Artwork for podcast Friday Night Readers: Pop Culture Rewatch of Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls Season 1, Episode 10, "Forgiveness and Stuff": Pop Culture Rewatch
Episode 10 • 14th November 2025 • Friday Night Readers: Pop Culture Rewatch of Gilmore Girls • Friday Night Readers
00:00:00 00:17:28

Share Episode

Shownotes

Welcome to Gilmore Girls Season 1, Episode 10, "Forgiveness and Stuff": Pop Culture Rewatch ! In this podcast episode, I share the books and pop culture referenced when Richard collapses at Emily's Christmas party and goes to the hospital. Luke also famously makes Lorelai a Santa burger.

Disclosure:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that earn me commissions at no extra cost to you.

Sponsors:

Subscribe to the Friday Night Readers' free email newsletter on Substack. New subscribers receive a discount when you upgrade to a paid annual subscription to enjoy our full book club community benefits.

Audible: $0.99/month for the first 3 months of Audible Premium Plus

Books, Pop Culture, and Other Mentions:

Full Show Notes For Gilmore Girls Season 1, Episode 10, "Forgiveness and Stuff": Pop Culture Rewatch

Time Stamps:

  • 00:28 What Happened in Stars Hollow
  • 07:54 The Gilmores' World of Books
  • 10:13 Oy With the Pop Culture Already
  • 14:51 Book Tease

Follow:

Subscribe to Friday Night Readers on Substack to read and live like the Gilmore Girls in our virtual book club community. You'll instantly get a free printable checklist of 500+ books from the show.

Follow us on our most active social media channel, Instagram

Listen on your favorite platform:

Apple

YouTube

Spotify

Amazon

About Friday Night Readers: Pop Culture Rewatch of Gilmore Girls :

This is an unofficial pop culture rewatch of Gilmore Girls hosted by Friday Night Readers. We dive deep into each episode, featuring the Gilmores’ world of books, as well as their fast talk. Oy, with the pop culture already! Learn what the Gilmores are actually talking about, so you can read and live more like them as you rewatch. Life’s short; read fast!

Advertise:

Do you have a book, product, or service you'd like to share with our engaged audience? Learn more and contact us.

Mentioned in this episode:

Audible Offer

$0.99/month for the first 3 months of Audible Premium Plus: https://amzn.to/48Lrun0

Transcripts

Speaker:

Welcome to Friday Night Readers,

an unofficial pop culture

2

:

rewatch of Gilmore Girls.

3

:

We dive deep on each episode featuring

the Gilmore's world of books, as

4

:

well as their fast talk oy with the

pop culture already learn what the

5

:

Gilmores are actually talking about so

you can read and live more like them.

6

:

Life's short read and rewatch fast.

7

:

Guess what?

8

:

Friday night readers, it's

Christmas and Stars Hollow.

9

:

Here's what happened in season one,

episode 10, forgiveness and stuff.

10

:

Ms.

11

:

Patty and the town prepare for the

Christmas pageant with the armless

12

:

baby Jesus doll, as tensions remain

high between Lorelai and Rory after

13

:

she stayed out all night with Dean.

14

:

In the last episode, Rory stands, Rory

tells Lane, she bought Dean a book for

15

:

Christmas, which Lane thinks is a terrible

idea, like him giving her a football.

16

:

So I asked my Instagram followers, and

75% of you agreed with Lane on this one.

17

:

I agree too.

18

:

It's all about the recipient,

19

:

not the giver.

20

:

Emily calls Lorelai about

her Christmas party.

21

:

She sets it during Lorelai's work

hours, then Unin invites her.

22

:

I think this was deliberate.

23

:

We all remember their big blowout.

24

:

On a side note, I've gotta say

the Gilmore's House is giving

25

:

me the vibes of the social media

trend of Ralph Lauren Christmas.

26

:

This trend is very reflective of the

brand's aesthetic, and it features rich

27

:

deep tones like forest green, burgundy,

and tartan, plaids, velvet, brass,

28

:

accents, leather, dark wood, and this

overall feel of elegance in America.

29

:

Rory tries to lure Lorelai to Friday night

dinner by reminding her that she waits

30

:

all year long for Emily's apple tarts.

31

:

She's even made up songs

about them after all.

32

:

And of all the food referenced on the

show is the thought of these apple

33

:

tarts that make me salivate the most.

34

:

I asked my Instagram followers

what their favorite holiday treats

35

:

are, and they shared pumpkin pie.

36

:

That was the top pick.

37

:

Overall pumpkin rolls, chocolates,

cheesecake, red jello snickerdoodles,

38

:

and cranberry Hootie creeks that

the whole family fights over.

39

:

I love that description.

40

:

I actually never heard of Hootie

Creek, so I had to look them up.

41

:

They seem like oatmeal raisin cookies,

but with dried cranberries, as well

42

:

as white chocolate chips and pecans.

43

:

I think they sound really good.

44

:

My personal favorite is Christmas cookies.

45

:

My former colleagues are bakery worthy.

46

:

Everyone would go nuts the day

before Christmas when she brought

47

:

them in, and my mom's date.

48

:

Back to my grandmother's recipes.

49

:

My favorites are her snowballs,

which are covered in powder sugar

50

:

and classic Italian cookies that

have an amaretto taste to them.

51

:

At the party, Richard stresses about

work and Rory attempts to apologize

52

:

to Emily for that night of the dance.

53

:

Lorelai awaits pizza delivery

by a razor scooter and settles

54

:

for some bagged lettuce.

55

:

Yuck.

56

:

We've all, at some point,

punished ourselves through

57

:

stubbornness like this, haven't we?

58

:

Narcolepsy boy, AKA Dean, taps on

Rory's window and apologizes to Lorelai.

59

:

She comes around to him and

I'm happy about this exchange.

60

:

He was genuine

61

:

and at the end of the day, it's

probably in her best interest

62

:

to be on good terms with him.

63

:

Otherwise, Rory may start sneaking around.

64

:

Lorelai heads to Luke's for

a more appropriate dinner.

65

:

But Luke is still steaming

about Dean Lorelai stands up for

66

:

him, but it's kind of creepy.

67

:

He's not trouble.

68

:

He's six two.

69

:

He's beautiful and he's completely

in love with my daughter.

70

:

Why Pray tell Is she harping

on a teen boy's beauty?

71

:

And why is this giving me icky

living through my daughter vibes?

72

:

There are many cringey lines in the

show, and this is certainly one.

73

:

Anyway, she asks Luke for a holiday

special and he whips up a Santa burger

74

:

out of ketchup, olives and cream cheese.

75

:

You made me a Santa burger.

76

:

He has a hat and everything.

77

:

Lorelai thinks it's sweet, but I asked

my Instagram followers and 65% of voters

78

:

said they would not eat the Santa burger.

79

:

I actually made one once, but trust

me, it was just for Instagram and

80

:

I wiped it clean before eating it.

81

:

I'm picturing it in the full show notes

for you back at Richard's and Emily's.

82

:

Does anyone besides me think it's

odd that only three extra people

83

:

attended this lauded Christmas party?

84

:

It all goes terribly wrong anyway,

when Richard collapses, Lorelai

85

:

gets the panicked voicemail from

Rory Grandpa's in the hospital.

86

:

Please come our every dependable.

87

:

Luke steps up and drives her there,

consoling her all along the way

88

:

while Emily Berates the nurse at

the hospital who calls her Ms.

89

:

Instead of Misses, Lorelai finds

her way to them by following the

90

:

breadcrumbs of her mother's shrill

tone and her off-putting inquiries

91

:

about whether Luke is her escort.

92

:

Lorelai.

93

:

Luke and Rory commiserate and try to

cheer each other up as they worry.

94

:

Richard returns to his room where Rory

reads the paper to him, but Lorelai just

95

:

can't bring herself to go in to see him.

96

:

Emily attempts to make Richard

comfortable while he scares her

97

:

with talk of his potential death.

98

:

She can't even fathom this thought.

99

:

Richard, Emily.

100

:

Listen to me if I die.

101

:

Emily?

102

:

No.

103

:

Richard, Emily.

104

:

Emily, Richard Gilmore.

105

:

There may be many things happening in

this hospital tonight, but your dying

106

:

is not one of them, Richard, but.

107

:

No, I did not sign on to your dying,

and it is not going to happen.

108

:

Not tonight, not for a very long time.

109

:

In fact, I demand to go first.

110

:

Do I make myself clear, Richard?

111

:

Yes, Emily May go first.

112

:

Deep exhale.

113

:

In my humble opinion, this line is

the saddest and most tear-jerking

114

:

line of the entire series.

115

:

I'm talking about those words.

116

:

Yes, Emily, you may go first.

117

:

It's delivered with so much tenderness and

in just a few simple words, it captures so

118

:

much about how their relationship works.

119

:

Also, we now know that Richard,

in fact, did go first, which

120

:

makes it all the sadder.

121

:

Edward Hermannn died of

brain cancer in:

122

:

I asked my Instagram followers,

and 75% of voters agreed that

123

:

this, yes, Emily, you may go.

124

:

First line is in fact the

saddest line on Gilmore Girls.

125

:

I also usually lose my cool when Rory

graduates high school and college,

126

:

especially at her party in Stars Hollow.

127

:

And without giving away any spoilers,

I also recently cried during the

128

:

first dance in Wedding Bell Blues.

129

:

Richard's funeral on the Netflix

reboot also always feels starting

130

:

real at the snack machines.

131

:

Lorelai and Rory make up

and outside Richard's room.

132

:

Emily and Luke connect.

133

:

She knows he's not all that bad and would

actually be good with her daughter, his

134

:

quote friend, your idiots, both of you.

135

:

Lorelai finally enters Richard's

room in tears, but she doesn't

136

:

get the chance to speak.

137

:

There is so much pent up emotion in

this scene, and really in the whole

138

:

episode, you can feel the burdens of

all of the ups and downs of Lorelai's

139

:

relationship with her father weighing on

her as he faces the possibility of death

140

:

and the stakes are that much

higher given its Christmas timing.

141

:

As it turns out though,

Richard will be just fine.

142

:

Lorelai heads back to Luke's and

gives him the infamous blue baseball

143

:

cap he wears throughout the show.

144

:

They dim the lights and watch

the Christmas procession amid

145

:

the twinkle lights outside

the Gilmore's world of books.

146

:

Now let's break down the

Gilmore's world of books.

147

:

This episode's most iconic

literary references . First, Rory

148

:

says, quote, things are still

very miracle worker at my house.

149

:

This refers to a play about Helen

Keller, a woman born in:

150

:

contracted an illness that left

her both deaf and blind as a baby.

151

:

Rory's, trying to say it's quiet

there, but that's not the most

152

:

politically correct way to put it.

153

:

I haven't read this play yet, but

I did grab it at my most recent

154

:

library sale so I do plan to read it.

155

:

And I did read Helen Keller's

version of her story.

156

:

It's called The Story of My Life.

157

:

It was short and a fine read Overall.

158

:

Next, Rory buys the Metamorphosis by

Franz Kafka as a Christmas gift for Dean.

159

:

This novella tells one very strange,

tragic story of a traveling salesman who

160

:

wakes up one morning to discover that

he has transformed into a giant insect.

161

:

The story is about how this

transformation changes his life and

162

:

his relationships, and it's meant

to make you think about themes like

163

:

alienation and isolation and identity.

164

:

It's short, easy, really interesting,

and most of all, it's very popular

165

:

with readers in our book club.

166

:

It's one that you can't really go

wrong with, so I highly recommend it.

167

:

It reminds me of this S mug I

once saw that would be perfect for

168

:

readers like the Gilmores it said,

but first Kafka instead of coffee.

169

:

Then while traversing the hospital's

corridors, Lorelai refers to

170

:

the Scarecrow from the Wonderful

Wizard of Oz by l Frank Baum

171

:

I believe this is the first time

we've gotten a Wizard of Oz reference,

172

:

and it certainly won't be the last.

173

:

I am pretty sure it's the most

referenced title in the entire series.

174

:

There are just so many ways to work it in.

175

:

From lions to tigers and bears.

176

:

Oh my, yes, I went there.

177

:

Personally, I like the movie better.

178

:

And I tend to think most, well, it's

one of the best movies of all time.

179

:

Be loved by so many generations

and an icon of American film.

180

:

Curious about every single book mentioned

in this Gilmore Girls episode, even the

181

:

obscure references most people miss.

182

:

Head to this episode's page at

Friday night, readers.substack.com

183

:

paid members get principal episode

guides for every Gilmore Girls episode,

184

:

which are perfect for tracking your

own Rory inspired reading journey.

185

:

Oy with the pop culture already now,

because I want you to understand even

186

:

more of the Gilmore Girls fast talk.

187

:

Here's what some of this episode's

best pop culture references mean

188

:

famous people at the hospital.

189

:

Luke tells Lorelai she should

look for Jimmy Hoffa, a powerful

190

:

American labor leader and president

of the Teamsters Union, known

191

:

for his ties to organized crime.

192

:

He mysteriously disappeared in

:

193

:

This is one of the most famous

unsolved mysteries in US history,

194

:

so great job on the reference Luke.

195

:

Then Lorelai tells Rory, I'll never be

able to understand what Charo is saying.

196

:

This statement is also not

very politically correct.

197

:

Charo is a Spanish born singer, flamenco

guitarist, and entertainer known for her

198

:

flamboyant personality and her accent.

199

:

She became a popular TV star

in the:

200

:

I do definitely recall seeing her on.

201

:

All kinds of shows throughout

my childhood from game shows to

202

:

talk shows and variety shows.

203

:

She was one of those omnipresent people.

204

:

Next, one of my favorite comedic

actresses, Jane Lynch, placed

205

:

the nurse at the hospital.

206

:

This is also one of my top

three cameos on the show.

207

:

She's best known for her role

as the cheerleading coach Sue

208

:

Sylvester on the TV series Glee.

209

:

But she also appeared in one

of my favorite comedic movies.

210

:

Best in show.

211

:

This was a very early mockumentary

about a dog show starring all kinds of

212

:

hilarious celebrities, including Eugene

Levy, Parker Posey, and Jennifer Coolidge.

213

:

The style is super dry like the office,

so if you like the Office, I think

214

:

you would also love Best in Show,

and it's pretty clear that showrunner

215

:

Amy SHermannn Paladino is a fan.

216

:

She later gave Lynch a guest

starring role in her TV series.

217

:

The Marvelous Mrs.

218

:

Maisel, another great one.

219

:

Before we move on to music, I wanna

take a minute to talk about our very own

220

:

Richard Gilmore, Edward Hermannn, since he

features so prominently in this episode.

221

:

He was an American actor, director

and writer known for his distinguished

222

:

larger than life presence on

both the stage and the screen.

223

:

His award-winning career spanned over

four decades, including his spot on

224

:

portrayals of US President Franklin d

Roosevelt in films like The Musical Annie.

225

:

Yes, that is him.

226

:

I watched this movie so many times

when I was little, so I sort of feel

227

:

like I grew up with Edward Hermannn,

and in case you were wondering,

228

:

Kelly Bishop, AKA, Emily Gilmore.

229

:

Did speak very highly of him in her

recent memoir and she shared that

230

:

she visited him in the hospital one

last time during his final days.

231

:

The story was actually quite

reminiscent of this episode.

232

:

It's all a stark reminder

of how influential he was

233

:

and how much he has missed.

234

:

Music.

235

:

Music.

236

:

There are four Christmas songs in this

episode, so I've listed them all for you

237

:

because I know that people love to listen

to Christmas music during the season.

238

:

First is Santa Claus's coming

to town by Tony Bennett.

239

:

This plays in the background

at Emily's and Richard's party.

240

:

Second is Christmas

wrapping by the waitresses.

241

:

This is what plays when Lorelai

attempts to order takeout.

242

:

Okay, next is Happy Christmas by

John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono.

243

:

This plays when Lorelai and Rory

gets snacks at the hospital.

244

:

Lastly, thanks for Christmas by

XTC plays, when Lorelai gives

245

:

Luke his hat at the diner, I.

246

:

These Christmas songs make

for great musical selections.

247

:

Two are very beautiful and iconic

songs, and two are quirky poppy

248

:

jams you may not have heard before.

249

:

It's sort of the yin and yang of Richard

and Emily versus Lorelai and Rory.

250

:

They remind me of the playlist

we had when I worked at the Gap

251

:

at the same time as the show.

252

:

They were just so perfectly

curated to make you feel seasonal

253

:

in both classic and fun ways.

254

:

We worked so much during

December that we actually would

255

:

have the playlist memorized.

256

:

I'm telling you, they were so memorable

to us workers that you'll find many

257

:

recreations of them on Spotify.

258

:

I'm linking one in the show notes

called Gaps Holiday Rewind Playlist,

259

:

and I listen to this one every

holiday while decorating my house.

260

:

If you've listened to

previous episodes of this show

261

:

you'll know that I talk a lot

about how gaps music and fashion

262

:

overlap on Gilmore Girls.

263

:

In fact, Christmas wrapping by the

waitresses from this episode is

264

:

also on the gap playlist I shared.

265

:

The point is not to continuously

indulge my own nostalgia as much

266

:

as I do love it, but rather to show

what was influential in our lives.

267

:

In the early two thousands before

social media existed, we really

268

:

were heavily driven by things

like the fashion and music on TV

269

:

shows and in our favorite stores.

270

:

They were our influencers.

271

:

And knowing this gives all the more

dimension to our rewatch book tease.

272

:

Lastly, the time has come for me to be

what Jess called Rory, a book tease.

273

:

Tune in next week when we dive

into episode one point 11.

274

:

Paris is burning and books like Swann's

Way, which Max loans, Lorelai, and Rory

275

:

later mentions in her famous speech.

276

:

See you soon.

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube