Gilmore GirlsWriter Reveals Why Milo Ventimiglia's Spinoff Never Panned Out: 'Such a Different Vibe' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Stan Zimmerman; Milo Ventimiglia in Gilmore Girls.Photo:Dusan Vuksanovic; Warner Bros./Everett Collection

Dusan Vuksanovic; Warner Bros./Everett Collection

Milo Ventimigliaalmost carried the world ofGilmore Girlsto Los Angeles, but the West Coast didn’t match up to the magic of Stars Hollow.

Many fans of the beloved series know that Ventimiglia’s character, Jess Mariano, was lined up to star in a spinoff set in the groovy-grungy neighborhood of Venice, Calif. The potential series got a backdoor pilot with the season 3 episode “Here Comes the Son,” which saw bad boy Jess visiting his dad in L.A.

The beach town offshoot was never picked up for a full-season run, thoughGilmore Girlswriter and consulting producerStan Zimmermantells PEOPLE that there was plenty of interest behind the scenes. At the time, the hit show’s creatorAmy Sherman-Palladinohad a house in Venice near Zimmerman’s writing partner, Jim Berg, and they all appreciated what the area had to offer.

“We hung out there a lot,” Zimmerman recalls. “We’d go have crazy lunches. [Sherman-Palladino] loved Venice … It’s a very colorful part of L.A.”

Milo Ventimiglia in Gilmore Girls in L.A.Warner Bros./Everett Collection

He adds that Sherman-Palladino — who went on to createThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel— was interested in the contrast between lively, sunny SoCal andGilmore Girls' quiet cozy Connecticut setting.

“I think she really wanted that to be such a different vibe from the leaves falling in Stars Hollow to being out in Venice in California,” says Zimmerman, whose credits include work onThe Golden GirlsandRoseanne. “It just never gelled into anything, but it was interesting to see Jess’s life and what that would’ve been like.”

Zimmerman started working onGilmore Girlsduring its fifth season, but he says he immediately understood why the colder seasons fit the series so well.

“There is just something about the East Coast … those leaves changing. It just has this cool, towny feeling you just want to hang out in and it’s very warm,” addsThe Girls: From Golden to Gilmoreauthor.

He says it even felt strange to see a switch to summer in an episode of Netflix’s miniseries revival,Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

Milo Ventimiglia and Alexis Bledel in ‘Gilmore Girls’.Warner Bros./Everett

“It’s like, wait, there’s a pool in Stars Hollow? To me, there just seems something so wrong, there should not be a pool there,” Zimmerman quips, remembering his reaction to the unusually sunlit scene.

Zimmerman plans to return to this year’s gathering from Oct. 18 to 20 to host panels with fellow writers and producers and some cast members as well. He’s also excited to engage with superfans and hear all their varying thoughts on plotlines that aired and stories that they wish made it to screens.

One of the hottest topics of conversation amongst fans is the debate over which guyAlexis Bledel’s character Rory Gilmore should’ve ended up with — Ventimiglia’s Jess orMatt Czuchry’s Logan.

Stan Zimmerman with ‘Gilmore Girls’ fans at a meet and greet.Stan Zimmerman

Stan Zimmerman

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After years of hearing the discourse from all sides, Zimmerman says he’s even developed a sort of sixth sense about who is “Team Jess” and who is “Team Logan.” He can even read it on a stranger.

“I was at the airport in Columbus, Ohio, and this young woman was helping me. I go, ‘Gilmore, right?’ I was like, ‘Logan,’ " Zimmerman recalls to PEOPLE, noting how the woman couldn’t believe he guessed she’d seen the showandknew which suitor she preferred.

“When I meet people, I can guess what team they’re on,” the expert concludes. “It’s a vibe”

source: people.com