MONDO EXTRAS

Assets: We're not kidding -- whatever she wants.

Liabilities: She'll have to rock-paper-scissors every other actress in her sixties to win the one good role a year that Hollywood manages to produce.

Current approximate level of fame: Jessica Walters
Deserved approximate level of fame, post-Gilmore: Diane Keaton

Name: Edward Herrmann
Age: 63
Occupation: Actor, FDR impersonator
Non-Gilmore Experience: 45 movies

Assessment: If you need a really tall guy to play Franklin Roosevelt, Edward Herrmann is your guy. He's done it more than once. He's even done it in Annie. Herrmann didn't really need his part on Gilmore Girls, we don't think -- he's going to work as long as he feels like it, because there's no reason to look for an Edward Herrmann type to play your law professor or your politician or your merciless but refined business weasel when you can just hire Edward Herrmann.

Assets: He's a narrator for the History Channel, so he's intoned many interesting facts.

Liabilities: Interest in FDR has probably peaked.

Current approximate level of fame: Tom Skerritt
Deserved approximate level of fame, post-Gilmore: Martin Sheen

Name: Melissa McCarthy
Age: 37
Occupation: Actor, dimple flasher
Non-Gilmore Experience: 15 movies

Assessment: Melissa McCarthy constantly and gleefully tapdances all over the line separating the adorable from the insufferable. That line can be very fine. Her unending chirp is endearing in small doses, but she's likely to remain in supporting roles as assorted best friends, unless she's capable of toning it down, which seems doubtful. She displays an admirably sunny disposition, certainly, but not one that's going to make her a leading lady. Frankly, at thirty-seven, she's already played a "Doris" and a "Shirley," so nobody's thinking in those terms anyway.

Assets: She gives a great reaction shot/squeal, if that's what you need.