trip mcneely

‘Can’t Hardly Wait’ (Trip McNeely): “Guys like us are a dime a dozen”

CAN’T HARDLY WAIT by Harry Elfont & Deborah Kaplan

From : Movie

Type : Comedic

Character : Trip McNeely, a college freshman who was idolized at his old high school.

Gender : Male

Age Range : Late Teens | 20's

Summary : Trip is back from college and spilling to his high school friends what his life is like now.

More: Watch the Movie

Click Here to Download the Monologue

TRIP McNEELY: Seriously. Hey man, I thought college was gonna be the AM/PM of p—. I thought I‘d be writin’ more true—life letters to “Hustler” than I would term papers. Hell, that’s even why I broke up with Janine before I left. College women are totally different, bro. They‘re all serious and s—, talking about world issues and economogical stuff. And they all wanna date older guys. Hell, I even tried getting Janine to take me back… but she’s all cozy with some Senior. He’s pre-med. They all are. Guys like us are a dime a dozen… (drinks) I‘m tellin’ ya, look out for that scrawny four-eyed kid who’s ass you used to kick just for fun. In three years he’ll be bangin‘ your girlfriend. Hey speakin’ of which, you still with that Amanda? Now there was a prize piece if I ever saw one. You’re lucky. Hold on to her, man. Best advice I can give. That, and bring those rubber flip-flops for the shower.

More Monologues from ‘Can’t Hardly Wait’

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, can't hardly wait.

Now streaming on:

There's one character in "Can't Hardly Wait" who is interesting and funny. Maybe it was a mistake to write her in; she makes the other characters look like gnat-brained bozos. Her name is Denise, she is played by Lauren Ambrose , and she has a merry face, a biting tongue and a sardonic angle on high school. Her classmates look like candidates for " Starship Troopers " or the Sports Illustrated swimsuit pictorial.

The early days of June seem to bring a movie like this every year, celebrating the graduation of the senior class and its ejection onto the conveyor belt of life. "Can't Hardly Wait" is a lesser example of the genre, which includes (in descending order of accomplishment) " Say Anything ," " American Graffiti ," " Dazed and Confused ," " Fast Times at Ridgemont High " and " Porky's ." The movie lumbers ungracefully from romantic showdowns to Deep Conversations to bathroom humor. The hero is Preston ( Ethan Embry ), a would-be writer who has lusted for four years after the class sexpot, Amanda ( Jennifer Love Hewitt ). He knew their destinies were intertwined when they both ate Strawberry Pop Tarts during their first freshman class. But the class jock, Mike ( Peter Facinelli ), won her instead.

Now it is the night of graduation day, and Mike has dumped Amanda because he plans to move up from high school girls to college women. At a long (some would say endless) keg party, Preston tries to give Amanda a letter he has written, spilling out his innermost thoughts. This must be some letter. We never get to see what it says, no doubt because a letter good enough to win Amanda would have to be better than anything the screenwriters are capable of writing.

Meanwhile, Mike learns from last year's high school make-out champ, Trip McNeely ( Jerry O'Connell ), that college women are always talking about serious stuff and dating older guys. Bummer. So he tries to win Amanda back, in a scene played before a hushed crowd, but is rejected. That's even though Amanda has earlier wailed, "If I'm not Mike's girlfriend, who am I? Nobody knows me as anything else. I don't even know me as anyone else." Real poignancy there. My own rule of thumb, in high school and ever after, is that if a woman has little of interest to say, she is likely, over a span of time, to have less and less to say, until finally she will drive you mad. That is true even though she may, as Amanda does, have an impressive figure.

Now take Denise, on the other hand. She gets accidentally locked into the bathroom with Kenny ( Seth Green ), who talks like a black rap artist even though he's white, and wears goggles and thinks he's cool and will someday no doubt be a radio talk host. Denise is cute and plucky and kids Kenny's affectations, and remembers that they were best pals until the sixth grade, when he dropped her because, she says, "I was in all the smart classes, and my parents didn't make a lot of money, and you desperately needed to sit at the popular table in the lunchroom." Denise is the only person in this senior class that anyone of any taste would want to be friends with. Why don't the filmmakers know that? Why do they go through the tired old motions of making Denise the comic relief, and assigning the romantic leads to a couple of clueless rubber stamps? You tell me. "Can't Hardly Wait" is the kind of movie that somehow succeeds in moving very, very slowly even while proceeding at a breakneck pace. It cuts quickly back and forth between nothing and nothing. It underlines every single scene with a pop song that tells us what the scene is about. It doesn't have the zing of life and subversion that the best high school movies always have. Or, if they don't have them, like "Porky's" didn't, at least they have mercy on us and throw in a shower scene.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

Now playing

Peyton Robinson

Gasoline Rainbow

Matt Zoller Seitz

Brian Tallerico

The Blue Angels

Monica Castillo

Film credits.

Can't Hardly Wait (1998)

Rated PG-13 For Teen Drinking and Sexuality, and For Language

Ethan Embry as Preston Meyers

Lauren Ambrose as Denise Fleming

Peter Facinelli as Mike Dexter

Charlie Korsmo as William Lichter

Jennifer Love Hewitt as Amanda Beckett

Jenna Elfman as The Angel

Seth Green as Kenny Fisher

Produced by

• Jenno Topping
• Betty Thomas

Written and Directed by

• Deborah Kaplan
• Harry Elfont

Latest blog posts

Far, Far Away: How to Get People Going to Movies Again

Cannes 2024: Christmas Eve in Miller's Point, Eephus, To A Land Unknown

Home Entertainment Guide: May 2024

With Flipside, Chris Wilcha Made a Triumphant Film About Failure

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

Can't Hardly Wait cast: Where are they now?

What's going on with Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ethan Embry, Peter Facinelli, and more? Catch up with the stars of the 1998 high school classic.

Jennifer Love Hewitt (Amanda Beckett)

Jennifer Love Hewitt stole viewers' hearts as Can't Hardly Wait 's dreamy, aloof prom queen Amanda Beckett. The high schooler nursed her broken heart at the end-of-the-year party after being dumped by her football player boyfriend, Mike Dexter.

Amanda Beckett was just the beginning for Hewitt, who continued her run on Party of Five after Can't Hardly Wait hit theaters. When the show wrapped in 2000, she went on to land roles in films like Heartbreakers (2001) and TV shows like The Client List and Criminal Mind s , on which she appeared as Agent Kate Callahan for the show's 10th season. Hewitt joined the main cast of 9-1-1 in 2018.

Ethan Embry (Preston Myers)

Ethan Embry joined Can't Hardly Wait as Preston Myers, a quiet student who carried a torch for Amanda for years. He attempts to win her over by slipping her an emotional love letter, and finally gets his big moment with the woman of his dreams just as he is leaving town.

The Empire Records star continued his rom-com run in 2002's Sweet Home Alabama , going on to receive credits for Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004), Showtime's Brotherhood , and the Netflix comedy series Grace and Frankie alongside Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin .

In 2018, appeared in the films Blindspotting and the Damien Chazelle -directed First Man (as astronaut Pete Conrad). After Hewitt voiced her enthusiasm to get back together with the high school gang for a reunion, Embry chimed in as well , saying he would be "thrilled" to work with his Can't Hardly Wait costars again.

Peter Facinelli (Mike Dexter)

Peter Facinelli was the typical bad high school boyfriend in the flick, playing jock Mike Dexter. The popular football player dumps his girlfriend Amanda in the simple hope of hooking up with as many college women as possible.

Years after he hung up his Mike Dexter varsity jacket, Facinelli found himself in another teen classic when the Nurse Jackie alum played vampire Carlisle Cullen in the Twilight series. He's also made appearances on Damages and Glee , starred on NBC's American Odyssey series, and had a recurring role on S.W.A.T. He has since appeared in movies including Running With the Devil (2019), The Vanished (2020), The Ravine (2021), 13 Minutes (2021), and God Save the Queens (2022).

Seth Green (Kenny Fisher)

The ultimate high school poseur came to life in Seth Green 's portrayal of Kenny Fisher. The goggles-wearing wannabe attended the blowout for the sole purpose of losing his virginity.

After starring as Dr. Evil's son Scott in the Austin Powers movies and appearing in The Italian Job (2003) and Sex Drive (2008), Green mixed up his filmography with extensive voice work. The comedian lent his vocals to TV shows such as Family Guy , Robot Chicken (which he co-created, produces, and writes for), and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. He also provides the voice of Howard the Duck in two of the Guardians of the Galaxy films, the animated Guardians of the Galaxy TV series, and Disney+'s What If…? .

Jason Segel (The Watermelon Guy)

Jason Segel made a brief but memorable appearance as a stoner kid in Can't Hardly Wait . He earned the nickname of "the Watermelon Guy" after scooping watermelon out of the rind with his bare hands at the party.

The comedy heavyweight earned his first feature film credit for Can't Hardly Wait , and soon graduated from such bit roles. The following year he starred in Freaks and Geeks , and went on to spend nearly a decade playing How I Met Your Mother 's Marshall Eriksen, appeared in The Muppets (2011) and The Five-Year Engagement (2012), and earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination as David Foster Wallace in The End of the Tour (2015).

Segel went on create, write, and star on AMC's Dispatches From Elsewhere and Apple TV+'s Shrinking .

Charlie Korsmo (William Lichter)

Charlie Korsmo staged his own "revenge of the nerds" as token vengeful geek William Lichter. William plots an elaborate scheme to get back at Mike Dexter for picking on him, and ends up becoming the life of the party after downing one too many drinks.

Can't Hardly Wait served as Korsmo's final acting role for decades. He made appearances in just five other movies prior, including Hook (1991) and What About Bob? (1991), and later pursued a career in law and politics. He returned to acting for the 2019 independent film Chained for Life .

Lauren Ambrose (Denise Fleming)

Lauren Ambrose spent most of the high school movie getting caught in Kenny's web as his former childhood best friend and current nemesis, Denise Fleming. The two end up reconnecting in a major way when they have sex in the bathroom that they're stuck in.

Following Can't Hardly Wait , Ambrose went on to appear on Broadway and returned to the big screen in movies like Where the Wild Things Are (2009) and Wanderlust (2012). On TV, she spent the mid-2000s playing Claire Fisher on Six Feet Under , for which she received two Emmy nominations, and appeared on the 2016 X-Files revival. In 2018, she starred as Eliza Doolittle in the Broadway revival of My Fair Lady , later receiving a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical.

She went on to star on Apple TV+'s Servant and joined the cast of Showtime's Yellowjackets in season 2.

Jaime Pressly (Girlfriend #1)

Then a relative unknown, Jaime Pressly found her role in Can't Hardly Wait in Amanda's clique of girlfriends. Credited just as "Girlfriend #1," she drunkenly reassures her pal that she was winning the breakup, despite Mike Dexter being "the most dope guy in school."

Pressly called on her Can't Hardly Wait experience for 2001's Not Another Teen Movie , and continued her big-screen career with Joe Dirt (2001) and I Love You, Man (2009). The former model later earned an Emmy award for her part on My Name Is Earl , and returned to TV with roles on I Hate My Teenage Daughter and Mom .

Selma Blair (Girl Mike Hits On #1)

A teen movie regular, Selma Blair made one of her most brief appearances in Can't Hardly Wait . She nabbed just seconds of screen time, shown as an unnamed girl at the party that Mike Dexter tries and fails to woo.

With roles in Cruel Intentions (1999), Down to You (2000), Legally Blonde (2001), and The Sweetest Thing (2002), Blair soon became a staple in the late-'90s/early-'00s rom-com world. She filled out her résumé with TV roles and starred as Kris Jenner in the FX limited series The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story .

Blair revealed in 2018 that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She went to compete in the fall 2022 season of Dancing With the Stars , though she had to withdraw in the fifth week of competition on the advice of doctors.

Jerry O'Connell (Trip McNeely)

Jerry O'Connell brought an unexpected source of wisdom to Can't Hardly Wait as older guy Trip McNeely. The former big man on campus shares a beer with Mike Dexter and tells him a cautionary tale about life after high school graduation.

While he was uncredited in the movie, O'Connell went on to expand his filmography many times over with starring turns in Mission to Mars (2000) and Kangaroo Jack (2003), and on shows like Crossing Jordan , The Defenders , and Star Trek: Lower Decks .

O'Connell has also found a thriving career as a host, joining The Talk in 2021, on top of gigs for The Love Boat and Pictionary .

Chris Owen (Klepto Kid)

Chris Owen booked one of his early roles as the so-called "Klepto Kid," a high school student who, fittingly, steals things. He makes sporadic appearances in Can't Hardly Wait , popping up only to take things as his own.

Best known for his character Chuck "Sherminator" Sherman in the American Pie movies, Owen also appeared in She's All That (1999), October Sky (1999), and National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002), Dear Wendy (2005), The Mist (2007), Hit List (2011), Bachelors (2015), All That Jam (2016), and Off-Time (2022), among other features and TV movies.

Sean Patrick Thomas (Jock #2)

Sean Patrick Thomas appeared in Can't Hardly Wait as one of the movie's unnamed jocks, reveling in the good times to be had at the party. One of Mike Dexter's buddies, he spends much of the evening macking on his girl of choice.

Soon after Can't Hardly Wait , Thomas booked roles in Cruel Intentions , Save the Last Dance (2001), Not Another Teen Movie , and Barbershop (2002). Julia Stiles ' onscreen love interest also appeared in an episode of American Horror Story: Asylum and the third Barbershop movie, The Next Cut . He joined the cast of Apple TV+'s For All Mankind for season 3.

Jenna Elfman (Angel Stripper)

A rare character who didn't go to high school with the crew, Jenna Elfman played a stripper in an angel costume who sits down for a heart-to-heart with Preston. The two meet at a phone booth and end up forming a surprising connection over their shared bad nights.

The Dharma & Greg star focused largely on television throughout the '90s and '00s. She booked roles on Accidentally on Purpose , 1600 Penn , and Growing Up Fisher , and the short-lived Imaginary Mary . She joined the main cast of Fear the Walking Dead in its fourth season.

Clea DuVall (Jana)

Clea DuVall joined the party as Jana, a high school student with little backstory but epic comebacks. In one famous scene , Kenny says "sup" and asks her to dance, to which she simply replies, "I'm allergic."

The teen star transitioned from Can't Hardly Wait to She's All That , But I'm a Cheerleader (1999), and Girl, Interrupted (1999). She appeared on shows like American Horror Story , The Newsroom , Lifetime's The Lizzie Borden Chronicles , and Veep . DuVall made her feature directorial debut with 2016's The Intervention , followed by 2020's Happiest Season . She also co-created the series High School and HouseBroken , voicing Elsa (a Corgi) on the latter.

Melissa Joan Hart (Vicki The Yearbook Girl)

Though she was uncredited in the movie, Melissa Joan Hart stole the show as Vicki, the overly enthusiastic girl on a quest to have all of her classmates sign her yearbook.

Already a star in her own right with Clarissa Explains It All , Hart followed Can't Hardly Wait with the last few seasons of Sabrina the Teenage Witch , Drive Me Crazy (1999), and TV cameos. From 2010 through 2015, she teamed up with fellow '90s star Joey Lawrence for ABC Family's Melissa & Joey . She's also appeared in a variety of TV movies, and directed the Lifetime movie The Watcher in the Woods , starring Anjelica Huston , in 2017, as well as episodes of shows like The Goldbergs and Young Sheldon , and the 2022 family Christmas flick Santa Bootcamp .

Related Articles

Can't Hardly Wait: Where the Cast is Today

Can't Hardly Wait is going to be 25 this year. The actors in the film haven't stopped working since then. Here's where the cast is today.

This year will mark the 25th anniversary of the release of Can’t Hardly Wait , a seminal teenage movie, that has become a cult classic since its release, and is still being watched by new generations of teenagers every year. The film also meant one of the first opportunities for many '90s actors, who, until then, hadn’t been given the opportunity to shine. After Can’t Hardly Wait, many of those performers went on to have incredible film and TV careers. Here’s where the cast of the film is today.

Jennifer Love Hewitt

Jennifer Love Hewitt played the cool cheerleader and Prom Queen, Amanda Beckett, who gets dumped at the start of the movie and finds someone better by the end of the party. Love Hewitt was already part of the hit show Party of Five , and had shot I Know What You Did Last Summer when this movie was released, catapulting her acting and singing career. She kept doing films like The Tuxedo, Garfield, and Heartbreakers. Since then, she has become a staple on TV, as she has led many series over the years, including Time of Your Life, Ghost Whisperer, and The Client List. Since 2018, she’s been playing Maddie Kendall in the hit series 9-1-1.

Ethan Embry

Ethan Embry was cast as Preston Meyers, a teenager with a long-time crush on Amanda Beckett (Love Hewitt). During the party, he decides to finally confess his feelings to her. Embry had already had lead roles in both Empire Records and The Wonders before this film, and has kept working steadily since then, as he has 100+ credits under his name . After a lead role in the show Brotherhood, his career has been mostly on TV. Embry has played roles in shows as diverse as Once Upon a Time, Sneaky Pete, and Stargirl. In 2022, he finished his run on Grace and Frankie as Coyote Bergstein, and was part of Gerard Butler’s Last Seen Alive.

About casting Embry, co-writer and co-director Deborah Kaplan told The Ringer : “So, we had him read for Preston and there was something so charming and winning and endearing, because he read the part with some distance,” Elfont says. “Somehow Ethan was able to make it really sympathetic; he just had an openness and innocence.”

Related: Can’t Hardly Wait Cast Want a Reunion Movie

Seth Green played Kenny Fisher, the character determined to lose his virginity at the party before high school was over. Green had been a kid actor and was already playing Scott Evil in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. After Can’t Hardly Wait , his career only kept going up, and since then, he’s been on and done everything. Green was in TV shows like Buffy: the Vampire Slayer, Four Kings, and Dads; movies like The Italian Job, Party Monster, and Old Dogs; and lent his voice to Family Guy and Howard the Duck in many cameos in the MCU . He even started his own show: Robot Chicken. You might’ve seen him last as Radio DJ in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story , and listened to his voice in Stargirl .

Peter Facinelli

Peter Facinelli played jock Mike Dexter, who dumps his girlfriend Amanda (Love Hewitt) under the idea that he’ll be hooking up with many college girls next year. After the movie, Facinelli played supporting roles in Riding in Cars with Boys and The Scorpion King, before being cast in the role most people know him for; Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the Twilight franchise. Since then, he’s been a part of shows like Nurse Jackie, Damages, Supergirl, and S.W.A.T. In 2022, he appeared in an episode of Roar and in God Save the Queens. He has seven projects listed for 2023, so we’ll be seeing a lot more of Peter Facinelli in the next few months.

Lauren Ambrose

Lauren Ambrose was Denise Fleming in Can’t Hardly Wait ; the antisocial character who only goes to the party to support her pal Preston, and ends up finding much more than she expected. Ambrose’s most famous role is as Claire Fisher on Six Feet Under, and she also had a big role on Broadway as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. Since the acclaimed HBO show ended, Ambrose has kept working on TV in shows as different as Amy Sherman-Palladino’s The Return of Jezebel James, Torchwood, and the revival of The X Files. Ambrose has been playing Dorothy Turner in Apple’s Servant for the last three years, and she’s just been cast in Yellowjackets as adult Van , and we can’t wait to see her play the character in the present.

Charlie Korsmo

Charlie Korsmo had the role of vengeful geek William Lichter in the film, as he wanted to punish bully Mike Dexter, before trying beer and losing his focus. Korsmo was a child actor who played parts in Dick Tracy, What’s Up with Bob, and was one of the most important characters in Hook. That was his last role before Can’t Hardly Wait , eight years later. Since then, he’s only done one role, in 2018’s Chained for Live , and has become a teaching law professor at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, leaving his career as an actor behind.

Jason Segel

Jason Segel played a small role in the film as a stoner kid nicknamed Watermelon Guy in what was his film debut. Since the movie, Segel has had many great performances , both in comedy and drama, proving he has the skills to be a great actor. About casting Segel in the movie, co-writer and co-director Harry Elfont told Time : “We knew how funny Jason was, but there wasn’t a bigger part for him, so we were, like, let’s cast him as this watermelon guy,”

Segel has been a staple of both TV and movies in the last two decades, having both hits like Forgetting Sara Marshall or How I Met Your Mother, while also doing indie projects like The End of the Tour or Dispatches from Elsewhere (that he also created). Last year, he had a big role as fumbling coach Paul Westhead in Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, and there’s already been a teaser for his next show, Shrinking , where he’ll star with Harrison Ford.

Related: Jason Segel’s Best Dramatic Performances Ranked

Jaime Pressly

Jaime Pressly played a small role as Beth, one of Amanda’s friends. Back then, she was almost unknown and gained notoriety playing a similar high school role in 2001’s Not Another Teen Movie , and continued her movie career with Joe Dirt, and I Love You Man. Most people still might recognize her as Joy Turner from My Name is Earl. After many years doing TV movies and guest star appearances, she came back as a lead actor in I Hate My Teenage Daughter. In the last year, she’s been part of two shows: the successful Mom and Welcome to Flatch.

Selma Blair

Selma Blair had the smallest of roles in the movie as “Girl Mike hits on”. That appearance was the start of a great period of work for Blair, as she became a staple of the '90s and 2000s' rom-com world, being part of memorable movies like Cruel Intentions, Legally Blonde, and The Sweetest Thing. She played supporting characters in movies for years, like in Hellboy, before going to TV, where she led Kath & Kim, was part of Charlie Sheen’s Anger Management, and played Kris Jenner in American Crime Story. The actress revealed in 2018 that she had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, but for now, that hasn’t stopped her acting, as last year she played Glenn McAllister in Far More with Adrian Grenier and Drea De Matteo.

Jerry O’Connell

In Can’t Hardly Wait, Jerry O’Connell played an uncredited role as Trip McNeely, the former big man on campus who shares wisdom (and beer) with Mike Dexter, telling him what his future might look like. O’Connell was a child actor who played Vern Tessio in the memorable Stand By Me. After he hit puberty and changed his image, he appeared in this film and, from there, in Jerry Maguire, Scream 2, and Mission to Mars. The actor has appeared in shows like Ugly Betty, Scream Queens, and Billions, and starred in Crossing Jordan for six years. In the last year, he’s been in Play Dead, Tab Time, and has been one of the lead voices in Star Trek: Lower Decks. He already has two projects lined up for 2023 and might be back in the Sliders reboot .

Here’s What The Cast Of ‘Can’t Hardly Wait’ Has Been Up To Since Preston Got The Girl

While it is often overshadowed by other ’90s teen films like Clueless or She’s All That , Can’t Hardly Wait is a charming addition to the genre. There isn’t really anything new here… an average guy gets the popular girl, there’s an unrealistically awesome high school party, and the conflict between nerds and jocks is alive and well. However, a charming cast and a funny script manage to elevate it above typical teen fare. It also featured many now-popular actors before they were famous in cameo roles.

Star Jennifer Love Hewitt tweeted today about wanting to have a reunion film , and Ethan Embry echoed her nostalgia. While it is unlikely that Preston and Amanduuuuh are still together (c’mon, you know it’s true), it could be fun to check in on these characters. While we may not know what’s happened to their fictional counterparts, the actors who played them are still alive and well, so let’s check in with the cast of Can’t Hardly Wait and see what they’ve been up to since 1998.

Ethan Embry – Preston Meyers

Between Empire Records , That Thing You Do! , and Can’t Hardly Wait , Ethan Embry  had the “sensitive, cute dreamer” thing on lock. That was never more apparent than when he played Preston Meyers, the ultimate high school everyman. You knew boys like Preston in high school… a little too earnest, but charming nonetheless. Since the ’90s, he’s done multiple films and television projects, including Sweet Home Alabama , Timeline , Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle , Brotherhood , House , and Once Upon a Time . Embry most recently starred in Netflix’s Grace and Frankie and will be appearing in the upcoming season of The Walking Dead .

You may have also noticed him sort of reprising the role of Rusty Griswold (which he played in 1997’s Vegas Vacation ) in an Infiniti commercial . Which is a nice consolation prize when Ed Helms is walking around with your identity.

Jennifer Love Hewitt – Amanda Beckett

When she starred as the seemingly unattainable Amanda Beckett, Jennifer Love Hewitt  was one of the biggest stars of the ’90s . She was the ultimate girl-next-door, but who was just out of reach. Since the ’90s, she’s worked steadily in television, appearing in a number of Lifetime movies and shows like The Ghost Whisperer , The Client List , and Criminal Minds . Additionally, she’s done feature films like Heartbreakers and the Garfield movies. In her spare time, she’s done a few Maxim cover shoots to cement her sex symbol status and wrote a dating book called I Shot Cupid .

Lauren Ambrose – Denise Fleming

While Preston only had eyes for Amanda, Lauren Ambrose ‘s Denise was obviously the cooler chick. However, Denise got over her Preston crush after getting locked in the bathroom with Kenny and was able to move on to better things. After Can’t Hardly Wait ,  Ambrose’s biggest role to date was as Claire Fisher on HBO’s Six Feet Under . When she wrapped up her time at Fisher & Sons, Ambrose appeared in Diggers , The Return of Jezebel James , Where the Wild Things Are , Torchwood: Miracle Day , and Wanderlust . She is playing one of the new agents in the X-Files revival, so keep an eye out for her on your television screen again soon. She has also done extensive stage work in New York.

Peter Facinelli – Mike Dexter

One thing that set Can’t Hardly Wait apart is the fact that the popular guy, Mike Dexter, is warned away from his party-boy lifestyle by another former jock who peaked in high school. While it’s unclear whether or not Mike took the advice, it did make Peter Facinelli ‘s character more than a one-note douchebag. Since then, Facinelli is best known for his work in the Twilight Saga (gotta make that sweet, sweet franchise money), Damages , and Nurse Jackie . He was also married to Jennie Garth for nearly a decade, but left her for Jaimie Alexander.

Charlie Korsmo – William Lichter

All William wanted was to get revenge on Mike Dexter for years of bullying. While he didn’t get it, he did get some badass stories and got to party like he never had before. He also went on to be popular and totally dominate Harvard, so he definitely won in the end. Can’t Hardly Wait was actually Charlie Korsmo ‘s last film role (he previous starred in What About Bob? and Hook ). He chose a different path, graduating from MIT, becoming a conservative lawyer and law professor. His most recent work was as a professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland.

Seth Green – Kenny Fisher

As the wannabe Kenny, Seth Green was a man on the mission, and that mission was losing his virginity. If they do end up doing a sequel, hopefully Kenny will have laid off the cultural appropriation a bit and accepted that he is indeed a white boy. Since Can’t Hardly Wait , Green finished his run on Buffy the Vampire Slayer , and was in the films  America’s Sweethearts , Rat Race , Without a Paddle , The Italian Job , Party Monster , and Austin Powers in Goldmember . However, he’s probably best known for his extensive voice work: Green is one of the creators and stars of Robot Chicken , and is Chris Griffin on Family Guy . He’s also lent his voice to The Cleveland Show , American Dad! , Phineas and Ferb , Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. , and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles . Let’s strike the show Dads from the record completely.

Jerry O’Connell – Trip McNeely

We’re now entering the notable cameos from Can’t Hardly Wait , and first up is Jerry O’Connell as Trip McNeely. McNeely is basically Mike Dexter in a few years. He warns Mike that guys like them are “a dime a dozen” in college and that he shouldn’t take anything for granted, leading him to ask Amanda to take him back. O’Connell appeared in a few films like Mission to Mars , Kangaroo Jack , Obsessed , Piranha 3D , and Veronica Mars . He’s done the rounds on many televisions shows, including Crossing Jordan , Las Vegas , Ugly Betty , The Defenders , Mockingbird Lane , Burning Love , The League , and Workaholics . Perhaps his greatest claim to fame is being the current Mr. Rebecca Romijn.

Jaime Pressly – Beth, Girlfriend #1

Beth is one of Amanda’s best friends, and while it wasn’t a huge role, she at least had the chance to put Mike in his place. Jaime Pressly would go on to parody films like Can’t Hardly Wait with Not Another Teen Movie , as well as Joe Dirt and I Love You, Man , but her sitcom work is the most substantial by far. She starred in My Name Is Earl (for which she won an Emmy), Rules of Engagement , I Hate My Teenage Daughter , Raising Hope , Jennifer Falls , and now she has a recurring role on  Mom .

Selma Blair – Girl Mike Hits On

Again, this was a very small part, but Selma Blair was such a fixture of the time that she warranted a spot on the list. After Can’t Hardly Wait , Blair’s career exploded, thanks to films like Cruel Intentions , Legally Blonde , The Sweetest Thing , and the Hellboy films. She worked in television, as well, starring in the American version of Kath & Kim , Web Therapy , and  Anger Management . Up next, Blair will co-star as Kris Jenner in the O.J. trial-based  American Crime Story . She was nominated for a Grammy in 2011 for narrating the documentary The Diary of Anne Frank .

Jenna Elfman – The Angel Stripper

When she played the angel stripper who gives Preston some life changing advice, Jenna Elfman was a sitcom star on Dharma & Greg . She would go on to star in EDtv , Keeping the Faith , Town & Country , Looney Toons: Back in Action , The Six Wives of Henry Lefay , and Friends with Benefits . She would return to her television roots with guest spots in  Two and a Half Men , Damages , and  The Mindy Project , as well as starring roles in less than successful shows like 1600 Penn  and Growing Up Fisher .

Jason Segel – Watermelon Guy

Though he is merely credited as “Watermelon Guy,” Jason Segel has certainly gone on to a very successful career. Can’t Hardly Wait was his first onscreen credit, and, shortly after, he would star in Freaks & Geeks and Undeclared , which would kick off his work with Judd Apatow, and consequently his career. Segel became a Hollywood A-lister due to films like Knocked Up , Forgetting Sarah Marshall , I Love You, Man ,  Bad Teacher , and The Muppets . He is starring in the David Foster Wallace biopic The End of the Tour , and is even generating Oscar buzz. Segel branched out to writing, as well, releasing a YA novel, Nightmares , in 2014, and has a whole series of other young adult novels planned, so Watermelon Guy really made something of himself.

Recently, we've done several changes to help out this wiki, from deleting empty pages, improving the navigation, adding a rules page, as well as merging film infoboxes.

You can check out the latest overhauls that we have done on this wiki so far, as well as upcoming updates in our announcement post here .

• 1990s films
• Teen comedy films
• Teen romance films
• American films
• Rated PG-13

Can't Hardly Wait

• View history

Can't Hardly Wait is a 1998 American teen romantic comedy film written and directed by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont. It stars an ensemble cast including Ethan Embry, Charlie Korsmo, Lauren Ambrose, Peter Facinelli, Seth Green, and Jennifer Love Hewitt, and is notable for a number of "before-they-were-famous" appearances by teen stars. The story takes place at a high school graduation party.

The film received mixed reviews from critics. It grossed a total of $25 million at the North American domestic box office, against a production budget of $10 million. The soundtrack peaked at number 25 on the Billboard 200 chart.

• 3.1 Uncredited appearances

Concept [ ]

The story takes place at a high school graduation party and in a style much like that of the high school movies of the 1980s. The filmmakers were inspired by their observation that in most teen films the best scenes were the party scenes, and decided to make a movie set entirely at a party. Though the film deals in common high school stereotypes, some favor its chaotic but appealing mise-en-scène and performances.

The film takes its name from The Replacements ' song of the same title, from their 1987 album Pleased to Meet Me , which plays over the film's closing credits.

Set in 1998, in Los Angeles, California , recent graduates of a suburban high school, Huntington Hills High school, attend a huge graduation party at one of their wealthy classmates huge house while her parents are gone for the weekend. While at this party, some relationships end, while new ones form, dirty and devastating secrets are revealed and old scores are settled at the party of Huntington High century.

• Seven hours later, Preston finally boarded a train to Boston. Amanda wrote him a letter for every day that he was away. They are still together.
• Ethan Embry as Preston Meyers
• Jennifer Love Hewitt as Amanda Beckett
• Lauren Ambrose as Denise Fleming
• Peter Facinelli as Mike Dexter
• Seth Green as Kenny Fisher
• Charlie Korsmo as William Lichter
• Robert Jayne as Richie Coolboy
• Michelle Brookhurst as Molly Stinson, party host
• Joel Michaely as Geoff Piccirilli, X-File #1
• Jay Paulson as Murphy Pelan, X-File #2
• Chris Owen as the Klepto Kid
• Jason Segel as Matt, Watermelon Guy
• Clea Duvall as Jana
• Jaime Pressly as Beth, Girlfriend #1
• Tamala Jones as Cindi, Girlfriend #2
• Jennifer Lyons as Rachel, Girlfriend #3
• Channon Roe as Jake, Jock #1
• Sean Patrick Thomas as Ben, Jock #2
• Freddy Rodriguez as T.J., Jock #3
• Erik Palladino as Cousin Ron
• Donald Faison as Dan, Love Burger drummer
• Paige Moss as Ashley
• Eric Balfour as Steve, Hippie Guy
• Selma Blair and Jennifer Paz as the Girls Mike Hits On
• Sara Rue as Earth Girl
• Nicole Bilderback as Ready to Have Sex Girl
• Leslie Grossman as Ready to Have Sex Girl's Friend
• Marisol Nichols as Groupie #2
• Vicellous Reon Shannon as Carl, Reddi-wip Kid

Uncredited appearances [ ]

• Jenna Elfman as the angel stripper
• Jerry O'Connell as Trip McNeely
• Melissa Joan Hart as Vicki, the yearbook girl
• Breckin Meyer as Walter, Love Burger lead singer
• Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont as voices of graduation students
• Amber Benson as Stephanie, the stoned girl
• Jennifer Elise Cox as Mary, the crying drunk girl
• 1 The Longest Ride
• 2 Civil War
• 3 IF (2024)

By clicking Sign In, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Sign In Up with your social account

We won't post to any of your accounts

Your password must include:

• Min 8 characters
• Min 1 lowercase character
• Min 1 uppercase character
• Min 1 number

‘Can’t Hardly Wait’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

Work hard, party harder! Can’t Hardly Wait   captured the ultimate ’90s nostalgia as it bid farewell to the graduating seniors of Huntington Hillside High School — and sent them off with one last rager.

The 1998 film centers on a group of students determined to cross off one last achievement on their end-of-high-school bucket lists. Preston Meyers ( Ethan Embry ) plans to confess his four-year crush to Amanda Beckett ( Jennifer Love Hewitt ), the most popular girl in school after she’s been dumped by her jock boyfriend Mike Dexter ( Peter Facinelli ).

Meanwhile, class nerd William Lichter ( Charlie Korsmo ) infiltrates the party in an elaborate plot to seek revenge on Mike after four years of bullying. Wannabe rapper Kenny Fisher ( Seth Green ) hopes he can lose his virginity by the end of the night. Outsider Denise Fleming ( Lauren Ambrose ) is dragged to the party by her best friend, Preston, but finds herself spending the evening with an unexpected party guest.

Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont cowrote and co-directed the movie, which shared the same title as the 1987 song by The Replacements. Can’t Hardly Wait marked the first time Hewitt stepped into a role where she was portrayed as a bombshell lead. Kaplan told the International Business Times in 2018 that Hewitt was ready to take on a new character persona.

“I think she was excited because she had always sort of played the best friend and the sort of mouthy girl and not really the object of desire,” Kaplan said at the time. “Even in I Know What You Did Last Summer , which was a big movie, they always put her in overalls or glasses, she was just kind of the side chick, in a way. But in this one, she got to be the girl that everybody wanted.”

Embry, for his part, auditioned for the movie but was offered the part of William Lichter. He told VH1 in 2013 that he turned down the role because he was set on playing the leading man.

“It had been a while that I had the opportunity to play the ‘guy that gets the girl,’” Embry said at the time. “I had done those roles when I was a lot younger and this was the first time that someone would see me as a lead. I wanted to play the guy who gets the girl. That was sort of the driving thing.”

Although Hewitt and Embry were established names before Can’t Hardly Wait was released, numerous actors appeared in the film before their big breaks including Jason Segel ,  Jaime Pressly and Selma Blair.

You have successfully subscribed.

Subscribe to newsletters

By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly

Deal of the Day

Check our latest news in Google News

Check our latest news in Apple News

Hewitt revealed that she had her eye on making a sequel to the teen comedy in 2015. “ Can’t Hardly Wait reunion movie anyone? Let’s get them to make it!” she tweeted at the time.

Four years later, the Party of Five alum shared on Danny Pellegrino ’s podcast, “Everything Iconic,” that she was actively working on the film’s release as a director.

Scroll down to see where the cast of Can’t Hardly Wai t is today.

Credit: Darren Michaels/Columbia Tristar/Kobal/Shutterstock

'Can't Hardly Wait' Cast: Where Are They Now?

Work hard, party harder! Can't Hardly Wait   captured the ultimate '90s nostalgia as it bid farewell to the graduating seniors of Huntington Hillside High School — and sent them off with one last rager. The 1998 film centers on a group of students determined to cross off one last achievement on their end-of-high-school bucket lists. Preston Meyers ( Ethan Embry ) plans to confess his four-year crush to Amanda Beckett ( Jennifer Love Hewitt ), the most popular girl in school after she's been dumped by her jock boyfriend Mike Dexter ( Peter Facinelli ). Meanwhile, class nerd William Lichter ( Charlie Korsmo ) infiltrates the party in an elaborate plot to seek revenge on Mike after four years of bullying. Wannabe rapper Kenny Fisher ( Seth Green ) hopes he can lose his virginity by the end of the night. Outsider Denise Fleming ( Lauren Ambrose ) is dragged to the party by her best friend, Preston, but finds herself spending the evening with an unexpected party guest. Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont cowrote and co-directed the movie, which shared the same title as the 1987 song by The Replacements. Can't Hardly Wait marked the first time Hewitt stepped into a role where she was portrayed as a bombshell lead. Kaplan told the International Business Times in 2018 that Hewitt was ready to take on a new character persona. “I think she was excited because she had always sort of played the best friend and the sort of mouthy girl and not really the object of desire,” Kaplan said at the time. “Even in I Know What You Did Last Summer , which was a big movie, they always put her in overalls or glasses, she was just kind of the side chick, in a way. But in this one, she got to be the girl that everybody wanted.” [sendtonews type="float" key="YDes7RPG06-3101840-14453"] Embry, for his part, auditioned for the movie but was offered the part of William Lichter. He told VH1 in 2013 that he turned down the role because he was set on playing the leading man. “It had been a while that I had the opportunity to play the ‘guy that gets the girl,’” Embry said at the time. “I had done those roles when I was a lot younger and this was the first time that someone would see me as a lead. I wanted to play the guy who gets the girl. That was sort of the driving thing.” Although Hewitt and Embry were established names before Can't Hardly Wait was released, numerous actors appeared in the film before their big breaks including Jason Segel ,  Jaime Pressly and Selma Blair. Hewitt revealed that she had her eye on making a sequel to the teen comedy in 2015. “ Can’t Hardly Wait reunion movie anyone? Let’s get them to make it!” she tweeted at the time. Four years later, the Party of Five alum shared on Danny Pellegrino ’s podcast, “Everything Iconic," that she was actively working on the film's release as a director. Scroll down to see where the cast of Can't Hardly Wai t is today. [podcast_block]

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

Jennifer Love Hewitt (Amanda Beckett)

After the film hit theaters, Hewitt continued to star on Party of Five for one more year. She later appeared in the 2000 film sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer followed by the 2001 romantic comedy Heartbreakers. Hewitt landed leading roles on the TV shows Ghost Whisperer from 2005 to 2010, The Client List from 2012 to 2013 and Criminal Minds from 2014 to 2015. She joined the main cast of Fox's series 9-1-1 in 2018.

Hewitt married her Client List costar Brian Hallisay in 2013. The couple welcomed their daughter, Autumn, that same year. Their son, Atticus, was born in 2015.

Ethan Embry (Preston Myers)

Embry continued his acting career with reoccurring roles on the TV shows Once Upon a Time (2013) and Sneaky Pete (2015-2019). The actor had a lead role in the crime drama Brotherhood from 2006 to 2008. He has starred on Netflix's Grace and Frankie as Coyote Bernstein since 2015.

The California native was married to actress Amelinda Smith from 1998 to 2002. They are the parents of son, Cogeian, who was born in 1999. He married actress Sunny Mabrey in 2005 but, the pair divorced in 2012. Embry and Mabrey remarried in 2015.

Credit: YouTube; Shutterstock

Peter Facinelli (Mike Dexter)

Facinelli starred on the Showtime series Nurse Jackie from 2009 to 2015. The actor also had reoccurring roles on the TV shows Glee , Supergirl , and S.W.A.T. He later became known as vampire Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the Twilight Saga films from 2008 to 2012.

The New York native married actress Jennie Garth in 2001. They welcomed daughters Luca in 1997, Lola in 2002 and Fiona in 2006. The couple divorced in 2013. Facinelli proposed to his girfriend, Lily Anne Harrison , in 2020.

Seth Green (Kenny Fisher)

Green starred in a number of comedy films, including the Austin Powers film franchise from 1997 to 2002, Rat Race (2001), and Without a Paddle (2004). The actor branched into voice work where he lent his vocals to the character Chris on Family Guy starting in 1999. He co-created the animated series Robot Chicken , which premiered in 2005. Green most recently voiced a character in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise in 2014 and 2017. He wrote and directed his first movie, Changeland , in 2019. The Pennsylvania native married actress Clare Grant in 2010.

Lauren Ambrose (Denise Fleming)

Ambrose portrayed Claire Fisher on Six Feet Under from 2001 to 2005. She also starred in the films Where the Wild Things Are (2009) and Sleepwalk With Me (2012). Ambrose starred as Eliza Doolittle in the Broadway revival of My Fair Lady in 2018, which earned her a nomination the the 2018 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She joined the AppleTV+ series Servant in 2020.

Ambrose married photographer Sam Handel in 2001.They are the parents of two children.

Jason Segel (The Watermelon Guy)

Can't Hardly Wait was Segel's first feature film credit. The actor went on to star in Judd Apatow 's teen comedy series,  Freaks and Geeks, from 1999 to 2000. Segel teamed up with Apatow again for the films Knocked Up in 2007 and Forgetting Sarah Marshall in 2008. He portrayed Marshall Eriksen on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother from 2005 to 2014. Segel created and starred in the AMC series Dispatches From Elsewhere in 2020.

Credit: Shutterstock; Courtesyn Eric Kazen/Instagram

Charlie Korsmo (William Lichter)

Korsmo's final movie role was in Can't Hardly Wait until he starred in the 2019 drama Chained for Life. He earned a degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2000. The former child star graduated from Yale Law School in 2006. Barack Obama appointed Korsmo to the Board of Trustees of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation in 2011. He is now a professor of corporate law and corporate finance at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland.

He and his wife, Adrienne Korsmo , welcomed daughter, Lilah, in 2010 followed by their son, William, in 2012.

Credit: Shutterstock; YouTube

Jaime Pressly (Beth)

The actress starred in the 2001 comedy Not Another Teen Movie followed by Joe Dirt  the same year and later appeared in I Love You, Man (2009). She portrayed Joy Turner on the comedy series My Name Is Earl  (2005-2009), which earned her an Emmy Award in 2007. Pressly and her then-boyfriend DJ Eric Calvo welcomed their son, Dezi, in 2007.

After their split in 2008, she wed entertainment lawyer Simran Singh in 2009. Pressly filed for divorce in 2011. She gave birth to her twin sons Leo and Leon, whom she shares with her boyfriend, Hamzi Hijazi , in 2017.

Selma Blair (Girl Mike Hits On)

Blair nabbed numerous roles throughout the late '90s and early '00s including, Cruel Intentions (1999), Legally Blonde (2001), and The Sweetest Thing (2002). She most recently portrayed Kris Jenner  on the FX series The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story in 2016. Blair gave birth to her son, Arthur, whom she shares with her ex-boyfriend Jason Bleick , in 2011.

The actress revealed in October 2018 that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Jerry O'Connell (Trip McNeely)

O'Connell was uncredited in Can't Hardly Wait , but he later received parts in films such as Mission to Mars (2000), Kangaroo Jack (2003) and Yours, Mine and Ours (2005). The Scream 2 star served as guest host on The Wendy Williams Show for several episodes in 2018 and 2019.

He married Rebecca Romijn in 2007. The couple welcomed twin daughters, Dolly and Charlie, in 2008.

Marisol Nichol (William's Groupie)

The Illinois native made an uncredited appearance before she landed roles as Nadia Yassir on season 6 of 24 and Hermione Lodge in Riverdale starting in 2016.

Nichol was married to Andrea Forrentino from 1995 to 1998. She tied the knot with director Taron Lexton in 2008. They share daughter, Rain, who was born later that year. The pair separated in 2018.

Melissa Joan Hart (Vicki the Yearbook Girl)

The actress continued to star on the ABC sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch until the show's end in 2003. She later was the lead in another '90s teen film, Drive Me Crazy , in 1999. Hart costarred with Joey Lawrence in the ABC Family sitcom Melissa & Joey from 2010 to 2015. Since 2019, she has voiced the role of Becca Chang in the Nickelodeon animated comedy The Casagrandes.

Chris Owen (Klepto Kid)

Owen appeared in the 1999 romantic-comedy She's All That before he starred as Chuck "Sherminator" Sherman in the American Pie franchise from 1999 to 2012.

His other film credits include starring opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in October Sky (1999) and as Timmy in National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002). Owen was married to Michelle Beck from 2007 to 2012.

Sean Patrick Thomas (Ben)

The Washington, D.C., native became best known for starring as Julia Stiles ' love interest in Save the Last Dance (2001). Thomas also was featured in Cruel Intentions (1999), Not Another Teen Movie (2001) and Barbershop (2001). He most recently appeared as Detective Cooper in the 2019 horror film The Curse of La Llorona.

Credit: YouTube; Shuttrstock

Freddy Rodriguez (TJ)

The actor became best known for portraying Hector Federico "Rico" Diaz on HBO's Six Feet Under from 2001 to 2005 and as Gio on Ugly Betty from 2007 to 2010. He appeared on the NBC drama series The Night Shift as Dr. Michael Ragosa from 2014 to 2015. He has starred as former New York City prosecutor Benny Colón in the CBS drama Bull since 2016.

He and his wife Maria Elise Rivera — whom he married in 1995 — share two children.

Jenna Elfman (Angel Stripper)

Elfman starred in the leading role of Dharma on the ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg from 1997 to 2002, which earned her a Golden Globe award in 1999 and three Emmy nominations. She also appeared in the sitcoms Accidentally on Purpose from 2009 to 2010 and 1600 Penn from 2012 to 2013. Elfman became a series regular on season 4 of the AMC series Fear the Walking Dead in 2018.

The California native married actor Bodhi Elfman in 1995. The couple welcomed their first son, Story, in 2007 followed by their second son, Easton, in 2010.

Clea Duvall (Jan)

Duvall starred in the films She's All That (1999), But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) and Girl, Interrupted (1999), before later appearing in Argo (2012) and Lifetime's The Lizzie Borden Chronicles (2014-2015). She had a reoccurring role in FX's American Horror Story: Asylum from 2012 to 2013 and before she landed the part of Marjorie Palmiotti on Veep from 2016 to 2019.

In order to view the gallery, please allow Manage Cookies

For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!

In this article

Clea duvall, ethan embry.

Jaime Pressly

Jason Segel

Jenna Elfman

Jennifer Love Hewitt

Jerry O'Connell

Melissa joan hart.

Peter Facinelli

Selma Blair

More stories.

Can't Hardly Wait

Can't Hardly Wait is a 1998 film about a group of teenagers who attend a party on the night of their high school graduation.

• 1 Preston Meyers
• 2 William Lichter
• 3 Kenny Fisher
• 8 External links

Preston Meyers [ edit ]

• [narrating] It was October, freshman year. First time in history that I'd ever missed the bus. If I had arrived on time, I never would've seen her. But as it was, I was the first person at Huntington Hills High to set eyes on Amanda Beckett. It was her first day at school. Then, I'm sitting in class enjoying a late breakfast when out of all the classrooms in the entire school, she walks into mine. And where does the teacher sit her? Right next to me! Now, up until now, one could write this off to coincidence. But then she reaches in her bag and pulls out a strawberry Pop-Tart - the very same breakfast pastry I was consuming at that moment! What was I to do? How was I to proceed?
• I don't know about you, but I really believe that there's one person out there, and for me it's gotta be Amanda.

William Lichter [ edit ]

• Mike Dexter is an asshole. For the past decade, he has made a hobby of my pain. Witness exhibit A: my eighth grade science project - a working rain forest that Mike threw out a third floor window. It rains here no more. Witness exhibit B: an eye patch I wore for a month after Mike beaned me with a raisin in home ec. My parents took me to a 3D film festival; I saw no third dimension. And of course, how can I forget the pudding incident? I know no one else has. Well gentlemen, tonight Mike Dexter will know humiliation. Tonight Mike Dexter will know ridicule. Tonight is the night we fight back. Tonight is our independence night.
• You see the salt on this pretzel? Look at the stars. Some people, they say the stars are billions and billions of tons of hot gas. But I think maybe, maybe it's just God's salt. And God's just waiting to eat us.

Kenny Fisher [ edit ]

• All right this is it. It is finally time for Kenny Fisher to become... da man. Now I've done my laps, and all ten finalists are present and accounted for. Ten lovely ladies, yo. Each one at my disposal. Ten willing and able tour guides into the theme park of love. But who will it be? Which of you gorgeous ten will be the lucky one?
• [after he spilled water on his pants] Damn, she's gonna think I got that premature evacuation!

Other [ edit ]

• Angel Stripper : Fate. There is fate. But it only takes you so far, because once you're there, it's up to you to make it happen.

Dialogue [ edit ]

Taglines [ edit ].

• Yesterday's history. Tomorrow's the future. Tonight's the party!
• An event eighteen years in the making.
• For the class of 1998, the last night of high school is the first night of the rest of their lives.

Cast [ edit ]

• Jennifer Love Hewitt — Amanda Beckett
• Ethan Embry — Preston Meyers
• Charlie Korsmo — William Lichter
• Lauren Ambrose — Denise Fleming
• Peter Facinelli — Mike Dexter
• Seth Green — Kenny Fisher
• Jason Segel — Matt, Watermelon Guy
• Clea Duvall — Jana
• Jaime Pressly — Beth
• Tamala Jones — Cindi
• Channon Roe — Jake
• Sean Patrick Thomas — Ben
• Freddy Rodriguez — T.J.
• Donald Faison — Dan
• Jenna Elfman — the angel stripper
• Jerry O'Connell — Trip McNeely
• Melissa Joan Hart — Vicki, the yearbook girl
• Breckin Meyer — Walter

External links [ edit ]

• Can't Hardly Wait quotes at the Internet Movie Database
• Can't Hardly Wait at Rotten Tomatoes
• Can't Hardly Wait at Mojo

• American films
• Coming-of-age films
• Romantic comedy films
• Teen comedy films
• Films about parties

Navigation menu

Where Is the Cast of Can't Hardly Wait Now?

In honor of can't hardly wait making its way to netflix, let's check in on where the members of huntington hillside's class of '98 are now..

Who's ready to check in the Huntington Hillside Class of '98?

Well, you're in luck, because Can't Hardly Wait has finally made its way to Netflix!

It's been over two decades since the 1998 teen comedy written and directed by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont (who went on to make Josie and the Pussycats, Made of Honor and Leap Year together) made its way to theaters an charmed audiences with its depiction of one hell of a graduation party, introducing audiences to a who's who cast of stars including Ethan Embry, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Lauren Ambrose, Peter Facinelli, Seth Green and many more. And while lovesick Preston Meyers (Embry) and his crush on prom queen Amanda Beckett (Hewitt) feels a little absurd in all these years later--they'd never even met before he wrote her a letter professing his love?!--there's something so comforting about the film's late-'90s charms. And identifying the bit players who'd later go on to big things like Jason Segel, Jaime Pressly and Leslie Grossman is just part of the fun.

So before you cue up Netflix and let the film soothe your social distancing woes, check out what the sprawling cast is up to now!

Since starring as lovesick Preston Meyers in the film, Ethan Embry has appeared in films like Sweet Home Alabama, Vacancy , and First Man and TV shows including Grey's Anatomy, The Walking Dead and Once Upon a Time . Since 2015, he's starred as Coyote as Netflix's Grace & Frankie . In November 1998, Embry married first wife Amelinda Smith . After welcoming son Cogeian Sky into the world, they split in 2002. Three years later, he married actress Sunny Mabrey . In 2012, she filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, however they ultimately reconciled and began dating again a year later. They remarried in June 2015.

In the years since starring as teen dream Amanda Beckett, Jennifer Love Hewitt has remained quite busy, starring in films like Heartbreakers, The Tuxedo and Garfield: The Movie and shows like Time of Your Life, Ghost Whisperer, The Client List and Criminal Minds . She currently stars on the Fox hit 9-1-1 , replacing Connie Britton in the show's second season. With three albums under her belt before Can't Hardy Wait was released, she dropped her fourth (and, it would seem final) album, BareNaked , in 2002. In 2010, she added author to her resume, penning the dating advice book The Day I Shot Cupid . In 2007, she got engaged to boyfriend Ross McCall and, a year later, called it off. In 2012, she and her Client List co-star Brian Hallisay began dating. By November 2013, they were married and had welcomed daughter Autumn James . Son Atticus James followed in June 2015.

After playing the acidic and somewhat antisocial Denise Fleming, Lauren Ambrose went on to make a name for herself on television, starring as Claire Fisher on HBO's acclaimed series Six Feet Under for five seasons from 2001-05. She's also appeared in shows like Torchwood: Miracle Day, Dig , and the recent revival of The X-Files . She currently stars in the Apple TV+ thriller Servant , which has been renewed for a second season. After making her Broadway debut in the 2006 revival of Awake and Sing! , she earned a Tony nod for her turn as Eliza Doolittle in the 2018 revival of My Fair Lady . In 2001, she married professional photographer Sam Handel . They have two children, son Orson and a daughter whose name has not been disclosed.

Since starring as wannabe baller and desperate virgin Kenny Fisher, Seth Green continued his role as Scott Evil in the Austin Powers franchise, continued starring as werewolf Oz on Buffy the Vampire Slayer through 2000, appeared in films like Party Monster, Josie and the Pussycats and Old Dogs , has voiced Chris Griffin (among other characters) on Family Guy , starred in the short-lived Fox show Dads , and co-created the long-running Adult Swim series Robot Chicken . He's also guest-starred on a laundry list of TV shows, including Grey's Anatomy, Broad City and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend . In May 2010, he married actress Clare Grant .

After playing jock Mike Dexter, Peter Facinelli appeared in films like Riding in Cars With Boys and The Scorpion King before joining the Twilight franchise in 2008, starring as Dr. Carlisle Cullen in all five films. On TV, he's had starring roles on Fast Lane and Nurse Jackie , with recurring appearances on show like Six Feet Under, Glee and Supergirl . After meeting Jennie Garth in 1995, he and the Beverly Hills, 90210 star tied the knot in 2001. They welcomed three daughters, Luca, Lola and Fiona , before he filed for divorce in 2012. Since splitting with Garth, he dated and was briefly engaged to actress Jaimie Alexander before proposing to new girlfriend Lily Anne Harrison in 2020.

Since starring as bullied nerd William Lichter hellbent on revenge, Charlie Korsmo left the industry behind. He earned a degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2000 and then earned his Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School in 2006. In 2007, he passed the New York State Bar exam, which he followed with work as an associate in the New York office of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and a visiting professor as Brooklyn Law School. He currently works as a professor of corporate law and corporate finance at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland. In May 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Korsmo for member of the Board of Trustees of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. In 2019, he made his return to acting with a role in the independent film Chained for Life . He and wife Adrienne have two children, daughter Lilah and son William . For a more recent look at Korsmo, head to his bio from Case Western Reserve's website .

After playing T.J., one of Mike's jock bros, Freddy Rodriguez joined Ambrose on Six Feet Under as a series regular throughout its acclaimed run. He followed that with a recurring role on Ugly Betty , guest appearances on ER and Scrubs , and a starring role in the first two seasons of NBC's The Night Shift . He currently stars on CBS' Bull . On the film side, he's appeared in features like Payback, Poseidon, Lady in the Water and Planet Terror . He and high school sweetheart-turned-wife Elise have two sons, Elijah and Giancarlo .

Since playing Ben, another of Mike's jock bros, Sean Patrick Thomas went on to star in films like Cruel Intentions, Save the Last Dance, The Curse of La Llorona and the Barbershop franchise. On the small screen, he's appeared on shows like Criminal Minds, Madam Secretary and The Good Fight . In 2006, he married actress Aonika Laurent . They have two children, daughter Lola and son Luc .

After playing Jake, the third of Mike's jock pals, Channon Roe went on to appear in films like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and The Hangover Part II and on shows including Charmed, Justified, 24 and, most recently, Murder in the First . He married actress Bianca Chiminello in 2009. The couple have one son, Marlon . In 2014, they opened a lifestyle boutique called In the Field in Ojai, Calif.

Since playing Beth, Joe's girlfriend, Jaime Pressly has appeared in the films Not Another Teen Movie, Joe Dirt , and I Love You, Man . In 2005, she began starring in the NBC sitcom My Name Is Earl, which ran for four seasons, earning her an Emmy in 2007. After the show was canceled in 2009, she starred in the short-lived shows I Hate My Teenage Daughter and Jennifer Falls before joining the CBS comedy Mom in 2014 in its second season as a recurring character. By season three, she was made a series regular. Currently in its seventh season, the show has already been renewed for season eight. After getting engaged to DJ Eric Calvo in 2006, she gave birth to their son Dezi James in May 2007. After the couple separated in 2008, she married entertainment lawyer Simran Singh in 2009 and, subsequently, filed for divorce in 2011. Two weeks before filing for divorce, she was arrested in Santa Monica on suspicion of driving under the influence. (She pleaded no contest and received three years of informal probation.) In October 2017, she and longtime boyfriend Hamzi Hijazi welcomed twin sons Leo and Lenon.  

After playing Rachel, T.J.'s girlfriend, Jennifer Lyons has made appearances on TV shows like That '70s Show, Desperate Housewives and Workaholics . 

Since playing Cindi, Mike's girlfriend, Tamala Jones has appeared in the films Next Friday, Up in the Air and What Men Want , among others, and starred in the TV shows For Your Love and Castle . Since her time on the ABC procedural ended in 2016, she's guest-starred on shows like Speechless, Seal Team and 9-1-1: Lone Star . She was cast in the 2020 pilot Rebel created by Grey's Anatomy showrunner Krista Vernoff , though, as of press time, no decision had been made about its future. 

After playing the very stoned girl Stephanie, Amber Benson endeared herself to Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans as Tara, Willow's beloved, until she was killed off in 2002. Since then, she's guest-starred on shows including Supernatural, Private Practice and Grey's Anatomy , while appearing in indie films like Latter Days, Kiss the Bride and House of Demons . She's also become an accomplished author, working on graphic novels and straight novels alike.

After making her cameo as the iconic angel stripper, Jenna Elfman returned to her day job on ABC's Dharma & Greg , which ran until 2002. Since then, she's starred in several short-lived sitcoms, including Courting Alex, Accidentally on Purpose, 1600 Penn, Growing Up Fisher and Imaginary Mary . Since 2018, she's starred on the AMC series Fear the Walking Dead . She's also appeared in the films EDtv, Keeping the Faith, Looney Tunes: Back in Action and Friends with Benefits . She and husband Bodhi Elfman have two sons, Story Elias and Easton Quinn Monroe .

Since playing Amanda's creepy cousin Ron, Erik Palladino joined ER as a series regular in 1999, the show's sixth season. For two seasons, he starred as Dr. Dave Malucci. After leaving the NBC hit, he's recurred on shows like Joan of Arcadia, Make It or Break It, NCIS: Los Angeles, Suits and, most recently, The Fix . He's also been a series regular on the short-lived series Over There and 666 Park Avenue . After marrying wife Jamie in 2005, the couple have welcomed three children: daughter Paloma and sons Enzo and Roman .

After appearing as Walter, Love Burger's lead singer, Breckin Meyer appeared in films like Go, Road Trip, Rat Race and Ghosts of Girlfriend Past . He also played the iconic Jon Arbuckle in the Garfield film franchise. He was cast in the lead role in NBC's short-lived 2001 series Inside Schwartz , which he followed with guest appearances on House, Heroes and Party Down before starring in TNT's Franklin & Bash from 2011-14. He continues to work on Robot Chicken alongside Seth Green and, most recently, recurred on Designated Survivor. In 2001, he married Can't Hardly Wait 's co-writer and -director Deborah Kaplan . They welcomed two daughters, Caitlin and Clover, before divorcing in 2014. Since late 2017, he's been in a relationship with actress Linsey Godfrey .

Since appearing as Dan, Love Burger's drummer, Donald Faison has, most recognizably, starred as Dr. Chris Turk in NBC's Scrubs , which ran from 2001-2010. From 2011-15, he starred in TV Land's The Exes . He most recently starred in ABC's 2019 sci-fi series Emergence . He's also appeared in the films Josie and the Pussycats, Big Fat Liar, Uptown Girls and Kick-Ass 2 . In 2001, he married girlfriend Lisa Askey . The couple welcomed fraternal boy-girl twins Dade and Kaya prior to their wedding and son Kobe the year they were married. They divorced in 2005. In 2012, after six years of dating, he married Jessica Simpson 's former personal assistant CaCee Cobb , later welcoming son Rocco and daughter Wilder Frances together. (He has another son, Sean , born in 1997 with ex-girlfriend Audrey Ince .)

After playing former stud Trip McNeely, Jerry O'Connell in the films Mission to Mars, Kangaroo Jack, and Veronica Mars , among others, and appeared on TV shows like Ugly Betty, Scream Queens and Billions . From 2001-07, he starred on the NBC procedural Crossing Jordan and, in 2018, the Canadian series Carter . He's also appeared on Broadway a handful of times, including, most recently, a 2020 revival of A Soldier's Play. A frequent guest host on The Wendy Williams Show , he's tested for several talk shows of his own. In 2007, he and Rebecca Romijn tied the knot. They welcomed twin daughters  Dolly Rebecca Rose and Charlie Tamara Tulip in 2009. That same year, he enrolled in Southwestern Law School, but quit a year later to star in the short-lived CBS series The Defenders .

After making her appearance as Vicki, the girl who desperately wanted everyone to sign her yearbook, Melissa Joan Hart returned to her day job on Sabrina the Teenage Witch until 2003 when the sitcom came to an end. She also starred in the films Drive Me Crazy, Not Another Teen Movie , and God's Not Dead 2 . She competed in the ninth season of Dancing With the Stars in 2009, where she was eliminated seventh. In 2010, she returned to TV with the ABC Family sitcom Melissa & Joey , which aired until 2015. In 2017, she directed an adaptation of The Watcher in the Woods that aired on Lifetime. Since, she's directed episodes of The Goldbergs, Young Sheldon and Schooled . In 2003, she married musician Mark Wilkerson . They have three sons, Mason, Braydon and Tucker . 

Since playing Ready to Have Sex Girl, Nicole Bilderback appeared in Bring It On and on shows as varied as Dawson's Creek, Bones, Good Girls and, most recently, Brooklyn Nine-Nine . 

After playing Ready to Have Sex Girls' Friend, Leslie Grossman starred in Ryan Murphy 's Popular from 1999-2001 before joining the cast of What I Like About You . Since then, she's appeared in films like Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, Running With Scissors and Spring Breakdown , while guest-starring on shows as varied as Nip/Tuck, Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, The Good Place and Shrill . In recent years, she's returned to Murphy's TV world with starring roles in the two most recent installments of American Horror Story . She's due to star in the 2020 seasons, as well. In 1999, she married John Bronson . They have one daughter, Goldie , whom they adopted. 

After appearing as the Klepto Kid, Chris Owen landed the role of Chuck Sherman, aka the Sherminator, in American Pie , a role he reprised in all of the sequels, including the straight-to-DVD American Pie Presents: Band Camp . He's guest-starred on shows including Brothers & Sisters, The Mentalist and Criminal Minds and made an appearance in 2018's The Last Sharknado: It's About Time as the 30-year-old version of Gil, Fin's ( Ian Ziering ) son. In 2007, Owen married Michelle Beck . The two divorced in 2012.

After appearing as Matt, the Watermelon Guy, Jason Segel landed his first major role in Judd Apatow 's short-lived 1999 NBC series Freaks & Geeks . After appearing in a handful of episodes of Undeclared, CSI and Alias , he landed the role of Marshall in CBS' 2005 rom-com series How I Met Your Mother , a gig he kept through the final season in 2014. He also launched a successful film career, appearing in hits like Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I Love You, Man, Bad Teacher, The Muppets (which he also wrote and executive produced) and This Is 40 . He's currently starring on AMC's Dispatches from Elsewhere , which he created and executive produces. 

Trending Stories

Angelina jolie and brad pitt’s daughter shiloh files to change name, will & jada pinkett smith walk red carpet after announcing separation, ben affleck & jennifer lopez reunite at family event amid split rumors.

Can't Hardly Wait is available to stream on Netflix now.

15-Year-Old Dirt Bike Rider Amelia Kotze Dead After Mid-Race Accident

Cynthia nixon addresses sara ramirez's and just like that exit.

June 12, 1998 'Can't Hardly Wait': Pat but Entertaining Teen-Age Comedy Related Articles The New York Times on the Web: Current Film Forum Join a Discussion on Movies By JANET MASLIN EW YORK -- Flip through any yearbook, and you'll find the stock characters who amusingly populate the teen-age comedy "Can't Hardly Wait." Set amid a night of wild partying in honor of high school graduation, it features the smug jock, the prom queen, the nerdy valedictorian who belongs to the Dead Romance Languages Club, the acerbic lonely girl a la Molly Ringwald and the ridiculous hipster, a white guy who won't face the fact that he's no homeboy. Some of the equally generic minor characters are listed as Girl Whose Party It Is (she screams at regular intervals), Reddi Whip Kid and Girl Mike Hits On No. 2. So originality is not the strong suit of "Can't Hardly Wait," which was written and directed by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan. But these two, whose earlier writing credits include "A Very Brady Sequel," "Homeward Bound 2" and "Jingle All the Way," do show easygoing humor and the wisdom to borrow well. Their film at various times recalls tenderhearted coming-of-age comedies from "American Graffiti" onward, with strong homage to the works of Cameron Crowe, Amy Heckerling and John Hughes. It also cites as many pop cultural reference points as possible, from "The X-Files" to Darth Vader to Tupac Shakur to the ponytails of Baby Spice. Supposed shock waves over the breakup of the hot couple Mike (Peter Facinelli) and Amanda (Jennifer Love Hewitt), who has been more believably cast than she is as the glamour queen of fictitious Huntington Hills High School, are enough to set the story in motion. The nice guy, Preston (Ethan Embry), has had a four-year unrequited crush on Amanda and hopes to catch her eye. The down-to-earth Denise (Lauren Ambrose), Preston's redheaded best friend, is ready to coach him through this, until she runs afoul of hilarious little Kenny (Seth Green), a.k.a. Special K. Green is great fun as the story's white jive king turned unexpected Romeo. In a film that deploys a racially mixed cast with particular ease, one of Kenny's white pals wears a bicycle chain for a necklace and affects ghetto talk until it gets him what he deserves. The film benefits greatly from wall-to-wall catchy music (even Barry Manilow's "Mandy" falls into that category). Other standout players include Charlie Korsmo, as the smart kid whose science project was a working rain forest and who blossoms from dweeb into rock star on party night, and Jenna Elfman, of television's "Dharma and Greg," who makes a brief, dreamy appearance as an extremely ersatz angel. Jerry O'Connell plays the former high school hero who limps home to tell Mike (who looks enough like the younger Tom Cruise to fit here perfectly) that the party really is almost over. At college, he reports glumly, female classmates don't automatically swoon for football heroes. They have the nerve to think about world affairs and go out with older guys. "Can't Hardly Wait": Written and directed by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan; director of photography, Lloyd Ahern; edited by Michael Jablow; music by David Kitay and Matthew Sweet; production designer, Marcia Hinds-Johnson; produced by Jenno Topping and Betty Thomas; released by Columbia Pictures. Running time: 95 minutes. This film is rated PG-13. With: Jennifer Love Hewitt (Amanda), Ethan Embry (Preston), Charlie Korsmo (William), Lauren Ambrose (Denise), Peter Facinelli (Mike), Seth Green (Kenny), Jerry O'Connell, (Trip McNeely) and Jenna Elfman (Angel).

Up to 10% back in rewards

Even lower prices, 24 / 7 customer support, popular flights from new york, cheap flights on onetwotrip, best flight searches, flight payment options, refunds and guarantees.

• Plan a Road Trip
• Plan a Flight
• Find an Airport
• Where to Stay
• All Questions

Road trip planner

Starting City

Destination City

Or switch to flying

Planning a road trip?

Get advice from people who have done the same trip.

The Trippy road trip planner automatically calculates the optimal itinerary including stops recommended by Trippy members, favorite restaurants and hotels, local attractions and things to do based on what people who live in the area have suggested, and more.

Once you have a quick trip planned, you can customize every detail, adding or removing stops, or changing what time you leave in the morning or how long you stay at each stop. Then you can save your custom trip and share it with friends and family.

Let us know if you have requests for more features you'd like to see in the trip planner!

Can't Hardly Wait (1998)

• User Reviews

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews

• User Ratings
• External Reviews
• Metacritic Reviews
• Full Cast and Crew
• Release Dates
• Official Sites
• Company Credits
• Filming & Production
• Technical Specs
• Plot Summary
• Plot Keywords
• Parents Guide

Did You Know?

• Crazy Credits
• Alternate Versions
• Connections
• Soundtracks

Photo & Video

• Photo Gallery
• Trailers and Videos

Related Items

• External Sites

Related lists from IMDb users

Recently Viewed

Amy spent many years in church ministry in Pullman and then in development work for a campus ministry in Moscow before joining the staff at PCN as Director of Strategic Development. She now serves as PCN’s CEO and finds great joy in sharing the mission of PCN with the Moscow/Pullman community, connecting with PCN’s many generous benefactors, and supporting the greatest staff on the planet. She loves the way PCN provides compassionate, holistic care, coming alongside clients with a vast array of life-affirming services.

Amy and her husband are the parents of four amazing children. She enjoys meaningful talks over coffee, cultivating beauty in her yard, hiking in beautiful places, and eating ice cream.