You’ve seen her in Maisel, but I found out Alex Borstein almost had a major role in Gilmore Girls

When I was watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel the other day, I couldn't help but think—how did I see Alex Borstein in so many things but never on Gilmore Girls? That went down a rabbit hole that I wasn't expecting in the least. It turns out that she nearly had a significant part in the show that I've been in love with for years!

I discovered Borstein was first cast as none other than Sookie St. James—Lorelai's eccentric, food-addled best friend. I've always believed that role was Melissa McCarthy's from day one, but that's not the whole story. Borstein was there first. And by that, I mean literally—she was part of the initial unaired pilot.

Alex Borstein was the first choice for Sookie St. James

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I didn't know that prior to Gilmore Girls becoming the beloved show we love, Alex Borstein was already committed to playing Sookie. She shot the unaired pilot with Lauren Graham and she actually influenced Sookie's initial vibe. It totally made sense to me—her sense of humor, timing, and delivery are a natural fit for that character.

But that's where it ran into trouble. Borstein was then working full-time on MADtv, and since that show was on Fox while Gilmore Girls was in development for The WB, there were serious contract issues. I understand—network contracts can be messy. And they made her unavailable to commit to Gilmore Girls the way the show needed.

Melissa McCarthy was cast after Borstein was forced to back out

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I've always wondered how Melissa McCarthy ended up being cast on Gilmore Girls, and now I know—Borstein having to bow out left a door open. When Borstein had to bow out, the crew brought McCarthy in, and to be honest, the rest is TV history. Her take on Sookie was slightly different—more physical, more wide-eyed—but it worked perfectly for the tone of the show.

Nevertheless, I couldn't help but wonder what Borstein's Sookie would've been like on-screen in the long run. From the pilot clips and interviews I've viewed, she introduced a more cynical, sharper element to the character. Not better or worse—just different. But the change certainly restructured how that character evolved throughout the series.

Borstein didn't disappear from the show completely

Now here's the thing that surprised me the most—Borstein did appear on Gilmore Girls, but not as Sookie. If you were a Season 1 viewer, you might recall Drella, the cranky harpist at the Independence Inn. That was Borstein! And that wasn't the only time she appeared—she went on to play Miss Celine, Emily Gilmore's quirky fashion stylist.

That made me appreciate how the creators of the show still wanted her to be included in the universe somehow. It wasn't a one-time reference, however. She returned more than once, which makes me think that her initial involvement was still valued behind the scenes.

Amy Sherman-Palladino continued the collaboration

What's also evident is that Amy Sherman-Palladino, the creator of the show, never lost contact with Borstein. Years later, she cast her to play Susie Myerson on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and let's be honest—that is one of Borstein's most signature roles. It's interesting to think that their creative collaboration actually started with Gilmore Girls, even if it didn't happen as they originally hoped.

I have heard that Borstein and Sherman-Palladino had already established a work rhythm even in those early years, and it eventually found the appropriate place in Maisel. In a manner of speaking, the timing really had to catch up.

The role she didn't get still left its mark

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So no, Borstein never was Sookie St. James—but she was nearly Sookie. That little bit of trivia made me re-evaluate the show's beginnings. And it wasn't just some kind of throwaway audition either—she actually shot the pilot. She was part of the plan. And even after she backed away, she never entirely faded from Stars Hollow.

It's crazy how sometimes the parts that don't come off do end up defining careers just as much. If Borstein had gotten Sookie, perhaps we wouldn't have had her as Susie Myerson. And perhaps McCarthy's career would've been completely different. One decision changed a lot—and now I know the whole story.