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Season 4 of American drama series Gilmore Girls aired on the WB television network.

Plot[]

The sum of its parts was definitely greater than the season whole as Gilmore Girls kicked off its fourth year by separating its high-powered mother-daughter duo. After years of toil at snooty private school Chilton, Rory was finally off to the greener pastures of college as she began her first year at Yale. The not-so-long distance put a crimp in her relationship with her mother, Lorelai, as the two were forced to continue their chatty conversations via phone--not exactly the same as trading barbs face-to-face. 

While Rory adjusted to college life with cranky roommate Paris in tow, Lorelai found herself without a daughter but gained a boyfriend in the form of Jason "Digger" Stiles, a childhood acquaintance and now her father's business partner. But the lure of Stars Hollow, the Gilmores' cherished country town, would prove too hard to resist as Lorelai finally made plans to open her own inn and the two ladies found themselves attracted to town residents--for Lorelai, an intensifying of her friendship with diner owner Luke and for Rory, a return to old boyfriend Dean, which put a decided tension into the show. 

Starring[]

Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore
Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore
Melissa McCarthy as Sookie St. James (16 episodes)
Scott Patterson as Luke Danes (21 episodes)
Keiko Agena as Lane Kim (17 episodes)
Yanic Truesdale as Michel Gerard (11 episodes)
Liza Weil as Paris Geller (16 episodes)
Sean Gunn as Kirk Gleason (16 episodes)
Chris Eigeman as Jason Stiles (14 episodes)
and Kelly Bishop as Emily Gilmore (16 episodes)
special appearance by
Edward Herrmann as Richard Gilmore (13 episodes)
Special Guest Stars
Jared Padalecki as Dean Forester (7 episodes)
Michael York as Asher Fleming (4 episodes)
Milo Ventimiglia as Jess Mariano (4 episodes)
Sebastian Bach as Gil (3 episodes)
Marion Ross as Marilyn Gilmore ("The Reigning Lorelai")
SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY
The Shins ("Girls in Bikinis, Boys Doin' the Twist")
Recurring cast
Ethan Cohn as Glenn Babble (10 episodes)
Jackson Douglas as Jackson Belleville (8 episodes)
Olivia Hack as Tana Schrick (8 episodes)
Liz Torres as Miss Patty (8 episodes)
Emily Kuroda as Mrs. Kim (7 episodes)
Todd Lowe as Zack Van Gerbig (6 episodes)
John Cabrera as Brian Fuller (6 episodes)
Katie Walder as Janet Billings (6 episodes)
Biff Yeager as Tom (6 episodes)

Guest starring[]

Michael Winters as Taylor Doose (5 episodes)
Sally Struthers as Babette Dell (5 episodes)
Rose Abdoo as Gypsy (5 episodes)
Arielle Kebbel as Lindsay Lister (4 episodes)
Mike Gandolfi as Andrew (4 episodes)
Danny Strong as Doyle McMaster (4 episodes)
Kathleen Wilhoite as Liz Danes (4 episodes)
Brian Berke as Joe (4 episodes)
Wayne Wilcox as Marty (3 episodes)
Tricia O'Kelley as Nicole Leahy (3 episodes)
Grant Lee Phillips as Town Troubadour (3 episodes)
Michael DeLuise as T.J. (3 episodes)
Rini Bell as Lulu Kuschner (3 episodes)
Shelly Cole as Madeline Lynn (2 episodes)
Teal Redmann as Louise Grant (2 episodes)
Rusty Schwimmer as Bruce (2 episodes)
Jim Jansen as Reverend Archie Skinner (2 episodes)
Peter Klausner as William (2 episodes)
Jill Brennan as Carrie Duncan (2 episodes)
Lawrence Pressman as Floyd Stiles (2 episodes)
David DeLuise as T.J.'s brother (2 episodes)
Ted Rooney as Morey Dell ("Ballrooms and Biscotti")
Robert Cicchini as Russell Bynes ("The Lorelais' First Day At Yale")
Alan Oppenheimer as Mr. Blodgett ("The Lorelais' First Day At Yale")
Howard S. Miller as Mr. Stein #1 ("The Lorelais' First Day At Yale")
Allan Wasserman as Mr. Stein #2 ("The Lorelais' First Day At Yale")
Nicole Garza as Kick ("The Hobbit, The Sofa and Digger Stiles")
Natalie Garza as Mickey ("The Hobbit, The Sofa and Digger Stiles")
Chauncey Leopardi as Kyle ("Chicken or Beef?")
Justin Urich as Dean's Friend #1 ("Chicken or Beef?")
Brian Skala as Dean's Friend #2 ("Chicken or Beef?")
Karl T. Wright as Professor ("The Fundamental Things Apply")
David Rogers as Trevor ("The Fundamental Things Apply")
Traci Lords as Natalie Zimmermann ("The Fundamental Things Apply")
Jason Widener as The Tree Guy ("An Affair To Remember")
Nick Offerman as Beau Belleville ("The Festival of Living Art")
Katherine Brunk as Sandra ("Die, Jerk")
Greg Cipes as Brennon Lewis ("Ted Koppel's Big Night Out")
Linda Gehringer as Pennilyn Lott ("Ted Koppel's Big Night Out")
Bruce McCulloch as Tobin ("The Nanny and the Professor")
Alan Blumenfeld as Rabbi David Barans ("In The Clamor And The Clangor")
Esteban Powell as Darryl ("In The Clamor And The Clangor")
Julie Osburn as Professor Freedman ("In The Clamor And The Clangor")
Joe J. Garcia as Coop ("A Family Matter")
Brandon Barash as Jamie ("A Family Matter")
Thomas Redding as Professor Gilbert ("The Incredible Shrinking Lorelais")
Marion Ross as Lorelai "Trix" Gilmore ("The Incredible Shrinking Lorelais")
Tessa Ludwick as Christine ("Scene In A Mall")
Tiffany Fraser as Shannon ("The Reigning Lorelai")
Charles C. Stevenson, Jr. as Reverend Wilder ("The Reigning Lorelai")
Colin Egglesfield as Sean ("Girls in Bikinis, Boys Doin' the Twist")
Catherine McGoohan as Carol Stiles ("Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom!")
Bob Morrisey as Bob Sutton ("Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom!")
Dave 'Gruber' Allen as The Second Troubadour ("Last Week Fights, This Week Tights")
Teddy Dunn as Graham Sullivan ("Last Week Fights, This Week Tights")

Trivia[]

  • The season was released on DVD as a six-disc boxed set under the title of Gilmore Girls: The Complete Fourth Season on September 27, 2005 by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
  • Region 2 on June 14, 2006, Region 4 on July 5, 2006

Photos[]

Season 4/Gallery

Videos[]

Episodes[]

# EPISODE WRITER(s) AIRDATE #
1 Ballrooms and Biscotti Amy Sherman-Palladino 23 September 2003 66
401remily
Rory and Lorelai return from their European backpacking trip full of plans for Rory's last week in Stars Hollow before she leaves for Yale. Unfortunately, a scheduling error leaves the her with just two nights at home, and her final evening booked for dinner at Emily and Richard's. Elsewhere, Luke fills Lorelai in on his holiday cruise with Nicole; and Sookie reveals the sex of her unborn child.
2 The Lorelais' First Day at Yale Daniel Palladino 30 September 2003 67
402tanna
Lorelai helps Rory move into her Yale dorm, a mission somewhat complicated by a stubborn stick shift, countless photo ops, a shopping emergency and a troublesome mattress; Rory also meets her suitemates, one of whom needs no introduction.
3 The Hobbit, The Sofa and Digger Stiles Amy Sherman-Palladino 7 October 2003 68
403lorory
To offset expenses for their new inn, Lorelai and Sookie become caterers. Their first gig: a "Lord of the Rings" kids' party. At Yale, Rory returns from class to find that Emily has redecorated her suite; and Paris pesters Rory to throw their first party. Elsewhere, Richard mulls a business proposal from a surprising source.
4 Chicken or Beef? Jane Espenson 14 October 2003 69
404
Home for the weekend, Rory bumps into Dean on the day before his wedding. The encounter proves awkward for both of them, and Dean ends up inviting his ex to the event. Elsewhere, Lorelai and Sookie pay a visit to Michel at his trendy new workplace; and Luke hears something he wishes he hadn't.
5 The Fundamental Things Apply John Stephens 21 October 2003 70
405
After blowing off his initial invitation, Rory makes a date with a classmate; Lorelai considers firing her interior decorator after finding out about one of her former clients; Luke is schooled in the rules of movie night at the Gilmore house; suitemates Paris and Janet engage in a war of wills.
6 An Affair to Remember Amy Sherman-Palladino 28 October 2003 71
406sookie
Lorelai swallows her pride and accepts Emily's job offer to cater the launch party for Richard's new business venture, but it's Emily's ego that gets bruised when plans suddenly change. At Yale, Rory's suitemates interfere with her studies.
7 The Festival of Living Art Daniel Palladino 4 November 2003 72
407supper
As the town prepares to serve as last-minute host to the Festival of Living Pictures, Kirk takes Method acting a bit too far and Lorelai tries to rewrite a bad review. In other events, Lane works to convince the rest of the band that she has found their new guitarist; an overdue Sookie opts to have her baby at home and hires a midwife; and Luke is surprised by a proposition from Nicole.
8 Die, Jerk Daniel Palladino 11 November 2003 73
408jason
After her editor at the Yale Daily instructs her to express an opinion in her articles, Rory writes a review of a student ballet that impresses her boss and elicits retaliation from an angry reader. Elsewhere, Lane is caught off guard by a gift her mother intends to send to Dave; Lorelai is blindsided by an encounter at Luke's; and Jason finesses his way into attending a Friday-night dinner at Richard and Emily's.
9 Ted Koppel's Big Night Out Amy Sherman-Palladino 18 November 2003 74
409
Rory and Lorelai attend Richard and Emily's posh tailgating party at the Yale-Harvard football game, where an encounter with Richard's old sweetheart exposes an upsetting secret he's been keeping for more than 30 years. Elsewhere, Paris tries to score an interview with a distinguished faculty member; Rory has reservations about Luke's new waiter; and Lorelai finally accepts Jason's dinner invitation.
10 The Nanny and the Professor Scott Kaufer 20 January 2004 75
410
Rory returns early from winter break and is surprised by the arrival of Paris, whose clandestine personal affairs could endanger her future at the Yale Daily News. Elsewhere, Lorelai learns more about Jason when she spends an unusual evening at his place; Michel is jealous of Davey's nanny and offers to babysit the infant; and Lane gets a job.
11 In the Clamor and the Clangor Sheila R. Lawrence & Janet Leahy 27 January 2004 76
411
Lane risks exposing her secret social life when her band lands a 1 am gig at a New York club and she lies to her mother about her whereabouts on the night of the show. In other events, Rory confronts a campus gossip; Lorelai discovers that Luke neglected to tell her that he and Nicole are living together; and the residents of Stars Hollow are being driven batty by a restored belfry.
12 A Family Matter Daniel Palladino 3 February 2004 77
412
Family affairs flummox Luke when his flighty sister Liz returns to town to attend her high-school reunion and Jess subsequently appears to reclaim his missing car. At Yale, Rory's caught in the middle when Paris tries to dodge a visiting Jamie; and Lane gets a taste of dorm life.
13 Nag Hammadi Is Where They Found the Gnostic Gospels Amy Sherman-Palladino 10 February 2004 78
413jessdanes
While waiting for his car to be fixed, Jess tries to keep a low profile but keeps bumping into Rory, who finally faces off with her irresponsible ex after his separate showdowns with Luke and Lorelai. In other developments, Luke gets off on the wrong foot with his sister's new beau; and Lorelai and Jason pose as a couple at a charity event, per Emily's request.
14 The Incredible Shrinking Lorelais A.S. Palladino & D. Palladino 17 February 2004 79
414
Mother and daughter play an endless game of phone tag, as Lorelai is overwhelmed by responsibilities at the inn and Rory struggles to keep up with her classes at Yale. In other developments, Gran visits and presides over an unpleasant dinner at Emily and Richard's; Lorelai gets bad news from her contractor; and Lane wears out her welcome at Yale.
15 Scene in a Mall Daniel Palladino 24 February 2004 80
415
Lorelai and Rory play hooky from the inn and Yale to go to the mall, where they encounter Emily and get sucked into her frenzied shopping spree. In other developments, Luke loans Lorelai the money she needs to finish renovating the Dragonfly; Lane gets an apartment with her bandmates; and Rory gets a glimpse of Dean's new life as a newlywed.
16 The Reigning Lorelai Jane Espenson 2 March 2004 81
416
An unexpected death in the family devastates Richard and the discovery of a long-kept secret sends Emily off the deep end, leaving Lorelai to plan the funeral. Elsewhere, Rory settles in at the Yale Daily News; and Luke has trouble keeping his personal affairs personal.
17 Girls in Bikinis, Boys Doin' the Twist Amy Sherman-Palladino 13 April 2004 82
417beach
Fed up with the cold weather in Connecticut, Rory and Paris head to Florida for spring break, where they encounter two familiar faces from Chilton. Elsewhere, Jason surprises Lorelai with a token of his affection; and Luke suspects that his relationship with Nicole is in trouble.
18 Tick, Tick, Tick, Boom! Daniel Palladino 20 April 2004 83
418
Richard hopes to reconcile with his estranged ex-business partner---and Jason's distant father --- but the man has ulterior motives for accepting the Gilmores' dinner invitation. Elsewhere, Rory and Dean argue about his plans for the future; and Jason scrambles to get back in Richard's good graces after his relationship with Lorelai is revealed.
19 Afterboom Sheila R. Lawrence 27 April 2004 84
419
Richard's poor treatment of Jason has unanticipated consequences when Lorelai and Emily have strong reactions to the situation. Elsewhere, Luke makes his divorce final; Lane believes that Mrs Kim has replaced her with a surrogate daughter; and Rory questions a grade from Professor Flemming.
20 Luke Can See Her Face A.S. Palladino & D. Palladino 4 May 2004 85
420zucchini
Dismayed by the failure of his marriage, Luke decides to take control of his love life and has a surprising epiphany. Elsewhere, Lorelai is overwhelmed by last-minute details at the inn; Liz and TJ announce their engagement and choose Stars Hollow as their wedding site; Paris second-guesses her relationship with Asher after a medical crisis lands him in the ER; Luke confronts Jess about his selfish behaviour after he refuses to participate in Liz's wedding.
21 Last Week Fights, This Week Tights Daniel Palladino 11 May 2004 86
Liztj
Lorelai accompanies Luke to Liz and TJ's wedding, where she sees the grouchy diner owner in a different light; Rory calls Dean for a ride after her date abandons her, but their bonding session is cut short by the arrival of a desperate Jess. Elsewhere, Mrs Kim finally visits Lane's apartment; and Lorelai grills Emily about an absent Richard's whereabouts.
22 Raincoats and Recipes Amy Sherman-Palladino 18 May 2004 87
422kiss
Exes cause complications when Jason shows up at the Dragonfly to win back Lorelai, and Rory decides to alter her relationship with Dean. In other events, Lorelai tries to orchestrate a reconciliation between her parents, with disastrous results.
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