You People Should Be Ashamed: Freaks and Geeks
In 1999, network TV was just beginning the wretched slide to the bastion of crap we endure today. Seinfeld had ended not so long before and the entire TV world was trying to find the next big thing. The new game show boom was just starting, with Regis Philbin as it’s master and commander and the dreaded modern mainstay of “Reality TV” was on the upswing. However, there were a few signs of hope in that year and the show Freaks and Geeks was a shining beacon of awesomeness….that nobody watched.
Created by Paul Feig, the show is a semi-autobiographical accounting of two groups of high school students in the middle-American town of Chippewa, Michigan in the 1980′s. Also on board as Executive Producer was the now household name and “I produce everything these days” superpower, Judd Apatow. You’ll find that many of the actors that grace the modern Apatow hits had their start on this show with Seth Rogan, James Franco and Jason Segal (of Forgetting Sarah Marshall fame) among them.
The series followed the goings on of two distinct groups at McKinley High School, the Freaks (played by Linda Cardellini, Seth Rogan, Jason Segal, James Franco and Busy Phillips) and the Geeks (played by Martin Starr, Sam Levine and John Francis Daley). While the entire cast is featured in the various 18 episodes, the focal point of the series were the characters of Lindsay and Sam Weir. Played by Linda Cardellini and John Francis Daley, respectively, the show follows Lindsay Weir as she transforms from an honor student to a burnout after the death of her grandmother as well as Sam’s struggle to fit in and find himself as a Freshman.
While this may seem like fodder for an after school special, the show tackles the various subjects with a wit and humor seldom seen in other shows. The characters are well developed, extremely well cast, the acting is second to none and the writing avoids the pitfalls that a typical high school story often falls into. The reality is, this is really less a story about a high school as much as the school provides the setting for some very well thought out and endearing characters. With humor and touching moments in perfect balance, seeing these characters develop over the course of the season leaves you feeling like they’re part of your family.
Each of the actors does such a fantastic job that it’s simply too hard to single out any one for a stellar performance. Suffice it to say that you simply have to go check out the show to witness these fantastic performances and you’ll no longer wonder why all of these “Apatow Alums” have such awesome careers these days. Mention must also be made of the use of music in this show. With one of the best soundtracks on TV, the show had a diverse collection of songs from the late 70′s and early 80′s that helped create the vibe for each episode. What was cool about many of the episodes was how one band could often be a link throughout the show. In one particular story, The Who and their music was featured prominently throughout.
Freaks and Geeks was a critically acclaimed show but was consistently preempted and moved around the NBC schedule. So much so that the dedicated following it eventually received formed too late to save the show. With only 12 of the full 18 episodes originally airing, only fan outcry eventually got the remaining episodes played. A fan write in campaign was also instrumental in bringing the entire series out on DVD, which has now been out for a few years. A much more robust vesion of the DVD set, called the Yearbook Version, has just been released in 2008.
I’ve recently had the privilege of watching this show for the first time. For the last few weeks my wife and I have been glued to the television set, falling in love with these characters. As we’re nearing the end of the run, I’m sad. Depressed and sad that a show as great as Freaks and Geeks only graced us with eighteen episodes. I’m sad that these characters, which I’m only now getting to know via the DVD boxed set, are only going to be with me a short time more. All I can say to myself is, what the hell was I thinking in 1999?!?! What were we all thinking?!?
Let’s go over a short list of some of the shows that were top of the charts in the 1999-2000 season, of which Freaks and Geeks was a part:
My friends, we should be ashamed. VERY ashamed. And let the latest episodes of Survivor and America’s Got Talent burn our souls every time they air.
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Tags: freaks and geeks, james fanco, jason segal, judd apatow, linda cardellini, nbc, paul heig, seth rogan, you people should be ashamed
October 1st, 2008 at 9:40 am
I also never watched this when it was originally aired. I remember looking forward to it as the summer previews were coming in, but it somehow slipped off my radar. A few years later, while working as a DVD buyer, one of my fellow buyers peeked his head over my cubicle wall with a copy of the soon-to-be-released Freaks and Geeks boxed set in his hand. He said, “Here. You seem like the type of guy who would love this show.” I thanked him, took it home, and it sat on my shelf for almost two years unopened. One night, my wife and I were looking for something to watch and I spotted the sealed box and decided to give it a shot. We watched all 18 episodes in just under a week. It was that good.
So yes, follow Hilden’s advice and buy or rent this ASAP. You won’t regret it.
PS: I also just bought the sorta/kinda/psuedo-sequel to F&G, Undeclared. I can’t wait to watch it.
October 1st, 2008 at 10:24 am
Man, Freaks and Geeks was great, and I really remember that watching this. I borrowed the box set from someone and watched through about half of it. It was one of those strange shows where I loved it while I was watching it, but when I wasn’t I couldn’t quite remember why I loved it so much. I really need to finish it up.
And really, what happened to Linda Cardellini? I guess she’s still working, and looking at her IMDB page she was in that Scooby Doo movie and Brokeback Mountain, but I still don’t think she gets enough work.
October 1st, 2008 at 10:28 am
Actually, Linda Cardellini has been a major character on ER since 2003. She’s still on the show, I believe. She’s actually really fucking good on that show, when I watch it-which is rare.
She’s blond, however, so she’s not initially recognized as Lindsay Weir.
October 1st, 2008 at 11:06 am
That show is awesome! I’ve been trying to get my wife to watch it for a long time. With Halloween coming up we’ll at least have to watch the Halloween episode when Sam gets egged.
October 1st, 2008 at 11:17 am
Aah, gotcha. Well, that’s good to hear that she’s still out there, at least.
October 1st, 2008 at 11:21 am
She’s still out there, and she’s still hot. She was in Grandma’s Boy and man…she looked freakin’ great.
October 1st, 2008 at 11:36 am
this is on my Netflix.
I have only heard good things about this show…
and im ashamed for not having watched it before.
October 1st, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Shame is what we aim for!
October 1st, 2008 at 4:33 pm
TV sucked way before 1999.
October 1st, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Seriously, this is one of my top 3 shows of all time. Lots of heart and truth. The setpieces are fantastic. And I love the “Discos and Dragons” episode. Carlos the Dwarf.
It’s also nice to see Joe Flaherty reprise his Count Floyd role in the Halloween episode.
I’d love to see Martin Starr do more things. That dude is funny as hell.
Super highly the most recommended. You absolutely won’t be disappointed if you buy, but at the very least put it at the top of your Netflix Queue right now.
October 1st, 2008 at 9:42 pm
John,
Undeclared is pretty good, but don’t expect F&G quality. It’s still better than 99% of the stuff that’s out there now, of course.
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:52 am
Okay, granted, TV has sucked before 1999. But you have to admit that when Seinfeld ended, TV took a turn for the worse. Everyone trying to fill the void just started a more rapid slide downhill.
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:20 am
I think TV in general is getting better, but comedies and sitcoms are mostly horrible. Hell, they’re practically nonexistant as everyone scrapes to be the next CSI. There are a couple good ones, but it’s not like comedies dominate television like they once did.
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:48 am
I think that we’re living in the golden age of television. I mean, there’s been great television in the past, but now we’re getting shows that are of the same quality level as a lot of movies.
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:27 pm
While I’m not sure I’d call it the Golden Age of TV, I’m going to say that a show like Freaks and Geeks would probably have done better now than in 1999. With shows like the Office and quirky shows like My Name Is Earl and the like getting lots of viewers, F&G could have fit in well.
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I know, but you kind of have to think outside of network television, too. Shows like The Shield and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia are really pushing the boundaries of what’s acceptable (as well as really enjoyable). Plus, there are shows that have ended like The Wire, Sopranos and others that are just fantastic. Then you’ve got stuff like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Weeds, Dexter and Lost (depending on who you ask). Then there are your documentary-style shows like Penn & Teller’s Bullshit! and Mytbusters, plus some really good traditional sitcom fare like How I Met Your Mother. I mean, maybe it isn’t the “golden age” per se, but never before has there been such a diverse selection of high-quality shows on television.
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Yeah, when you go outside Network TV, you’re right. It really is a good time for television.
October 5th, 2008 at 5:57 am
I recall discovering this back when reruns were airing on the then FOX Family Channel back in 2000-2001. I recall surprisingly taking a liking to the show then most of the other after-school specials that seem to dominate that channel, and was disappointed to learn it had such a short run. Been meaning to pick up the DVD set, but it’s so expensive still after all these years. I was unaware they re-released a second version of it this year, hopefully it runs a little less.