‘Nepo baby’ behind the original Freaky Friday revealed and it’s NOT Jamie Lee Curtis… can you guess who?

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To a majority of film enthusiasts enjoying Freaky Friday over the weekend, the original version they are referring to is the 2003 movie featuring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis.

In the past, even before then, there existed a movie from 1976, headlined by stage actress Barbara Harris and young sensation Jodie Foster. This film was an adaptation of a novel penned by a renowned figure in the entertainment industry.

In my passion for engaging reads, I can’t help but share my excitement about a remarkable book titled “Freaky Friday,” penned by the talented Mary Rodgers – the daughter of the legendary Broadway composer, Richard Rodgers, whose work is cherished by many. This book became an unforgettable bestseller in 1972.

Together with lyricist Lorenz Hart, he composed a series of timeless jazz classics like My Funny Valentine, The Lady Is a Tramp, and It Never Entered My Mind. And in partnership with lyricist Oscar Hammerstein, he revolutionized the American musical through productions such as Oklahoma!, Carousel, The King and I, South Pacific, and their final masterpiece, The Sound of Music.

He created a number of lasting jazz standards like My Funny Valentine, The Lady Is a Tramp, and It Never Entered My Mind with lyricist Lorenz Hart. With Oscar Hammerstein as his lyricist, he transformed the American musical by creating shows like Oklahoma!, Carousel, The King and I, South Pacific, and The Sound of Music.)

Mary humorously embraced being overshadowed by her father, frequently covering the bill when dining out with friends and brushing aside any protests with a quick remark such as: “Since my father wrote Oklahoma!, I guess I can handle the dinner tab.

In a vibrant career within the entertainment industry, she played a significant role in elevating one of America’s prominent comedians to stardom, maintained a close friendship with one of Broadway’s prominent actors, and found herself associated, albeit peripherally, with a recent high-profile celebrity controversy.

Mary Rodgers, herself, created quite an impression as a composer when she introduced the 1959 musical “Once Upon a Mattress.” This production played a significant role in launching Carol Burnett’s career into stardom.

From “The Princess and the Pea,” the Broadway production quickly became a resounding success not just due to Carol’s outstanding leading role, but also thanks to Mary’s captivating music composition alongside lyricist Marshall Barer, as well as Jay Thompson’s delightful script.

The play is connected to a recent scandal, specifically the whispers about the alleged extramarital relationship between Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman. This rumored affair reportedly contributed to his separation from his wife Deborra-Lee Furness, which occurred in September 2023.

The musical is connected to a recent scandal, particularly the gossip about an alleged extramarital relationship between Sutton Foster and Hugh Jackman. This rumored affair may have played a role in his divorce from Deborra-Lee Furness, which took place in September 2023.

Previously, Sutton and Hugh shared the stage as co-stars in The Music Man on Broadway. However, they managed to maintain their private relationship under a cloud of curiosity until early this year, when they were spotted sharing a kiss in the parking lot of an In-N-Out in LA.

Prior to their public display of affection, however, there were whispers, as Hugh was seen among the spectators watching Sutton perform in a production of Once Upon a Mattress. This sighting seemed to add more wood to the fire of speculation that they had formed a romantic relationship.

Mary had a long-standing close friendship with renowned theater icon Stephen Sondheim, best known for penning the lyrics to musicals such as West Side Story and Gypsy, and for composing both the lyrics and music for productions like Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Company, and A Little Night Music.

She once developed feelings for Steve, realizing he was homosexual, but they attempted a short-lived, unfortunate marriage during a time when open acceptance of homosexuality was not widespread. This event is detailed in her memoir, Shy, which was published posthumously.

In a legal sense, they didn’t get married and their relationship wasn’t physically consummated. Instead, they spent nights lying together, gripped by fear, until it became clear that the agreement was destined for collapse.

In my expertise on all things lifestyle, I’d like to share a remarkable story. After navigating through an unforeseen ordeal, I found myself pondering, ‘I could hardly fathom how we both endured such a harrowing experience.’ This friendship of ours proved resilient in the face of adversity.

In the heat of raising my spirited teenage daughters, I found myself slipping into the role of a strict authority figure – much like my mom, Dorothy Rodgers, had been with me. To my astonishment, I discovered that even with my liberal leanings, I’d unwittingly stepped into her shoes. This eye-opening experience sparked an idea within me: I simply had to write a story where the roles of mother and child were swapped – giving birth to Freaky Friday.

The novel ‘Turnabout’ by Thorne Smith, known for its witty yet mischievous portrayal, also served as an inspiration. In this 1931 work, a unique twist unfolds where a married couple switches bodies, leading to an unexpected situation where the husband finds himself pregnant.

Mary eventually named her book “Freaky Friday” after considering various titles, including “Funky Friday,” but ultimately rejected that option since it bore a resemblance to an inappropriate title, “Fy Friday.” The revised version of the statement is: Mary chose the title “Freaky Friday” for her book after considering several alternatives, one of which was “Funky Friday,” but she eventually decided against it because it sounded too much like a suggestive title.

The book was extremely well-received and led to a film version in 1976, starring Jodie Foster who had recently made her mark in Taxi Driver.

As a devoted admirer, I must confess that I felt deeply disheartened when my screenplay for that particular film was credited solely to me. Upon its release, I found myself overwhelmed by the final outcome – a product that had been significantly altered by a group of Hollywood writers whom I consider to be less than skilled in their craft. The script, which I had meticulously crafted with sensitivity and thoughtfulness, had been transformed into something filled with what I perceived as blatant sexism and overly comedic elements, both of which were far from my original vision.

She reminisced about the time when she finally read through the screenplay’s revisions, she tossed it far away, much like in a film scene. Later, they audaciously sought recognition from the Writers Guild for their contribution, which I vigorously contested and eventually prevailed. Yet, what did I gain? Acknowledgment for the criticism. Despite the movie’s success, I felt ashamed about it for years, wallowing in embarrassment.

Nevertheless, she found the 2003 film featuring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis quite enjoyable, and she had nothing but praise for Jamie Lee.

In a more natural and easier-to-read manner, the statement could be rephrased as follows:

“She noted that for the first time on screen, the characters appeared genuinely real despite the unusual events unfolding, and they were portrayed as brave rather than whiny. A significant portion of this authenticity can be attributed to Curtis.

Mary mentioned: ‘Did you ever come across someone whom, upon meeting just once, you felt certain that anyone who takes a liking to you would also be drawn to her? If not, why is that? She fell into that category for me.’

Offering a tantalizing glimpse of what could have transpired, Mary casually mentioned that Jamie Lee and Lindsay had taken on roles initially offered to Annette Bening and Kelly Osbourne.

In 2014, I mournfully experienced the loss of Mary, my beloved role model and matriarch, who passed away due to heart failure at the venerable age of 83. Among those who carried on after her departure were her five resilient children, one of whom, my esteemed brother Adam Guettel, continues to make waves as a distinguished composer on Broadway.

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2025-08-09 16:37