Comments by AMY SHERMAN-PALLADINO and DANIEL PALLADINO Aragorn - Heir to the throne of men in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. (Ep. 22) “25, and then 30 . . . and then 45 and then 50, until we find all 59 and take back the square! Yeah!” - Reference to Arnold Palmer - Championship golfer. (Ep. 12) Howard Dean’s uninhibited speech during the 2004 Democratic nomination campaign. (Ep. 18) Augustus Gloop - Bad rotund child from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. (Ep. 4) Adolphe Menjou - Popular silent film actor known for wearing natty attire. (Ep. 14) Barry White - Singer with the unmistakable deep voice who topped the music charts in the 70’s. (Ep. 2) Adrian - Rocky’s girlfriend in the Rocky films. (Ep. 13) Blake Edwards - Film director and producer who worked with Alfalfa and Darla - Characters from The Little Rascals Peter Sellers on the Pink Panther movies. (Ep. 22) television series. Alfalfa spent much time courting Darla. (Ep. 2) Daniel:“I am of the legion of fans who can quote Alfalfa extensively.” Blossom Dearie - Squeaky-voiced cabaret singer and pianist. (Ep. 21) Braille Institute - Non-profit organization for the blind. (Ep. 4) Alive - 1993 movie about a rugby team trying to survive the freezing weather of the Andes after a plane crash. (Ep. 13) Brown Bunny - Controversial indie film directed by Vincent Gallo that Amy:“Seriously, how do you comment on ‘Brown Bunny’? What could I possibly say that Roger Ebert hasn’t already covered?” included a very graphic sex scene. (Ep. 8) Anna Nicole - Model and actress most famous for marrying billionaire J. Howard Marshall when he was close to ninety and she was in her twenties. After his death, she went into a long court battle with Caiphas - High priest involved in the crucifixion of Christ. her husband’s son over the inheritance. (Ep. 7) (Ep. 17) Capone - Reference to Al Capone, famed American Annie Leibowitz - Famous celebrity photographer gangster of the 20’s and 30’s who whose work regularly appears in Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair. (Ep. 2) was arrested for income tax evasion. (Ep. 8) Annie Sullivan - Teacher of the deaf and blind, her relationship with Helen Keller was depicted in the film The Miracle Worker. (Ep. 20) Carpenters songs - Popular 70’s musical group made up of siblings Karen and Richard. They had a string of soft rock hits Dorf - Memorable Tim Conway character that golfed and was part dork, part dwarf. (Ep. 18) including “Top of the World” and “Close to You.” (Ep. 14) Eartha Kitt - Actress and singer best known for playing Catwoman The Carringtons - Dysfunctional family from on the Batman television series in the 60’s. (Ep. 9) the soap opera Dynasty. (Ep. 19) Ebert - Noted film critic Roger Ebert, co-host of a television program Casper - The friendliest ghost from the animated Casper series. (Ep. 17) that critiques new releases, he also writes a review column for the Chicago-Sun Times. (Ep. 8) Clyde - Half of the infamous outlaw duo Bonnie and Clyde, who committed murder and robbery during the Great Depression. (Ep. 11) Ebola - Named for a river in Congo (formerly Zaire), this virus is severe and often fatal in humans. (Ep. 12) Cole Porter - Famed American composer known for popular songs like “Night and Day” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” (Ep. 12) Fagin - Character in Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, who is the leader of a group of boy thieves. (Ep. 17) Daria - Cynical MTV animated character. (Ep. 1) Amy:“And my role model.” Farrah on Letterman - Reference to Farrah Fawcett’s infamous 1997 appearance on The Late Show. Her behavior was unaccountably bizarre. David Blaine - Street magician and stunt performer who spent several days standing in a block of ice. (Ep. 12) Amy:“The craziest event to take place on television until the Tom Cruise ‘I will jump on this couch cause I’m dating Joey from Dawson’s Creek’ incident of 2005.” (Ep. 22) Donna Summer - Earned the title of “Disco Queen” singing Fatso - 1980 film about an overweight man who has a hits like “Hot Stuff ” and “Last Dance.” (Ep. 18) hard time getting motivated to lose weight until he falls in love. (Ep. 20) Amy:“The funniest movie ever! Ever !!!” Doobie Brothers - American rock band popular in the 70’s for such hits as “Black Water” and “Takin’ It to the Streets.” (Ep. 12) Foreigner - Middle of the road rock group whose songs included “Cold as Ice” and “I Want to Know What Love Is.” (Ep. 12) Doogie - Doogie Houser, M.D. was an 80’s television series about a genius teenaged doctor. (Ep. 2) Frances Farmer - Film actress whose questionable behavior put her in and out of mental institutions. (Ep. 13) “get medieval on their ass” - Line from the film Pulp Fiction. Heidi’s grandfather - Classic story of a girl sent to live in the (Ep. 18) mountains with her reclusive grandfather. (Ep. 3) GI Jane - 1997 movie starring Demi Moore as the head-shaved Henry Box Brown - Plantation slave who escaped first female Navy SEALS trainee. (Ep.4) to freedom in the North by shipping himself in a 3´ x 2´ box. (Ep. 2) Gravlax - Raw, thinly sliced cured salmon. (Ep. 3 ) Hogan’s Heroes - Television sitcom of the late Grey Gardens - 1975 documentary about a reclusive and eccentric 60’s that was set in a German POW camp during WWII. (Ep. 15) mother and daughter holed up in a mansion in East Hampton. (Ep. 5) Iran in ’79 - Iranian militants took U.S. embassy employees in Groucho, Chico, Harpo, and Zeppo - First names of the Tehran hostage in 1979. (Ep. 1) Marx Brothers, a comedic troupe who performed on vaudeville stages and in film. (Ep. 18) Jack LaLanne - Bodybuilder and well-known fitness expert. He spent Daniel:“In my house growing up, we watched Jack LaLanne a lot. We never exercised -- we just watched.” years on television giving fitness instruction. (Ep. 21) Hans Christian Andersen - Danish author in the 1800’s whose work is the basis for many modern fairy tales, including The Ugly Duckling and The Little Mermaid. (Ep. 6) James Spader / Pretty in Pink - Spader plays a rich, smarmy brat in this 80’s teen flick. (Ep. 22) Hare Krishnas - Members of a religious sect easily recognized by their colorful robes and chants. (Ep. 2) Jayson Blair - New York Times reporter caught plagiarizing and subsequently forced off the paper. (Ep. 16) Harry Chapin - Singer-songwriter known for his melancholy hit about a father and son, “Cat’s in the Cradle.” (Ep. 18) Jethro Tull - Progressive English rock band of the 60’s, considered passe by boys Jess’s age. (Ep. 20) Hart to Hart - Television series about a wealthy husband and wife who play detective. (Ep. 11) Jim Morrison - Lead singer of The Doors who is buried in the Pere LaChaise cemetery Hayley Mills - Played twins in The Parent Trap – a movie about sisters trying to bring their parents back together. (Ep. 22) in Paris. (Ep. 1) Joan Crawford - Award-winning actress with The Lords of Flatbush - Movie about greasers (50’s gang members a reputation for being difficult. The book with greased hair and leather jackets) starring Sylvester Stallone and movie Mommie Dearest are based and Henry Winkler. (Ep. 20) on Crawford’s shortcomings as a mother. (Ep. 21) Lou Ferrigno - Bodybuilder and actor who played The Incredible Hulk on the television series. (Ep. 14) John Ashcroft - Over-reaching Attorney General during George W. Bush’s first term. (Ep. 7) Madeleine Albright - Nominated by President Clinton and the highest-ranking woman in the history of the John Nash - Brilliant mathematician who suffered from paranoid U.S. Government when she was sworn in as the 64th schizophrenia and was the inspiration for the 2001 film Secretary of State in 1997. (Ep. 11) A Beautiful Mind. (Ep. 3) Maharishi Mahesh Yogi - Popularizer of Transcendental Meditation Joy Division - Late 70’s post punk band. Later morphed into around the world. (Ep. 8) New Order following singer Ian Curtis’s death. (Ep. 15) Matchbox Twenty - Much-mocked rock band led by Keith Richards at Altamont - Guitarist for the Rolling Stones, singer Rob Thomas. (Ep. 19) performed at an infamous free concert in Altamont, CA, marred by violence between concert goers and the Hell’s Angels. (Ep. 2) Maxim - Magazine for young men, always featuring a scantily clad woman on the cover. (Ep. 17) Kids in the Hall - Canadian sketch comedy group with an 80’s-90’s television series of the same name. Kids member Bruce McCulloch Mel - The grumpy owner and cook at Mel’s Diner in the television has guested on Gilmore Girls. (Ep. 14) series Alice. (Ep. 5) Kofi Annan - Secretary of the United Nations, known for Metrosexual - Newly coined phrase used to describe a heterosexual his astute diplomacy. (Ep. 19) male with good fashion sense. (Ep. 18) Kraftwerk - German electro-pop group credited with the growing Ming Dynasty - Ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, the emperors interest and development of electronic music. (Ep. 11) of the Ming Dynasty were members of the Zhu family. (Ep. 12) The L Word - Television series about the lives of a group of lesbians. Mommie Dearest - 1981 movie starring Faye Dunaway as (Ep. 15) Joan Crawford – the screen legend and abusive mother. (Ep. 3) Mrs. Robinson - Character in the 1967 film The Graduate. Petticoat Junction - 60’s television series centered around the goings-on Mrs. Robinson is a married woman who seduces a much younger at the Shady Rest Hotel and its colorful country characters. (Ep. 18) man. (Ep. 12) Pink Floyd - Classic rock and roll band formed in the 60’s, best known Mummenschanz - Pantomime group from Switzerland that for the albums Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. (Ep. 7) makes use of surreal masks and props. (Ep. 15) Daniel:“The cover photo of the band’s album ‘Wish You Were Here’ was photographed at Warner Bros.Studios, where ‘Gilmore Girls’ is shot.” Nag Hammadi - In the 1940’s an important collection of ancient texts dealing with the gospels was found near Nag Hammadi in Egypt. (Ep. 13) Pop locked - A style of dance, spin-off of break dancing. (Ep. 22) National Velvet - 1944 Elizabeth Taylor movie about Amy:“Oh Shabba doo and Boogaloo Shrimp, where are you now? We need you so.” a young equestrian named Velvet who hopes to win England’s greatest racing event, the Grand National. Prog rock - Short for progressive rock, featuring a combination of musical (Ep. 5) elements (classical, jazz, etc.) and occasionally over-wrought structures. kids. (Ep. 8) Daniel:“I hid the fact for years but th ere’s no denying it -I love progressive rock ! Long live ‘Gentle Giant,’ ‘Van der Graaf’ and ‘Triumvirat’!” Norman Rockwell - Beloved artist whose sweet depictions Purim - Celebration commemorating the efforts of Queen Esther of American life appeared on the covers of The Saturday to save the Jewish people from the tyrannical Haman. (Ep. 1) Evening Post. (Ep. 7) Amy:“To me, Purim is the holiday of winning goldfish at a carnival that are time released to die once you get them home so you can be emotionally scarred by their death. I also saw Walter Koenig, Star Trek’s Chekov, at a Purim Carnival, so Purim is, to me, the Festival of Death & Walter Koenig.” (Ep. 11) New Zoo Review - 1972 television series for Owsley - Potent form of LSD, named after its manufacturer in San Francisco. (Ep. 8) Pat Summerall - Famed football play-by-play announcer. (Ep. 2) Quiet Riot - 80’s heavy metal band who gained fame from a remake of Slade’s “Cum On Feel the Noize.” (Ep. 7) Persis Khambatta - Actress who played the bald Lt. Ilia in the 1979 Star Trek movie. (Ep. 4) Robert Downey Jr. - Actor who broke into a stranger’s house thinking it was his own and fell asleep. (Ep. 13) Rockefeller - One of the richest men of the 1800’s, “Sk8er Boi” - Avril Lavigne’s annoyingly ubiquitous hit song John D. Rockefeller was the founder of Standard Oil. from the album Let Go. (Ep. 1) (Ep. 14) The Sound of Music - Movie set in Austria starring Romanov kids - Children of Russian Tsar Nicholas II Julie Andrews as a nun-turned-nanny. and his wife Alexandra, granddaughter of Queen Victoria, (Ep. 10) the kids were born into a life of incredible wealth and luxury. (Ep. 3) Sputnik - Satellite launched by the USSR that began the space race in 1957. (Ep. 1) Roslyn Kind - Popular nightclub singer and little sister of Barbra Streisand. (Ep. 22) Stations of the Cross - Fourteen sculptures found in Catholic churches depicting Christ’s journey from sentencing to Salvador Dali - Surrealist painter of dream-like images, his burial. (Ep. 8) the most recognizable being the melting watch. (Ep. 8) Stephen Glass - Reporter for The New Republic magazine who was fired after it was discovered that over half of his stories Sandinistas - Members of a leftist Nicaraguan political party, and were in some degree fabricated. (Ep. 16) a Clash album. (Ep. 1) The Strand - New York used bookstore that Schleprock - Unfortunate teenage caveman character on the claims to stock 16 miles of books. (Ep. 1) animated series The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show. (Ep. 9) Daniel:“I usually buy about a mile of books per visit. I need help.” Sharon - As in Ariel Sharon, the prominent military leader and Prime Minister of Israel. (Ep. 8) Taxi Driver - 1976 movie starring Robert De Niro as a New York cabby Shirley MacLaine - Oscar®-winning actress who is outspoken about slowly losing his sanity in what he perceives her belief in reincarnation. (Ep. 17) to be a hopeless city. (Ep. 14) Shriner hats - The Shriners is a men’s organization Ted Knight - Silver-haired actor who played newscaster Ted Baxter whose members wear fezes and drive tiny cars in on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. (Ep. 4) local parades. (Ep. 17) The Three Stooges - Popular slapstick comedy group made up of “Winona in the Family” - Actress Winona Ryder was caught stealing brothers Moe, Larry, and Curly. (Ep. 6) from Saks Fifth Avenue in 2001. (Ep. 16) Witches of Eastwick - Novel and movie about Timothy Leary - Psychologist who walked a fine line between three witches who innocently conjure up a genius and insanity, he was outspoken about his belief in drug use mystery man to free them from their boredom. and spent some time dabbling in the occult. (Ep. 19) (Ep. 11) Trigger - A.K.A. The Smartest Horse in the Movies. Wolfowitz - A Neo-Conservative U.S. He appeared in over 80 films - always playing a horse named Trigger. (Ep. 6) Deputy Secretary of Defense who was a leading proponent of the 2003 Iraq War and the architect of George W. Bush’s foreign policy. Toby from American Splendor - Reference (Ep. 12) to chatty geek character in the movie based on the writings of cartoonist Harvey Pekar. (Ep. 20) Woody Allen - American filmmaker once married to Mia Farrow and now married to her adopted daughter, who is over thirty years Tolstoy - Genius Russian author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina. (Ep. 12) Tony Robbins - Well-known motivational speaker. (Ep. 18) Amy:“Yes, his view of family values might be very different than mine, but ‘Hannah and Her Siste rs’ is one of the greatest movies ever and I’ve watched it two hundred and fif ty thousand times just to make sure.” his junior. (Ep. 10) Valley of the Dolls -1966 best-selling novel by Jacqueline Susann about the rise and Woody - As in Guthrie, Depression-era fall of three women in Hollywood. folk singer best known for the song (Ep. 9) “This Land is Your Land.” (Ep. 5) Village People - Disco group of the 70’s best known for their use of costumes and their hit “YMCA.” (Ep. 15) “What’s your damage, Heather?” - Referring to the 1989 cult movie Heathers about three cruel girls named Heather. (Ep. 22) “Oscar®” is the registered trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.