Kelly Bishop loves how younger Gilmore Girls fans appreciate Emily

Mothers often have wisdom we overlook. They want the best for their kids and set standards they hope will be followed. Still, they sometimes cross boundaries with their grown children, who have chosen their own paths instead of following their mothers’ plans.

While this happens in real life, it hits different watching it play out on a popular TV show that millions of people watch. Some series, like Gilmore Girls, keep reaching new generations even years after they first aired.

Day one fans, those who've been around since 2000, didn’t like how Emily Gilmore, played by Kelly Bishop, questioned every choice her daughter Lorelai made. Emily was often seen as judgmental, but younger fans now seem to view her differently.

According to US Weekly, during a fan-made Gilmore Girls documentary in 2025, the actress recognized how much new viewers appreciate her character and her straightforwardness.

"I started hearing from — especially the younger viewers — they seem to like her," she said. "I think it’s because she is so outspoken. You can kind of like the fact that she’s a little bit mean. I don’t know, really, what it is, but I’m delighted by it. Who wouldn’t want to be the favorite person in the show? Give me compliments, I love it."