Libby talks with Lauren Graham from the Gilmore Girls about the "Family Fund"

Libby

I was very excited to hear about your show, "The Gilmore Girls" which premiered last fall on WB.

Lauren

Yes, it has been a tremendous success and a wonderful experience. I just want to say though, that I really don't know all that much about the Family Friendly Script Development Fund other than what's been written about it.

Libby

I know that hon, but for some odd reason no one else would take my calls. I think my feud with Connie Stevens had a hand in that.

Anyway hon, your show "The Gilmore Girls" is backed by Family Friendly Forum's Script Development Fund. Jeez that's a mouthful, let's see, forty-three TV advertisers ranging from Coca-Cola to Proctor and Gamble. Big shots who have spent over eleven billion dollars in 1999 on television advertising.

Thirteen of them have contributed a total of one million dollars to fund the scripts that they feel will be suitable for family audiences, they read them before they even become pilots and if they get on the air they guarantee advertising support. Did you get lucky or what!

Lauren

Yes, the Forum wants to encourage family programming. Sometimes I get a little nervous if I know we are going to be using rough language or something like that, I remember saying I would feel more comfortable if it were called Dysfunctional Family Forum.

Libby

Oh, no dear, there has been too much of that. I think what they are they are trying to do is wonderful. I think it is fantastic. There is far too much smut and way too many potty mouths.

I remember the glory days of TV we had Ward, June, Donna Reed. Television was much prettier then. Well it's about time. I always wondered why the advertisers were taking a back seat with television.

Lauren

Don't misunderstand: our story lines aren't all that squeaky clean, in fact in one episode Lorelai say's she will "do the principal" to get her daughter into an exclusive school. And remember, Lorelai is a single mother.

Libby

Oh, dear. And that's considered "family" fare.

Lauren

It does represent today's family.

Libby

Oh. Well, I won't get discouraged. Once this idea catches on and the advertisers take over the networks, I'm sure we'll get back to the Cleaver type of family again.

Because this program is backed by specific advertisers I was wondering, say you're out somewhere and you're spotted drinking a Pepsi let's say--will they fire you?

MORE>>