Entertainment
Best ‘Gilmore Girls’ Episodes to Keep the Fall Vibes Going This Thanksgiving on November 23, 2023 at 10:00 pm Us Weekly
Alexis Bledel, Lauren Graham, Scott Patterson. Youtube(3)
If you’re out on the road feeling lonely and oh-so-cold, Gilmore Girls is the perfect comfort watch to warm you right up.
The series, which premiered in 2000 and was created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, follows single mom Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) as she raises her daughter, Rory (Alexis Bledel), while trying to reconnect with her estranged parents, Richard (Edward Herrmann) and Emily (Kelly Bishop) Gilmore.
Set in the small fictional Connecticut town of Stars Hollow, Gilmore Girls quickly became known for its quaint, cozy aesthetics and signature seasonal-themed episodes. While the show featured the mother-daughter duo throughout all four seasons of their lives, it’s become most closely known for its association with autumn.
With its warm tone and complicated family dynamics, the generational dramedy found new life streaming on Netflix and ultimately returned for a revival in 2016. Titled Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, the four supersized episodes dropped on Thanksgiving and followed Lorelai and Rory along for one year of their lives.
After exiting the series during season 6 — before returning for AYITL —Sherman-Palladino opened up to Entertainment Weekly about becoming a longstanding source of comfort and relatability for viewers.
“We created an alternate universe that we loved living in, loved having viewers get immersed in,” she told the outlet in 2006. “I did everything I wanted to do, really — it was a gift from God. And look, f—ed-up family drama: that’s a goldmine; problems never get resolved. There’s a richness to conflict and love and stress that makes for great experiences.”
Keep scrolling for the best fall-themed Gilmore Girls episodes:
“Pilot” (Season 1, Episode 1)
Chunky sweaters, turtlenecks, scarves and lots and lots of coffee. Viewers are first introduced to Lorelai and Rory in the heart of autumn as the mother-daughter duo have their lives changed forever with Rory’s acceptance into Chilton.
As Lorelai tries to figure out a way to pay the private school tuition (Hello, Emily and Richard!), Rory meets her first love interest Dean (Jared Padalecki) while her best friend, Lane (Keiko Agena), dreads taking a “Teen Hayride” with a blind date set up by her overbearing family.
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“Kiss and Tell” (Season 1, Episode 7)
Set to the backdrop of the town’s annual Autumn Festival, which includes Rory and Lane dressed as pilgrims collecting canned goods for charity, “Kiss and Tell” may be the ultimate fall episode of Gilmore Girls.
From Luke (Scott Patterson) and Taylor (Michael Winters) arguing over autumn-themed decor to Rory shoplifting after getting her first kiss from Dean — and leaving Lorelai out of the loop on the relationship milestone — the episode set the gold standard for what Gilmore Girls would become.
“They Shoot Gilmores, Don’t They?” (Season 3, Episode 7)
This episode opens with a wide shot of a scarecrow pumpkin before slowly panning all of Stars Hollow to showcase the town’s seasonal decorations. It’s followed by Taylor declaring that it “smells like fall,” making this a great autumn watch right from the jump.
One of the most famous installments of the series, “They Shoot Gilmores, Don’t They?” brings drama abound, with Dean finally confronting Rory over her feelings for Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) at an all-night dance marathon. As one relationship ends, however, another begins, and Rory and Jess decide to give their romance a go. Add in the introduction of Lane’s fan-favorite boyfriend Dave (Adam Brody), incredible period costumes and a few deliciously witty moments between Lorelai and Luke, and you’ve got magic.
“Let the Games Begin” (Season 3, Episode 8)
A college tour just screams fall, doesn’t it? Picking right up after the Stars Hollow Dance Marathon, “Let the Games Begin” sees Rory and Lorelai appeasing Richard as he asks to bring them on a tour of his alma mater, Yale.
Between Rory and Lorelai resting their feet (and brains) on hay bales surrounded by pumpkins, the trees changing colors and the brisk New England backdrop, “Let the Games Begin” is the perfect autumn watch.
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“A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving” (Season 3, Episode 9)
Call it the fall trifecta. The first actual Thanksgiving episode in the world of Gilmore Girls, “A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving,” watches Rory and Lorelai put their stomachs to the test while trying to attend — and eat at — four separate Thanksgiving meals.
After a stop at Lane’s house, the girls head to Luke’s for a quick bite and visit Sookie’s (Melissa McCarthy), where Jackson (Jackson Douglas) and his family are going crazy over the deep fryer. They then head off to Emily and Richards, where they sit for a traditional Turkey Day feast but leave early when things get heated over Rory’s college plans.
Back in Stars Hollow, Lorelai and Rory end the night right where they belong: back at Luke’s, sipping on coffee (and enjoying the dinner rolls they previously skipped to try to save room for Emily and Richard’s) as Rory’s new boyfriend Jess gets threatened outside by her ex Dean.
“Ted Koppel’s Big Night Out” (Season 4, Episode 9)
Go Bulldogs! College football is the epitome of fall, even if Lorelai and Rory aren’t exactly avid sports enthusiasts. They still show up to accompany Richard and Emily for the big Yale vs. Harvard game, decked out in cozy Yale apparel to support the blue and gray.
There’s tailgating, grilling, fight songs and endless hot beverages. It’s everything a New England fall should be.
“The Fundamental Things Apply” (Season 4, Episode 5)
Season 4 tends to be the least favorite among Gilmore Girls fans, but the set designers really were at their best. The fall decor is out in full force as Lorelai and Sookie walk and talk around Stars Hollow and the golden-colored leaves shimmer outside Yale.
The best part? Fans get to see a new side of Lorelai and Luke’s friendship. The duo enjoy a night on the couch at Lorelai’s watching old movies and attempting to give Rory dating advice. It’s before the pair officially get together, but the show uses “The Fundamental Things Apply” to build up the tension before their big kiss at the end of the season.
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“But Not as Cute as a Pushkin” (Season 5, Episode 10)
Rory’s hair is growing, which means a new chapter of Gilmore Girls is brewing. “But Not as Cute as a Pushkin” is all about the autumnal academic vibes as Rory settles into a new year of her college life.
Thrilled after her former headmaster asks her to show a high school student around Yale, Rory finds herself struggling to keep her guest on track when parties and boys are all around her. It’s also another step forward for Rory and Logan (Matt Czuchry), whose sparring is getting suspiciously close to flirtation.
Lorelai, meanwhile, has her first fight with Luke when she buys an old boat that belonged to his father.
‘He’s Slipping Him Bread … Dig?” (Season 6, Episode 10)
The second and final Thanksgiving episode is a bit of a depressing one, with Rory finding out about her breakup with Logan through his sister, Honor (Devon Sovari), Luke reeling from discovering he has a 12-year-old daughter and Lane calling it quits with longtime boyfriend Zack (Todd Lowe).
The good news? The gang manages to get together at the Dragon Fly Inn for a delicious feast, and Rory’s dad, Christopher (David Sutcliffe), agrees to pay for her Yale tuition after his grandfather leaves him a large sum of money.
Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham on ‘Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.’ Saeed Adyani/Netflix
“A Year in the Life: Fall” (Season 1, Episode 4)
A little bit of a cheat, but we couldn’t resist. It’s impossible to discuss the coziest fall Gilmore Girls episodes without mentioning the supersized Year in the Life installment dedicated to the season.
“Fall” wraps up the three generations of Gilmore women’s stories, with Rory writing her memoir, Emily moving to Nantucket after Richard’s death and Lorelai finally tying the knot with Luke upon returning from her journey of self-discovery in the wilderness.
Despite mixed reviews on the revival as a whole, viewers can agree that “Fall” stands out as a perfect way to end the show, complete with autumn-themed flower bouquets, pumpkins, hay bales and orange foliage … just the way Gilmore Girls was meant to be.
If you’re out on the road feeling lonely and oh-so-cold, Gilmore Girls is the perfect comfort watch to warm you right up. The series, which premiered in 2000 and was created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, follows single mom Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) as she raises her daughter, Rory (Alexis Bledel), while trying to reconnect with her
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By Bolanle Media | July 2, 2026
Photo: Tyla at the 2026 Met Gala in custom Valentino — days before making the biggest business move of her career.
There are career moves, and then there are statements. Tyla just made a statement that will be studied in music business classrooms for years.
The South African superstar — born Tyla Laura Seethal, 24 years old, and already the proud owner of two Grammy Awards — has officially signed a multi-million dollar global deal with Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s powerhouse entertainment company, walking away from Epic Records to align herself with the most influential roster in the music business. The signing was confirmed across social media with a major digital announcement this week, and the reaction from industry insiders was immediate — shock, admiration, and the quiet acknowledgment that someone just changed the trajectory of African music forever.
From “Water” to a Global Phenomenon
Let’s not forget where this all started. In 2023, a 21-year-old from Johannesburg released a song called “Water” that nobody could quite categorize and everybody needed to hear. Within weeks, it had sparked one of the most viral TikTok dance challenges of the decade, charted simultaneously across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Africa, and earned Tyla a Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance — the first year that category even existed.
That win wasn’t just personal. It was a signal. African music — Afrobeats, Amapiano, and now what Tyla herself calls A*Pop — was no longer knocking at the door of the global mainstream. It had walked through it. And Tyla had handed it the key.
What followed was a whirlwind two years of sold-out shows, magazine covers, red carpet domination, and a growing reputation as one of the most stylistically fearless artists on the planet. She attended the 2026 Met Gala — her third consecutive appearance — wearing a custom Valentino gown dripping in diamond chains with a sweeping teal skirt, styled by the legendary Law Roach, with beauty by Pat McGrath. The look was breathtaking. But it was also strategic. Every Met Gala appearance, every fashion moment, every carefully placed interview has been building toward exactly this: the infrastructure to match the vision.
What Roc Nation Actually Means
To understand why this deal matters, you have to understand what Roc Nation actually is — because it is not simply a record label.
Founded by Jay-Z in 2008, Roc Nation is a full-service entertainment company with divisions spanning artist management, touring, brand partnerships, film and television, sports management, and philanthropy. Its roster has included Rihanna, Alicia Keys, J. Cole, Big Sean, Lil Uzi Vert, and Megan Thee Stallion — artists who didn’t just sell records, but built multi-decade cultural empires that extended into fashion, film, business, and beyond. The through-line isn’t genre. It’s scale.
For Tyla specifically, the Roc Nation deal unlocks a completely different level of access. We’re talking about premium budgets for music videos and live production, top-tier brand partnership pipelines with luxury and lifestyle companies, film and television placement relationships that most artists spend a decade trying to build, and the kind of media weight that gets you on the cover of Vogue, Time, and Billboard in the same calendar year. Roc Nation doesn’t just manage artists — it engineers icons.
On the African music side, Tyla joins fellow Roc Nation signee Ayra Starr, the Nigerian pop star who inked her deal in 2025, deepening the label’s clear and deliberate strategic investment in African pop as the next dominant global genre. Jay-Z is not betting on a trend. He is betting on a generation.
The Album That Could Rewrite the Playbook
The timing of this signing is not accidental — it is surgical.
Tyla’s highly anticipated sophomore album, A*POP, is officially set to drop July 24, 2026, just three weeks away — a 14-track project that she has described as unapologetic, globally ambitious, and deeply rooted in her South African identity while simultaneously reaching for something universal. The lead single “She Did It Again” features Swedish pop titan Zara Larsson, a collaboration that announces in no uncertain terms that Tyla is not staying in any lane she didn’t build herself.
With Roc Nation’s full machine now behind the album rollout — promotional infrastructure, media relationships, tour routing, brand activations — A*POP arrives with a runway that Epic Records simply could not have provided at this scale. The industry is already paying attention. For music supervisors, film and TV executives, brand marketers, and entertainment investors reading this right now — put A*POP on your radar immediately. This is the kind of release that shapes culture, not just charts.
The Bigger Picture Nobody Is Talking About
Here is what gets lost in the excitement of a big announcement: the systemic significance of what Tyla just did.
The music industry’s historical relationship with African artists has been, at best, transactional — major labels slow to invest, quick to cash in on a viral moment, and consistently reluctant to build the kind of long-term infrastructure that turns an artist into a brand. Tyla has navigated that system with remarkable intelligence, refusing to be reduced to a trend, building her artistic identity on her own terms, and now — at 24 — arriving at the negotiating table with enough leverage to choose Roc Nation on her terms.
That matters. Not just for Tyla, but for every African artist watching this unfold from Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Cape Town, and Houston. It is proof that the path from regional phenomenon to global superstar is not only possible — it is being paved right now, in real time, by a young woman from Johannesburg who refused to shrink.
For media companies, content platforms, entertainment executives, and brand strategists operating in the African diaspora space — this is your data point. African pop is not a niche. It is not a trend. It is not a moment. It is a movement, and Tyla just secured the most powerful co-sign available in the global music business to lead it.
Watch this space. Very closely.
Follow @bolanlemedia on Instagram for real-time music, film, and entertainment industry news. Read more at bolanlemedia.com
AfriqueFest: Pan-African Musical Experience — World Cup Edition is set to take over Noto Houston on Sunday, June 28, bringing together East, South, and West African sounds in one immersive celebration of music, culture, and connection. Presented by Experience Noir and Bolanle Media, the event is designed as a cinematic night for the culture, blending global energy with Houston nightlife in a way that feels elevated, intentional, and deeply rooted in African creativity.
Spotlight on DJ Shinski
At the heart of this year’s experience is DJ Shinski. Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya and now based in Houston, DJ Shinski has built an international name off high-energy sets that move effortlessly across Afrobeats, Amapiano, hip‑hop, dancehall, reggae, and electronic sounds.
He has also become Africa’s most‑subscribed DJ on YouTube, crossing the 2‑million‑subscriber mark and turning his mixes into a global destination for music lovers.
DJ Shinski’s style is precise but unpredictable: one moment it’s classic Afrobeats, the next it’s East African anthems, then a run of throwback hip‑hop or R&B that still feels fresh. That ability to read a room and connect multiple worlds in a single set is exactly why AfriqueFest is building so much of the night’s energy around him.
At AfriqueFest, DJ Shinski helps drive the Safari Grooves segment, representing East and Central Africa from 4 PM to 6 PM. Expect a journey that moves from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Addis, and beyond, all filtered through his signature “vibes on vibes” approach behind the decks.
DJ Tunez and the rest of the night
Supporting that energy, DJ Tunez leads the Gold Coast Beats chapter from 8 PM to 10 PM, bringing his own Nigerian‑American Afrobeats pedigree to the stage. Together with the Diamond Rhythms segment (South) and a curated roster of DJs, the night stretches across the continent in three distinct musical chapters, all connected by a single dance floor.
Hosted by @chris_gone_crazy, @kingdrewwskyy, @roselynomaka, and @samsnewleaf, AfriqueFest is positioned as more than a party—it’s a celebration of sound, style, and Pan‑African identity in Houston, with DJ Shinski anchoring the experience from the moment doors open.
Brought to you by Bolanle Media & Experience Noir
Brought to you by Bolanle Media and Experience Noir, this World Cup edition of AfriqueFest is crafted as a night where global DJs, storytellers, and music lovers collide and create a shared cultural memory. With DJ Shinski front and center—and DJ Tunez helping close the night—guests can expect a show that reflects both the future of African nightlife and the power of the diaspora to create unforgettable live moments.
If you want to experience DJ Shinski live at AfriqueFest, now is the time to lock in your spot. Purchase your tickets now at AfriqueFest.com and get ready for a night of music, movement, and culture at Noto Houston.
Laughter Meets Inspiration: Our Ladies Show Lands on The Roku Channel
A bold new sketch comedy series for women premieres June 13 across the U.S., U.K., and Canada — arriving on the back of a festival-winning run that has critics and audiences already paying attention.
It isn’t every day a brand-new comedy arrives already wearing a row of trophies. Our Ladies Show does. The seven-episode inspirational sketch comedy series — created, written by, and starring Christin Jezak — begins streaming on The Roku Channel on Friday, June 13, 2026, available free to viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.
Produced in partnership with global media services leader Encompass Digital Media, the series sets out to do something rare in today’s streaming landscape: make women laugh out loud and leave them lifted. In a media moment crowded with noise and cynicism, Our Ladies Show is a deliberate counterweight — comedy with a conscience, built for women of every age and background.
A Show Built Around Real Life — and Real Laughs
Each of the seven episodes opens with a monologue from one of the cast members introducing the theme, then rolls into three or more sketches that hit the subject from every comedic angle. The series tackles the things women actually carry: holding grudges, comparison, beauty, patience, gift giving, the importance of community, and dealing with anxiety.
The comedy comes from a place of warmth rather than mockery — a “laugh at ourselves” spirit that runs through a gallery of unforgettable characters: a nosey neighbor, an overwhelmed mom, relentlessly optimistic flight attendants, beauty pageant winners past their prime, and a crew of unruly campers with a counselor who simply cannot hold it together.
Then the show does something most sketch series don’t. In the final segment of every episode, the cast gathers in a living-room setting and invites the audience in — sharing real inspiration drawn from the theme, the sketches, and their own personal stories. It’s the moment the laughter turns into something that stays with you.
The Women Behind the Show
Our Ladies Show brings together three performers with serious range:
- Christin Jezak — creator, writer, and star (Miracle at Manchester, Raising Hope, Jimmy Kimmel Live!)
- Hillary Hawkins — (Primal, Nick Jr.’s Play Along, Gullah Gullah Island)
- Sarah Hernandez — (Nefarious, Unplanned, House of Payne)
“In a world with so much division and depression, I hope women of all ages and backgrounds will watch this show, laugh, be reminded of how beautiful, unique, and loved they are, and remember how much we need each other.”— Christin Jezak, Creator & Star
Already a Festival Favorite
The series’ recurring long-form sketch, Neighborhood Watch, didn’t arrive quietly. Originally released as a web series and revamped for Our Ladies Show with new footage, sound, and music, it has been sweeping the festival circuit:
- 🏆 Best Webseries — 2026 New Media Film Festival (Los Angeles)
- 🏆 Best Web/TV Series — Paris Film Awards
- 🏆 Best Web Series — Dallas Movie Awards
- 🏅 Additional wins at the London Movie Awards, Florence Film Awards, and Hollywood Gold Awards
- 🎬 Official Selection — 2026 Harvard Divinity School Film Fest
- ⭐ Finalist — Houston Comedy Film Festival
- 📣 Three nominations — 2025 Content Christian Media Conference, including Best Actress in a TV and Web Series nods for both Christin Jezak and Sarah Hernandez
Where and When to Watch
Our Ladies Show premieres Friday, June 13, 2026, streaming on The Roku Channel — the home of premium and free entertainment — in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. All seven episodes deliver the series’ signature blend of sharp sketch comedy and genuine encouragement.
Watch the trailer now on your platform of choice:
For more information, visit www.ourladiesshow.com and follow @ourladiesshow on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
About Christin Jezak
Christin Jezak has worked for over 15 years in the entertainment industry. She created and stars in Our Ladies Show and the award-winning web series Neighborhood Watch. She produced the EWTN TV program For the Sake of the Gospel and the all-women web series Ladies Keepin’ It Real, played Dr. Sam in Miracle at Manchester (starring Dean Cain, Daniel Roebuck, and Eddie McClintock), and voices Agnes in the podcast Confessions of a Catholic Single. She held a lead role in a short film for NTT Data directed by Academy Award–winning cinematographer Janusz Kamiński, has co-starred on Raising Hope, and appeared in Jimmy Kimmel sketches and a Grubhub Super Bowl commercial.
About The Roku Channel
Roku pioneered streaming on TV and is the #1 TV streaming platform in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico by hours streamed (Hypothesis Group, Dec. 2025). The Roku Channel is the home of premium and free entertainment, alongside Roku’s Howdy and Frndly TV services. Roku is headquartered in San Jose, California.
About Encompass Digital Media
Encompass Digital Media is a global managed services company — technology-driven, software-defined, and people-powered. Trusted by world-leading broadcasters, networks, sports rights-holders, and OTT platforms, it processes over 25,000 hours of content daily, serves 850 channels to 84 countries, distributes over 243,000 live events annually, and reaches 400 million radio listeners weekly worldwide. Learn more at www.encompass.tv.
Media & Interview Requests: To interview creator Christin Jezak or the cast, contact Christin at cjezak@p2ptheatre.com.
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