Gilmore Girls

Lorelai: With Lorelai Gilmore, it's trust but verify.
"Trust but verify" was a signature phrase of the American president Ronald Reagan. He used it in public, although he was not the first person known to use it. When Reagan used this phrase, he was usually discussing relations with the Soviet Union.

Lorelai: It's getting very Cinemax at night in here. Cinemax is a cable television network that shows movies and original shows during the day, and erotica at night.

Paris: Who decided to do a half hour tribute to Kenny G. Kenny G is an American soprano saxophonist.

Zach: We vetoed the Harry Potters. Harry Potter is the fictional hero from a series of seven fantasy novels, written by J.K. Rowling.

Lorelai: But this is where you start paying - in sweat! Nicole: Fame, right? Lorelai: Yeah, Debbie Allen. In sweat. I just loved how she said that. Lorelai quoted Lydia Grant, a character from the 1980 drama movie and a 1982 drama series titled Fame, played by Debbie Allen.

Rory: No it just drives me crazy. It's like if you do Shave and Haircut without the last part, ya know? Shave and A Haircut (the proper title) is a short musical phrase which has permeated American culture, though comparatively few know its name. It is a seven or eight note musical couplet which goes with the lengthy tune, "Shave and a Haircut, two bits!" ("...six bits!" is also a common variant). The notes themselves are usually the part people know, often as merely a knock on a surface -- Duh dah dee duh duh (short pause) Duh-Duh! Rory's reference is to that last "Duh-Duh!". "Two bits", by the way, refers to an old slang for a quarter (and four bits to fifty cents, etc.).

Sookie: When I was like, 10, I was sooo into Leif Garrett. Leif Garrett was a pretty-boy singer and actor of the late 70s and early 80s. Like many child stars, he has become notable for his many run-ins with the law over drug possession and assorted other problems in and out of jail and rehab.

Zach: Don't forget that the hair and fingernails on John Entwistle's body were still growing when they brought in his replacement. Entwistle was the bassist for the rock band The Who. He died near the start of a North American tour and was replaced with almost no shows missed or delayed.

Rory: Hello Cleveland. A reference to This Is Spinal Tap where the lead singer yells the wrong city at a concert.

Dave: (About Zachs decision to jump around on stage)It sounds a little too Milli Vanilli, Zach. Milli Vanilli was a group of the late '80's/ early 90's that was found out to be lip synching and never actually singing on records or at concerts.

Jess: Tuxes are also James Bond, that's not geeky. Reference to the British super spy who was always sharply dressed in a tuxedo.

Rory: The Gilmore house is partying like it's 1999. Lorelai: And here, it's at home with The 700 Club. Rory's comment is a reference to the Prince song 1999. Lorelai is referring to the conservative Christian talk/news show hosted by Pat Robertson.

Lorelai: It was not an illusion, Doug Henning. Doug Henning (1947 - 2000) was a stage magician, escape artist, and illusionist. He and David Copperfield had an unofficial competition going on in the early 80s to see who could do "biggest" magic trick as each one topped the other until Copperfield magicked away an airplane. Henning was one of a then-new crop of magicians trying to escape the "standard" of top hats and formal wear, instead wearing colorful casual clothes and sporting a giant mop of 70s-style long hair, while maintaining a casual, light-hearted demeanor. His act was more about having fun with magic than being "serious" about it.