I seem to remember a comment in a previous episode that Nathan left like three weeks after Abigail was born. But it wouldn't surprise me if Madeline rushed to find someone to get serious with and landed on Ed when she saw Nathan and Bonnie getting serious.

Also, in Rory's Dance, when Rory is out too late and comes home the next morning, Lorelai defends her in front of Emily, but once Emily leaves she rips into Rory. Fantastic episode.

I also strongly prefer the non-DTV RedZone — Hanson just does a great job, for seven hours straight, every Sunday.

While much of the A-plot was a trope (including the failed-miming attempts, and why any show tries to beat Cheers at that game I'll never know), it was well-executed. I loved the slow reveal of everything that happened on the five-hour date (e.g. "naked couples massage").

Yeah, is the point to get new viewers hooked, or to remind previous or casual viewers of the episodes they shouldn't skip? I have a fondness for "Rory's Birthday Parties", as it was the first episode I ever watched, and it works very well as an introduction to the series.

No love for seasons one and four? I'd also suggest season one's "Rory's Birthday Parties" and "Emily in Wonderland", and the entire second half of season four (but maybe mostly "Scene in a Mall").

So glad to see someone finally mention She Just Wants to Be — one of my favorite R.E.M. songs.  Dang, but Reveal is weird.  I love three songs on that album (the others are All the Way to Reno and Chorus and the Ring), and hate hate hate the others.

As an album, you're not crazy.  The stretch from "The Apologist" to "Falls to Climb" is a solid, cohesive bit of music that I have fond memories of listening to in a loop in the summer of 1999.  (I do hate the first five tracks, though — yes, even "At My Most Beautiful", ugh.)

YES.  Sometimes I feel like everyone forgets Lifes Rich Pageant when talking about their early stuff.  "Just a Touch" is the only weak spot on the album.

Aw, I will say that "Stand" is a LOT of fun live.

I see your Moulin Rouge and raise you a Gilmore Girls!  That show kind of went off the rails in the later seasons, but oh, at the end of season 4, when Lorelai was walking around with a dopey grin and crashing into doors — god, I love that.  It somehow reminded me of how I felt when my now-husband and I started dating.