It was a night to remember for British fans Megan Craig and Amanda Bolland, who finally saw a long-held dream come true. On Tuesday night (Sep 17), they were invited backstage to meet none other than Gilmore Girls icon Kelly Bishop, just before her sold-out talk on the David Geffen Stage at 92NY.
Two years earlier, Megan had traveled from her hometown in the north of England to New York, eager to attend a Gilmore Girls event featuring Lauren Graham. But her excitement quickly turned to heartbreak when COVID forced the event’s cancellation.
“I was sitting at Madison Square Garden, watching the Rangers, in absolute floods of tears,” Megan recalls. “The event was the whole reason for my trip. I was so emotional for quite some time.”
We’re chatting in the Art Gallery just before the event’s festivities begin. It’s a busy night at 92NY – Eva Mendes and Eva Chen will launch Mendes’ new book in the Weill Art Gallery; upstairs in Buttenwieser Hall Jane Pauley leads a discussion with author Roger Rosenblatt and artist Fred Newman; There’s a Spark Your Health talk about positive aging elsewhere in the building, and a cocktail party on the rooftop for Nursery School parents is just breaking up. The building is buzzing.
Megan and Amanda met through social media, bonded by their shared love for Gilmore Girls. After the canceled event, their connection expanded to include 92NY itself. “It’s such a personal place,” Amanda says warmly. “It feels like you really care about the people who come here.” Over the years, the pair stayed connected with 92NY through Instagram, closely following its events and sharing their enthusiasm online.
“When I saw the Kelly Bishop event pop up, I thought, ‘I’d love to go, but I’m 3,500 miles away — just a little ocean between us,’” Megan jokes. “I was going to settle for the virtual event, but then three weeks ago, I got a message: ‘Do you have a sec? I’ve got an idea to run past you.’”
That message was from Tea Romano, 92NY’s Director of Social Media. Kelly Bishop was making an appearance at 92NY appearance to launch her new memoir, The Third Gilmore Girl. Could 92NY leverage its collaborations with sponsor partners to bring Megan and Amanda to New York for the event? “Social media is an ongoing way to connect with our community around the world. This idea celebrates our love of the fandom,” said Tea, as she recognized the power of online engagement to bring fans together for this special event.
Thanks to the generosity of United Airlines, the official sponsor of 92NY Recanati-Kaplan Talks, Megan and Amanda were flown to New York for the event. Courtyard by Marriott / Upper East Side provided accommodations in the heart of the city, offering an upgraded room and a generous discount. LaVoglia restaurant, another valued partner of 92NY, treated them to a complimentary dinner and collaborated with fans to craft a signature cocktail for the evening. The result? A drink dubbed “The Vicious Trollop,” a playful nod to the show. It was all part of a magical experience they never saw coming.
“It’s been an absolute whirlwind since then — happy tears, nonstop!” says Amanda. “If you’d told me 23 years ago when I started watching Gilmore Girls that I’d be flown to New York all these years later for something like this, I’d never have believed you! We still can’t believe we’re here. We landed on Sunday, visited Connecticut, New Milford, Washington Depot, all the Gilmore Girls towns. It’s a trip I never thought would ever happen!”
When asked what she was most excited about, Megan responded, “Just being in her world. To be in the same room as Kelly Bishop — and to share that experience with people who love Gilmore Girls as much as we do. Back home, we don’t really get that. Plus, I’ll be seeing some friends I’ve known for years online, so it’s going to be special.”
But the night held one more surprise. Just as Kelly Bishop was about to start, she announced the evening’s moderator — and out walked Lauren Graham herself.
The crowd erupted in cheers and rose to their feet. Tears flowed again.
“It really does feel like family here,” said Megan.
Megan Craig, Kelly Bishop and Amanda Bolland backstage at 92NY
The Third Gilmore Girl: Kelly Bishop in Conversation with Lauren Graham is available on demand.