Cult classic Wet Hot American Summer is such a unique movie, and now TV show, and many things had to line up perfectly in order for it to exist. Here you'll find everything you need to know about Wet Hot American Summer and WHAS: First Day of Camp - trivia and summer camp fans rejoice!
What are the chances that this tiny, super low budget independent film would cast some of the biggest names in Hollywood before they were A-listers? Paul Rudd! Elizabeth Banks! Bradley Cooper! Every so often a movie gets lucky to have even one undiscovered star among its cast - this film had almost a dozen!
WHAS bombed in theaters, not even making back its meager budget, but has lived on to become a huge cult classic. And thanks to the fans of the show, it's inspired a Netflix comedy series. What are the chances all these years later they could get schedules to line up and have everyone back?!
So let's celebrate this insane fluke and thank the comedy gods with some great behind the scenes facts about both the 2001 film and the 2015 Netflix show. It certainly was a journey getting either to screen and these crazy facts should be shared! Vote up the most interesting Wet Hot American Summer trivia below and then be sure to get your tickets for tonight's performance of Electro City.
http://www.ranker.com/list/wet-hot-american-summer-trivia/coy-jandreau,
They Tried to Bring WHAS Back in a Number of Formats
Craig Wedren, the composer for Wet Hot American Summer, said:
"There have been whispers and inklings for the past five or six years. There was talk of a Broadway musical and there was talk of a sequel feature film, and then there was talk of a prequel feature film." They eventually of course landed on a prequel mini series for Netflix.
Source: Variety
Christopher Meloni Looked to Rambo for Inspiration
To play deranged camp cook, and Vietnam vet, Gene, Meloni (who had just started on Law & Order: SVU) grew a beard and put on weight. At his audition, he did his best to channel the most iconic Vietnam veteran in his mind. "I saw him as a whacked-out, cuddly Rambo," Meloni told Details.
Source: Mental Floss
It Took Years for People to 'Get' WHAS and It Was a Huge Flop in Theatres
The film made just $300,000 at the box office.
David Wain, director and co-writer, said: "It first came out in New York. It grossed seven thousand dollars that weekend and we were like, “That’s not bad!” because it was only in one theater. They were like, “Well, it’s good enough to open in one more city,” and they opened it in L.A. It was good enough to sort of peter around a few cities, but basically no, it all but didn’t come out back then."
Craig Wedren, the film's composer said: "Teddy Shapiro and I both wrote music for “The State.” When “Wet Hot” rolled around, we were asked to write the score and some songs, and obviously we were thrilled to do so. Teddy and I would look at each other and say, “Are we crazy, or are we working on something historical?” We really thought we were making something extraordinary, if idiotic. When it came out, it was such a resounding thud."
Source: Variety
The Movie Features Bradley Cooper's Favorite Onscreen Kiss
Of all the stars he's ever locked lips with in film or television, Cooper told Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa in 2010 that Michael Ian Black is his favorite onscreen kiss. A flattered Black responded via Twitter, with a small correction:
"Bradley Cooper just said I am his favorite on-screen kiss. That wasn't kissing; it was lovemaking."
Source: Mental Floss
A Very Successful Actor/Comedian/Simpson Went to the Real Camp They Filmed At
According to a 2011 EW article, Hank Azaria was a camper at Camp Towanda from ages six to 15! Janeane Garofalo (his friend and co-star from 1999's Mystery Men) called him after she saw his name on a bunk plaque.
Garofalo then gave him a shout out during a scene where she ad-libs a roll call of campers, using the name Jessica Azaria.
Source: IMDb
The Actors Really Slept in Those Bunks
The budget of the Wet Hot American Summer film was so small the cast and crew actually had to sleep at the camp, in the same bunks they used to film.
Rudd told Details that the experience was "definitely like camp, only we were allowed to have beer." Amy Poehler (who plays talent show director Susie) joked that the shoot felt like a necessary do-over: "We were being given the chance to take one more shot at summer camp, only we were wiser, better drinkers, and more sexually experienced."
Sources: NearlyFacts, Mental Floss
More Like "Wet Cold American Spring"
Sure the movie was called Wet Hot American Summer, but half of that title was apparently movie magic. The credits specifically thank the crew for surviving a cold, wet Pennsylvania spring. You can even see the actors' breath at some points during the movie.
Source: IMDb
Paul Rudd Didn't Work for His Usual Salary on the Movie
In 2011, Paul Rudd told Entertainment Weekly that he was not sure if he had ever gotten paid for WHAS. He thinks that because the budget and the production staff were both so incredibly small, they may have just overlooked making out a check for his salary.
Source: IMDb
Owners of the Real Camp Got a Surprise
The owners of Camp Towanda (where the original movie was filmed) were told that this was going to be a family comedy. They were mortified when they saw the final cut of the film.
Source: IMDb
They Only Had Bradley Cooper for One Day to Shoot First Day of Camp
Bradley Cooper reprises his debut role as Ben in First Day of Camp, and he shot all his scenes in one day.
Initially, Cooper wasn't able to fly to the set in Los Angeles, due to commitments with a Broadway play. So the filmmakers planned to shoot his scenes in New York until Cooper was nominated for an Oscar, prompting a trip to Los Angeles. The plan was revamped to shoot all of Cooper's scenes in a single day - the last day of the show's production on February 26, 2015.
Source: Variety