Gilmore Girls Writer Reveals Why Milo Ventimiglia's Spinoff Never Panned Out: 'Such a Different Vibe' (Exclusive)

Milo Ventimiglia almost carried the world Gilmore Girls to Los Angeles, but the West Coast is no match for the magic of Stars Hollow.

Many fans of the beloved show know that Ventimiglia’s character, Jess Mariano, was slated to star in the spinoff set in the groovy-grungy neighborhood of Venice, California. The potential series got a stealth pilot with the Season 3 episode “Here Comes the Sin,” which saw bad boy Jess visiting his dad in LA

However, an offshoot from the beach town has never been selected for a full season Gilmore Girls writer and consulting producer Stan Zimmerman tells PEOPLE there has been a lot of interest behind the scenes. At the time, the creator of the hit series, Amy Sherman-Palladino, had a house in Venice near Zimmerman’s screenwriter, Jim Berg, and everyone appreciated what the area had to offer.

“We hung out a lot there,” Zimmerman recalls. “We would go on crazy lunches. [Sherman-Palladino] I loved Venice… It’s a very colorful part of LA”

Milo Ventimiglia in Gilmore Girls in LA Warner Bros./Everett Collection

Gilmore Girls and Golden girls Writer Stan Zimmerman on His Hollywood Career: ‘I Was Lucky’ (Exclusive)

He adds that Sherman-Palladino — who continued to create The wonderful Mrs. Maisel — was interested in the contrast between vibrant, sunny SoCal and Gilmore Girls‘ quiet and pleasant environment in Connecticut.

“I think she really wanted it to be such a different vibe from the leaves falling in Stars Hollow to being in Venice, California,” says Zimmerman, whose credits include working on Golden girls and Roseanne. “It never turned into anything, but it was interesting to see Jess’ life and what it would have been like.”

Zimmerman began to work further Gilmore Girls during its fifth season, but says he immediately understood why the colder seasons fit so well with the series.

“There’s something about the East Coast… those changing leaves. It just has that cool, urban feel where you just want to hang out and it’s very warm,” he adds. Girls: From Golden to Gilmore author.

He says he even found it strange to see the switch to summer in an episode of the Netflix miniseries revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

Milo Ventimiglia and Alexis Bledel in ‘Gilmore Girls’. Warner Bros./Everett

Gilmore Girls Screenwriter on Matt Czuchry’s casting: ‘I’ll always be Team Logan’

“It’s like, wait, there’s a pool in Stars Hollow? It just feels wrong to me, there shouldn’t be a pool there,” Zimmerman jokes, recalling his reaction to the unusually sunny scene.

But the Hollywood veteran is well aware of the discourse and divided opinions surrounding the famous series. In fact, he’s become a regular at the Fan Fest Society’s annual Firelight Event in Guilford, Connecticut, a weekend-long homage to the show run by the show’s biggest fans.

Zimmerman plans to return to this year’s October 18-20 gathering to host panels with fellow writers and producers and some cast members. He’s also excited to interact with superfans and hear all their different thoughts on the plots that have aired and the stories they’d like to see on screen.

One of the hottest topics of conversation among fans is the debate over which guy Alexis Bledel’s character Rory Gilmore should have ended up with — Ventimiglia’s Jess or Matt Czuchry’s Logan.

Stan Zimmerman with ‘Gilmore Girls’ fans at a meet and greet.

Stan Zimmerman

The cast of ‘Gilmore Girls’: Where are they now?

Never miss a story — subscribe to PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Everybody’s fascinated by what kind of team you’re on. Obviously, I’m loyal to Team Logan, because I’ve been there [when Czuchry was cast],” Zimmerman reveals his thoughts. “It’s a lot of fun to see people fall apart, and I can see why you’d like Jess.”

After years of hearing discourse from all sides, Zimmerman says he’s even developed a kind of sixth sense about who is “Team Jess” and who is “Team Logan.” He can read it even in a foreign language.

“I was at the airport in Columbus, Ohio, and this young woman was helping me. I’m going, ‘Gilmoreright?’ I was like ‘Logan,'” Zimmerman recalls to PEOPLE, noting that the woman couldn’t believe he had guessed she was watching the show and she knew which suitor she preferred.

When I meet people, I can guess what kind of team they are in – concludes the expert. “It’s a vibe”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education