For the shows writers, itwaspersonal.
I identified with her a lot, creator Emily Kapnek tells EW about her time on the series.
It was a personal show and [Nickelodeon] let it be that.
Credit: Everett Collection
Ten years after the Nicktoons series finale, EW caught up with Kapnek all about Ginger.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: One of the things that really resonated with fans was the authenticity of the show.
Was that important to you from the beginning?
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That was the whole motivation.
Plus, just a healthy dose of reality.
It was our answer to that.
The show was also unusual in that Ginger and her friends actually changed clothes and aged.
I feel like that idea came from Mark Risley, who was a director that worked on the show.
I think he actually pitched the idea that they grow up and their outfits change.
It just made so much sense to me.
Looking back, what are you most proud of from the shows run?
Im proud of Ginger as a character.
Its not really one specific thing.
I just felt like she was such a three-dimensional two-dimensional character.
That part of it is exciting.
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Gingers friendship with Courtney was interesting because it wasnt what youd expect.
Was that based on anyone in particular?
I grew up in the city and my mom moved us to Westchester.
We had a single mom and it seemed like everyones parents were married.
We just felt like such odd ducks trying to assimilate.
Courtney was just based on a bunch of girls I went to school with.
I think they were fascinated by us city kids.
We were a little grimier, our mom was never home and we had our own keys.
Back then it was not as common [so] we were definitely a novelty.
I think that she felt a little empty.
I loved their relationship.
Courtney was such a great character.
Carl and Hoodseys friendship was one of the shows best parts.
How did you approach telling that story?
Hoodsey was based on a friend of Eryk Casemiro.
He gave a lot to those storylines and kept that boy element alive for us.
Hoodsey and Carls passion should have gone on forever.
They were such great friends [and] a really fun dynamic to go to.
[Also] Blake Gripling as their little foil.
All of the writers loved that storyline.
How was that process?
Music is always a really big part of anything I work on.
For me it was just a fun outlet, so I wanted Ginger to have that.
I love music and songwriting so it was a natural fit.
We actually went to high school together.
[Also] Macy Gray is a riot.
We had the most fun recording the theme song with her.
There were so many different versions.
Then, finally, we got Macy Gray.
That was just a blast.
I dont think Ill ever forget recording her singing that song because I was definitely starstruck and super excited.
Do you have any favorite episodes?
I would have to say that I love Hello Stranger.
That was the first one we got an Emmy nomination for.
We wound up having three Emmy nominations.
Its remarkable because they were Primetime Emmy nominations, we were up against shows likeThe Simpsons.
People were like, What isAs Told By Ginger?
No one had ever even heard of it.
I [also] really loved And She Was Gone, which was probably one of our darkest episodes.
My drama teacher just loved it and we wound up putting it on as this play.
It was really interesting.
That drama teacher, her actual name is Ms. Zorski [and] she was written into the show.
The show did tease where the characters might end up.
Did you always know have their futures in mind or did it evolve as it went on?
It was as the show went on.
There wasnt a firm endgame and you never know how many episodes youre going to wind up doing.
We werent working toward that.
In our minds, we were always hopeful that we could keep telling those stories and keep everything loose.
Would you be open toAs Told By Gingercoming back?
I think it would be fun to do a spin on it.
I was saying, Would it be fun to do a live-action TV movie of it?
Just pick a different life than it already had.
I do think it was so great.
I love what the show was and I wouldnt want to dismantle it too much.
