10 TV Shows Like Gilmore Girls You Should Watch Next
A cozy, almost idyllic small town full of eccentric characters, centered on the loving but often fraught relationship between single mother Lorelei (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel). I doubt Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino was trying to create a formula, but there are elements here that other creators have been trying to recreate for decades, with varying degrees of success. Sharp, dynamic dialogue, mother-daughter chemistry, and complex relationships balance out the charming, sweet atmosphere of Stars Hollow. At its best, the series balances coziness with a sharp humor that prevents it from becoming saccharine—as is often the case with shows starring complex women.
Jane the Virgin (2014–2019)
This telenovela-inspired romantic comedy has a rather unusual premise, but that’s precisely the charm. Gina Rodriguez plays Jane Gloriana Villanueva, a religious waitress who dreams of becoming a romance novelist. She promised her grandmother to remain a virgin until marriage, a vow that is greatly complicated when she is mistakenly artificially inseminated. The series skillfully combines unexpected, telenovela-inspired plot twists with more realistic character relationships, including those between the three generations of women at the center of the story. Series creator Jennie Snyder Urman co-produced Gilmore Girls , and that influence is felt here, including in the way the show captures the atmosphere of small-town Miami. Buy Jane the Virgin on Prime Video .
Derry Girls (2018–2022)
This is a true sitcom set in Northern Ireland during the bitter clashes of the 1990s, when conflicts between nationalists and unionists often resulted in violence. It’s a fascinating contrast, brought to life by the writer and creator (Lisa McGee), who lived through it all. The series is also very funny, though it doesn’t take into account the peculiarities of viewers’ Irish accents, so don’t worry if you need subtitles until you get used to it. Erin, Orla, Claire, and Michelle are joined by James, the only boy at their Catholic girls’ school, as they deal with the usual challenges of growing up in absurd times. This world is very different from the world of Stars Hollow, but both series share the feel of a close-knit community of witty and resourceful women (and one guy!).Watch Derry Girls on Netflix .
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017–2023)
Following the success of Gilmore Girls, Amy Sherman-Palladino triumphed in Mrs. Maisel , one of Prime’s first and most talked-about original series. It’s a comedy-drama about Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan), a New York housewife in the late 1950s who discovers a talent for stand-up comedy. Inspired by the real-life careers of comedians like Totie Fields and Joan Rivers, the series is both warm and funny, with superb performances and dialogue; it also manages something rare: being a show about comedy that’s actually funny. Mrs. Maisel and its 1950s New York setting are a far cry from Stars Hollow, but the dialogue shares a similar humor and wit, albeit with references more suited to the era. And, like Lorelei, our protagonist is a funny, complex woman who’s not afraid to dream big (and make mistakes). Watch The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Prime Video .
Ginny and Georgia (2021 – )
There’s a moment in the first episode of this series where single mother Georgia describes herself and her daughter, Ginny, as “…like Gilmore Girls, only with bigger boobs!” So there you have it. Brianna Howey plays Georgia, who became a mother at 15 and has spent much of that time on the run, fleeing several abusive relationships and going to any lengths (including possibly murder) to protect her two children. When Ginny (Antonia Gentry) reaches adulthood, she must come to terms with her mother’s actions (Ginny typically learns some of her backstory along with us, the viewers) and try to understand the reasons behind them. Their relationship is close, but also complex and at times hostile.Watch Ginny & Georgia on Netflix.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015–2019)
The inexplicably underrated sitcom Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has delivered incredibly ambitious and consistently funny musical numbers across its four seasons. The show stars Rachel Bloom as Rebecca Bunch, a Yale- and Harvard-educated lawyer working at a major New York firm who leaves everything to follow her teenage crush to a small town in California. What’s particularly impressive is that the show tackles the real-life issues of mental illness and its treatment with humor, but also with genuine compassion and candor, far more effectively than most other series. The connecting thread here is the lead character, Lorelei, who develops into a compelling, fully-rounded character while making some very questionable decisions along the way to a more authentic life. Buy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on Prime Video .
Star (2025)
Amy Sherman-Palladino and David Palladino return to television and the world of ballet (after “Bunheads” ) with this series about two world-renowned ballet companies (one in New York, one in Paris) who decide to spice things up by swapping their most talented dancers. With each company on the brink of financial ruin, Jack MacMillan (Luke Kirby), director of the Metropolitan Ballet, and Geneviève Lavigne (Charlotte Gainsbourg), director of the National Ballet, hatch a plan and enlist an eccentric billionaire (Simon Callow) to finance it. Much of the humor stems from the incongruity of the swapped dancers’ personalities, and despite the pretentious title, there’s a palpable love of ballet that keeps the series light and airy. Watch “Étoile” on Prime Video .
Hart of Dixie (2011–2015)
This show may be a bit more sentimental than Gilmore Girls, but if you’re looking for something sweeter, quirkier, and more in the vein of Gilmore Girls , this one’s for you, especially since it’s set in the same town. Rachel Bilson plays Zoe Hart, who moves from New York City to the small town of Bluebell, Alabama, to take over part of her father’s medical practice—she had little choice, given that her poor patient skills made her practically unfit for the job. Now she has to rebuild a life among three generations of a family in a town full of eccentrics who love to throw festivals and hang out at the gazebo—the same gazebo, incidentally, as Stars Hollow, as both shows were filmed on the same Warner Bros. studio lot, making Bluebell a natural filming location. Watch Hart of Dixie on Prime Video .
Parenthood (2010–2015)
After Gilmore Girls, Lauren Graham transitioned from single mother Lorelei to single mother Sarah, leading a large, multigenerational ensemble cast. Craig T. Nelson plays the Braverman family patriarch, while Graham, Peter Krause, Dax Shepard, and Erika Christensen play the four children, who now have their own families. Like Gilmore Girls , this comedy-drama thrives on its distinctive characters and (relatively) low stakes. Watch Parenthood on Paramount+ .
The Summer I Became Beautiful (2022–2025)
While the series doesn’t focus as much on the mother-daughter relationship as most similar shows, “Summer” still shares some similarities with “Gilmore Girls” in its universe of flawed and eccentric characters. Based on Jenny Han’s best-selling young adult novel trilogy, the series follows the coming-of-age story of 16-year-old Belly Conklin (Lola Tung) at the start of the series. Belly and her family spend every summer at Cousins Beach with the Fisher family, a tradition that goes well until she develops a romantic attraction, first to one Fisher brother (Christopher Briney), then to the other (Gavin Casalegno). This sets the stage for a love triangle that unfolds over several summers, resulting in Belly coming of age to a soundtrack largely composed of Taylor Swift songs. They’re not identical, but Belly looks a bit like a modernized version of Rory, and Cousins Beach evokes the cozy atmosphere of Stars Hollow. The three-season series has concluded, but a feature-length sequel is in the works. Watch “The Summer I Turned Beautiful” on Prime Video.
Cafe (2011–2013)
A trio of women from different generations with witty, dynamic dialogue in a sleepy town full of eccentric characters? Let’s go to the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, England, where Londoner Sarah (Michelle Terry) has returned home after experiencing setbacks at work and in her personal life. She helps her mother, Carol (Ellie Haddington), run the small cafe she owns, while her mother is just hoping to marry her off, and her grandmother, Mary (June Ellis), is full of stories people only want to hear occasionally. The series is dry, British-style, and very cozy, if you don’t mind a more leisurely pace. Although the series only lasts two seasons, it concludes beautifully. Watch “Cafe” on Peacock and Britbox.