Forget Another Gilmore Girls Revival, I Need This Underappreciated 2012 Drama, Canceled After Only 1 Season, To Return

Rather than bringing back Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life season 2, I’d much rather see a revival of an underrated Amy Sherman-Palladino show from 2012, which was canceled after one season. As a diehard Gilmore Girls fan, I, like many others, wanted nothing more than to go back to Stars Hollow and see the characters I love. Unfortunately, I am one of the many fans who thought the revival was bad and look to theories about A Year in the Life to make it more enjoyable.

The humor was outdated, the character growth was minimal, and the "thirty-something gang" felt like a mean-spirited caricature of the Millennial generation. Despite how enjoyable the 2024 Gilmore Girls reunion is in the popular Walmart commercial, I am not confident that a second season of AYITL would fix the issues. Instead, I’d rather a streaming site focus on another Amy Sherman-Palladino show – canceled after just one season – with the same lovability and charm as Gilmore Girls.

Bunheads Was Canceled Way Too Soon

Bunheads Is Well-Written, Witty, And Hilarious

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Bunheads followed Michelle Simms (Sutton Foster), a professional dancer turned Vegas showgirl who marries an obsessive fan named Hubbell and moves to his small town home of Paradise, California. The show focuses on the relationship between Michelle and her mother-in-law, Fanny Flowers (Kelly Bishop), as they teach at Fanny’s ballet school, spending extra time with four of her teenage students. Bunheads was exceptionally well-received by audiences and critics alike, with specific praise for the strong storytelling and character development. The show was even selected to receive around $5 million through the California Film Tax Credit to make Bunheads season 2 (via Variety).

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Unfortunately, Bunheads faced many logistical issues behind the scenes. Where Gilmore Girls had 80-page scripts to record over 8 days, Bunheads had the same 80-page scripts filmed in 7 days with child actors and dancers. The dancers needed to learn their choreography in 2 to 3 days, which is a difficult feat. The schedules were also challenging to coordinate due to the restrictions placed on children in Hollywood. The show also struggled to maintain an audience from the premiere to the finale. Unfortunately, despite the high ratings, passionate fanbase, and pleas to renew the show, Bunheads was canceled.

Why A Bunheads Revival Would Do Well

Bunheads Has A Better Chance Of Succeeding Now Than It Did When The Series First Came Out

Bunheads is unquestionably a show that deserved more than one season, but fans were left without a clear resolution or ending because of its cancelation. Unfortunately, because twelve years have passed since the show, the show couldn't pick back up immediately where it left off. However, I think a revival has the potential to succeed because of a few changes in circumstances between the original series’ release and now.

The stars of Bunheads have gained more recognition in the 8 years since the show first came out. Broadway royalty Sutton Foster has grown notoriety with mainstream audiences because of Younger, the show she acted in after Bunheads, and her alleged relationship with Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman. Multiple lead actors also appeared in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, which could draw in Gilmore Girls fans – a massive audience.

Bunheads Actors in Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Actor Bunheads Character AYITL Character Kelly Bishop Fanny Flowers Emily Gilmore Julia Goldani Telles Sasha Sandi Sutton Foster Michelle Simms Violet Bailey De Young Ginny Heidi of the Thirty-Something Gang Stacey Oristano Truly Stone Allie

Showrunner Amy Sherman-Palladino also has more notoriety now because of the success of both Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. A Bunheads revival would also fit well with her upcoming ballet show Étoile. There would also be fewer issues with filming because the actors who play the teenage dancers are older now, so they won’t have to face nearly as many restrictions on scheduling.

A Bunheads Revival Would Be Perfect Substitute For Gilmore Girls Fans

Gilmore Girls And Bunheads Feel Like Sister Series

Because Bunheads and Gilmore Girls are both made by Amy Sherman-Palladino, they have many tonal and stylistic similarities that are undeniable. However, the shows have much more significant similarities which would draw in Gilmore Girls fans. The most obvious parallel between the shows is that they feature powerhouse actor Kelly Bishop. Emily Gilmore, at the end of the revival, is very similar to Bishop’s Bunheads character. Additionally, many Gilmore Girls actors have cameos or minor roles in the series, which I enjoy because they give great performances.

Gilmore Girls Actors in Bunheads Actor Gilmore Girls Character Bunheads Character Kelly Bishop Emily Gilmore Fanny Flowers Liza Weil Paris Geller Millie Stone Rose Abdoo Gypsy Sam Alex Borstein Drella/Miss Celine Hooker/Sweetie Cramer Gregg Henry Mitchum Huntzberger Rico Jon Polito Father in A Film By Kirk Sal Chris Eigemann Digger Stiles Conor Biff Yeager Tom the Contractor Bob Todd Lowe Zack Van Gerbig Davis the One-Eyed Plumber Michael DeLuise TJ JoJo Deline Greg Lewis Town Elder Floyd the Floor Guy Sean Gunn Kirk Bash

The narrative of Bunheads focuses on three generations of women, analyzing their interpersonal relationships, just like Gilmore Girls. I love getting to see Michelle’s growing connection with the four teen girls. Michelle is also a more sarcastic and cynical version of Lorelai Gilmore, with both talking fast, referencing pop culture, and displaying their wit.

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Paradise might not be quite as well-developed as Stars Hollow, but they both have the same idyllic, small-town charm. The two locations almost feel like they could exist in the same world. Lastly, the music in both Gilmore Girls and Bunheads is written by Sam Phillips, featuring similar “la-la”s. Unless they drop the bomb and completely change the show, a Bunheads revival will feel like an extension of the Gilmore Girls universe, making it a great substitute for A Year in the Life season 2.