‘Gilmore Girls’ star makes surprising confession

Actress Lauren Graham has starred in many popular shows throughout the years like “Parenthood,” “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” and, of course, the popular 2000s hit “Gilmore Girls.”

The comedy-drama television series debuted in 2000 on The WB, now CW network, and ended in 2007.

In 2014, all seven seasons began streaming on Netflix. Then in 2016, Graham and her costar, Alexis Bledel, reprised their roles of the lovable mother-daughter duo Lorelai and Rory Gilmore for the “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.”

She recently appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” this week when the host asked her about “Gilmore Girls.”

“We have definitely reached more people than we were reaching on The WB,” she said of the series on Netflix. “Now it’s trickled into younger people, older people, men whose kids or wives probably have forced them to watch it. I get stopped a lot. It surprises me every time though. I don’t know why.”

While many would assume she would be rolling in dough with residual checks, she revealed that wasn’t exactly the case.

“There really are no residuals on Netflix. Sorry! But I’ve been paid in love,” she told the host.

This was a point noted during the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strike in 2023. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers reached a deal with the actors union, which now provides a 75% residual bonus for actors on the most-watched made-for-streaming shows, according to Variety.

This also led to the creation of the Success Bonus Distribution Fund, where another 25% is widely distributed to actors on made-for-streaming series.

In 2018, producer Gavin Polones of the 2016 “Gilmore Girls” revival sued Netflix over residuals.