Not many dramas have the pop culture staying power of a show like Gilmore Girls. The series ran for seven seasons and starred Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel as mother and daughter, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, Gilmore Girls took place in the cozy, picturesque — and fictional — Stars Hollow, Connecticut. For those that don’t have it running in the background at any given moment (like this author), it’s often a series rewatched in the Fall and Winter seasons, with the episodes set during those seasons holding special meaning for longtime fans. 25 years later, Gilmore Girls’ legacy lives on.

As part of the 25th anniversary, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood invited Collider to their Holidays Made Here event. As part of the inaugural Collider Rewind, Meredith Loftus took a trip to Stars Hollow and was able to speak with Gilmore Girls star Scott Patterson, who played Luke Danes. Packed with pop culture references, inspiring people everywhere, and fostering a sense of community, the show remains a stable part of the average Millennial’s zeitgeist. Of the show’s staying power, Patterson says, “it really has become this sort of cultural phenomenon, and it’s a lot of fun to be a part of it.” Patterson reflected with Collider, looking back at the series’ long-lasting success:

“I’m feeling really old. Really, really old. No! At 25 years, for it to continue to grow like this and for the fan engagement to increase on a per annum basis, if you will, is just the most extraordinary thing. Nobody could have imagined this or envisioned this. I remember speculating, year one, how long do you think this is going to go? And I thought five seasons because it’s so good, and the competition’s really tough. But here we are at 25, and I think we’re primed for 25 more. What do you think? It’s just going to keep ramping up.”

Scott Patterson Reveals Why People Identify With Luke Danes in ‘Gilmore Girls’

For the uninitiated, Luke Danes is the surly diner owner with immeasurable chemistry with the effervescent Lorelai Gilmore. And while a big reason to stick with the series is to see whether Luke and Lorelai get together, what Patterson’s Luke shows is a great deal of stability that further reflects the timelessness of the show. While yes, it was made from 2000 to 2007 and has the fashion to show for it, for fans of the series, putting on any random episode feels like a warm hug from the past. And despite his grumpy exterior, Luke Danes, in many ways, embodies that. As Patterson tells Collider:

“I think people gravitate toward Luke because he’s unchanging. He’s this Rock of Gibraltar character who is selfless. It’s kind of a post-World War II mentality, where it ain’t about me. It’s about everybody else, and what I can do for them, and suffer in silence, and not protest, and wake up early, grind all day. Help your friends. Love your friends in the way that you do. Don’t suffer fools. I think they like that part. I think the kids like Luke because he doesn’t take any crap.”

All seven seasons of Gilmore Girls are available to stream now on Netflix. Stay with Collider for the latest updates and more from Collider Rewind.

Gilmore Girls Poster

Release Date

2000 – 2007-00-00

Network

The WB