These Delicious Sesame Shrimp Puffs Are Perfect for Oscar Night

Juliette Lewis + Brad Pitt

We tend to think of Angelina and Jennifer as Brad’s two big loves, but before them (and Gwyneth) came Juliette Lewis. The two dated for four years when they were both on the cusp of total stardom. These two just might be tied with Johnny Depp and Kate Moss as the most ’90s couple that’s ever existed.

Michael Jackson + Brooke Shields

A budding supermodel and a global pop sensation? It’s kind of a Hollywood match made in heaven, just like Brooke's curls. That dress on the other hand? We’re not so sure.

Matthew Broderick + Jennifer Grey

As much as we’d like to believe Sarah Jessica Parker was Matthew Broderick’s one and only, this couple makes a lot of sense. The two were both the main characters in epic teen ’80s movies – we’ll just forget about the fact that they played brother and sister in one of them…

Jake Gylenhaal + Reese Witherspoon

Dang, why didn’t this couple work out again? Oh right, probably because that much wonderfulness packed into one couple would make the world explode. But they sure did look good together!

Drew Barrymore + Corey Feldman

Feldman once said that his first date with Drew was arranged by her mother when she was 10 and he was 14, because apparently Barrymore had a huge crush on him. They later dated briefly (this time for real) in 1989, when Drew was a teenager. Unfortunately, he was heavily into drugs during that time and she was trying to stay sober after multiple stints in rehab, so it didn’t last long.

Winona Ryder + Christian Slater

Here’s to hoping this relationship ended a little more amicably than it did for their Heathers characters.

Julia Roberts + Kiefer Sutherland

It was supposed to be one of the biggest Hollywood weddings ever, and then all of a sudden, Julia called it off. Tragic. At least we have this red carpet moment to remember the couple by.

Stacy Keibler + George Clooney

Now that Amal is in the picture, it’s hard to imagine George with anyone else. But before that British vision of elegance came Stacy Keibler, the stunning professional wrestler and George’s beau for two years.

Who’s your favorite throwback red carpet couple? Share with us on Twitter @BritandCo.

Popcorn Cupcakes

Nope, those aren’t actually mini tubs of popcorn. How adorable are these cupcakes?! We can’t wait to start making these for every movie night ever. (via ‘A Casarella)

Walk of Fame Brownies

Daydream about having your own star on the Walk of Fame while eating a brownie version. So simplistic, yet so perfect. (via Sweet Designs)

Pink Champagne Cake Pops

These dainty champagne cake pops are perfect for a mini celebration when your favorite actor wins. Check out that edible glitter! (via Sweetapolita)

Cookie Awards

These are definitely the best statuette cookies we've ever seen. Add a bit of sparkle to them or don't! Either way, they'll definitely feel at home on your Oscar night. (via Bakerella)

Mini Coconut Cream Pies

Give your get together a tropical feel with some bite-sized coconut cream lovelies. These are easy as pie to make. (Pun intended.) (via Country Cleaver)

Brownie Popcorn Bags

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so express your love for this staple movie snack by creating these awesome brownies! (via Bakerella)

Organic Macarons

What's that you say? You want something tasty and classic? Oh, these macarons are the perfect pick. (via Kristi Murphy)

Caramel Apple Trifles

How beautiful are these? Not only are trifles a perfect way to get a bunch of flavors into one dish, but this one features one of America's favorite combinations: apple and caramel. (via Bakers Royale)

White Chocolate Tuxedo Cheesecake

As Barney Stinson would say, suit up! Or rather, tux up! These cute cheesecakes are just small enough to for you to enjoy the creamy flavors of cheesecake, but not get sick of it. (via Bakers Royale)

No-Bake Tiramisu Parfait

Having a hard time staying up to watch the end of the show? No problem: just eat one of these mini Tiramisu parfaits. (via Hummingbird High)

Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with Lemon

This easy panna cotta recipe'll have you feeling like Giada in no time. (via Ella Claire)

Awards Night Cookies

While watching the red carpet arrivals, we can't help but feel a bit jealous that we don't get to dress up and strike a pose with the stars. But what you can do is make these super well-dressed cookies. It's sort of the same, right? (via Sweet Sugarbelle)

Cake Batter Popcorn

Popcorn is the movie food, so it only makes sense for it to make an appearance on Oscar night. Better yet, a sprinkle-filled appearance! (via Tasty Kitchen)

French 75 Jell-o Shots

Who said Jell-o shots couldn't be elegant and pretty too? This is a great way to occupy your fam during that acceptance speech that just never seems to end. (via Bakers Royale)

Pie Pops

Hey, nobody said dessert pops were only for cake! We love our apples (hey, anything to keep the doctor away), so we might as well incorporate them into our party as well. (via Zoom Yummy)

Chocolate Mousse Brownie Shots

Don't worry — these classy brownie shots are perfectly safe for your chocoholic kiddo to enjoy. (via Betty Crocker)

So let’s start from the beginning. Paris Geller (played by Liza Weil) joined the GG crew in Season 1, right as Rory Gilmore (the show’s sort-of protagonist) walked into Chilton Academy, a private school where Paris was attending, for her first day. A far cry from Rory’s relatively timid and soft-spoken personality, Paris tore up the screen with her high-strung personality and immediate rivalry with Rory (Rory did not feel the same), who Paris viewed as the only candidate who could possibly challenge her spot at the top of the class standing. As the year progresses, the two become friends, which of course Paris still highly questioned.

The rest of their high school experience is plagued with repeated ups and downs, from Paris’s parents’ highly publicized divorce to their joint student government campaign and, most notably, Paris’s C-SPAN meltdown, courtesy of a Harvard rejection fueled by what she can only assume to be wide-spread knowledge that she lost her virginity. Despite losing the Valedictorian slot to Rory (which Paris comes to terms with after finding out Salutatorians tend to be more successful), Paris walks across the graduation stage and accepts her diploma from the school’s headmaster, to which she iconically quips, “no hard feelings.”

Fast forward to Paris’s first year at Yale, a school she knew Rory was attending but had no intention of ever seeing again. Not to the surprise of Paris’s life coach, the two frenemies were placed together as suitemates, a pairing that ultimately served as a catalyst for lifelong friendship. Throughout college, Paris pursues pre-med and pre-law degrees, joins the Yale Daily News alongside Rory, dates an elderly professor (he passes away, leaving Paris to grieve), moves on with the editor of the Yale Daily News, Doyle McMaster, and potentially saves Rory from abandoning Yale forever by admitting to Lorelai that Rory is the only person who ever listened to her, challenged her and motivated her.

Paris then proceeds to become the editor of the Yale Daily News, a position in which her power-hungry tendencies took full-force, resulting in a forcible resignation, kick Rory out of their shared apartment, let Rory move back into their shared apartment (now with Doyle), be accepted to a slew of prestigious medical and law schools. She ultimately chose to attend med school and break up with Doyle, to which he refused, and tells Rory that they’re on their own but she can still do great things (Of course this doesn’t last, the two are meant to be best friends.)

Somehow this doesn't even scratch the surface of the character of Paris. As you can tell, Paris is a fiercely loyal, protective woman who fights for herself to no end. She (literally) doesn’t care what other people think (so long as they’re not within her immediate circle) and never stops pursuing her dreams, no matter how many times she probably should have. She is the epitome of feminism in modern television — perhaps taken to an extreme — and serves as a necessary counterweight to Rory’s floundering sense of self.

So long as she keeps her need for perfectionism in check, Paris has one of those few personality types whose wild ambition and outspokenness is directly beneficial to her success, a success that she, and only she, can define. Sure, she has an exaggerated sense of self-importance, but when balanced by Rory’s soft-but-straightforward approach, Paris can quickly reset, reevaluate and move forward.

That's the thing with Paris — she’s always moving forward. She doesn't get into Harvard? Tough. She takes a few days to wallow before considering her other options: Yale, Columbia and Princeton. She doesn’t know whether to choose med school or law school, so she takes stock of her bearings, reflects on her past dreams, and makes a clear, concise decision that she moves forward with.

Her brutally honest nature (both internally and externally) is exactly why Paris works. She’s generous when needed, comfortable with giving tough (and oftentimes tougher) love, is able to express vulnerability with the people she loves, doesn’t allow outside influences to affect her path and never let’s someone (especially a man) tell her she’s less than (*cough, cough*—Rory). For an early 2000s show, she showed women that there is power in education. There’s power in stepping away from a caretaker role. There’s power in expressing your opinion, no matter your age.

There’s no doubt in my mind that she’s inspired countless women over the years — after all, she’s inspired me! Even though she’s had her controversial moments, she’s always been a cheering voice for women, even if it’s behind her resting grimace. For these reasons, and so many more, I am hereby deeming Paris Geller the best of Gilmore Girls — the heroine, perhaps, and a feminist icon to all.