(2000) Gilmore Girls

Ever wish the great TV mothers and fathers of the '80s--the Huxtables, the Keatons, the Seavers--were your real-life parents and any problem you had could be solved with 30 minutes and a hug?

It's been a while since a family drama topped the TV must-see list--the 7th Heaven Camdens are way too square--but this season, there's finally a woman we're dying to call Mom. Meet Lorelai Gilmore, single mother and one half of the Gilmore Girls.

Lorelai (Lauren Graham) got pregnant at the tender age of 16, decided to keep her baby, refused to take part in a shotgun marriage and got a job. All this pissed off her upper-crust parents to no end. Now, Lorelai successfully manages the Independence Inn, and daughter Rory has reached sweet 16.

Why It Works: The show isn't just a teen dream about the sweetest family setup since Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. Sure, Lorelai is one hip mama--she carries mood-enhancing lip gloss and listens to Macy Gray. But she also pries into Rory's love life and is way too obsessed with getting her daughter into a good college.

The show's location and supporting cast remind us of another successful series. Gilmore Girls is set in a quaint Connecticut town, but pop a moose into the opening sequence, and you've got the New England version of Northern Exposure. There're lovable small-town gathering spots (Luke's coffee shop) and a similar mix of quirky regulars, like dance instructor and social commentator Miss Patty (Liz Torres).

Why You'll Love It: Graham's career at one time seemed cursed. She's popped up in almost every pilot season for the last four years in such duds as Townies, Good Company, Conrad Bloom and this summer's short-lived M.Y.O.B. (where, ironically, she played guardian to her 16-year-old niece). Finally, the ultratalented actress gets a chance to shine in a show that looks like it just might stick around.--Lia Haberman

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