Mean Girls Secrets That Are Totally Grool!

by

It seems unlikely that Gretchen Wieners’ father, the creator of Toaster Strudel, wouldn’t find it surprising that it has been exactly 21 years since the movie Mean Girls first graced our screens and became an integral part of popular culture.

Yet, here we are. 

On October 3rd, fans rejoiced as Jonathan Bennett’s character Aaron Samuels, sporting his iconic side-swept bangs, turned around and asked Cady Heron (played by Lindsay Lohan) the date – a scene reminiscent of the film. However, Tina Fey’s adaptation of the self-help book “Queen Bees and Wannabes” premiered in theaters on April 30, 2004. Since then, we’ve all been striving to make the phrase ‘fetch’ a regular part of our vocabulary.

Delving into the heart of teenage girl culture at the fictional North Shore High in suburban Chicago, the comedy catapulted Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, and Lacey Chabert into the realm of young Hollywood stardom. This left us ordinary folks echoing catchphrases such as “You’ve got that glow, Glen Coco!” and “No room for Gretchen Weiners in our book” while we jotted down our thoughts in our very own burn books.

Moreover, even though the 2021 musical adaptation of “Mean Girls” featuring Reneé Rapp and Angourie Rice was quite entertaining, it doesn’t mean we’ve abandoned our affection for the original version.

– We’re just as captivated by the movie as anyone else could be, and it was proven when Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Chabert reenacted the well-known cafeteria scene on “Watch What Happens Live” last November. But even though we’re hooked, there are still many untold stories behind how the legendary teen film was made. It’s not like we have ESPN or some inside access; we’re still learning too!

By the way, did you realize that Lohan originally wanted to portray a different character called “Plastic”? Also, it’s interesting to note that Seyfried had over a 30% probability of becoming Regina in the movie.

Let’s hop aboard, everyone, as we delve into some nostalgia. Today, we uncover the hidden mysteries tucked away in Gretchen Weiner’s tresses.

During a visit to Toronto, where she was shooting Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Mark Waters—the director who’d worked with Lindsay Lohan on Freaky Friday—inquired if the actress would be interested in joining his upcoming film project. It so happened that one specific role was on her wish list for this opportunity.

In 2014, she shared with Entertainment Weekly that she yearned to portray Regina in a film. She had previously appeared in Confessions and Freaky, but not as the popular high school girl. At 17 years old, she aspired to be the popular girl on set. However, it proved challenging to find a suitable Cady who could rival her Regina, and the immense success of Freaky Friday made it evident to those in charge that a change was needed.

In a conversation with Vulture in 2014, Tina Fey disclosed that Sherry Lansing, who was in charge at Paramount then, insisted that Lindsay Lohan take on the lead role in “Mean Girls”. According to Fey, having Lohan as the villain wouldn’t work because her audience wouldn’t accept it. It was up to Fey to convey this decision to Lohan, who reluctantly agreed, saying something like, “Alright, I’ll play the lead role if that’s what it takes. At least I’ll have more lines to speak.

2. Prior to replacing Lindsay Lohan from the role of Regina, director Mark Waters auditioned various actresses to play Cady against her. One of these contenders was Rachel McAdams, who was 24 years old at the time.

According to Waters, he recalled observing her perform that particular scene and afterwards commented, “I believe you have the makings of a movie star, but this role seems too old for you. You won’t be able to pull off the ingenue.” To which she responded, “I see what you mean, I get it.

When the search began for a replacement Regina, McAdams was an obvious choice. As she put it to EW, “Mark suggested that Cady might be a bit younger, but it fits well if Regina had matured prematurely.

3. McAdams wasn’t immediately given the role of Regina, as she had to convince the director to choose her over another potential co-star, Amanda Seyfried, who was initially favored for the villainous part before eventually playing the lovable character Karen in “Mamma Mia!” instead.

According to Waters, she auditioned for the role in Regina and showcased an impressive intellect, unlike Rachel’s style. Her portrayal was both eerie and unsettling, yet less intimidating than expected. Waters mentioned that it was Lorne Michaels who recommended her for “the dumb girl” role.

He continued, “So she came in and read it and nailed it, and we got the best of both worlds.”

4. It’s hard to envision “Mean Girls” without Tim Meadows and Amy Pohler in their roles as Mr. Duvall and Mrs. George, but according to Waters, Paramount had reservations.

In a conversation with Vulture, he mentioned that Paramount had an unusual apprehension towards “Saturday Night Live”. Since they had faced setbacks with some movies produced by Lorne for the show, they were hesitant to include too many “Saturday Night Live” actors in “Mean Girls”, as it could give off the impression of an “SNL” movie and potentially deter people from watching it.

In a discussion, it was mentioned that Meadows, who was featured in a less successful remake of “The Ladies Man” by Paramount, had numerous disagreements with the studio, as stated by Waters.

5. It was great that Waters helped cast Poehler since she turned out to be crucial in making mathlete Kevin Gnapoor’s talent-show rap a reality. Interestingly, Fey allowed her former Weekend Update co-anchor to write the catchy tune for actor Rajiv Surendra.

Water shared that Amy deserves recognition for teaching him rap skills since she’s more experienced in that area. In fact, Amy guided him through the rapping process, even providing some moves and dance routines.

6. When Paramount submitted “Mean Girls” to the MPAA for a rating, they attempted to assign it an R rating surprisingly. The studio then had to argue their case to guarantee that the film’s targeted teenage audience would be able to watch it in theaters.

In 2018, Fey shared with Variety that even in a PG-13 movie, many elements had to be removed. She recalled thinking, “If this were a film about a boys’ school, ‘Have you lost your virginity?’ wouldn’t have to be censored.” Instead, they used the more innocent phrase, “Is your muffin buttered?” Not all changes were made by the filmmakers, though.

In my own words, I’d express it as follows: “The boundary I set was the joke regarding a wide-spaced woman, as I shared with Vulture. The ratings board asserted that they wouldn’t grant a PG-13 rating unless I removed that line. We argued that they were being sexist, given that Anchorman had been rated PG-13 despite Ron Burgundy having an explicit scene, and we pointed out that their claim was discriminatory towards female audiences. Ultimately, they were forced to reconsider their stance, acknowledging that such a restriction would be disrespectful to all women.

7. It was Jonathan Bennett who inquired about the date from Lohan, specifically on October 3, but there were several other candidates vying for the part of Aaron Samuels.

Back in 2014, Daniel Franzese (the actor who portrayed Damian) disclosed during an interview with Cosmopolitan that the role initially was intended for a well-known actor. However, he ended up being dismissed during the initial script reading.

In a cautious manner, Franzese noted that another performer hadn’t trimmed his beard and didn’t remove his hat. He was pulling off a nonchalant act quite well. Franzese, not wanting to disclose the actor and potentially cause him embarrassment, explained how people would approach him, suggesting he should take off his hat. However, shortly after the initial script reading, the actor was let go, and Jonathan Bennett was summoned instead, apparently being their backup pick.

8. Not only did Franzese reveal more information, but he also mentioned an additional detail: “Additionally, Lindsay shared with me that James Franco had been considered for the role of Aaron Samuels prior to the actor who was eventually let go,” he continued. “I found that fascinating; Bennett did a fantastic job, but having James Franco in that part would have been intriguing as well.

9. Although Aaron might not initially have considered Bennett for the role, the actor claims he landed it due to a strong resemblance to Fey’s previous Weekend Update co-anchor, Jimmy Fallon. As he explained to Huffington Post in 2015, “She confirmed that’s one hundred percent accurate.

10. According to Fey’s interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2014, she stated that she prefers using real names when writing because it’s simpler. For example, the character Glen Coco, who appears infrequently and is addressed but not seen much, was named after her older brother’s friend.

She clarified to the media outlet: “He works as a movie editor in Los Angeles, and I guess it must be quite challenging for him.” She added, “I was surprised when someone told me they sell shirts at Target with the phrase ‘You go, Glen Coco!’

Characters in the series bearing real names? For instance, Lizzy Caplan’s character Janis Ian is named after the musician who graced one of the earliest musical stages on Saturday Night Live. Similarly, the character Damian shares its name with Tina Fey’s high school best friend and current TV Guide writer, Damian Holbrook. Interestingly, Cady, another character, was named after Tina Fey’s college roommate, Cady Garey.

11. Apart from penning an outstanding screenplay for the movie, Fey also acted in Mean Girls, portraying Ms. Norbury, the math teacher and Mathletes advisor. However, when it came to the mathematical terms she wrote herself to speak on screen, she was clueless about their meaning.

In her conversation with the New York Times in 2004, she explained that her actions were aimed at challenging the belief that girls can’t excel in math. However, she admitted that she didn’t fully comprehend what she was saying during that time. To make the script accurate, she borrowed lesson plans from a calculus teacher who was her friend’s boyfriend, based in the Bronx.

12. The movie Mean Girls is inspired by the parenting guidebook Queen Bees and Wannabees: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, and Other Realities of Adolescence written by Rosalind Wiseman. Since it doesn’t have a fictional storyline to follow, Tina Fey was able to use her own high school experiences as a foundation for the plot while maintaining the authenticity of what Wiseman described in her book.

The author has largely appreciated Fey’s interpretation of her work, with one notable exception: She unequivocally expressed in an interview with The Atlantic in 2014 that she is not a fan of trust falls. “I never have and never will participate in trust falls,” she stated emphatically. When she first saw it, her reaction was immediate disapproval: “Tina, I don’t do that.

13. Recall that instance when Amy Poehler’s character, Mrs. George, was unaware that her pet was biting into her silicone implant while she held it? Let me explain the trick they used to create that scene.

McAdams shared with EW, “They attached a tiny hot dog fragment to her bra.” She recalled the scene vividly, as she feared the dog would attack her. Despite the unusual distraction, she maintained her professionalism while delivering her lines and dealing with the dog gnawing on her prosthetic breast. The memory remains etched in her mind.

14. As Franzese explained, an initial scene for Damian was removed from the script prior to filming. This original ending would have revealed what became of Damian after his junior year, with plans for him to try out for American Idol. Simon Cowell was supposed to call him chubby and then he would storm the stage, intending to punch him, according to what Franzese shared with Cosmo.

According to what the actor shared with the magazine, the original ending underwent numerous changes. One of these alterations involved a scene where Mrs. Norbury catches Kevin G selling ecstasy, which leads to suspicions about her as a drug dealer, since there were actually drugs found in her desk when she was being investigated.

In a conversation about Janis and Damian trying to get Kevin G. to admit responsibility for a punishment, they persuade him to go to the school board. However, Kevin G doesn’t appear, so Damian steps up on stage and falsely confesses, pretending it was him, in an attempt to shield Miss Norbury.

15. Fey initially refused to pen a sequel to the successful movie, a decision she later expressed regret over. As she explained to Entertainment Weekly in 2014, “At one point we did discuss the possibility of a sequel, and for some unknown reason I said, ‘No!!! We shouldn’t do that!'” Now, when looking back, she wonders, “Why?” However, at this stage, it’s too late to reconsider.

Back in 2018, I shared with Variety that perhaps it’s for the best, as we can now channel all our energy into this endeavor.

She is the author of the “Mean Girls” musical, which she co-wrote with her husband Jeff Richmond, who is also known for his work on “30 Rock”. This musical premiered in 2017 and later opened on Broadway in April 2018. That year, it was nominated for a total of 12 Tony Awards and 9 Drama Desk Awards, winning Fey the award for Outstanding Book of a Musical at the latter. The success of this musical also served as inspiration for the upcoming “Mean Girls” musical in 2024.

As a lifestyle expert, I must share my insights on the intriguing world of entertainment. While a proper sequel to the iconic “Mean Girls” has yet to be produced, a spin-off movie titled “Mean Girls 2” graced our screens in 2011. This made-for-TV production aired on ABC Family (now Freeform) and, unlike its predecessor, was a self-contained story with no direct connection to the original film aside from Tim Meadows reprising his role as the school’s principal. Regrettably, it was not met with widespread acclaim.

Fast-forwarding to 2024, the world of “Mean Girls” expanded yet again, this time in the form of a movie adaptation of the musical. In this production, Angourie Rice donned the role of Cady Heron, while Reneé Rapp reprised her Broadway role as Regina George. The talented ensemble also included Bebe Wood as Gretchen Wieners, Avantika as Karen Smith, Jaquel Spivey as Damian Hubbard, Auli’i Cravalho as Janis Ian, and Christopher Briney as Aaron Samuels. This exciting new chapter in the “Mean Girls” saga promises to continue captivating audiences worldwide!

Read More

2025-04-30 10:18