TPTB think that once a couple is together on a show, viewers will lose interest. Why else has shows like "Cheers," "Friends," and "Grey's Anatomy" always had a "Will they or won't they" couple? However, I am actually frustrated with these on-again, off-again couples; I eventually lose interest and stop caring. I am more interested in how TV couples can keep viewers entertained without them having to break up over and over. That's why I loved Clair and Cliff Huxtable, Monica and Chandler Bing . . . and, for some time, Lorelai Gilmore and Luke Danes.

Many "Gilmore Girls" fans thought it would be wrong for the show's last episode to be a Luke and Lorelai wedding. I actually agree, because I feel the focus should've been on Lorelai and Rory, which I'm glad to say it was. However, I really wish Lorelai and Luke had married on that June 3rd as they'd planned--which would've been the Season 6 finale--and then the entire 7th and last season of the show could have focused on the mom-and-daughter team. I would've loved to see how Luke-as-stepfather would have affected the girls' dymanic. It would've been much more interesting and believable than Lorelai's short marriage to Chris.

I hear you about missing ASP; Season 7 is definitely the worst season, and I know a big part of that is because the creator left the show before its final season. However, I actually think she is partially to blame for what happened in the last season because she wrote the characters into a corner, then left. She wrote the Season 6 finale of Lorelai giving Luke an ultimatum, then going to Chris's and waking in his bed. I don't know what the remaining writers were supposed to do with that. However, if she'd written episodes where Lorelai actually explained to Luke why she was upset instead of exploding at him after holding it in so long--very out of character for Lorelai, I thought--perhaps Season 7 could have had a shot. I feel the first part of Season 7 was handling the mess of ASP's last episode.

As harsh as I may have sounded, I don't mean to disresepct ASP, as she is responsible for my favorite years of a terrific show. However, I can't help being disappointed that she left, especially given the state she left the characters in!

Here's Amy and her husband Dan's official statement:

"Despite our best efforts to return and ensure the future of Gilmore Girls for years to come, we were unable to reach an agreement with the studio and are therefore leaving when our contracts expire at the end of this season," said Amy and Dan in a statement. "Our heartfelt thanks go out to our amazing cast, hard-working crew and loyal fans. We know that the story lines from this season will continue into the next, and that the integrity of the show will remain long after we leave Stars Hollow."

I'm not sure why they couldn't reach an agreement with the studio, and I agree with you that the final season would have been lacking without ASP, no matter what. However, my argument isn't that the show would've had a more satisfying ending if ASP had stayed on board. I think you and I both agree that it would have. My argument is that the show would've had a more satisfying ending if Luke and Lorelai had married, and I still think that's true. Instead of Lorelai's ridiculous marriage to Chris--and backtracking after that mistake--we would have finally gotten to see Lorelai have something real and grown-up.