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'Gilmore Girls' 20th Anniversary: Fans celebrate Thanksgiving week with annual #GilMOREthemerrier marathon

For many, binge-watching the show during Thanksgiving week has become an annual tradition -- this year being the fifth time UPtv is hosting the 'GilMORE the Merrier' marathon.

The 'GilMORE the Merrier' marathon and sweepstakes has officially started on UPtv. Throughout Thanksgiving week, the channel will be airing all 153 episodes of 'Gilmore Girls' followed by the four-part special 'Gilmore Girls: Year in the Life' that first aired on Netflix 2016. For many, binge-watching the show during Thanksgiving week has become an annual tradition -- this year being the fifth time UPtv is hosting the 'GilMORE the Merrier' marathon.

This year has even more significance because it is also the show's 20th anniversary. UPtv is celebrating the 20th anniversary by featuring a 'watch-and-win' sweepstakes with hourly prizes and ten grand prizes. Joining in the fun is The CW that will be airing 'Gilmore Girls: Year in the Life', beginning Monday, November 23 and concluding Thursday, November 26. For most tuning in, the binge-a-thon is its own reward. One fan tweeted: "#GilMOREtheMerrier came at just the right time! In isolation due to Covid exposure and now I can spend the remainder of time at home in Stars Hollow!", while another user wrote: "I’m looking forward to being content for one week 24/7, 153 episode and 4 Netflix specials. #GilMOREtheMerrier". The annual 'Gilmore Girls' marathon has become the new family tradition for some -- a bit like watching 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving'. "Love this!! My favorite tradition is Thanksgiving with my parents and kids! Love the food, football and quality time! And of course my annual Gilmore marathon!" said one fan of the show.

Those live-tweeting while watching were posting about the episodes and the special 20th anniversary content between episodes. One fan tweeted: "Loving these moments with the cast in between episodes during @UPtv‘s Gilmore the Merrier!". Others were quoting lines from the episodes they were watching like “If you’re going to throw your life away...he’d better have a motorcycle”. Viewers who have had to tone down the festivities this season because of the pandemic, were vicariously living it up through the show "Anyone else want to live in this town? The monthly celebrations, the people, the fun," said one tweet wistfully. 

The show's lead star Lauren Graham had tweeted about The CW airing the 2016 Netflix special and a fan wrote back to her saying: "I'll still be watching, even though I've seen it 100's of times on @netflix also don't forget #GilMOREtheMerrier, its all Gilmore all the time". However, those who were hoping Graham was tweeting about new episodes of 'Gilmore Girls' being released for the 20th anniversary were disappointed. "I thought this was an announcement for a new season...I’m hurt," complained one fan, replying to Graham's tweet.

Others hadn't stopped hoping for another surprise revival of the series. There was plenty of interest in a 'Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Season 2', especially since the first revival ended on such a cliffhanger -- of Rory announcing her pregnancy. Others were less interested in looking into the future but were enthused about peering into the past (and less troubled times). "I would loooove to watch a prequel series of teenage Lorelai and Rory growing up," tweeted a fan, replying to Graham's tweet.  

Given how divisive the Netflix revival was, maybe the prequel is the best new start we could hope for. But till then, there is always the Thanksgiving 'Gilmore Girls' binge-a-thon.

'GilMORE the Merrier' is currently airing on UPtv. It culminates with the cable premiere of the four-part 'Gilmore Girls: Year in the Life' starting Sunday, November 29 at 11 am ET. The CW will also be airing 'Gilmore Girls: Year in the Life' beginning Monday, November 23 and concluding Thursday, November 26.