The curve

PARIS: Why are they letting all these extra people in? They just take up space and screw up the curve.

Some schools grade on a curve, meaning that the performance of the group overall is taken into accont when assigning grades. In its most extreme form, grades are assigned based on a student’s rank in class, placing students in direct competition with each other.

Chilton obviously grades on a curve, fostering a highly competitive environment. Paris is concerned that Rory joining the class, with her excellent academic results, may affect her own grades.

Big sister

LOUISE: You can tutor her. Be like a big sister.

A possible allusion to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, an organisation where children are matched with an older mentor to encourage them both educationally and socially.

“She’ll never catch up”

PARIS: She’ll never catch up. She’s a month behind already.

If Paris means that four weeks have passed since they started school, then the date is Monday 2 October 2000. If she is exaggerating somewhat and it is the end of the month they started school, then it is Monday 25 September 2000. The second one seems more likely.

“I hate nature”

Madeline says this line while hiding in the shrubs as they read Rory’s academic file. In the film The Goonies, the character of Chunk (Jeff Cohen) says as he runs alone to find help at night: “I like the dark. I love the dark. But I hate nature. I hate nature!”.

The Goonies is a 1985 adventure comedy film directed by Richard Donner. In the film, a group of children try to save their homes from demolition as they search for pirate treasure. The Goonies was the #9 film of 1985 and has become a cult classic.

Journalism major

Paris learns from Rory’s file that she has chosen to be a Journalism major. In some American high schools, students choose a major subject stream in the same way they will at college or university. This will affect which electives they can take.

“Ooh, a Dixie Chick”

On finding out that Rory is from a small town, Louise calls her a “Dixie Chick”. The Dixie Chicks are a country music band from Texas consisting of Martie Maguire, Emily Robison, and Natalie Maines. Their first album was released in 1990, and they achieved commercial success with Wide Open Spaces in 1998, when they sold more CDs than all other country music groups combined.

Paris goes through Rory’s academic file

Paris (Liza Weil), Louise (Teal Redmann), and Madeline (Shelly Cole) gain access to Rory’s academic file before she even meets them. It is unclear whether something about Rory has Paris spooked, or whether she stalks every new student this way. The smooth running of their plan argues long practice, suggesting the latter, and it’s the first indication of Paris’ intense insecurity and competitiveness.

Liza Weil was originally considered for the role of Rory, and when Alexis Bledel was chosen for the part instead, the character of Paris was created for Liza.

“You may have been the smartest girl at Stars Hollow …”

Headmaster Charleston expresses real doubt that Rory will be able to make it at Chilton, and lets her know that she won’t be offered any special help in the dog-eat-dog, sink-or-swim academic culture at Chilton.

Throughout the show Rory is depicted as not coping very well when anyone doubts her abilities. This time she remains calm, but by deflecting the situation in a passive-aggressive way, she also refuses to engage with the headmaster, or to argue her case with him and present herself as fully competent and up to the task (which is the response he is hoping to provoke). It’s the beginning of a worrying trend in Rory’s career.

Lobster puffs

HEADMASTER: I’ve known your grandparents for quite some time.
RORY: I know.
HEADMASTER: In fact, I was at a party at their house just last week where I had the most delicious lobster puffs I’ve ever eaten.

A lobster puff is an appetiser of creamy lobster filling inside a choux pastry shell – like a cream puff with lobster inside instead of custard. It has a particular connection to the New England region where Gilmore Girls is set.

There are other, very different, foods called a lobster puff, but I think this is the most likely candidate.

“Not Cokie Roberts”

HEADMASTER: Not Cokie Roberts?
RORY: No.
HEADMASTER: Not Oprah, Rosie, or one of the women from The View?
RORY: No.

Mary Martha Corinne “Cokie” Roberts (born 1943) is a multi-award-winning American journalist. Since 1992 she has been the senior news analyst at National Public Radio (NPR), and since 1988 has been with ABC News as a political commentator.

Oprah Winfrey (born 1954) is an American talk show host, actress, media owner, and philanthroptist. She is best known for her talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show, which ran from 1986 to 2011. The highest-rated talk show in American history, it was extremely influential and won so many Daytime Emmy Awards that Winfrey eventually stopped submitting it so someone else had a chance. Through her media work, Winfrey became a billionaire and a major celebrity in her own right.

Rosie O’Donnell (born 1962) is an American comedian, actress, author and TV personality. Her talk show, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, ran from 1996 to 2002 and won multiple Emmy Awards. During the show’s run she became known for her light-hearted banter with celebrity guests, and for her promotion of Broadway musicals.

The View is an American morning talk show, broadcast since 1997. Its panel of female co-hosts discuss a range of political, social, and pop cultural topics, followed by celebrity interviews. It has won a number of Daytime Emmy Awards. In 2000, panelists on The View were Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Meredith Vieira, Star Jones, and Lisa Ling.

Headmaster Charleston is questioning the sincerity of Rory’s journalistic aspirations by suggesting she just wants to get her face on television. However Rory corrects him by letting him know she could also write books or articles: as long as she can see the world and be a part of something big.