From bird syphilis at the airport to LSD in the clam chowder on the set of “Titanic,” Daniel Franzese’s stand up set had a little something for everyone.
Fifteen years after its initial release, “Mean Girls” actor Franzese performed at Western in front of a packed crowd of students most familiar with his small-screen role at years of sleepovers and birthday parties.
Franzese is an actor and comedian best known for his role as Damian in Tina Fey’s 2004 film “Mean Girls.” The film is a coming-of-age high school satire with a star-studded cast, including Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams and Amanda Seyfried.
To say it’s a cult-classic is something of an understatement — even if you’ve never seen the film, you probably know which day we wear pink. One of the most quotable characters in a wholly quotable film, Franzese said there’s always a cry of, “She doesn’t even go here!” at the back of his shows — this show included — even 15 years after the film’s release.
Franzese doesn’t mind this routine. His character in the film, Damian, is an openly gay high school student whose identity in a comedy movie is never truly played for laughs. Franzese said he never gets tired of talking about this role.
“I lean into it, and I celebrate it,” Franzese said. “I’ve heard from fans how much that role has meant to them to be represented.”
Around the 10-year anniversary of the film and shortly before the legalization of gay marriage in the U.S., Franzese received a letter from a fan who found solace in Damian as a bullied child.
“It said, ‘When I was in eighth grade, I was beat up for being chubby, and I was tortured for being a sissy — and then your movie came out,’” Franzese said. “‘On the first day of my freshman year, the popular senior girls were like, “you’re like Damian, come sit with us.”’”
Franzese came out as gay shortly after. For students not yet out of the closet, he advised strength through kindness.
“No matter where you are and what you’re doing, the best way to be an LGBTQ person is to just be an example of love,” Franzese said. “If they look at you and have to say, ‘that person is full of love,’ they can never deny whoever it is that you are.”
The event was sponsored by the Western Activities Council (WAC), a student organization that provides programming and social activities on campus.
Isaiah Collier is the assistant dean of student development and the advisor of WAC. He appreciated the fact that the event gave students the opportunity to see a new comedic perspective.
“I think it’s important that students step outside of their bubble and try something different,” Collier said. “I’m pretty pleased that they decided to bring him in.”
Bayley Talburt, a freshman journalism student, is also a member of WAC. Her front-row view of the event left her laughing and a little starstruck.
“It was kind of surreal seeing someone you’ve seen on screen right there in front of you,” Talburt said.
Far from alone in her feelings of surrealism, Western students at all levels of fandom could appreciate the unique humor and views of the comedian.
Many of the jokes in “Mean Girls” satirize the divisive nature of high school cliques and society, as a whole. Exercising the medicinal values of comedy, Franzese gave students the opportunity to laugh at the world from another perspective.