Comments on: Does Paris Have Regrets?

By: Marie

Marie — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:32:09 +0000

I agree with mcityrk completely that Alexis Bledel as Paris Geller would be hard to imagine.

I did see Liza Weil in the most intense episode of “ER” (when Lucy Knight was killed) and Liza played the wife of the schizophrenic killer. Watching tears fall down her face as her husband has his psychotic break shows how fragile she can be. Maybe she would have been more like Emily, but yes, David Sutcliffe would not have made sense as the father, at least physically.

By: mcityrk

mcityrk — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:20:20 +0000

My question is not whether the actresses could have technically played the parts acceptably enough, I think they could. But IMO, I don’t think either would have been as well accepted by the fans in general in reversed parts since Liza is such a physical mismatch to Lauren, David, and the rest of the Gilmore clan and I don’t think Alexis would have been experienced enough at that time to play such a menacing Paris with all her scene chewing behavior as well as Liza.

By: Leoni

Leoni — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:52:38 +0000

@mcityrk, I don’t think you can say how the show would’ve turned out if the roles had been reversed. You wouldn’t have known the Rory or the Paris you know now. Since they’re both good actresses they probably could’ve portrayed both the roles quite well.

As for Liza, I read she did a very strong audition for the character of Rory, which is why, when Alexis got the part, they created the character of Paris for her.

By: mcityrk

mcityrk — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:06:45 +0000

While it is well known that Liza read for the Rory part, clearly she was not ASP first choice over Alexis or their roles would have been reversed. And can you picture how quickly the show would have died if their parts had been reversed!!

By: Josh

Josh — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:50:22 +0000

@ Nil-Wren, I don’t think Liza was first choice. On the Season 1 DVD, it said she read for the part, and obviously she didn’t get it. She was in Episode 2 of Season 1, so she was clearly available as well — which must mean that they chose Alexis over her. She said they created the role for her, and because of that, we can see why she really didn’t get into Harvard — so the show could have her with Rory to the end, as it was clear Lane wouldn’t be there.

As for the rationale, as I’ve said on other threads, Harvard is looking for a diverse class, and it’s a huge school. Every alum with legacy cannot get in. And, on top of that, I’ve known Harvard University students who didn’t get into Harvard Law, Harvard Med, etc., as part of that diversity. And as the admissions specialists said on the panel Paris herself set up, her resume screamed “trying too hard.” Her “interview” may have just made it clearer to Harvard that she was on a fast track to cracking up.

By: Nil-Wren

Nil-Wren — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:58:32 +0000

One also must keep in mind that the first choice for the role of Rory was Liza Weil. Which is the reason why both characters are so closed, almost similar. Both good students, and Paris so ambitious, so competitive. She certainly influences Rory and helps her in many ways.

By: Nil-Wren

Nil-Wren — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:51:14 +0000

I don’t think that this episode is realist. Paris had everything to go to Harvard. Harvard couldn’t in any way refuse her. But in the story, Rory had already set up her mind to go to to Yale: (Excellent choice according to Richard). The only way to sent Paris to Yale was to twist the story. That’s what they did.

By: sarah

sarah — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:47:53 +0000

I think Paris didnt get in because of her interview. Didn’t she record the interview and play it back to Rory and she was super aggressive and quite overwhelming! I think it was in this episode but I could be mistaken.

Also,I loved Paris’ character, she had great wit and sarcasm and always delivered it with such a dead-pan expression. especially loved the episode where she had her first date with Jamie, all the politicians were avoiding her, she didnt realise she had been asked out by Jamie. she had fantastic lines in that episode.

By: Ashima

Ashima — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:09:11 +0000

lets not forget that rory is the schools valedictorian…thats got to make a some difference.

By: Mac

Mac — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:54:14 +0000

I don’t think she has regrets about her night with Jamie. It’s just she really can’t decipher why she wasn’t accepted in Harvard. So she has to find some kind of explanation. It can’t be because of her grades so she blames what’s new in her life and which she never thought she’d make, at least not so quickly.

Lisa Weil is brilliant in this scene. I can just watch her speech over and over again. It’s also very funny when Lorelai is stunned by Paris’ performance and turns to Richard… who fell asleep!

An another note, I never understood why Rory got in and not Paris. Like Paris pointed it out at the beginning of season 2 she was involved in many extracurricular activities and not Rory. They were neck to neck when it comes to grades.
I thought behavior outside of shcool was very important to get in the most prestigious universities.