Claim: Melissa McCarthy first gained nationwide recognition in an American television series.
Evidence: She began appearing in television and films in the late 1990s , and first gained nationwide recognition for her role as Sookie St. James on the television series Gilmore Girls -LRB- 2000 -- 2007 -RRB-.
Gilmore Girls is an American comedy-drama television series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel.