Daniel Franzese wasn’t out when he starred as Damian, an openly gay character in “Mean Girls.” He and actor Jonathan Bennett secretly confided in each other about their sexuality while filming, but Daniel wasn’t ready to make a public announcement at the time. Ten years after “Mean Girls” first came out, Daniel came out on his own terms.
He penned a poignant letter to his character Damian, which was published on IndieWire in April 2014. Daniel shares, “My friends and family all knew the truth, but now it’s time everyone does. Perhaps this will help someone else.” He also credited a big part of his journey to playing an openly gay character back in 2004, telling Damian, “Looking back, it took YOU to teach me how to be proud of myself again.”
It Was Tina Fey’s First Feature Film
When Tina Fey had the idea for “Mean Girls,” she wasn’t the Hollywood powerhouse she is today. She was pretty well known for her comedic timing and writing skills as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live,” but she didn’t have a reputation for creating blockbuster movies. All of that changed with her first screenplay.
Tina Fey used her connections to shop around her screenplay. Lorne Michaels, her long-time boss and creator of “SNL,” helped her along by agreeing to produce the film. Lorne knew Tina could create something really special because he was already familiar with her work ethic and comedic skills. We’re glad everyone involved in the movie took a leap of faith because they ended up creating a great movie.
An Improvised Line
Damian’s line, “I want my pink shirt back!” has become one of the most quotable quips from “Mean Girls.” Because it’s so iconic, the person who actually wrote it may come as a surprise. Actor Daniel Franzese improvised the line “...and I want my pink shirt back!” when his character Damian was driving Janis around outside Cady’s party.
That’s right. “I want my pink shirt back!” wasn’t in the original script. Franzese thought of the line during rehearsals, yelled it out while filming, and Tina later approved it to stay in the final cut. Rumor has it that Franzese wanted to add an expletive to the line, but director Mark Waters didn’t want an R-rated film. Instead, Franzese just yells the line twice.
Casting Musical Chairs
During the casting process, Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams had almost completely different roles. Casting directors were pretty convinced that Lindsay was going to be Regina George and Rachel was going to be Cady Heron. However, they had the two switch roles for several reasons.
One of the main reasons Rachel McAdams was given the role of Regina George was because she was older than Lindsay Lohan. Rachel, who was 25 at the time of filming, was already a pretty established actress at the time. The casting directors sensed that Lindsay was a bit intimidated by Rachel’s experience. They thought that natural intimidation would play well into the characters, so they had Lindsay play Cady, who was a more meek and naive character than Regina.
Cady in the “Hoop”
Jewelry plays an unexpectedly big part in “Mean Girls.” Costume designer Mary Jane Fort used hoop earrings as a subtle way to tell us who was and wasn’t in The Plastics’ inner circle. You may remember that Regina George doesn’t allow any of her friends to wear hoop earrings because they’re “her thing.”
Once Regina gets kicked out of The Plastics, Cady Heron wears bold pink hoops at her party. Cady wearing hoops indicates that Regina is no longer the queen bee. She’s been dethroned by Cady, who can now wear hoops whenever she pleases. Who knew hoop earrings could hold such significance?
A Writing Inconsistency
Filming a movie requires a ton of different takes for a single scene. With all those different takes, it’s no wonder that some discrepancies turn up from time to time. There’s a very subtle and quick discrepancy that we’re pretty sure not many people see when they watch the movie.
In the scene where Regina George pulls out the Burn Book in a Kalteen-induced rage, the handwriting on the page changes. As Regina writes her entry in bright red Sharpie, it seems that there were at least two different versions of that page used when filming the scene. You can really see the different styles of handwriting when you look at the “m” in “met.”
Damian’s Fandom
When “Mean Girls” became an unexpected hit and cultural phenomenon, there were some unexpected negative aspects to the cast members’ new-found fame. Daniel Franzese’s Damian character became such a fan favorite that he would get accosted on the street by mobs of teen girls. He was even forced to move because of all the attention!
He shared with Cosmopolitan that he used to live in New York next to an all-girls school. He never paid it much mind until the students would gather around him asking for autographs before and after their classes. He felt like he couldn’t go outside in his own neighborhood, so he moved somewhere farther away from the film’s target audience.
Happy “Mean Girls” Day!
Any fan probably already knows that “Mean Girls” has its own unofficial holiday. Just in case you aren’t aware, listen up and mark your calendars. October 3rd is “Mean Girls” Day. So, how did October 3rd become synonymous with this classic teen comedy? Well, it’s right in the script. Lindsay Lohan’s character, Cady, has a major crush on the character Aaron Samuels. In one scene, Cady’s voiceover says, “On October 3rd, he asked me what day it was.”
In-scene, Aaron turns around in class to ask what day it is, and Cady ecstatically replies that it’s October 3rd. That simple line has since launched a thousand ships, metaphorically speaking. “Mean Girls” fans celebrate October 3rd every year by wearing pink, rewatching the movie, or posting the meme version of this iconic scene on social media.
From Abercrombie to the Big Screen
Actor Jonathan Bennett, who plays hunk and love interest, Aaron Samuels, was working at Abercrombie & Fitch when he learned that he was cast in the film. He recalls learning that he got the part while working a shift at the store. “I think I was shirtless or something,” Jonathan told Cosmopolitan.
He was shocked when he checked his phone on his break and found a message from his agent informing him he got the part. He was so shocked, in fact, that he had a brain fart and told his agent that he’d have to finish his shift before discussing the details. His agent snapped him back to reality and reminded him that he didn’t have to finish his shift because he had a legit, full-time acting gig. Jonathan quit right there on the spot.
A Never-Seen Spin-Off
Believe it or not, there was almost a spin-off movie to “Mean Girls.” The spin-off was titled “Mean Moms,” but it never came to fruition. Like the original movie, this “Mean Moms” spin-off was also supposedly based on a book by Rosalind Wiseman. There was some buzz around the spin-off movie in the mid-2010s, but nothing happened.
Rumors circulated around the internet that actress Jennifer Aniston was slated to star in “Mean Moms,” but we can neither confirm nor deny it. Since there has been no news about “Mean Moms” even ten years later, we’re assuming it became another Hollywood project that got shelved.
Aaron Samuels’ Hair
We all know that Aaron Samuels’ hair looks sexy pushed back, but no one truly knows how much effort went into his look. Actor Jonathan Bennett shared in a Cosmopolitan interview that he would often be in the makeup chair longer than most of his female costars. Since Aaron was the love interest, the director wanted him to look perfectly groomed at all times.
Jonathan shared that for his first shot in the movie when the audience sees his character for the first time in the close-up, he was actually sent back to hair and makeup to do his hair more. Director Mark Waters wanted Jonathan’s hair to be more smooth and “buttery.”
The Nice Member of the Plastics
The Plastics are the notorious mean girl group of the school, but we have a sneaking suspicion that one of them is actually nice. If you go back and rewatch the movie, you’ll notice that Amanda Seyfried’s character, Karen, isn’t actually that mean. She never says anything mean to anyone. Instead, she just goes with the flow and follows the lead of her co-conspirators, Regina and Gretchen.
If you need further proof that Karen was actually nice, it should be noted that she never, ever wrote in the notorious Burn Book. That light pink book and all the content inside were the work of none other than Regina George and her sidekick, Gretchen Wieners. It seems that Karen was more of an insecure girl who just got swept up with the stronger personalities of her friends.
“I Can’t Help It If I Have a…”
One look at the beginning of that line, and any “Mean Girls” fan can easily complete the phrase. As any fan knows, that line spoken by the character Bethany in the high school gym became one of the most famous and quotable lines from the entire movie. But did you know that it almost didn’t make the final cut of the film?
As the film crew was toning down the racy jokes in “Mean Girls,” the studio executives voiced concern over the “heavy flow” line. However, that was the one line Tina Fey, Mark Waters, and the rest of the crew did not want to cut. They wouldn’t budge in their conviction. Tina even personally wrote a letter of appeal to the powers that be to keep the line. All their stubbornness worked, and it paid off.
The “Mean Girls” Soundtrack
As an avid rewatcher of “Mean Girls,” you probably know the songs that play in the background by heart. Surprisingly, a lot of the songs that have become synonymous with the movie aren’t even on the official soundtrack. For example, Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” isn’t an official song. This seems wild because Damian’s performance at the talent show is so iconic.
Other songs that aren’t on the official soundtrack are “Pass That Dutch” by Missy Elliott and “Naughty Girl” by our queen Beyoncé. These two songs, in particular, are synonymous with “Mean Girls.” We bet you can picture the scenes as soon as you hear the song. Nevertheless, they’re nowhere to be found on the Spotify soundtrack playlist.
The Pink Stink
Lindsay Lohan gave “pink” a whole new meaning when shooting began for “Mean Girls.” She sadly had to miss her first day of work due to a nasty case of pink eye. Poor thing! Okay, she didn’t actually miss the very first day because all the actors had been rehearsing, going to costume fittings, and memorizing their lines.
She missed the first day of shooting on set because of her eye infection. The first scene that was supposed to be shot for the movie was when Kevin G introduces himself to Cady and hands out his classy business card. That obviously didn’t happen. We wonder what they shot instead while Lindsay was recovering.
The Movie Had a Small Budget
We take it for granted that huge stars like Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams starred in “Mean Girls.” However, many fans are surprised when they learn that “Mean Girls” was made on a relatively small budget. Filmmakers only had $17 million to produce one of the most memorable movies of the century.
That may seem like a lot of money, but it’s not that much compared to other movies that were made around the same time. Also, the “Mean Girls” actors weren’t paid a lot compared to other, higher-profile movies being made. For example, Lindsay Lohan was only paid $1 million to star in the movie. That may seem like a lot, but it’s not that much by Hollywood standards.
Cady’s Plastic Dress
Designer Mary Jane Fort skillfully created all the costumes for “Mean Girls.” She knew that a big part of her job was conveying each character’s personality through clothing, so she designed each look with care. Lindsay Lohan even helped style a few of Cady’s costumes. The pink-and-black dress that Cady wears to her party was a collaboration between Lindsay and Mary.
According to Mary, Lindsay suggested adding a bright pink bra to the strapless dress. Lindsay and Mary Jane also decided to match the bright pink earrings with the bra to show that it was intentional and try-hard. Her black choker is improvised with a piece of leather from an old bracelet to signify that Cady still has some of the “old her” inside even though she’s a Plastic.
The Movie Has Strong Connections to SNL
When “Mean Girls” came out, we all knew Tina Fey as that “Weekend Update” lady from “Saturday Night Live.” Tina made her first feature film a labor of love and involved many of her “SNL” castmates and friends. First off, “Mean Girls” was produced by none other than Lorne Michaels, the creator of “SNL.”
In addition, three heavy hitters from “SNL” had roles in the movie. “SNL” fans who saw “Mean Girls” in theaters were thrilled to see Amy Poehler, Tim Meadows, and Ana Gasteyer appear on the big screen. Undoubtedly, these “SNL” alumni brought the screenplay to life and made the movie even more hilarious with their on-screen chemistry and friendship.
The Real Glen Coco
Glen Coco is only featured in “Mean Girls” for a few seconds, but he’s somehow become one of the movie’s most iconic characters. Although the name “Glen Coco” sounds like a pseudonym that someone would make up as a joke, it’s 100% legit. The character of Glen Coco was named after one of Tina Fey’s real-life friends.
The real Glen’s name is spelled “Glen Cocco,” but that probably doesn’t stop people from recognizing him all the time. According to Tina, Glen Cocco is a film editor who lives in Los Angeles. The poor guy probably still hears, “Four for you, Glen Coco. You go, Glen Coco!” all these years later.
The Real “Mean Girl”
We know Tina Fey as a witty, smart comedian who advocates for women. But Tina has admitted that her own high school experience was very, well, “Plastic.” As she was writing the screenplay for “Mean Girls,” she reflected upon her own high school behaviors and realized that she was, in fact, toxic.
She confided in a New York Times interview back in 2014 that she remembers acting out “futile, poisonous, bitter" behaviors that she realizes served no purpose. We’ve all been there, to a certain degree. Thankfully, Tina grew out of those behaviors as she got older. Otherwise, we might not have this classic comedy film!
“Homeschooled”
There is a lot that goes on behind all the Hollywood magic we see on the big screen. Between edits, casting changes, and feedback from producers, a movie can often look completely different at the end compared to the beginning concept. The same thing happened to “Mean Girls,” but we think it was for the best.
Before it was called “Mean Girls,” it was called “Homeschooled.” Yeah, “Mean Girls” is a much better name, right? Originally, Tina Fey named it “Homeschooled” because Cady Heron was going to be a character who grew up in Illinois but was homeschooled her entire life. The name was workshopped and changed, thankfully.
Tim Meadows Actually Broke His Wrist
Remember how Principal Duvall was wearing a cast during the entire movie? Well, that cast was real. Actor Tim Meadows broke his hand about a week before filming began. He was afraid that his injury would cause him to lose his role as Ron, but Tina was flexible and wrote the cast into the script.
Tina and the “Mean Girls” crew explained away Tim’s cast by inserting a line about Principal Duvall’s carpal tunnel. It’s never addressed again in the movie, but that wasn’t a problem. Most of us forget that Principal Duvall is wearing a cast the entire time, anyway.
“I Love Your Skirt”
Regina George really solidified her villain status during the compliment scene. For those who need a refresher, Regina and Cady are talking in the school hallway when another girl walks by wearing a plaid skirt. Regina stops the girl and says, “Oh my god, I love your skirt.” Once the girl walks away, thrilled that the popular Regina George loves her outfit, Regina turns to Cady and says, “That’s the ugliest effing skirt I’ve ever seen.”
As it turns out, this scene was based on someone Tina Fey knew in real life: her mom. Tina’s mom, Jeanne Fey, had the habit of complimenting strangers in public if she thought their outfit was really ugly. Tina would always tell her mom how mean it was, but that didn’t stop her from throwing around fake compliments. Who knew the ultimate mean girl was based on the creator’s own mom?
A Not-So-Real Setting
North Shore High School isn’t a real school, but it’s based on a very real location. North Shore High was modeled off New Trier High School in Evanston, Illinois. According to the students who attend the school, it’s common knowledge that the famous flick used their school as inspiration.
While many students of New Trier say that the movie plays up stereotypes, it’s not too far off in regard to cliques and social hierarchies. One of the reasons “Mean Girls” has stayed relevant for all these years is because it perfectly captures the catty, superficial, and often stressful social aspects of high school and being a teenager.
Not So Fetch
Many of the actors in “Mean Girls” have had their careers defined by the movie. For better or worse, many of them still get stopped on the street or tweeted at by complete strangers who want to quote the movie to their faces. Lacey Chabert shared that she still gets hundreds, if not thousands, of people tweeting her fetch-related jokes.
While the attention can be nice, it’s not always appreciated. Lacey shared with “Entertainment Weekly” that she tried to pick up medicine from the pharmacy one time when she was really sick, only to be confronted by a “Mean Girls” fan. Unfortunately, that fan was the pharmacist. Lacey had to humor them in order to get her medicine.
A Minor Slip-Up
Rachel McAdams accidentally breaks the fourth wall in one scene of the film, but it’s an Easter egg that’s hard to notice. Rachel, who plays Regina George, glances at the camera for a split second in the “skirt scene.” While Regina is talking to Cady in the hallway, she stops a girl and compliments her on her plaid skirt. Once the girl walks away, Regina tells Cady, “That is the ugliest effing skirt I’ve ever seen.”
As Regina finishes saying that line, she stares into the camera with a slightly crazed look in her eyes. It’s almost as if Regina is bringing us into her little mean game along with Cady. Whether this breaking of the fourth wall was an accident or done on purpose, it’s a fun Easter egg that only true fans are aware of.
Tina Fey, the Math Whiz
Tina Fey plays Ms. Norbury, an exhausted 30-something who famously teaches 12th-grade Calculus at North Shore High. Tina’s decision to have this character be a math teacher was very intentional. Tina wanted to push against the stereotype that women aren’t good at math. Ms. Norbury is a guiding light for Cady, often providing words of wisdom when she needs them most.
Having Ms. Norbury fulfill that role while being a math teacher is a clever way to advocate for change in a world that is often full of sexist stereotypes. It should be noted, however, that Tina Fey has openly admitted that she’s not good at math. At least she did a great job acting like she knew what she was talking about!
A Man of Many Talents
We all know and love Kevin G, the “Mean Girls” nerd played by Rajiv Surendra. Rajiv hit a home run with his immaculate performance, but he quickly disappeared from Hollywood after his “Mean Girls” debut. So, what happened to him? After getting rejected for the starring role in “The Life of Pi,” Rajiv decided to follow a different career path.
Rajiv now owns his own calligraphy business and channels his creativity and artistry into various other channels. He works with HGTV to create tutorials and how-to videos. In addition, he started his own YouTube channel where he creates creative content around cooking, hosting, crafting, and so much more.
The Truth Behind Regina’s Hair
Move over, Gretchen Weiners. It turns out Regina George’s hair was actually full of secrets. When Rachel McAdams snagged the role of Regina, she didn’t want to bleach her own hair. As a compromise, she was given a $10,000 wig to wear as part of her costume. No wonder her hair always looks so perfect and frizz-free!
The fact that Regina George’s hair is technically fake gives new significance to a specific line in the movie. When one of the mathletes says, “I hear her hair’s insured for $10,000,” that might have been the screenwriter’s way of incorporating the wig into the movie.
Rosalind Wiseman’s Movie Deal
Rosalind Wiseman’s book, “Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence,” came out in 2002 and she immediately began getting offers for movie and TV rights. However, she wasn’t very impressed.
According to Wiseman, she thought a lot of the ideas were cheesy and wouldn’t do her self-help book justice. Then, Tina Fey came around. Wiseman, who was already familiar with the comedian’s work, was impressed by Tina’s ideas. Wiseman told Biography that she found a lot of success in her life by collaborating with women who are smart and funny, and she knew that Tina fit that category.
Lindsay’s “Mean Girl” Fear
Although Lindsay Lohan originally tried out for the role of Regina George, they offered her the role of Cady. Lindsay didn’t want to play the “nice girl” in the movie, but her team convinced her to take the role. One of the big reasons they pushed for Lindsay to take the role of Cady was because of her reputation and public perception.
Lindsay and her team realized that playing the ultimate “mean girl” character of Regina could potentially ruin her squeaky-clean, approachable image. Acting as Cady would only bolster Lindsay’s down-to-earth, “nice girl” reputation. It worked out because Cady is still one of Lindsay’s most memorable roles.
Daniel’s Letter to Damian
Daniel Franzese wasn’t out when he starred as Damian, an openly gay character in “Mean Girls.” He and actor Jonathan Bennett secretly confided in each other about their sexuality while filming, but Daniel wasn’t ready to make a public announcement at the time. Ten years after “Mean Girls” first came out, Daniel came out on his own terms.
He penned a poignant letter to his character Damian, which was published on IndieWire in April 2014. Daniel shares, “My friends and family all knew the truth, but now it’s time everyone does. Perhaps this will help someone else.” He also credited a big part of his journey to playing an openly gay character back in 2004, telling Damian, “Looking back, it took YOU to teach me how to be proud of myself again.”
The Kevin G Rap Was Really, Really Important
Kevin G’s infamous rap has gone down in cinematic history as one of the funniest moments of the film. It seems that Tina Fey knew just how important that scene was to the whole film. She recorded a practice version of the rap with Amy Poehler and Lindsay Lohan in their hotel room to show actor Rajiv Surendra how it was done.
Amy did the rap while Tina and Lindsay beatboxed in the background. At the time, Rajiv thought it was all a big joke and didn’t take the rap scene that seriously. However, Tina emphasized that the Kevin G character really, truly cared about his rap career. As a result, Rajiv had to perform the rap in earnest. That outlook changed his approach to the scene and gave us the hilarious-yet-unironic performance that we know and love today.
A “Mean Girls” Reunion?
Although “Mean Girls” is a movie beloved by millions of people in Girl World, there’s never been a sequel featuring the entire original cast. Tina Fey was against the idea of making a sequel during the first few years after “Mean Girls” was released, even though Lindsay Lohan was all for it. Looking back, Tina regrets not making a sequel when so many original cast members were willing to do so.
However, that interest might still be there. Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, and Amanda Seyfried are just a few of the main cast members who have publicly expressed being open to reprising their iconic roles. Even if a sequel doesn’t happen, most of the original cast has at least reunited virtually. Tina Fey, Lindsay, Lacey, and many others attended a virtual “Mean Girls Reunion” with Katie Couric in 2020 as part of a voter registration campaign.
“Mean Girls: The Musical”
The Broadway musical production of “Mean Girls” closed in 2020. If you didn’t get a chance to see the stage production, have no fear. Tina Fey announced that they are adapting the musical into a movie. It’s fittingly called “Mean Girls: The Musical.” While Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams haven’t signed on, fans are excited because Tina is heavily involved in the project.
The stage play adaptation will have all the lines and scenes that fans love from the original movie but with music and catchy lyrics involved. Tina will reprise her role as Ms. Norbury, and Tim Meadows will return as the principal. “Mean Girls” fans are crossing their fingers that they have a hit on their hands.
The “Mean Girls” Set
Most people know that even though “Mean Girls” takes place in Evanston, Illinois, it wasn’t even shot there. Most of the movie was shot in Toronto, Canada. However, most people don’t know the specific locations that were used to make the setting look like an average upscale American high school.
Most of the school settings in the movie were filmed at Etobicoke Collegiate Institute and Malvern Collegiate Institute. It’s kind of ironic that the high school scenes were filmed on college campuses, but that’s what we call “movie magic.” One American high school was used as a filming location. Some scenes take place at Montclair High School in Montclair, New Jersey.
Amanda Seyfried, Who?
The Karen Smith we know and love in “Mean Girls” may have been very different. A young Blake Lively tried out for the role of Karen Smith, the well-meaning but airheaded member of The Plastics. Meanwhile, Amanda Seyfried had her heart set on playing Regina George.
While most of the casting directors really wanted to hire Blake for the role of Karen, producer Lorne Michaels heavily suggested casting Amanda for that role. At the time, both Blake and Amanda were just starting out in their careers. Amanda accepted the role of Karen when the filmmakers offered it to her simply because she wanted to be involved in the movie regardless of the role she played. Thankfully, Blake being passed up for the role didn’t negatively affect her career.
“Cold, Shiny, Hard Plastic”
The costume designer for “Mean Girls” paid a subtle homage to The Plastics in one particular scene. In the scene where Regina, Gretchen, Karen, and Cady perform their provocative “Jingle Bell Rock” number at the school talent show, all of their red skirts are made of plastic.
It’s not super noticeable, but the decision was a deliberate one. Costume designer Mary Jane Fort had the girls’ skirts specially made out of red plastic material to highlight their “Plastics” moniker. The scene shows a pivotal moment when Cady finds herself enveloped in Regina’s world. Fort told Vanity Fair, that Santa Claus would never get away with such a thing.
A Memorable Birthday
Lacey Chabert turned 21 during the filming of “Mean Girls.” Turning 21 is a pretty big deal, and Lacey got to celebrate in the best way possible. On the day of her birthday, Lacey and her fellow castmates were shooting a scene at a shopping mall. After shooting wrapped, the cast and crew surprised her with a giant cake.
She shared in an interview that about 500 people were in the mall at the time, and they all started singing “Happy Birthday.” Understandably, it was quite overwhelming, and Lacey was a little embarrassed by all the attention. Ever the professional, she took it in stride.
The Film Has Bookish Origins
“Mean Girls” is partially based on a parenting book from the early naughts. It was called “Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence” by Rosalind Wiseman. Tina Fey was reading the book when the idea for “Mean Girls” popped into her brain.
Tina knew that the plight of high school cliques and growing pains were all too relatable, so she based her screenplay on Wiseman’s book. “Queen Bees” had just come out a couple of years before “Mean Girls,” and Wiseman signed a pretty sweet deal for the film rights to her book. Little did she know that her book would be the inspiration for a cultural stalwart of the early 2000s.
Cady’s Real Name
Like many other characters in “Mean Girls,” Lindsay Lohan’s character, Cady Heron, is named after someone Tina Fey knew in real life. She named the main character of her first feature film after her college roommate. Tina attended the University of Virginia in the late 80s and early 90s, where she studied drama.
Her roommate's name was Cady Garey. Tina was good friends with Cady all throughout college, and the “Mean Girls” main character is obviously named after her, especially when you consider that “Cady” isn’t a common way to spell that particular name. Who knows if the real Cady was surprised to see her name on the big screen all those years later?
Fey Invented Fetch
“Fetch” may have never caught on, but that was kind of the point. Gretchen Wieners’ desperate attempt to make “fetch” happen was cleverly written into the script by Tina Fey. Tina intentionally wrote the joke with a word that wasn’t used as slang because she knew that if she did, it would eventually sound dated.
“Fetch” is a shortened version of “fetching,” which was never, ever a real-life slang word. Tina embraced the fact that she didn’t know what was “cool” at the time, and it ended up working out. In fact, “fetch” became a catchphrase that fans started using as slang. We guess Gretchen’s dreams did come true after all.
Singing Solo
You know the scene where Damian is singing Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” at the talent show? Well, the reality of filming that scene was a lot different than what we saw on the silver screen. Actor Daniel Franzese was actually singing without an audience when they filmed the scene.
Daniel revealed that the only person in the audience when he sang “Beautiful” was his mom, which is both sweet and hilarious. They went back and did some movie magic, filming a few shots of Damian from behind where you can see the audience. So, if he was singing to an empty auditorium, was it his mom who threw the shoe at his face?
A “Mean” Debut
Believe it or not, “Mean Girls” was Amanda Seyfried’s debut movie role. She was only 19 years old when she played Karen Smith, the most aloof member of The Plastics. Having modeled and acted in a few TV soap operas as a child, Amanda had experience in the entertainment industry by the time she snagged this breakthrough role. However, filming a movie was a whole different beast, and she was pretty nervous.
Amanda had just graduated from high school and had never experienced working on a professional movie set. Thankfully, she took the plunge. Plus, her cast members made her feel supported the entire time. She told Entertainment Weekly that you only get so many breaks in your life, and she just wanted to be in the movie.
Silicon vs. Silicone
A true science nerd was probably the first person to discover this hidden Easter egg in “Mean Girls.” In the scene where Cady asks her science teacher if she can go to the bathroom, you see a chalkboard with a list of chemical elements in the background. Well, one of them is not like the others.
One of the elements is spelled incorrectly! Instead of the element “silicon,” someone had the clever idea to write “silicone.” While silicon is a natural element, silicone is a man-made substance often used in plastic surgery. Did the set designers decide to include this Easter egg as a clever reference to The Plastics?
“Mean Girls” Lives On
“Mean Girls” came out in 2004, but it still lives on in popular culture to this day. Ariana Grande recreated the famous movie in her iconic music video for “thank u, next.” She plays her own version of the infamous Regina George. The music video also features several original cast members from the movie.
Even the actor who played heartthrob Aaron Samuels made a cameo appearance in Ariana’s video. “Being in Ariana's video was such a treat. When I put on the shirt, and they straightened my hair, I looked in the mirror, and it was like seeing an old friend,” Jonathan Bennett told Cosmopolitan.
On Wednesday, We Wear Pink
Everyone knows that on Wednesdays, you have to wear pink. Wearing pink indicated Cady’s first step into the world of The Plastics. The film’s costume designer also used pink to give us a clue into another character’s psyche. When we’re first introduced to Regina’s mom, June, she’s also wearing pink.
It’s never spoken out loud, but seeing June George in pink on a Wednesday visually lets the viewers know that she’s a mom who is desperate to cling to her youth. She’s obsessed with being cool and garnering approval from her daughter, much like everyone else at school. It’s through this subtle costume decision that June’s personality is reinforced for the viewer.
Cooking, “Mean Girls” Style
Plenty of celebrities ride the popularity of their famous movie roles. “Mean Girls” cast members are no different. The movie was a huge hit, and it launched many of the actors into super-stardom and larger acting roles. Jonathan Bennett, who played Aaron Samuels, came out with his own “Mean Girls”-themed cookbook in 2018.
Titled “The Burn Cookbook,” this parody book contains real recipes alongside behind-the-scenes stories from Bennett. The cookbook contains recipes like, “You Go, Glenn (Hot) Cocoa,” as well as some of Jonathan’s favorite recipes from his mom. We’d be lying if we said we weren’t tempted to buy it or check it out from our local library.
A “Wild” Tie-In
We bet you weren’t expecting “The Wild Thornberrys” to come up on this fun fact list, huh? Lacey Chabert was the voice of Eliza Thornberry on the popular Nickelodeon cartoon before she acted as Gretchen Wieners in “Mean Girls.” Oddly enough, Eliza’s backstory sounds a lot like Cady’s backstory in “Mean Girls.”
Before Cady moved to the States, she lived in Africa with her zoologist parents. Eliza Thornberry spent the duration of the cartoon show traveling across the African continent with her family, as well. Was Cady created as a “what-if” version of Eliza Thornberry? We may never know, but it’s an interesting theory to think about.
The Case of Ms. Norbury’s Pants
Try as directors might, every movie inevitably has a few continuity errors. There’s a pretty glaring continuity error in an early scene of “Mean Girls” that usually goes unnoticed until someone points it out. It has to do with Ms. Norbury’s pants in the opening classroom scene.
During Cady’s first day of school, she clumsily bumps into Ms. Norbury, played by Tina Fey. As a result, Ms. Norbury spills coffee all over herself and has to clean herself up. In the initial scene, Ms. Norbury is wearing dark gray pants. However, in the subsequent scenes, her pants are black. It could just be a lighting error, or it could be a costume design mistake. We’ll let you be the judge.
“Is Butter a Carb?”
Although they look pretty convincing in the movie, Kalteen bars are not real. There’s no Swedish company that produces these decadent power bars, unfortunately. However, so many people were convinced by the design of the Kalteen bar box and wrapper that many viewers took their existence for granted.
“Delish Magazine” decided to take matters into its own hands. They released their own speculative version of a Kalteen bar in 2015. These bars are more of a dessert instead of a health bar. Tons of peanut butter and chocolate abound. In case you’re wondering, yes, they contain a lot of butter.
Almost Aaron Samuels
Nobody could have played high school hunk Aaron Samuels better than Jonathan Bennett. He was a relatively unknown actor when he was cast, but he fits the character perfectly. However, casting directors were considering other, bigger names when searching for their heartthrob.
James Franco was considered for the role of Aaron. Franco didn’t make the cut, but the other big-name actor was actually cast as Aaron. Tina Fey and the other “Mean Girls” actors won’t reveal who this actor was, but he was fired. Apparently, he was unprofessional during early rehearsals, so they dumped him and brought on Jonathan Bennett as the runner-up.
Karen’s Secret Talent
Sweet, innocent Karen Smith is considered the most endearing member of The Plastics. She might not even be that mean, honestly. We learn a little bit more about her in the scene where she confided in Cady that she has “ESPN.” In that same scene, she also shares another weird talent.
“I can put my whole fist in my mouth. Wanna see?” she asks Cady. Naturally, Cady declines the offer. But Amanda Seyfried, who played Karen, actually has this weird talent. Ten years after her debut role as Karen Smith, Amanda participated in a “Mean Girls” quiz where she performed this supernatural act. Karen would be proud.
“Mean Girls” Part II
Most fans of the original movie have no idea that there was a sequel. It’s probably for the best because it was largely panned by critics and fans alike. The sequel, cleverly called “Mean Girls 2,” was a direct-to-TV movie that aired on ABC Family in 2011. For whatever reason, this “sequel” has pretty much nothing to do with the original movie.
Tim Meadows is the only original cast member who reprised his role in “Mean Girls 2.” Everyone else is completely new and has no relation to Regina, Cady, or any of the characters fans know and love. Many people tuned in to watch “Mean Girls 2” when it first aired, but most of them were disappointed by the lackluster storyline and production.
A Mother-Daughter Tiff
During the making of “Mean Girls,” there were plenty of scenes that were fully produced and edited that just didn’t make the cut. One of the scenes that was left on the cutting room floor was actually one of Tina Fey’s favorites. Well, at least on paper, it was.
There’s a scene where Cady and her mom are shopping for the Spring Fling dance at the mall. They each pick out different shoes and try to convince each other that their pair is the best. With each line, there’s a subtitle that shows what they’re actually saying to each other. For example, when Cady says, “Those are hideous,” she’s actually saying, “Everyone will know I’m [...] a loser!” It perfectly captures the common miscommunications between teens and parents.
“A Christmas Melody”
Back in 2015, none of us could have guessed that a cheesy Hallmark movie would be the “Mean Girls” crossover that we so desperately wanted. But it was. It’s a well-known fact that singer superstar Mariah Carey is a huge fan of “Mean Girls.” She knows the movie inside and out and can slay any trivia competition.
She brought that love for the movie to her directorial debut, casting one of her favorite “Mean Girls” actresses in a starring role. Lacey Chabert played the role of Kristin in Mariah Carey’s “A Christmas Melody.” Mariah conveniently starred alongside Lacey, no doubt living out one of her dreams.
A Hidden Treat
We all know and love Amy Poehler’s role as Regina George’s mom, June George. When we’re first introduced to her character, Gretchen Wieners tells Cady to pay attention to her plastic surgery. “They’re hard as rocks,” Gretchen quips. That line comes back to haunt Cady when June’s chihuahua starts happily chewing on June’s chest later in Regina’s room.
Presumably, June can’t feel the chihuahua going at it because of her implants, making for a hilarious scene. In order to pull off the scene, Amy Poehler hid pieces of cocktail sausage in her costume. She wanted to make sure the dog was obsessed with her fake chest, and the hidden treats did the trick.
A Subtle Foreshadowing
“Mean Girls” culminates in Regina George getting hit by a bus toward the end of the film. Although most of us know this movie like the back of our hand, there is some foreshadowing of this moment that you may have missed. The bus accident is actually foreshadowed twice in the film. The first moment that gives us a clue is pretty early on in the film.
Cady almost gets hit crossing the street on her first day of school. It’s a small moment that many of us take for granted, but it subconsciously plants that seed in our minds. The second instance of foreshadowing is when Cady says that her crush on Aaron “hit me like a big yellow school bus.”
An Alec Baldwin Tie-In
This fetch fact is weird but true. Alec Baldwin’s character in the 1992 film “Glengarry Glen Ross” is one of the many inspirations behind Regina George. As we all know, Regina is the Queen Bee of North Shore High School. She’s manipulative, mean (obviously), and gets pleasure out of controlling people.
All of those traits are present in Alec Baldwin’s character, as well. His famous “motivational” speech was a template for how the filmmakers wanted Rachel McAdams to approach her character. They even told her to watch the pivotal scene as part of her preparation. Who knew Alec Baldwin would have an appearance on this fun fact list?
Rated “R” for “Raunchy”
The original screenplay was much raunchier than the final product. Director Mark Waters and many of the cast members recall that the script had some R-rated jokes and adult-themed content in the beginning. The studio eventually decided to tone down the script because the movie’s target audience was girls and women between the ages of 12 and 25.
Out went the f-bombs, explicit innuendos, and salacious language. They even had to cut a scene where the character Damian smokes a cigarette while hanging out with Cady and Janis. Although an R-rating would have given the director more freedom to include racy jokes, everyone knew making it PG-13 was the right decision. It’s a movie about teenage girls, so teenage girls should be able to go see it in theaters without their parents.
November 27, 2003
This is a fun fact that only the most intense “Mean Girls” fans would know off the top of their heads. There’s a scene in the movie where Regina is popping a zit in the girl’s bathroom. Remember it? It’s okay if you don’t. It’s not a major scene, but there is a flyer on the wall advertising the winter talent show.
The thing is, the date for the talent show doesn’t make sense. It’s advertised as November 27, 2003. That year, November 27 was Thanksgiving. Since that’s a major American holiday, everyone would have been on vacation on the day the talent show was held.
A Box Office Hit
Although the movie had a small budget compared to other blockbusters, “Mean Girls” stole the box office when it came out. Filmmakers made “Mean Girls” with a relatively measly $17 million, but the movie took off and made a staggering $24.4 million during its opening weekend.
In comparison, “13 Going on 30,” starring Jennifer Garner, had a $37 million budget and was expected to be a box office hit. While the film was very successful, it paled in comparison to “Mean Girls.” Both films came out in April 2004, and “Mean Girls” made a whopping $130 million while it was out in theaters. “13 Going on 30” made $96.5 million.
Mark Waters Didn’t Want to Direct
When the script for “Mean Girls” started making the rounds, Mark Waters wasn’t interested. He had just finished directing “Freaky Friday” and was completely over high school storylines. However, his agent really pushed it and insisted that the screenplay was hilarious.
Mark told Cosmopolitan that they insisted he did, though, telling him it was brilliant and written by Tina Fey. Thankfully he read it and knew he just had to be in the movie. Having Lindsay Lohan join the cast was a major push for Mark to join as the director. Thankfully, he took the plunge and gave us one of the most memorable teen comedies in recent history. If he had decided against the project, he probably would have regretted it for life.
She’s Lebanese
At the end of “Mean Girls,” you probably remember Kevin G asking Janis Ian if she’s Puerto Rican. In response, Janis says that she’s Lebanese. It’s subtle, but this line is actually the punchline to a joke that began at the beginning of the movie. As we all remember, Regina George spread rumors about Janis, saying she was a lesbian who had a crush on her.
By Janis saying she’s Lebanese, Tina Fey revealed that the misunderstanding underlying the whole film is because Regina didn’t know the difference between “lesbian” and “Lebanese.” The lesbian/Lebanese wordplay is an homage to a long-running joke in the comedy world. Shows like “Glee” and “Golden Girls” have included jokes about people mixing up the two words.
Gretchen’s Revenge
As the leader of The Plastics, Regina George never let Karen or Gretchen wear hoop earrings. Hoop earrings were “her thing,” as Gretchen so passionately reveals to Cady in the girl’s bathroom. Gretchen wasn’t even “allowed” to wear the really nice hoop earrings her parents got her for Hanukkah for fear of Regina’s wrath.
Well, Gretchen gets to live her best life at the end of the movie. After The Plastics break up, everyone goes their separate ways and makes new memories at their high school. We see Gretchen seated with her new clique of friends in the cafeteria. Guess what? She’s wearing hoop earrings. We love that for her.
The Future Gretchen Wieners
It’s hard to imagine the character of insecure and bubbly Gretchen Wieners being played by anyone other than Lacey Chatbert. However, there was another recognizable name in the mix when filmmakers were casting for the part. Ashley Tisdale auditioned for the part of Gretchen Wieners but ultimately didn’t make the cut.
At the time, Ashley was trying to break into the biz. The making of “Mean Girls” was a few years before Ashley’s breakout role in “High School Musical,” so her name may not have had as much star power during her audition. Although the movie’s casting directors have shared that Ashley tried out, they’ve also revealed that she didn’t make the finals for Gretchen. Oh well.
A Musical Easter Egg
One fun fact is that Janis Ian from “Mean Girls” is named after a singer by the same name. The real-life Janis Ian was well-known in the 70s for her song “At Seventeen,” which is about the all-too-relatable pain of being a teenage girl. The song isn’t as well-known today, but Tina Fey thankfully recognized how appropriate it was for her movie.
The real Janis Ian had a cameo of sorts in the movie because “At Seventeen” was included in the film’s soundtrack. You may not have noticed before, but it plays in the background of a quieter scene in the movie. If you go back and rewatch the scene where Karen confides in Cady that she has “ESPN or something,” you can hear the real Janis Ian’s soothing voice playing in the background.
Plastics, Who?
It’s taken for granted that Regina George, Gretchen Weiners, and Karen Smith make up the ruling popular group called The Plastics. They dominate North Shore High, and everyone knows it. However, it may come as a surprise that Regina, Gretchen, and Karen never actually refer to themselves as The Plastics.
In fact, they might not even be aware that they have that moniker at all. Outcast high schoolers Janis Ian and Damian are the ones who clue Cady into their nickname for the group of fake girls. Is it mean to call them The Plastics? A little, but that’s kind of the point. No one in high school is immune to harmful social hierarchies, not even Regina.
Scheming and Plotting
Janis, Damian, and Cady’s plot to tear apart The Plastics is a big part of the plot. Their main method of taking down Regina George centered around those fatty Kalteen bars. However, there were many other sabotage scenes that just didn’t make the final cut. You can watch a lot of them online, and we’re honestly glad most of them were edited out.
Many of the sabotage scenes are just plain mean. For example, there’s a scene where Cady secretly rigs Regina’s scale to always read 112 pounds so that she wouldn’t realize what the Kalteen bars are doing to her body. Another scene shows Damian messing up The Plastics’ cafeteria table so that it falls on Regina.
“Too Pretty” for Janis?
Lizzy Caplan was “too pretty” for the role of Janis Ian, but they cast her because of her powerful performance during the audition process. Director Mark Waters envisioned Janis Ian as a “Kelly Osbourne” type, so they made sure Lizzy was goth-ified for the movie. Janis’ iconic black eyeliner and goth style are core memories for most of us. However, it actually had a negative effect on Lizzy’s career.
According to the actress, she couldn’t find any jobs after “Mean Girls.” Playing the “weird” girl left her typecast and unable to land the roles she was interested in. Thankfully, the stigma has slightly changed in Hollywood, and Lizzy was able to find work later on that really highlighted her acting talents instead of her looks.
The Real Janis
The character Janis Ian is named after a real person. Instead of pulling a name from her real life, Tina Fey named Janis after a singer-songwriter who was popular during the 60s and 70s. The real Janis Ian sang the song “At Seventeen” in 1975, which is a nice coincidence considering that “Mean Girls” is about a bunch of teenage girls in high school.
Another fun tie-in is that the real Janis Ian was actually the first musical guest on “Saturday Night Live.” Tina Fey owed a lot of her career to “Saturday Night Live” and Lorne Michaels, and this subtle homage to the show proves how much Tina appreciated the place where she got her start.
The Elephant Mix-Up
Moviemakers can’t get everything right. When Aaron is snooping in Cady’s room at her party, his heart melts when he sees a photo of a young Cady riding an elephant. Presumably, the photo was taken when Cady and her family still lived in Africa. However, there’s a glaringly obvious error that anyone who knows about African wildlife will notice pretty quickly.
The elephant in the photograph appears to be an Asian elephant, not an African elephant. The two look similar, but there are pretty obvious differences between the species. Asian elephants have smaller, rounder ears than their African counterparts. Also, the elephant in the photo doesn’t have tusks. Both male and female African elephants develop tusks, further proving that the filmmakers made a mistake.
The Toaster Strudel Origin Story
Gretchen Wieners loves to share the fact that her dad invented Toaster Strudel whenever she gets the chance. It’s a great joke because does anyone actually know who invented the Toaster Strudel? It’s not common knowledge, so Gretchen could be telling the truth for all we know.
In truth, Toaster Strudel was invented by a man whose last name is, unfortunately, not Weiners. The sweet treats were introduced by Pillsbury in 1985. Who knew it was that old of a product? We sure didn’t! The story goes that Pillsbury challenged one of their product developers, Joe Perozzi, to create a brand new breakfast item. The rest is icing.
Age Is Just a Number
Tina Fey wrote the role of Regina George’s mother with her friend Amy Poehler in mind. However, she was afraid that studio execs would cut Amy from the film because of her age. Contrary to what usually happens in Hollywood, some people thought Amy was too young to play Regina’s mom.
Tina’s worries were unfounded. Amy didn’t get cut and ended up killing it in the role. One of the main reasons Tina was probably worried is because Rachel McAdams and Amy are actually pretty close in age. The two actresses are only seven years apart. Rachel was 25, and Amy was 32 at the time of filming.
An Un-”Beautiful” Meeting
If Damian is your favorite “Mean Girls” character, this fun fact might hurt your heart. Our beloved and hilarious Damian is played by none other than Daniel Franzese. One of the most memorable Damian-centric scenes is when he sings “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera at the high school talent show. However, Daniel has revealed that he will never sing that song at karaoke ever again.
Franzese thought one of his lifelong dreams was coming true when he got to meet Christina Aguilera IRL a few years after “Mean Girls” came out. He introduced himself and said, “Christina, my name's Daniel. I sing 'Beautiful' in 'Mean Girls.'” Instead of being friendly, Christina said she had never heard of the movie, turned her back, and walked away. How dare someone do that to Damian!
They Filmed in Canada
Although most of the main cast members were American, “Mean Girls” was filmed in Toronto, Canada. Because of the film's location, many of the minor characters and extras in the background are local to Toronto. For example, actors Rajiv Surendra and Stefanie Drummond are from Canada and got their start with “Mean Girls.”
Rajiv plays Kevin G, and Stefanie plays Bethany Byrd. Both actors had no idea that this random film they were cast in would become a huge pop culture hit among people their age and beyond. The two had a blast shooting the film. Thankfully, Stefanie is okay with being known as the girl with the “heavy flow.” (If you know, you know.)
An Unexpected Superfan
At this point, pretty much everyone’s seen “Mean Girls.” Even super-famous celebrities! Mariah Carey is a self-proclaimed super fan, and it seems that she knows the movie inside and out. Mariah and Tina Fey interviewed each other for “Billboard QUIZZED” on YouTube back in 2020, and Mariah proved herself to be the ultimate fan.
Tina quizzed Mariah with “Mean Girls” trivia, and the “Always Be My Baby” singer answered every single question correctly. She didn’t even stutter when going through the questions. She even wore a diamond “M” necklace in honor of Regina and Cady’s necklaces in the movie. Mariah shared with Tina that when the movie was first released, she watched it every night.
Iconic “Mean Girls” Fashion
If you were a young girl when “Mean Girls” came out in 2004, you were probably drooling over Regina, Cady, Gretchen, and Karen’s wardrobe. Their outfits were girly, stylish, and oh-so-pink. Looking back, the early-aughts trends are pretty obvious, but that’s not a bad thing. The velour tracksuits, rhinestone babydoll tees, and plaid skirts are all intentional.
Mary Jane Fort was the film’s costume designer, and she went to great lengths to create an accurate representation of early-aughts high school fashion. She spent hours pouring over teen magazines and yearbooks to get a deep understanding of how real teen girls dressed according to mainstream fashion. We think she did a pretty good job.
“You Go, Glen Coco!”
Although Glen Coco sparked one of the most quotable lines in the entire movie, the character was never officially cast by a casting director. The actor who portrayed Glen Coco is named David Reale. David had auditioned for a role but didn’t get hired. However, that didn’t stop him from hanging around the set during filming.
The director noticed him and asked if he wanted to sit in on a scene. The rest is history. David never signed a release and didn’t have any lines, so he never got paid for his silent but pivotal role in the movie. He’s not even mad about it, but that seems so unfair. Can someone start a “Justice for Glen Coco” campaign?
A Happy Reunion
Lindsay Lohan was only 18 when she starred as innocent and sweet Cady Heron in “Mean Girls.” However, she already had some significant acting jobs under her belt when she was cast. In fact, the “Mean Girls” director had already worked with Lindsay on a previous project before starting work on this famous movie.
Director Mark Waters had just come off of directing “Freaky Friday,” which also starred Lindsay Lohan. Already knowing Lindsay and her approach to acting helped Mark make the decision to take on the project. The two had a good rapport, and that professional relationship probably lent itself really well to Lindsay’s stellar performance in “Mean Girls.”
“Mean Girls” the Musical
Although there has yet to be an official sequel or spin-off movie, Tina Fey has continued the legacy of “Mean Girls” in her own way. The iconic movie we know and love was set to music a few years back. Written by Tina herself, “Mean Girls” hit Broadway with a whole set of new tunes and songs.
The musical debuted in 2017 and was an immediate hit. It is a retelling of the original movie, which is probably why it was so successful. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Funnily enough, news of the “Mean Girls” musical was officially released on October 3, 2016. As any true “Mean Girls” fan knows, October 3rd is “Mean Girls Day.” Duh.