So Fetch: The Making of Mean Girls (and Why We're Still So Obsessed with It)
From the New York Times bestselling author of Seinfeldia comes the totally fetch story of one of the most iconic teen comedies of all time, Mean Girls, revealing how it happened, how it defined a generation, "like, invented" meme culture, and why it just won't go away, filled with exclusive interviews from the director, cast, and crew.
Get in, loser. We're going back to 2004.
It's been 20 years since Mean Girls hit theaters, winning over critics and audiences alike with its razor-sharp wit, star-making turns for its then unknown cast, and obsessively quotable screenplay by Tina Fey. Fast forward two decades and Mean Girls remains as relevant as ever. Arguably, no other movie from the 2000s has had as big of an impact on pop culture.
In So Fetch, New York Times bestselling author of Seinfeldia, Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, offers the first ever authoritative book about this beloved classic that shaped an entire generation. Based off revealing interviews with the director, cast, and crew, So Fetch tells the full story of the making of Mean Girls, from Tina Fey's brilliant adaptation of a self-help guide for parents of teen girls, to the challenges of casting Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, and the iconic supporting players. So Fetch also explores the film's lasting cultural influence, from its role in the rise of Y2K tabloid culture, impact on girls of all ages and lgbtq+ culture, to how we use it to define female relationships to this day.
Timed for the 20th anniversary and the release of the new movie musical adaptation, So Fetch is the perfect companion for fans and anyone who understands that when it comes to Mean Girls' enduring legacy, the limit does not exist!
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Jennifer Keishin Armstrong is the New York Times bestselling author of Seinfeldia: How a Show about Nothing Changed Everything, When Women Invented Television, Sex and the City and Us, and Mary and Lou and Rhoda and Ted. She writes about entertainment and pop culture for the New York Times Book Review, Fast Company, Vulture, BBC Culture, Entertainment Weekly, and several others. Armstrong lives in New York's Hudson Valley.
"A behind the scenes romp about the making of the iconic 2004 comedy--from cast party twerking to the list of celebs who were considered for the film (including Kristen Stewart)." -- People
"A fitting tribute to a film that has become so iconic to now multiple generations of young women. A must have for fans." -- Glamour
"For fans of the original movie, this is an absolute must-read." -- Booklist
"A straightforward and entertaining retelling of the creation of Mean Girls, the movie, that has a place in the hearts of many. An excellent addition to collections." -- Library Journal (starred review)
"[A] fun look at the making and legacy of the high school comedy Mean Girls... Armstrong's account of the shooting of Mean Girls emulates the breezy enjoyability of the film while offering thoughtful commentary on how 'taking young women's problems seriously while also being very funny' proved central to the film's appeal. Fans will be riveted." -- Publishers Weekly
"Pop culture historian Armstrong (Seinfeldia, Sex and the City and Us, among others) is back with another immersive, entertaining dive into a pop culture phenomenon... In this book, Armstrong writes about the story of the movie and Tina Fey's adaptation of the self-help book it was based upon and looks at the influence the movie has had on things like female relationships, LGBTQ+ culture, and tabloid culture. It's a smart, incisive look at a film that remains relevant today." -- Book Riot
"The definitive story of one of the greatest teen comedies in Hollywood history. A brilliant, captivating deep dive. Hardcore fans, Mean Girls novices, and everyone in between will be enthralled." -- Andy Greene, New York Times bestselling author of The Office
"An encyclopedic look-see into the making of Tina Fey's 2004 confection. Armstrong's tome is a reminder that Mean Girls was more than just a quotable romp with an unforgettable performance by a Juicy-wearing Amy Poehler: it was a siren call to young women everywhere that turning on your sisters makes about as much sense as trying to make fetch happen." -- Lynette Rice, author of How to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey's Anatomy
"Get in, loser. On Wednesdays, we read Jennifer Keishin Armstrong's So Fetch, which tells the story of the making of Mean Girls, one of the last great big-screen comedies, while offering so much more. Touching on everything from Y2K-era misogyny to meme culture to the long tail of Mean Girls' impact, Armstrong's book is funny, clear-eyed, full of unexpected insights and superb reporting, and a must for any comedy fan." -- Saul Austerlitz, author of Generation Friends and Kind Of a Big Deal
"I've seen Mean Girls at least 25 times. Jennifer Keishin Armstrong is the only writer I can think of who can write a book about the film that's so engaging and painstakingly researched that my 26th viewing of the modern classic feels like a totally new experience." -- Jason Diamond, author of Searching for John Hughes and The Sprawl
"An absolutely engrossing read that will lure in even the most casual of Mean Girl fans -- which was me before I started reading! Wonderfully reported, filled with surprising revelations and details, just a total delight of a book." -- Anne Helen Petersen, author of Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation
