Gilmore Girls Star Scott Patterson Reveals He Would Have Dated Lauren Graham and Why He Never Thought He'd Play Luke

Gilmore Girls star Scott Patterson didn’t need to form a blues rock band (which releases a new single, “Haha,” today) to attain rock star status. As soon as the actor got out of his car as the premiere of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life in Los Angeles, the fans reacted as if One Direction got back together. “It’s crazy,” the actor remarked. “It’s really so amazing.”

With hours to go until Netflix drops the much-anticipated revival, Patterson shouldn’t be shocked about anything. Excitement has reached fever pitch ever since the first photos from Stars Hollow were released, and it hasn’t relented since. “The storytelling has always been deep and involved and intricate and interesting, but it’s even more so now,” Patterson told us. Fans and VIPS that saw the first episode (“Winter”) at Friday’s premiere would certainly agree—there was consistent bouts of crying, laughter, and gasps all in the first 90 minutes.

So what was it really like to revisit the show that put him on the map? The role that he was convinced he’d never get because he wasn’t a name actor? And was the chemistry with co-star Lauren Graham just for the cameras or was something brewing behind the scenes as well? Get ready to know Luke like you never have before.

Glamour: Gilmore Girls is premiering on Black Friday. You guys might get blamed if sales are down because so many fans will be home watching instead.

Scott Patterson: Oh, that’s right! We’re going to affect the economy! They’re going to have to buy us out; it’s brilliant! It’s all my idea! [Laughs] It’s part of my master plan.

Glamour: Last year you reunited with Lauren and Alexis at the Austin TV Festival, but before that, when was the last time you saw them?

Scott: Well, I would run into Lauren once in a while out at restaurants or whatever. I run into everybody. Milo [Ventimiglia] and I both ride motorcycles, so we went out to Malibu. I’m always running into people. L.A. is a small town, as spread out as it is.

Glamour: Who among the cast were you most excited to see again once the revival was on?

Scott: Everybody. It’s such a great group of people. Maybe Sally Struthers because Sally Struthers comes on set and is just a comedy show. That’s just her personality. She is just so loving and hysterically funny. She’s got a big heart. Love her. But everybody, really.

Glamour: Lauren and Alexis admitted to us that they met for the first time at the hotel in Canada where you all were getting together for a first cast dinner. How about you?

Scott: I came into Canada, and the airline had lost my luggage. So I went to the fancy dinner across from the hotel at the fancy French restaurant in my sweats! I met Lauren immediately in my sweats. We had a drink first and sat down and got to know each other. I didn’t meet any of them before either.

Glamour: Kind of ironic you were dressed casual given Luke’s laid-back style.

Scott: Right, right?! It was meant to be!

Glamour: Let’s rewind even further. What was your Gilmore Girls audition like?

Scott: I remember it quite vividly. I always wore…well, for that, I wore a pair of baggy, brown denim pants with a black belt with a silver buckle, but kind of worn and distressed. I wore a thermal shirt, blue top, kind of just loose, whatever. I had three auditions that day, and this was the second one. I had prepared one scene, but I was supposed to have prepared two. So I went in, and I did my thing. I didn’t care anymore. I had been auditioning for a couple years and not getting the role, but the feedback was always, “He’s so good! Next time!” It’s like when you don’t care anymore, you’re just going to get me [at my most real]. I knew I wasn’t going to get [Gilmore Girls]. The script was too good. The pilot script was so good; they were going to offer it to stars, so what was I wasting my time for? I’m late for this other [audition], I’ll probably get a ticket [outside], so can I get out of here, please?

Glamour: And then what happened?

Scott: I did the thing, [they were all] lovely, we all bonded, OK, bye bye. They’re like, “Where are you going?” and I said, “What do you mean? I have another audition, I have to get out of here!” They said, “There’s another scene!” I said, “No, what do you mean, there’s another scene? There’s one scene!” They said, “No, there’s another scene!” I looked at my sides, and the other scene said “Duke.” I said, “There’s a typo! If you want me to do another scene, write Luke!” They said, “Sorry, our bad, can you go prepare the scene right now and come back and go do it?” I said, “Alright, I’ll go do it,” because I didn’t care anymore. I’ll just do it. I went outside, looked at it, came back in, did it, and then said, “OK, can I go now? Or is there more scenes that you’ve written?”

Glamour: Did you really say that?

Scott: Sure! I didn’t care! Amy was laughing and Gavin was laughing. They were all like, “Who’s this character?!”

Glamour: How soon after did you find out you got the part?

Scott: That day! They stopped seeing people after that. Not kidding. I got home, and there was a message on my voicemail saying I got the job. I was like, “What?!” But it was just a guest star in the pilot.

Glamour: What did you think of Lauren when you first met her?

Scott: [Gives two thumbs up]. I thought, “You know, uh-oh. Let’s keep this professional! [Laughs] Let’s just keep it professional as long as possible and not blow up the show!”

Glamour: Did it work?

Scott: Yeah! Because I knew it would go for a long time! I was seeing somebody, anyway. I think she was too. And she probably wasn’t interested in me. That matters little to me. [Laughs] So yeah…listen, the whole thing just worked. The chemistry was there.

Glamour: How have Luke and Lorelai evolved now when we pick up?

Scott: They have evolved. There’s been some growth. There’s been some stuff.

Glamour: Can you say if you have a favorite of the seasons?

Scott: Honestly, I can’t distinguish one from the other because we would shoot four seasons in one day. We were block shooting. We had three-and-a-half months to shoot four one-and-a-half-hour movies. We had 600 pages to do in three-and-a-half months, which is insane, and the only way to do it is block shoot it. So, in the morning you’re doing winter and spring, and in the afternoon you’re doing fall and [summer]. You think that was difficult on us, what about the wardrobe team?

Glamour: What was different for you coming to set this time around? How have you changed?

Scott: Here’s the deal. We were all more appreciative because we knew we were there a limited period of time. It wasn’t going to be nine months. It was going to be three-and-a-half months, and there was a chance this would be it and there wouldn’t be anymore after this. When we got canceled, I was on Canada on a movie set. Nobody got any closure or got to say goodbye or anything. It was just like, over. So we savored it more now.

Glamour: Lauren said Amy had so much material that she couldn’t even fit it all in.

Scott: As you could imagine.

Glamour: So do you think there’s room for more after this? Do you want there to be more?

Scott: Yes and yes. That’s my short answer. I think there’s plenty of room for more, and yes, I would love to do more. Absolutely. There’s just…you’re dealing with Amy and Dan Palladino—the possibilities are endless. They know these characters so well, and I don’t want to give anything away, but I don’t know that there’s necessarily any real resolution in these four [episodes]. I mean, there is to a certain extent, but I can’t go into detail. It’s open-ended, but some people could…the door is open.

Glamour: The hat you’re wearing right now is very stylish. Is that something you’ve always been into or did Amy’s style rub off on you?

Scott: [Laughs] Um, it’s a long story. I have a band. I write music. We’re touring now. This is sort of how I’ve dressed anyway, but I had to sort of remove all of this [grunge look] to be an actor on Gilmore. You should have seen me before—I made Johnny Depp look conservative. Now, I’ve toned it down.

Glamour: Has Amy ever bought you a hat or have you ever bought her a hat?

Scott: No, but I’ve purchased things for her of greater value.

Glamour: Your personality and love?

Scott: No! Tiffany freakin’ diamonds!

Glamour: Oh, well that’s fantastic. And since you’ll probably crash the economy on Black Friday, you’ll have to do what you can to make it recover by making more of those Tiffany purchases.

Scott: [Laughs] I should.

For more with the cast of Gilmore Girls, click here.

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