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I loved watching the "Gilmore Girls". I was constantly challenged and entertained by the bullet-like speed talking by the two main characters. Their tag was "life is short, talk fast". So what does a new millenium television series have to do with the themes of vintage or retro? I loved their constant references to people and things. With their humourous, clever dialogue, these character paid hommage to decades past in a way that was so original and funny. One of my favourite pieces of dialogue took place in the episode where Rory celebrated her 16th birthday party twice. The first was at the grandparents' stiff society soiree, where the Gilmore girls sat lamenting their current situation:

(dialogue and quotes courtesy of tv.com)

Lorelai: (sighs, hands Rory a drink) Here.

Rory: What is it?

Lorelai: A Shirley Temple

Rory: What are you drinking?

Lorelai: A Shirley Temple Black.

Rory: (sniffs at it) Wow.

Lorelai: I got your Good Ship Lollipop right here, mister.

"[In 1950, child star Shirley Temple, retired from film, married businessman Charles Black, taking his name. A "Shirley Temple-Black" is a Shirley Temple with a shot of Kahlua, an "Adult version" of the children's bar drink made with 7-Up and Grenadine. Good Ship Lollipop, of course, is the trademark song of actress Shirley Temple from the movie Bright Eyes, but clearly also a reference to the state enough ST-B's would put you in, too, singing and dancing.]"

Each season's DVD package includes a sort of reference manual for all of the past decades' pop cultural references made by the characters. It's a real challenge to keep up with these two girls in recalling the numerous references.

Here are some quotes from other episodes. How many of the references can you identify:

Lorelai: (to Rory) Yeah, huh? That was a pretty Freaky Friday moment we had back there.

Lorelai: (to Jackson) You didn't build one of those machines like in The Fly did you? We're not going to find you wandering the streets wearing a raspberry head crying, "Eat me!"

Emily: Oh, yes, and there was a T-shirt with a Farrah Fawcett face.

Lorelai: A hero to many who aspire to the perfect feather fluff.

Lorelai: Barbara Streisand will give her final concert, again. Now, the Pope has previous plans, but he's trying to get out of them. However, Elvis and Jim Morrison are coming and they're bringing chips.

Lorelai: Lucy, I'm home!

Rory: I wonder if the Waltons ever did this.

Lorelai: No, she has her Vulcan death grip on that one.

Lorelai: I think Edith Wharton would have been proud, and busy taking notes.

Lorelai: You walk into Denny's before 5:00 p.m., you've got yourself a discount.

Lorelai: I'm shopping for Rory. You're shopping for your imaginary granddaughter, Barbara Hutton.

Emily: My daughter, Henny Youngman.