With its witty script and endearing characters, Gilmore Girls has attracted audiences of all ages. These fans recently watched their show start a seventh season with a new director and network, changes that didn’t disappoint loyal viewers who keep coming back for more.

A breath of fresh air in the endless lineup of reality shows and crime thrillers, the uplifting and clever drama follows the seemingly normal and modern lives of thirty-something mother Lorelai and her coming-of-age daughter Rory.

As the story unfolds, their mother-daughter bond appears to be unlike most traditional parent-child relationships. Though their lives have been completely different – Lorelai was a teenage mother, Rory’s an Ivy League student – the pair’s shared interest in obscure movies, junk food binges and coffee addictions tie them together as best friends.

Subtle references to pop culture litter each episode’s smart dialogue and keep the show’s devoted coming back for more. The clever dialogue especially helps viewers relate to the show’s strong and convincing multi-generational characters. Both lead actresses, Lauren Graham (Lorelai) and Alexis Bledal (Rory), have earned multiple awards for their realistic performances. Most notably, Graham was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series.

But the talent doesn’t stop there. Richard and Emily Gilmore, Lorelai’s high society and elitist parents, are played by Edward Herrmann and Kelly Bishop. With over 30 years of stage, movie and television experience, Emmy and Tony award winning Herrmann lends a seasoned and solid performance as Lorelai’s stoic father. Bishop, while best known as Baby’s mother in the film Dirty Dancing, is no stranger to performing either. She won a Tony Award as a member of the original Broadway cast of A Chorus Line.