Gilmore Guys (a guest series) . . . KIRK! featuring Liz Johnson and a giveaway

GGheader.jpg

Gilmore Guys is back! The series where weekly guests and I talk about our favorite men from our one of our favorite shows. It started when I wrote about about Jess a few months back (because I love him), then realized I was so not alone in my Gilmore Girls obsession, even all these years after it went off the air. Then people started comparing my new book to the show and I died of happiness. Then this blog series was born…so far we’ve covered Logan, Luke, Marty and Max.

Each week in addition to a guest post, we’re also doing giveaways. YIPPEE!

Today’s guest is the oh-so-awesome Liz Johnson, a New York Times Bestselling author who is bravely tackling one of Stars Hollow’s wackiest and yet most lovable men: KIRK. She’s giving away two of her books (which you NEED to read because the third one in the series releases later this year) and I’m giving away my latest book, a “Babette Ate Oatmeal” magnet (which you will likely only understand if you love GG as much as we do) and a $5 Starbucks gift card. Take it away, Liz!

*****

Ten Reasons to Love Kirk (and One Reason to Hate Him)

liz johnson author 20There are a lot of really interesting Gilmore guys. Guys who love Lorelai. Guys who love Rory. Guys who are grouchy. Guys who are intellectual. Guys who are arrogant. Guys who are…

Well, you get the picture. There are a lot of guys. Ones you notice and ones you might not. My favorite guy is one you might not notice. If you walked past him on the street, you probably wouldn’t pay him any attention. But in reality, Kirk Gleason makes every scene he’s in even better. He’s kooky and a bit bizarre, and so without further ado, ten reasons to love him.

1. Kirk always has a reason. Some of his antics may seem to defy logic, but Kirk has his reasons. When he decides to help his friend Sookie promote lunch at the Dragonfly Inn, he dresses up as a very large, very loud hotdog. Lorelai drags him away from the sidewalk in front of Luke’s Diner and demands to know why he’s wearing a hotdog costume. The Dragonfly doesn’t even serve hotdogs. What is Kirk’s immediate response? Well, the quiche costume made him look fat. His logic may not always be clear to the rest of the world, but it works for him, and he always has a reason for whatever he’s doing.

2. He takes care of his friends. After taking a new job in security, he decides that Lorelai needs a brand new home security system and sets it up in her home. Without asking her. A minor detail.250px-Kirk1

3. He has an opinion on Lady’s Speedstick. “Good choice on that one. Keeps you dry all day and into the night.”

4. Kirk has 43 jobs. At least according to Lorelai. But that doesn’t stop him from wanting to add to his resume. In fact, he’s downright upset that Miss Patty picks someone else to be her dance captain for the May Pole. When Lorelai suggests that Kirk ease up on Miss Patty, he says, “But the May Pole was an expertise of mine.” He’s a jack of all trades and even says that over 11 years he’s had 15,000 different jobs. Perhaps a master of none. But the fact that he’s trying has to count for something.

5. He likes to find the silver lining. “My room at my mom’s house used to be a bomb shelter. It’s very cold. But great for racquet ball.”

6. He knows when to ask for help. In the fourth season, he’s desperately trying to woo a young woman named Lulu. But he’s terrified that his night terrors—the ones that always end with him naked on the roof—will scare her off. But Kirk is pretty sure that he loves Lulu, so what does he do? He asks for help. More to the point, he asks Luke—pragmatic, eye-rolling, curmudgeon-like Luke—for help. Of course, Luke’s discomfort while Kirk is asking just makes the whole experience better.

7. He has exceptional taste buds. When Kirk asks Lane, his waitress at Luke’s, if his eggs were cooked in the fish pan, she assures him they were not. They were cooked in the egg pan, as always. But Kirk persists, and sure enough…Lane comes back shortly with a whole new plate of eggs. Turns out the original eggs were cooked in the fish pan. That takes talent, folks.

8. He’s an expert lip reader. While Luke and Nicole have a fight across the street from the diner, Kirk attempts to fill in the dialogue for Lorelai.

Kirk: “Okay, she just said, ‘Hardwood sponges the authority of the hostile biographer.’ And then he responded, ‘Just phone cords to original samovars.’”

Lorelai: “Kirk, that doesn’t make any sense.”

Kirk: “That must mean they’re on to us, and they’ve switched to some sort of code.”

Lorelai: “I don’t think they’re speaking in code.”

Kirk: “I think Luke’s heading back. He just got up and said, ‘Feel your taters.’”

Lorelai: “Is it possible he said, ‘I’ll see you later’?”

Kirk: “No, I’m pretty sure about this one.”

(And where did Kirk pick up such a useful skill, you might ask. “My girlfriend taught me. It’s so we can have quiet time and still keep the conversation going.”)

9. Kirk capable of reenacting the first 25 minutes of Cool Hand Luke. During the most awkward double date ever—Luke and Lorelai/Dean and Rory—Kirk informs the only four audience members at the Black, White, & Read Bookshop projection theater that the first 25 minutes of the Cool Hand Luke reel has burned up. But refusing to leave the cultured patrons without entertainment, he offers to reenact those vital scenes. Sadly there’s another movie option, and Kirk is off the hook, and we never get to see his acting chops.

tumblr_m7du428hI11qdt6bmo1_50010. He proves there is someone for everyone. Kirk is awkward and strange, and it’s easy to believe Kirk will be alone forever. At one point he even asks Lorelai out on a date. Needless to say, that doesn’t work out well for him. For three long seasons, we doubt that he’ll ever find someone. Is there anyone as quirky as Kirk? And then in season four, he meets someone special—the aforementioned Lulu. She is every bit as sweet and idiosyncratic as Kirk. She’s appreciates is eccentricities and indulges his odd behavior. And in the end Lulu and Kirk remind us that there’s someone for everyone.

I love Kirk for all these reasons. But I also hate him (just a little bit) for the following reason:

1. He broke up the kiss. The kiss. In the last episode of season four, as we’ve been craving a truly amazing Luke and Lorelai moment for 80+ episodes (specifically a kiss, as all of their moments are amazing), we’re at the brink. It’s finally arrived. Their first kiss. And then…Kirk’s night terror interrupts the best, most perfect kiss—in this girl’s opinion, at least—in the whole series.

But I’ll forgive Kirk his mistake, since he was asleep during the most heinous crime, and in the end, I love him for all of his quirky kindheartedness and genuine care for his friends and neighbors. Stars Hollow wouldn’t be the same without him. Gilmore Girls wouldn’t be the same without him.

That’s why Kirk is my Gilmore Guy.

*****

Liz Johnson is a New York Times bestselling author of inspirational romance. An Arizona native, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, several years ago and enjoys exploring the Southern hospitality, harmonies, and history of Music City. Her next book, Navy SEAL Noel, releases in December. Keep up with Liz’s adventures in publishing at LizJohnsonBooks.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Giveaway Time!

I’m so excited about this giveaway. Liz is giving away the first two books in her Men of Valor series: A Promise to Protect and SEAL Under Seige. The third book in this series comes out in December–woohoo! I’m giving away a copy of Here to Stay, a Babette Ate Oatmeal magnet (one of Kirk’s signature moments in the series) and a $5 gift card. Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be Sociable, Share!

    Comments 44

      1. Thanks, Ruth! I feel like Kirk just adds so much to every scene he’s in! And he always provides an excuse for Lorelai to roll her eyes and smirk. 🙂

        Reply
        1. Post
          Author

          Awww Kirk…I’m the same, Ruth. Everything he says cracks me up. Right now, because I just put on lotion, I’m remembering the time he created “Hay There!” skin care products, inspired by cows and hay…and Lorelai quips, “but don’t cows eat grass?”

          Reply
        1. Post
          Author
      1. Post
        Author

    4. I’ve always been surprised that they opted NOT to have Kirk re-enact the first 25 minutes. Why would you deliberately miss out on such a great opportunity??

      Great post!

      Reply

      1. Gina, I never thought of that! Why didn’t they have Kirk re-enact Cool Hand Luke? That would have been priceless! I just feel sorry for all the viewers who missed it too. Kind of selfish of the double dating duo, if you ask me. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

        Reply
        1. Post
          Author

          That would’ve been priceless! Also, every single time I see that scene, I want to rewatch Cool Hand Luke. Although, I’m sure watching the real thing isn’t nearly as entertaining as seeing Kirk enacting it would be…

          Reply

      1. Thanks for stopping in, Jessica! 🙂 I know that nightmares are zero fun, but somehow Kirk makes them hilarious. How is that possible? 🙂 I’m so happy to know someone else who loves Kirk!

        Reply
        1. Post
          Author
      1. Post
        Author

      2. John, it’s true. I could have included 20 reasons to love Kirk, but his film just didn’t make my personal top ten, so it got sent to the cutting room floor. Thanks for sharing the link though! 🙂

        Reply
      1. Post
        Author

      2. I think “interesting” is a kind adjective for Kirk. 🙂 But you’re right. He’s sort of the poster boy for wackiness. Thanks for sharing your Kirk views!

        Reply

    8. Um, both! He’s totally quirky, he can be cute, but I think he is down right hilarious at times! I love his crazy personality. Without him, the show would not be the same.

      Reply
      1. Post
        Author

        1. Amen! I had almost forgotten how much Kirk adds to the show until I started rewatching it recently. I love how often Kirk is the catalyst for Lorelai and Rory’s banter. Glad I’m not the only one who loves Kirk for his cute and his crazy! 🙂

          Reply
      1. Post
        Author

    11. I am going to go with quirky! He definitely kept the show interesting and hilarious. It was cool to see how he kept showing up everywhere. I guess his 43 jobs had something to do with that!

      Reply
      1. Post
        Author

      2. Quirky! I think Kirk’s picture is next to that word in the dictionary. 🙂 When the show was airing for the first time, I loved watching sometimes just to see where Kirk would show up next. 43 jobs. Because 42 just wouldn’t be enough. 😉

        Reply
      1. Post
        Author

    13. I think Kirk is definitely crazy! Although, I loved how he would randomly pop up in the first season of GG!

      Reply
      1. Post
        Author

    14. Kirk is cute and crazy at the same time! I love Kirk! He could always make me laugh!! I think Kirk was one of the best characters in Gilmore Girls!

      Reply
      1. Post
        Author

    17. Kirk sounds great! I confess to still having never watched Gilmore Girls (I keep telling myself I will then forgetting), but he sounds like he would be one of my favorites, too!
      I love Liz’s books! I actually already have those two and am super excited to hear another one is coming out soon! I recently found The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn and couldn’t resist getting it, though I’ve read and reread it several times. 🙂
      Hope you ladies have a great weekend!
      ~Sarah

      Reply

      1. I definitely have to start reading the blog post question before commenting! lol
        Anyway, I think he’s a bit of both. I’m happy to hear that he found some as quirky as he apparently is. Everyone needs that someone who understands their craziness and loves them anyway. 🙂

        Reply

    18. First I simply have to say that I have never ever watched “Gilmore Girls.” Please don’t hate on me yet. Because of this post alone, and apparently Kirk, I now simply must watch the show. If there is one thing I love, it is quirky folk.
      As for the question. I’d have to say Kirk is definitely cute/crazy. Typically just like all my best guy friends in college. 🙂

      Reply

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *