Consider, if you will, the dearly departed Michigan J. Frog's network, the WB.

Did you sort of zone out? Me, too. A mere year and a half after the network — in combination with rival UPN — morphed into the CW, the WB is a vague memory. But in its heyday, the network aired some of our favorite soapy series: Charmed, Popular, Roswell, Gilmore Girls, Smallville and … let's see, what am I forgetting? Oh, yeah — a little show about a vampire slayer.

The WB was something of a guilty pleasure for me. I never admitted to watching Felicity or Dawson's Creek, but magically knew every detail of every story arc. … continue reading

Like many Gilmore Girls fans, I had to stop watching during the sixth season when things started going horribly awry. Even then, though, I kept up with the Girls via recaps on TWoP. You know how you kind of wonder what’s going on with your ex even though you think she’s lost her mind? That’s how I felt. But by the time the series ended, I cared about just one thing: When will I see Lauren Graham again?

Evan Almighty was not a good start for Graham’s post-Gilmore career. I’m still trying to give Flash of Genius the benefit of the doubt — maybe intermittent windshield wipers are more compelling than I realize. But I’m happy to know that we’ll be seeing more of Graham on TV, thanks to a new development deal with NBC. … continue reading

Of the many interesting offerings coming to a TV near you this fall (Hello, Bionic Woman. Nice to meet you, The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Come sit next to me, Pushing Daisies.), one I’ve most breathlessly anticipated is The Return of Jezebel James. My excitement can be summed up in two reasons: Parker Posey and Lauren Ambrose. OK, one more: Amy Sherman-Palladino.

Parker and Lauren teaming up in a laughfest by Gilmores Girls creator Sherman-Palladino? How could it not be brilliant? How? But after seeing promo clips for the new show, I went from delighted squeals to a deflated confusion. I wouldn't call it bad, but alas, it’s nowhere near brilliant. At least not yet. … continue reading

Lauren Graham is about to have a Flash of Genius. Personally, I think not buttoning those top two buttons was a flash of genius, but I digress. The former Gilmore Girl has signed on to her first role since the long-running mother-daughter comedy-drama signed off in May.

Graham will co-star with Greg Kinnear in Flash of Genius, about the inventor of the intermittent windshield wiper. Wait, wait, a movie about windshield wipers? Bwaahahaha! OK, sorry, had to get that out of my system. Actually, the movie isn’t a laugher at all. Instead it’s a drama about the struggles the man who made driving when it’s sprinkling out a whole lot easier (played by Kinnear) had when battling the Detroit automakers over the use of his design. Lauren will play his long-suffering wife. … continue reading

Last week news came that the Gilmore Girls are moving out of Stars Hollow for good. After seven seasons, the mother-daughter comedy-drama is ending its run with its finale May 15. The abrupt departure comes after negotiations between the network and stars Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel fell through.

I’ll confess, I haven’t watched the series for the last couple of seasons. When Buffy the Vampire Slayer made the jump to UPN, the two shows conflicted, and the girl with the pointy stick won out over the girls with the rat-a-tat-tat pop culture references. After Buffy ended, I thought I’d go back and reacquaint myself with the gals, but time had passed and so it goes.

In a taped segment for The Ellen DeGeneres Show (set to air Tuesday), Lauren seemed the opposite of broken up about the cancellation. In fact, she toasted the news by throwing back a mojito with Ellen. … continue reading

Looks like this season very well may be the last for The Gilmore Girls. TV Guide is reporting today that "talks to bring the show back for an eighth season have stalled, and, according to several sources, there's little hope for a turnaround."

I'm not sure how I feel about that. I used to love the show - the first season, and possibly the second, will always stand as some of the best television I've ever watched - but the last few seasons have kind of gone off the rails. I confess I don't even really tune in much anymore.

But I'm still going to miss those Gilmore Girls. I think partly it's that I just like the idea that a show like this exists. What other show focuses so closely and so well on mother-daughter relationships? Where else is CNN's Christiane Amanpour considered a big guest-star? Where else can you find so many attractive, intelligent, and yet still relatable women? And did I mention Lauren Graham? Yeah, that's enough of a reason to watch right there.

Somebody better give her another show soon!