Beyond Emily Gilmore: Discovering the Woman Behind the Icons
I am sitting here with a massive smile on my face, and I can wholeheartedly say I’m so glad I picked up this memoir. I have loved Gilmore Girls for a long time—and I’ve always believed that Emily Gilmore is truly the third “Gilmore Girl”—so finally diving into Kelly Bishop’s life was an absolute joy. (I’ll even admit, somewhat shamelessly, that I inhaled the Netflix reboot in a single sitting the day it was released!)
Reading about the woman behind the iconic characters was a total breath of fresh air. Kelly Bishop has led a remarkably full life, and she approaches every chapter of her story with a “glass-half-full” perspective. Even when life knocked her down, she moved forward with tenacity and drive. Her work ethic is truly something to admire—she remained fiercely ambitious and independent, never looking for a handout and often saying “no” to easy, short-term rewards to stay focused on the bigger picture of her career.
The book beautifully traces her evolution from a young girl in love with ballet to a dreamer moving across the country. I was particularly moved by the support of her mother, who helped her follow those dreams despite an unsupportive and abusive father; that bond of love shines through every page. It was also fascinating to learn about her roots in A Chorus Line—discovering that the show was built on the real-life “chat” of the dancers, and that iconic songs were actually born from Kelly’s own writings, was extraordinary.
Of course, I couldn’t wait to read about Dirty Dancing. It is one of my all-time favorite movies, even if it originally came out the year I was born! I loved the “behind-the-scenes” revelation that she wasn’t originally supposed to play the lead role of Marjorie Houseman. She was actually cast as Vivian (the “bunny” guest at the lodge), but stepped into the mother’s role at the last minute. Seeing her transition from that classic film to the world of Gilmore Girls just makes me appreciate her range even more.
What struck me most was how much I loved simply living in her memories. She has a keen, observant eye for detail that makes her life story feel so vivid. For Gilmore Girls fans, it is a joy to see how much she cherished her time on the show. She describes an atmosphere of true camaraderie and a total lack of pretension. I especially loved her “theatre-first” discipline; she notes that while some actors might turn up whenever they were ready, she and her on-screen husband, Edward Herrmann, wouldn’t dream of being late. Their immaculate stage training created a standard of professionalism that made their on-screen partnership so iconic.
As a fellow New Jerseyan, it was an added gem to recognize the local towns she mentioned! It is clear that Kelly Bishop loves her work and her life, and that passion is infectious.
