Gilmore Guys

By Alex Vickery in March | April 2016, TXEX on February 29, 2016 at 2:49 pm | No Comments

How two alums recapping a long-gone TV show created one of the most popular podcasts in America.

In a makeshift studio in a Hollywood church, two 20-somethings sit quietly on a leather sofa poised in front of their microphones. One of them hits record and the pair spring to life as they discuss an episode of a now-defunct television series that began its run more than 15 years ago.

“Welcome to Gilmore Guys. I’m Kevin.”

“I’m Demi.”

“And we’re the Gilmore Guys,” they chime in unison.

They’re pros at this by now. The two have repeated a similar intro for more than 150 episodes of their podcast Gilmore Guys since it debuted in October 2014, each one analyzing an episode of the comedy-drama Gilmore Girls. Now recapping the seventh and final season of the former WB series, which was canceled in 2007, Gilmore Guys has racked up more than six million downloads and has ranked as the third-most popular podcast on iTunes, garnering hundreds of glowing reviews from listeners from around the world.

The idea for the podcast was born on Twitter, its inception short and sweet. Kevin T. Porter, BS ’09, tweeted a call for a co-host and Demi Adejuyigbe, BS ’13, responded. The two were acquainted through the Los Angeles comedy scene; their time at UT-Austin never overlapped, and much of their friendship has evolved on-air.

Porter is a longtime fan of Gilmore Girls, which follows a young, single mother and her teenage daughter living in a small Connecticut town. The show is known for its quick, witty dialogue replete with pop culture references. Porter grew up with the show as it aired in the early- to mid-2000s, calling it a warm blanket that comforted him during his childhood and teen years. He says he had long had his heart set on starting a podcast, but was waiting for the right topic.

“I didn’t think [Gilmore Guys] was going to be a hit,” Porter says. “I tweeted it as a joke, but then the more I started thinking about it the more I thought, that’s something we haven’t seen before.”

Adejuyigbe had never seen the show but thought, why not? “If I think we can create something cool out of it, then I’ll do it no matter the commitment,” he says. “I thought I was going to do [the podcast] in the background … now it’s shifted to being one of my main things.”

Neither imagined how popular the podcast would become. Porter recognizes they had timing on their side. They strategically launched the podcast the same day Gilmore Girls was released on Netflix, which opened the series up to a whole new streaming generation of fans.

“Once a show isn’t on streaming, it kind of evaporates from the public consciousness,” Porter says. “We were in the center of a general revival of interest in the show.”

Timing continued to be advantageous after the podcast premiered, as the entire cast of Gilmore Girls reunited for the first time at the ATX Television Festival in Austin last June. Porter and Adejuyigbe attended the red carpet for the event and learned that some of the cast members, including showrunner Amy Sherman-Palladino, had heard of the podcast.

Porter says he wants the podcast to appeal to new and dedicated fans alike; more than just talking about how much he loves the show, he wants to provide an audio documentary of it. Adejuyigbe credits their success more to the fact that two dudes are talking about what is largely considered a feminine show.

“I think that’s why a lot of people initially picked up on [the podcast], ‘It’s guys talking about Gilmore Girls … this should be funny,’” Adejuyigbe says. “Then they realized that we were being earnest about it; we weren’t trying to be ironic in our attachment to the show.”

Gilmore Guys’ savvy also reflects the explosion of podcasts as a medium for news and entertainment. Peabody Award-winning podcast Serial, a spinoff of NPR’s This American Life, debuted just two days after Gilmore Guys, breaking download records and pushing the format into the mainstream. Despite the sharp contrast in topic and tone, some Serial listeners have stumbled upon Gilmore Guys while searching for another podcast to fill their car stereos and earbuds. Other fans have credited Gilmore Guys with turning them on to podcasting in general.

“That’s one of the greatest things about podcasts, is that you listen to one and eventually you need more,” Adejuyigbe says. “They’re a comfort, like warming your ears in earmuffs. For us to be anyone’s gateway into this world is fantastic.”

They release two episodes per week, often accompanied by a guest ranging from comedians like Lauren Lapkus and Doug Benson to Gilmore Girls writers. Porter, a freelance photographer and editor by day, handles the majority of production, which amounts to a near-full-time job. Adejuyigbe, writer on an upcoming NBC sitcom, takes detailed notes of each Gilmore Girls episode for their discussion.

Both bring their comedic chops and improv backgrounds to the table. On the second episode of the podcast, the two tease that their next guest will be high-profile actress Alexis Bledel, who played daughter Rory Gilmore. On the next recording, however, they reveal that she canceled last minute over text message, which turns into a bit with her excuses becoming more ridiculous each time. “We have a guest today and it’s not Alexis Bledel,” Porter announces solemnly at the beginning of episode eight. “I don’t even want to invite her anymore,” Adejuyigbe quips. “But we keep doing it, it’s like an abusive relationship at this point,” Porter adds. “She will definitely be on next week, but this time it’s not going to happen [because] she went to the zoo.” The pair’s palpable connection makes the listener feel as if they’re surrounded by friends engaged in a witty, laugh-out-loud conversation littered with pop culture tangents.

They’re both also native Texans—Adejuyigbe grew up in Dallas and Porter in Houston—a fact they say made it easier to connect. “If I say ‘Blue Bell’ he’ll say, ‘Oh yeah, of course.’” Adejuyigbe says. “It would’ve been very difficult [forming an on-air relationship] if we didn’t have that similar reference set.”

As the podcast’s fan base grew, Porter and Adejuyigbe began recording live broadcasts from the Upright Citizens Brigade theater in Los Angeles—the first of which sold out in 30 minutes. Shortly after, listeners from around the country requested visits to their cities, leading to sold-out shows in New York City, Philadelphia, and an 800-person-capacity theater in Washington, D.C. Both Porter and Adejuyigbe say they’ve been approached by fans on the street, who often don’t shy away from sharing opinions. When people listen to their voices for more than four hours a week, it’s easy to feel as if they know them.

Aside from a four-episode Netflix revival series in the works, when episodes of Gilmore Girls inevitably end—again—so too will Gilmore Guys. Porter says he would love to keep performing, and will likely move on to podcasting about a different show, while Adejuyigbe says he will focus on a career in comedy writing. Their trajectory has proven that anything is possible, but for now they’re just two guys talking about Gilmore Girls.

Photos from top: The Gilmore Guys pose on their studio couch in Hollywood, California; Kevin T. Porter

Porter poses with Gilmore Girls cast member Kelly Bishop at the ATX Television Festival; Demi Adejuyigbe

At a live show in New York City with guests Aisha Muharrar, Mike DiCenzo, and Mara Wilson; Laura Hinely

Tags: demi adejuyigbe, gilmore girls, gilmore girls podcast, gilmore guys, kevin porter