Zsa Zsa Gabor

SOOKIE: Where’s your paté?
LORELAI: At Zsa Zsa Gabor’s house.

Zsa Zsa Gabor (1917-2016) was a Hungarian-American film and television actress and socialite, known for her extravagant Hollywood lifestyle. During the show, Lorelai and Rory would routinely label any behaviour they considered overly fancy or pretentious as being like Zsa Zsa Gabor.

“You didn’t ….”

RORY: How did this happen [her getting into Chilton]? You didn’t . . . with the principal, did you?
LORELAI: No, honey, that was a joke.

Lorelai’s joke was possibly an allusion to the 1994 film Forrest Gump, directed by Robert Zemeckis and with Tom Hanks in the title role. In the film, Forrest’s mother (played by Sally Field) has sex with the principal to persuade him to allow her simple-minded son (IQ of 75) to attend school. Forrest Gump was the #2 film of 1994, and won six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor in a Leading Role.

X-Ray Eyes

LORELAI: What’s with the muumuu? [gestures to Rory’s baggy sweater.]
RORY: Stop.
LORELAI: No, I’m just saying, you couldn’t find one made of metal in case anyone has X-ray eyes?

A possible allusion to the 1963 sci-fi horror film The Man with the X-Ray Eyes, directed by Roger Corman and with Ray Milland in the title role. Made on a shoestring budget, it was nonetheless successful and well-received.

The teenage Rory is apparently self-conscious about her developing figure, and Lorelai teases her about it. Despite the lack of response from Rory, Lorelai’s criticism seems to have been taken on board: although Rory always dressed modestly, she never again wore anything this thick, baggy and shapeless to hide her body.

Officer Krupke

LORELAI (to Luke): Look, Officer Krupke. She’s right at that table, right over there.

Officer Krupke is a character from West Side Story. Originally a 1957 Broadway musical, it was made into a 1961 film directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. West Side Story was the #1 film of 1961 and won ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

In the story, Officer Krupke is a gruff policeman responsible for law and order on his beat. In the film, the role was played by William Bramley.

West Side Story is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, revolving around rival New York gangs. This is perhaps the first tiny hint that star-crossed young lovers will feature heavily in Gilmore Girls.