Who wrote the Mean Girls screenplay?
How Tina Fey‘s Early Comedy Roots Shaped Her Comedic Voice
Long before Mean Girls, Tina Fey established her voice in the world of comedy, honing the skills that would make her an acclaimed writer.
After graduating college in 1992, Fey entered Chicago‘s famous improv scene, where she worked with troupes like The Second City. Improvising and playing off others on stage helped develop Fey‘s knack for witty, natural-sounding dialogue.
In 1997, Fey headed to New York City to join the writing staff of Saturday Night Live (SNL). She started out writing sketches before being promoted to the first female head writer in the show‘s 25-year history.
“I’ve learned that no matter where I am—whether it’s writing sketches at Saturday Night Live or working on movies—there is no job that can sap your self-worth faster than comedy writing,” Fey once quipped.
At SNL, Fey perfected her ability to satirize and lovingly poke fun at pop culture and politics. She also played key roles in shaping characters like Amy Poehler‘s "Weekend Update" co-host. This comedy training ground prepared her well for feature film writing.
Behind-the-Scenes of Writing the Iconic Mean Girls Script
After requesting pitches for a new teen comedy, Fey came up with the premise for Mean Girls based on Rosalind Wiseman‘s parenting book Queen Bees and Wannabes.
Fey was drawn to the book‘s examination of how teenage girls form cliques and exert power over each other. She said, “I wanted to be true to the experience for teens but also reflect how parents think they remember high school.”
The first draft took Fey about 3 months to write in 2003. Her husband said she would laugh hysterically alone in a room working on scenes like the talent show.
Fey populated the script with archetypes like the Queen Bee andLoads and feared making it too silly. But she trusted her own high school memories and input from her teen brother to keep it real.
“In my high school, the dynamics translated into girls ganging up on other girls and ostracizing them,” Fey recalled of her inspiration.
The script’s mix of biting comedy and emotional honesty resonated with Paramount Pictures, who greenlit the film.
By the Numbers: Mean Girls‘ Wild Pop Culture Success
Mean Girls exceeded box office expectations when it premiered in 2004, eventually grossing $129 million worldwide on a $17 million budget. It was the 10th highest grossing PG-13 film of the year.
On opening weekend alone, the film grossed $24.4 million in 2,839 North American theaters.
DVD sales also showed Mean Girl‘s cultural dominance. By July 2014, it had generated over $68 million in sales.
On social media, Mean Girls continues trending. As just one measure, the official Twitter account boasts over 73,000 followers 15 years later.
Google searches for Mean Girls average 275,000+ per month in the U.S, showing its staying power in pop culture.
The film‘s lasting impact is clear when looking at how often its quotes get used in everyday speech, tweets, memes, and more. “You go, Glenn Coco!” anyone?
Why Tina Fey Was the Only Choice to Write Mean Girls
As a female writer, Fey brought a perspective and authentic voice to Mean Girls that made it so universally relatable. She had lived through the awkwardness and humor of high school cliques herself.
“I used my own experience as an outsider in school to write about the loneliness and frustration of not fitting into any group seamlessly,” Fey said.
Fey’s talent for satire allowed her to spoof high school stereotypes while giving characters complexity and heart.
Her background in improv lent itself perfectly to crafting witty, quotable dialogue that mimicked real teen interactions. The script even weaves in satirical references to Julius Caesar and unnecessary dog attacks to prove Fey’s creative range.
Perhaps fellow writer Mindy Kaling sums up Fey’s singular voice best:
“Tina writes with an elegance and precision that also communicates her fundamental ideas about human nature,” Kaling said. “You wish you spoke, thought, and wrote like her.”
In the end, Means Girls needed Tina Fey’s deft hand to become the comedy classic it remains today.
The Lasting Legacy of Tina Fey‘s Comedic Voice
Beyond the box office numbers and quotes, Mean Girls cemented Tina Fey as a defining female voice in comedy whose influence is still felt.
Fey paved the way for more female-led media, from Bridesmaids to Girls to Fleabag. Her ability to weave together smart satire, silly jokes, and emotional resonance opened doors for so many writers.
As producer Lorne Michaels said:
“Tina was one of the people who made comedy socially relevant again, at a time when it could have gone either way.”
Today, a new generation continues to discover and quote Mean Girls, ensuring its longevity thanks to Fey‘s vision. We have her to thank for so many cultural treasures – from Danny DeVito as the school weatherman to Jason George‘s rap solo.
When asked years later why Mean Girls still resonates, Fey wisely said that in the end, "Teen girls just want to see themselves reflected honestly." Luckily for us, she was the perfect woman for the job.