The WB/Richard ForemanHistory was made on October 5, 2000. The world met Lorelai and Rory Gilmore when Gilmore Girls made its debut on the now-defunct The WB. Now, 16 years after its premiere and nine years since wrapping its run on TV, Gilmore Girls is returning to life on Netflix with Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, a four-part movie event.
To celebrate Gilmore Girls' sweet 16, we rewatched the pilot and noted the many, many pop culture references Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) so famously quipped about. Do they hold up? Are they dated? Yes. But, not as bad as you'd think. Here they are, ranked by least to most dated.
LEAST DATED: 11. "RuPaul doesn't wear this much makeup." – Rory to Lorelai after seeing her makeup bag.
RuPaul just won an Emmy for RuPaul's Drag Race! RuPaul never goes out of style.
10. " Windy. Oprah." How Rory responds when Dean says he's from Chicago.
Add in Obama and it's still accurate.
9. "I'm going to be in a Britney Spears video?" Rory guesses when Lorelai hands her the Chilton skirt without context.
Britney Spears just released another album to critical acclaim and "Baby One More Time" is always relevant. Always.
8. "On the way home you can pull a Menendez," Lorelai says Rory.
Still relevant today thanks to America's obsession with true crime and the upcoming Law & Order miniseries about them.
7. Eminem is one of the (many) musical artists Lane can't listen to.
Still relevant-ish. Sorry for the shade, Slim Shady.
6. Lorelai and Rory reenact "The Little Match Girl" while outside Richard and Emily's.
A classic children's story by Hans Christian Andersen? Do these ever lapse in relevancy?
5. Lorelai says Rory will have to "turn into Flo-Jo to get away from me" after their fight/she finds out about Dean.
RIP Florence Griffith Joyner. The Olympian is still considered the fastest woman ever.
4. Sookie: "Where's your pâté?"
Lorelai: "At Zsa Zsa Gabor's house."
Married nine times and still kicking at the age of 99, Zsa Zsa Gabor's pop culture prominence isn't exactly thriving at the moment.
3. "Ruth Gordon just standing there with a tannis root."—what Rory says to Dean when he is just standing over her.
Despite the TV movie remake with Zoe Saldana, Rosemary's Baby references are probably lost on the millennial crowd. This was dated even back in 2000.
2. Rory and Lorelai play Macy Gray's "I Try" (on their respective stereos) when they are upset.
This would be an Adele song now, but never underestimate an oldie for the feels.
MOST DATED: 1. "I lost my Macy Gray CD." Rory to Lorelai, who had it in her bag.
CDs? Macy Gray? Macy Gray isn't totally out of the public eye these days—never forget her Fuller House season one cameo—but 2000 was PEAK Macy Gray.
Gilmore Girls returns with A Year in the Life on Friday, Nov. 25 on Netflix.