Gilmore Girls has earned a reputation as one of the most beloved comfort shows of the early 2000s. Its rapid-fire dialogue, idyllic small-town setting, and the heartwarming bond between mother-daughter duo Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) contribute to its enduring charm. The series is rich with pop culture references, yet it features an amusing irony: while Lorelai and Rory adore classic television, they remain blissfully unaware that they live next door to two stars from one of the most iconic sitcoms in TV history.
The characters Babette and Morey, portrayed by the delightful Sally Struthers and Edward Asner, add a layer of eccentricity and warmth to the town of Stars Hollow. Babette, with her endearing quirks and signature raspy voice, often provides comedic relief and a dose of chaotic charm that balances out the more irritating townsfolk, like Taylor Doose. Struthers, known for her role as Gloria Stivic on All in the Family, brings a unique energy to Babette, further enriching the show’s tapestry of colorful characters.
In All in the Family, Struthers played Gloria, the progressive daughter of the bigoted Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor) and the gentle Edith Bunker (Jean Stapleton). Over the course of the series, Gloria evolved, marrying countercultural Michael (Rob Reiner) and embracing more liberal ideals. Gilmore Girls serves as an unofficial reunion for Struthers and her All in the Family co-star Liz Torres, who plays the glamorous dance instructor and town gossip Miss Patty.
The dynamic between Miss Patty and Babette is delightful; both characters are warm-hearted, quirky, and fiercely supportive of Rory. Their interactions brim with the joyous chemistry that comes from years of collaboration. In All in the Family, Torres played Teresa Betancourt, a Puerto Rican nurse who aided Archie during his recovery and later rented a room in the Bunker household. Though Teresa departed after the seventh season, the bond between Struthers and Torres remained strong.
Gilmore Girls also engages in some clever meta-references to All in the Family. In the season 2 premiere, Lorelai humorously mimics Archie’s dramatic gestures, commenting on how Edith would “yap” about various topics. Rory, on her trip to Washington, D.C., mentions her excitement at seeing Archie Bunker’s iconic chair at the Smithsonian. These nods highlight the show’s awareness of its place in the larger television landscape.
Torres later reprised her role as Miss Patty in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, where she shared her enthusiasm for reuniting with Struthers. She described their dynamic as akin to legendary comedy duos, stating, “We are like Martin and Lewis [or] Abbott and Costello.” Struthers echoed this sentiment, calling Torres one of her favorite people, and humorously noted that their lively conversations on set were so distracting that they had to be separated, likening them to “recalcitrant children in first grade.”
This delightful connection between All in the Family and Gilmore Girls not only showcases the enduring legacy of both shows but also emphasizes the power of friendship and collaboration in creating memorable television moments.
