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TUESDAY, MARCH 1

The second half of the table read for “Fall.” David Sutcliffe is there even though he’s shot his scene with Alexis already. It’s so good to see him. We always had a special affection for each other, and I’m sad we didn’t have any scenes together in the reboot. I ask him if he notices that this ending is not necessarily an ending—it’s almost a cliffhanger. Right? I mean I’m right, right? I mention it again to Amy and Dan too, but they don’t say anything. They just nod and smile.

I don’t know if it’s the longest monologue in the history of television, like Amy and I discussed back in the day, but the speech I have about Richard near the end of the episode is certainly the longest I’ve ever had as an actor. I also think it’s a beautiful tribute by Amy both to Richard and to Ed. The whole episode is very emotional, and by the end of the table read everyone is a total wreck.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2

Our Netflix execs, Matt Thunell and Brian Wright, stop by and tell us the first seven seasons of the show will start streaming internationally in July. I wonder if Alexis and I will get to travel to faraway lands….

Yanic has to talk about The Sound of Music in a scene at the Dragonfly today, and he asks me to describe it to him, since he’s never seen it. He also wants me to pronounce auf Wiedersehen for him. It turns out German words in a French accent are adorable. Gary, who was my assistant for ten years, all through the entirety of the old show, visits. Gary had a cameo one of those years, but I’d love for him to have something more substantial this time. Another loved one to add to the list!

THURSDAY, MARCH 3

Scott and I have a big scene. During a break, I ask him if he’s noticed that the ending is really more of a cliffhanger. He sort of shrugs. No one seems as bothered by this as I do.

Kelly Wolf, the real-life mom of Max from Parenthood, plays a real estate agent in a few scenes with Scott and Kelly today. Worlds collide again!

Amy and I discuss wanting to go to the Smokehouse to have a martini and cheesy bread. Alexis and I talk about planning a dinner. None of us know it yet, but we won’t have time for any of it until the entire shoot is over.

FRIDAY, MARCH 4

It’s my first scene with Kelly, and our first day on the Gilmore house set together. In the show, Emily has commissioned a portrait of Richard, and as we enter the living room there’s his face, ten feet tall. For a moment no one can speak. Then Kelly asks Ed to somehow make his presence known today by doing something big and loud. Later, during the scene, a key light goes out for no reason.

“Thanks, Ed,” she says.

Tears.

THURSDAY, MARCH 10

When I first read the Stars Hollow, the Musical scenes in Dan Palladino’s “Summer” episode, I thought, oh, those could be sort of fun. But when I tell you I could have watched Sutton Foster and Christian Borle perform them all day, I am not exaggerating. Dan and Amy wrote the lyrics, and the music is by Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home, Shrek). The songs are amazing and hilarious. I could hardly keep a straight face. I predict this mini-musical will go viral and be performed on college campuses everywhere.

Later in the day, Sutton’s character sings a more serious song to me, a turning point when Lorelai realizes she needs to go on a journey. You’ll be shocked and surprised to learn I cried through every single take. It was a privilege to get to be in scenes with these two.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

It’s my birthday, and my dad, stepmother Karen, sister Maggie, and brother-in-law Rick have come to town to visit set and celebrate. Morgan and Tania McComas, my makeup artist, decorate the hair and makeup trailer and shower me with treats, and everyone in the trailer shares some of the giant banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery. These ladies have taken extra-special care of me during our run, and I’m grateful to them.

My father, who recently retired, thinks it’s a funny idea to take a picture in front of the Stars Hollow Pretty Pastures retirement home to try to trick his friends into thinking he’s moving there. Ha!