The Metro: Tim Meadows talks ‘Mean Girls’ anniversary screening, coming back to Detroit

The “SNL” veteran will take part in a panel after a 20th anniversary screening of “Mean Girls” at Emagine Royal Oak on March 30.

Tim Meadows at WDET.

Actor and Highland Park, Mich. native Tim Meadows is interviewed at WDET on March 27, 2024.

“Mean Girls” is celebrating its 20th anniversary in April. To commemorate the 2004 Lindsay Lohan cult classic’s milestone, the Detroit Creativity Project is hosting a fundraiser screening at Emagine Royal Oak on March 30.

Following the screening, DCP founder Marc Evan Jackson will moderate a panel with actor, Saturday Night Live cast member and Highland Park native Tim Meadows, who portrayed Principal Duvall in the film and reprises the role in the 2024 musical. Meadows joined The Metro to discuss his experience in the film, growing up in Detroit and DCP’s mission to share improv with Detroit youths.

The film, written by Meadows’ fellow SNL alum Tina Fey and directed by Mark Waters, has fans of all ages — something Meadows never imagined would happen.

“It feels like I’ve been in a Christmas movie or something that people watch every year,” Meadows joked. “It was a trip because I had no idea that it was going to turn out like this and that it was going to have such an impact on young women, generation after generation, which has been pretty nice for my career.”

The DCP provides improv classes for Detroit kids. It focuses on using tools learned through improv in other aspects of students’ lives. We previously spoke with Jackson and executive director Nancy Hayden on their annual student showcase.

Meadows says he’s supported DCP for years. Improv has had a major impact on his life and he wants to make sure Detroit kids also have this opportunity.

“Improv not only provided this career that I have, but it also changed my life and it made a big difference,” said Meadows. “I became more confident in myself. I learned how to express myself artistically. I found myself being able to work within groups better and having confidence in who I am and my ideas.”

More headlines from The Metro on March 27, 2024: 

  • Over the last four years, taxpayers have paid almost $1 million in legal fees for lawsuits filed against the Hamtramck Public School District. WDET’s education reporter Sascha Raiyn explained why there have been so many lawsuits. 
  • Oakland University is in the national spotlight after they upset Kentucky and nearly beat North Carolina State during March Madness. Professor of Economics at Smith College Andrew Zimbalist joined the show to discuss the economic impact the NCAA tournament has on schools.
  • WDET’s Pat Batcheller spoke with JJ Przewozniak, deputy director of the Monroe County Museum System. A small part of the county will experience the total eclipse on April 8. They’ve started educational programming on the eclipse and the library has distributed hundreds of special glasses.

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