Iconic series Gilmore Girls released at the height of some of the best moments in pop culture history. The year 2000 was a time when Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston got married, JLo wore that iconic Versace dress to the Grammys, and Bring It On was one of the hottest movies on screen. With Lorelai and Rory Gilmore being movie and music junkies. they were never short on pop culture references throughout the show's seven seasons.
Thanks to Netflix, Gilmore Girls has a new wave of fans 21 years later. However, with the show being written in the early 2000s, some of the pop culture references are misunderstood — or missed entirely.
Who Is Macy Gray In 2021?
Macy Gray is an R&B artist who made it big in the late '90s after her song "I Try." Gray's raspy voice made her identifiable and unique compared to other artists at the time. However, in 2021 Gray's celebrity has drifted. Though she's still recording and popping up here and there, new fans would need a reminder of who she is.
Macy Gray was brought up a few times in Gilmore Girls, particularly in the first season. Rory cries while listening to Macy Gray when her mom tells her she has to go to Chilton (regardless of her crush on Dean). Rory also tells her mom at Luke's that she lost her Macy Gray "CD," which is also not wildly used in 2021.
Before There Was Beyoncé There Was Destiny's Child
Music fans may love Beyoncé, know all of her music videos, and wear her clothes from her fashion line, but before she was a solo star, she was a part of the girl group, Destiny's Child.
Eventually, Destiny's Child broke up and everyone went their separate ways. (It looks like Michael did count those blueberries!) All the girls became successful in their own way but none did better than the one and only Byeoncé. In the early 2000s though, Destiny's Child was a religion.
"Of All The Gin Joints"
Lorelai and Rory have spoken highly of the 1942 war movie Casablanca but not too many fans would know the movie's quotes after almost 80 years. It's a movie that needs to be seen at least once but even then, it's hard to recognize the jargon when Lorelai and Rory speak so fast.
On a few occasions, the term "gin joints" was used in Gilmore Girls, which is a reference to Casablanca. In the movie, Rick Blaine is drunk and love-hurt and says "Of all the gin joints in all the towns of the world, she walks into mine." Rory references the movie in A Year in the Life when she sees Dean, and later again when she finds out Paris is her roommate at Yale.
Slow Internet And The Shining
The internet was a different world in the '90s and 2000s. WiFi was created in the late '90s but it wasn't what it was like in 2021. Having slow, dial-up Internet means a person had more time to get distracted. Having reliable internet means there "all work and no play," according to Lorelai.
In Lorelai's mind, she can't say that quote without name-dropping The Shining. In the movie, Wendy walks up to a typewriter where someone (or something) is typing "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
"Lucy, I'm Home!"
I Love Lucy was an iconic American sitcom that ran from 1951 to 1957. Reruns of the show can be found on TV from time to time and the Gilmore girls clearly took advantage of it because there have been a few I Love Lucy references. Not only was Lorelai wearing I Love Lucy pajamas in one scene but she has also said "Lucy, I'm home!"
Lorelai dropped another I Love Lucy reference in the fifth season when she talks about hopping a fence and getting Richard Widmark to sign her grapefruit, which is a reference to "The Tour."
The MOJO Collection
Lane Kim's true passion was music. She and Rory really bonded over their love of different genres of music and finding new and old bands. For Lane, listening to music, drumming, and dancing was a way for her to release all the emotions she had pent up.
In one scene, Lane asks Rory to stop by a music store that was close to Chilton to pick up a few CDs for her. As Rory is taking notes, she's surprised when Lane suggests the Bee Gees. When Rory questions her choice, Lane places her hand on the Mojo Collection and said, "Mojo says..." Mojo Collection is a book with some of the best songs, bands, and musical stories in rock 'n' roll history. Before there was the internet, all Lane had to rely on was her Mojo.
The Original Jonas Brothers: Hanson
Hanson was a boy band that consisted of Taylor, Zac, and Issac Hanson. Their song "MMMBop" was on every radio in North America when it released in 1997. NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys were everything to pop fans but there was something special about Hanson.
Lorelai brought up the Hanson brothers when she was trying to talk to Rory about Dean. Rory, of course, interrupted Lorelai's thought and asked her how she met Taylor Hanson. "You went to his concert, you got backstage, your eyes met across the crowd and you’ve been seeing each other ever since," Lorelai joked. Hanson is still around in 2021 but no song reached the same amount of fame as "MMMBop."
Kids These Days Will Never Understand The Magnitude Of Justin & Britney
People today are obsessed with Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears as independent artists but there was once a special time in pop culture history when they were dating. They were the king and queen of the pop world and seemed to have an adorable relationship.
But as is the case for most pop stars, their differing schedules and values broke them up. The former couple's memory is forever remembered thanks to Lorelai and Rory, though.
The Ultimate Playboy
Hugh Hefner passed away in 2017 but his legacy lives on through Playboy. He was influential in photography and media and became the ultimate player. He had multiple girlfriends at the same time and everyone lived "happily" at the Playboy mansion.
Playboy is not like it once was back in the day but Lorelai wouldn't be Lorelai if she didn't make a joke about it. Lorelai said, "A friend named Crystal? Who are you, Hugh Hefner?". In 2012, Hefner married his third and final wife, Crystal.
The One And Only Oprah
The Oprah Winfrey Show lasted for 25 seasons from 1986 to 2011. She became much more than a successful TV host — she created an empire. And while Oprah is still a goddess today, kids today aren't as familiar with Oprah's TV show as their parents are. But Oprah interviewed every celebrity and person of interest imaginable. She did giveaways, gave advice, and taught the audience in every episode.