Blake Lively/Bridget: With only one credit behind her before the first Pants, 1998’s Sandman, Lively got her big break as Bridget the jock. Even though no one knew who she was at the time, she built her buzz by appearing in a few cheesy movies like the Justin Long vehicle Accepted. But now, thanks to Gossip Girl and its sultry appeal (ratings be damned!), Lively is arguably the boldest name on the sequel’s marquee.

America Ferrera/Carmen: Cast as the not-so-pretty one who most magically fit into the same jans all four girls kept handing off, America is obviously the biggest success story when it comes to acting cred (an Emmy), ratings (Ugly Betty), and general public appeal (we don’t even want to think about counting how many magazine covers with the hed “America The Beautiful!” she’s appeared on in the last two years).

Amber Tamblyn/Tibby: Having blown away TV critics as the lead in Joan of Arcadia the same year Pants came out (and racking up Golden Globe and Emmy noms along the way), Tamblyn was a shiny bright new fixture on the circuit. But the only notable film Tamblyn has appeared in since? The Grudge 2. Oops. The only reason we can think of for Amber’s dimming star? Michelle Trachtenberg. Sort of the more telegenic, tabloid-friendly version of Tamblyn, with all sorts of Pete Wentz/Ashlee Simpson sloppiness to keep the kids entertained.

Alexis Bledel/Lena: Pants came out at the height of Gilmore Girls’ gooey success, just before new writers took over and turned the show into an even faster-paced linguistic mess of confusion. And Bledel was the biggest draw among all four, cast as the “pretty” one with the heftiest romantic plotline and most cinematic backdrop (finding love in Greece). But the only upcoming flick on Bledel’s radar at the moment — aside from Pants 2 — is a comedy with Michael Keaton (which would've been a great gig in the late 80s, but today? Not so much). And the last time we saw her out and about was at the 2006 fashion shows alongside then-boyfriend Milo Ventimiglia — while Milo’s struck gold in Heroes, Alexis has yet to find a similarly cozy rebound gig.

[Photo credits: Getty]

• UGLY BETTY'S AMERICA FERRERA SHOWS HER PRETTY SIDE AT NEW YORK PREMIERE [Daily Mail]

Dear KTLA - Have you lost your mind? The news could have waited until 9 or 10. Police were evacuating the area, so your coverage was not needed. At the very least you should be posting a replay date and time for "Gilmore Girls" at the bottom of the screen. Submitted by: Stephanie

My aunt was evacuated. I understand that a show isn't more important that a home or family. HOWEVER, if I want an update on the fire or their situation, I can pick up a phone, go online, etc. It's silly for the network to cover the story for three hours straight. During regular programming, if you want to alert people about the fire, cut in for 30 seconds and tell people to watch at 10 or read the story at their website.
Submitted by: disappointed

Please show this episode to your Southern California audience!! We have been waiting for a long time for "the marriage proposal" and were very upset by 50 minutes of fire coverage. Please post the airing time soon! Submitted by: sad mom and daughter

This station is so inconsiderate to it's viewers. We obviously had tuned in to watch GG's, not the news. THey really need to apologize. This is why network tv is waste of time and why given the choice I watch tv shows that i've downloaded- Heroes, for example.
Submitted by: upset

you know, i cannot believe they are doing this to us.and this ghetto station doesn't even show the episodes online like abc and nbc
Submitted by: very upset

I hate this channel! they have NO RESPECT for their viewers! IT'S PRIME TIME, YOU BASTARDS! NEVER WATCHING THIS CHANNEL AGAIN!!!
Submitted by: IHATE KTLA!!

We were seriously screaming at the TV that they took up the whole show for a stupid fire!!!! This is Southern California, it's warm, windy we have fires!!!!! Does anyone know when they will re- air this episode???
Submitted by: Dolphin

What the heck?! Are they not aware that Logan was going to ask Rory to marry him?! All that fire coverage is NOT necessary! I want to know when this episode is going to air???
Submitted by: Wondering

Worst station ever. And they don't even address the concerns of people who missed Gilmore Girls/Veronica Mars.
Submitted by: HateKTLA

I can't believe I sat through an hour of this "breaking news" hoping they would turn Gilmore Girls back on after they repeated the same information 10 million times. Nope. They better re-play this episode before the season finale or I will be VERY ANGRY.
Submitted by: Alexa

THIS IS TOTALLY OUTRAGEOUS!!! WHO GAVE THE OK TO DO THIS TONIGHT DURING THIS SHOW?? WHOEVER MADE THAT DESCISION NEEDS TO BE FIRED FOR BEING INCOMPETENT IN DECISION MAKING!! AND HAL JUST NEEDS TO STOP TALKING HE'S WORSE THEN OUR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR WITH THE MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Submitted by: saylind

There are so many, many more where these came from, but we can't recommend you read them all, for even the coldest of hearts will certainly melt from these tales of woe.

• What HAS TO HAPPEN in the Series Finale of Gilmore Girls? [KTLA.com via LA Observed]

But the high—or rather low point—came when one scribe asked [showrunner David] Rosenthal about his reported "obsession" with supermodel Heidi Klum. A New York Observer piece in 2001 reported that Rosenthal the previous year had left his wife, became estranged from his colleagues, gave money to strangers and wrote a play that indicated his fixation on Klum. The reporter asked Rosenthal if he was really the appropriate person to run the lighthearted family-oriented "Gilmore Girls."

"My personal life is not an issue here," Rosenthal replied with a shaken voice. "I'm here to talk about 'The Gilmore Girls,' "

When the reporter pressed, [Lauren] Graham snapped "That has nothing to do with anything. Next question."

It seems Graham's protective admonishment shamed the assembled press into falling back into their polite roles, leaving completely valid follow-up questions about Rosenthal's opinions on the new season of Project Runway, or about the possibility of a three-episode arc featuring Klum as Graham's troubled, nymphomaniac sister who's obsessed with bedding sitcom writers, unasked. We suppose we'll have to wait for the next Gilmore Girls media event to have these important queries answered to our satisfaction.

• Tensions mount with "Gilmore Girls" [LAT]
• Previously: New 'Gilmore Girls' Showrunner Was Heidi Klum's #1 Fan [Defamer]

Rosenthal had in fact written a play called "Love" about his quest to get supermodel Heidi Klum to have sex with him. Reviews of the play, which apparently contained so many profanities that it rated an NC-17, were not kind. The New York Times called Rosenthal's play "not only offensive but incompetent" and said that the way that Rosenthal talked about Klum—whom he had met during a guest stint on Rosenthal's show Spin City—was "as cruel and disgusting as actual stalking."

The New York Times reviewer wasn't the only one perturbed by Rosenthal's play. Rosenthal had sent copies to his then agents at Endeavor—Ari Emanuel and Richard Weitz—who promptly dropped him as a client. His rabbi father, after reading the play, had Rosenthal briefly committed at UCLA Medical Center.

Televisionary also points out that Rosenthal once described the incident on Howard Stern's radio show: His father greeted him as he got off a flight at LAX with two bodyguards, and instructed him he would be taken by force if he didn't cooperate. He managed to get out of the loony-bin with the help of his sister, but would spend the next several years in sitcom-writing exile in New York. Rosenthal's back, however, and ready to apply his acute supermodel-stalking talents to the next season of Gilmore Girls. His trademark touches should start popping up immediately, when Rory turns inexplicably feral in the premiere, terrorizing the Yale campus with what appears to be Seal's severed head on the end of a stick.

• "Gilmore" Guy: Who is New Showrunner David Rosenthal? [Televisionary]
• An early departure [Variety]