Gilmore Girls: 10 Most Memorable Friday Night Dinners
Lorelai Gilmore was never particularly close to her parents on Gilmore Girls, but they wanted to change that when Rory was in high school. With Rory growing up, Emily and Richard wanted a better relationship with their daughter and granddaughter, which is when Friday Night Dinners were implemented. As long as Lorelai was paying the Gilmores back for Rory's education, Friday Night Dinners were mandatory.
In total, there were 71 Friday Night Dinners by the time Gilmore Girls came to a close. Martinis were sipped, maids were fired, and wars were fought. But which were the most memorable?
10 "Friday Night's Alright For Fighting"
Season 6's "Friday Night's Alright For Fighting," was one of the most memorable Friday Night Dinners throughout the entire series. Rory was still arguing with her grandparents over moving out without a respectful goodbye, Lorelai was emotional over the news of Luke's daughter, Emily and Richard were mad that Christopher was now paying for Rory's education... It all came to a head at the dinner table. There was shouting, crying, laughing — the family hashed it all out in one evening instead of going home and ignoring each other like usual.
9 "Swan Song"
When Jess and Rory became an official item, Emily and Richard wanted to meet him on their turf. But with Richard out of town, Emily invited Jess to Friday Night Dinner anyway, which made Rory quite nervous. Jess has always been rough around the edges and Emily has always been judgmental.
As it turns out, Rory was right to worry. Not only did Jess show up late but he came with a black eye. The couple began arguing and Jess left abruptly. Emily kept her cool and was extremely kind to Jess but as soon as he left the house, she gave Lorelai her wrath about letting Rory date someone like him.
8 "Love And War And Snow"
In season 1's "Love and War And Snow," a snowstorm disrupts the Gilmore clan's normal Friday Night Dinner. Lorelai didn't feel safe driving to Hartford in the snow, which meant that Rory was stuck with her grandparents for the night.
She made the most of the night, especially when she found a frozen pizza and showed Richard and Emily just how good frozen pizza could be. She even added fresh parmesan for effect. Hilariously, Richard and Emily adored their makeshift meal and it made for a fun, cozy night inside.
7 "Haunted Leg"
In "Haunted Leg," Lorelai and Rory were low-key upset with Christopher when he ditched them (once again) to start a new life with a pregnant Sherry. While at Friday Night Dinner with Emily, Christopher showed up unexpectedly because he knew Lorelai and Rory would be there.
He scolded Lorelai for ignoring his calls and for pitting Rory against him. Rory overheard the conversation and told her dad that she was ignoring him without the pressure from her mother and that she wanted him to leave. Suddenly, the third Gilmore girl (Emily) popped her head in between Lorelai and Christopher and sent Christopher packing. It was three against one and no one can win against the Gilmore girls.
6 "You've Been Gilmored!"
When Luke and Lorelai got engaged, dinner with the Gilmores was inevitable. They were both dreading the dinner but weren't allowed to skip it. The night started out well but soon became a lesson for future planning. Emily and Richard began talking about expanding Lorelai and Luke's house, insuring their assets, and the obscure timing of Luke's daughter showing up. The entire evening made Lorelai and Luke feel unsettled. They began to question everything but admitted that they were "Gilmored."
5 “A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving”
In season 3's “A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving," Lorelai and Rory had their hands — and bellies — full when they had four different Thanksgiving dinners to attend. They started at the Kims' home before going to Sookie and Jackson's party and then landed at Luke's before attending their Friday night Thanksgiving party at the Gilmores.
The day was a success until Richard and Emily's friends asked Rory where she applied to college. It was then that Lorelai found out for the first time that Rory was considering going to Yale. The thought of her daughter choosing a university because of her grandparents' pressure was more than Lorelai could take. The night ended in an embarrassing quarrel in front of the Gilmores' friends.
4 Impromptu Dinner With Kirk
In A Year in the Life's "Winter," Lorelai got a ride to Friday Night Dinner from Kirk. However, it appeared that his car was as unreliable as Lorelai's because it broke down at the end of Emily's driveway. The camera then showed Kirk enjoying dinner with the three Gilmore ladies and said if it weren't for the maid hearing his sobs, he'd still be out there.
Emily didn't understand why Kirk was there but shockingly didn't make a fuss over his presence. Things got even more humorous when Luke showed up to drive everyone home. There's wasn't a chair for him to sit in so he awkwardly stood there eating his dinner. It was definitely one of the more random (albeit hilarious) dinners.
3 "Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom"
Season 4's "Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom" had one of the most explosive Friday Night Dinners in the entire series. Richard invited his new business partner — and Lorelai's secret boyfriend — Jason over for Friday Night Dinner along with Jason's estranged parents.
Richard planned on getting back in good graces with Jason's father over the course of the evening but the opposite happened. Jason's father told Richard that he was suing them for everything they had after their business fallout and that Jason and Lorelai had been seeing each other for months. Richard and Emily were humiliated in their own home, and Lorelai looked like a liar.
2 "The Party's Over"
Instead of doing a traditional Friday Night Dinner, Richard and Emily hosted a Yale alumni meeting at their home and insisted on freshman Rory. However, Rory quickly realized this was more of a coming-out party than an alumni gathering. Richard and Emily invited every available bachelor that was up to their standards.
Rory felt like she was being used but luckily for her, Logan was there. Ultimately, she ended up drinking too much champagne and was late meeting Dean. Seeing Rory surrounded by all of these eligible, wealthy men reminded Dean why they shouldn't be together.
1 Lorelai's First Cotillion
"Lorelai's First Cotillion," showed the real Emily Gilmore. She was in charge of teaching a group of young ladies how to prepare for their first cotillion. A little girl named Charlotte missed one of Emily's teachings and was required to join Friday Night Dinner with Loreli and Rory for practice. Charlotte opened the door, took Loreli and Rory's coats, made them cocktails, and later got a lesson on how to eat like a lady. Watching Emily and Charlotte was adorable for viewers but was a nightmare for Lorelai because it reminded her of her childhood.