Comparing Dean and Jess

RORY: Sure, when Dean said he’d call, he always called, but where’s the fun in that?
LORELAI: Oh, honey, don’t do that.
RORY: Do what?
LORELAI: Compare Dean and Jess, that’s not fair. They’re different people.
RORY: Clearly. One calls when he says he will and one doesn’t.

Dean phoned Rory obsessively – five times a night was considered normal in the early days of their relationship, when Dean presumably felt secure and happy. As he became less secure, he phoned Rory to the point that she began getting impatient, and at the height of his paranoia, rang 14 times while Rory was working on a school project, which alarmed her a little bit.

However, Rory is now seeing Dean with rose-tinted glasses, and now all she can remember is that Dean was reliable at phoning when he said he would. Lorelai tells her it isn’t fair to judge Jess against Dean – but then says that’s because Dean is so obviously superior! It would have been more helpful if she reminded Rory of all the times Rory got fed up with Dean’s obsessive phone calls.

Toilet Papered School

[They stop to look at Stars Hollow High, which has been toilet papered by a rival school]
LORELAI: You know, I almost like it better like this.
RORY: It is more festive.

Toilet papering is a common practical joke, prank or act of revenge in the US, where a tree, house, or other building is completely covered in toilet paper. Common events that might attract toilet papering include Halloween, April Fool’s Day, high school graduation, or an important sports match (such as in this episode).

“He said he’d call me”

LORELAI: One question. During this time that you watched TV, did homework, proofread articles for The Franklin, organized my sock drawer, returned emails and gave a much needed cleaning to your computer, did it ever occur to you to call him?
RORY: No.
LORELAI: Why?
RORY: Because he said he’d call me.

Before Rory was going out with Jess, she used to hang out at the diner all the time just to see him. Now he’s her boyfriend, she won’t even pick up the phone to talk to him when she’s all alone. Why do characters all turn into idiots when they begin a relationship on this show?

Bay of Pigs

LORELAI: And the plan was that [Jess] calls you whenever because his work time varies?
RORY: Yes.
LORELAI: Good plan. Bay of Pigs, was that yours, too?

Lorelai refers to the bay of Pigs Invasion, a failed military landing operation on the coast of Cuba in 1961 by Cuban exiles, covertly financed and directed by the United States. It was aimed at overthrowing Fidel Castro’s communist government. The operation took place at the height of the Cold War, and its failure widened the division between the US and Cuba, while pushing Cuba closer to the Soviets.

Bath Sheet vs Bath Towel

EMILY: Richard, perhaps you could get that while I have another bath sheet versus bath towel debate with your mother.

Bath sheets are simply large towels – large enough that you can wrap them around your torso or waist after your bath or shower. They are efficient for drying as they can soak up more water, and are seen as the luxury option. However, some people find them too heavy and cumbersome (and take a long time to dry out). It is unclear whether Trix wants a bath sheet rather than a bath towel, or the other way around.