Graaf’
and ‘Triumvirat’!”
Norman Rockwell - Beloved artist whose sweet depictions
Purim - Celebration commemorating the efforts of Queen Esther
of American life appeared on the covers of The Saturday
to save the Jewish people from the tyrannical Haman. (Ep. 1)
Evening Post. (Ep. 7)
Amy:“To me, Purim is the holiday of winning goldfish at
a carnival that are time released to die once you get them home so you
can be emotionally scarred by their death. I also saw Walter Koenig,
Star Trek’s Chekov, at a Purim Carnival, so Purim is, to me,
the Festival of Death & Walter Koenig.”
(Ep. 11)
New Zoo Review - 1972 television series for
Owsley - Potent form of LSD, named after its manufacturer in
San Francisco. (Ep. 8)
Pat Summerall - Famed football play-by-play
announcer. (Ep. 2)
Quiet Riot - 80’s heavy metal band who gained fame from a remake
of Slade’s “Cum On Feel the Noize.” (Ep. 7)
Persis Khambatta - Actress who played the bald Lt. Ilia in
the 1979 Star Trek movie. (Ep. 4)
Robert Downey Jr. - Actor who broke into a stranger’s house
thinking it was his own and fell asleep. (Ep. 13)
Rockefeller - One of the richest men of the 1800’s,
“Sk8er Boi” - Avril Lavigne’s annoyingly ubiquitous hit song
John D. Rockefeller was the founder of Standard Oil.
from the album Let Go. (Ep. 1)
(Ep. 14)
The Sound of Music - Movie set in Austria starring
Romanov kids - Children of Russian Tsar Nicholas II
Julie Andrews as a nun-turned-nanny.
and his wife Alexandra, granddaughter of Queen Victoria,
(Ep. 10)
the kids were born into a life of incredible wealth and
luxury. (Ep. 3)
Sputnik - Satellite launched by the USSR that
began the space race in 1957. (Ep. 1)
Roslyn Kind - Popular nightclub singer and little sister of
Barbra Streisand. (Ep. 22)
Stations of the Cross - Fourteen sculptures found in
Catholic churches depicting Christ’s journey from sentencing to
Salvador Dali - Surrealist painter of dream-like images,
his burial. (Ep. 8)
the most recognizable being the melting watch.
(Ep. 8)
Stephen Glass - Reporter for The New Republic magazine who
was fired after it was discovered that over half of his stories
Sandinistas - Members of a leftist Nicaraguan political party, and
were in some degree fabricated. (Ep. 16)
a Clash album. (Ep. 1)
The Strand - New York used bookstore that
Schleprock - Unfortunate teenage caveman character on the
claims to stock 16 miles of books. (Ep. 1)
animated series The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show. (Ep. 9)
Daniel:“I usually buy about a mile
of books per visit. I need help.”
Sharon - As in Ariel Sharon, the prominent military leader and
Prime Minister of Israel. (Ep. 8)
Taxi Driver - 1976 movie
starring Robert De Niro as a New York cabby
Shirley MacLaine - Oscar®-winning actress who is outspoken about
slowly losing his sanity in what he perceives
her belief in reincarnation. (Ep. 17)
to be a hopeless city. (Ep. 14)
Shriner hats - The Shriners is a men’s organization
Ted Knight - Silver-haired actor who played newscaster Ted Baxter
whose members wear fezes and drive tiny cars in
on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. (Ep. 4)
local parades. (Ep. 17)
The Three Stooges - Popular slapstick comedy group made up of
“Winona in the Family” - Actress Winona Ryder was caught stealing
brothers Moe, Larry, and Curly. (Ep. 6)
from Saks Fifth Avenue in 2001. (Ep. 16)
Witches of Eastwick - Novel and movie about
Timothy Leary - Psychologist who walked a fine line between
three witches who innocently conjure up a
genius and insanity, he was outspoken about his belief in drug use
mystery man to free them from their boredom.
and spent some time dabbling in the occult. (Ep. 19)
(Ep. 11)
Trigger - A.K.A. The Smartest Horse in the Movies.
Wolfowitz - A Neo-Conservative U.S.
He appeared in over 80 films - always playing a
horse named Trigger. (Ep. 6)
Deputy Secretary of Defense who was a leading proponent of the 2003
Iraq War and the architect of George W. Bush’s foreign policy.
Toby from American Splendor - Reference
(Ep. 12)
to chatty geek character in the movie based on the
writings of cartoonist Harvey Pekar. (Ep. 20)
Woody Allen - American filmmaker once married to Mia Farrow
and now married to her adopted daughter, who is over thirty years
Tolstoy - Genius Russian author of War and Peace and
Anna Karenina. (Ep. 12)
Tony Robbins - Well-known motivational speaker. (Ep. 18)
Amy:“Yes, his view of family values might be
very different than mine, but ‘Hannah and Her Siste rs’ is one of
the greatest movies ever and I’ve watched it
two hundred and fif ty thousand times
just to make sure.”
his junior. (Ep. 10)
Valley of the Dolls -1966 best-selling novel
by Jacqueline Susann about the rise and
Woody - As in Guthrie, Depression-era
fall of three women in Hollywood.
folk singer best known for the song
(Ep. 9)
“This Land is Your Land.”
(Ep. 5)
Village People - Disco group of the 70’s best known for their
use of costumes and their hit “YMCA.” (Ep. 15)
“What’s your damage, Heather?” - Referring to the
1989 cult movie Heathers about three cruel girls named Heather.
(Ep. 22)
“Oscar®” is the registered trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.