Sometimes good TV goes unnoticed until it’s too late. I can ramble off all sorts of different shows, like Firefly and Arrested Development, that gained more of a following in their final days and after they were cancelled. Few however can quite compare to the classic Freaks and Geeks. Freaks and Geeks was created by Director/Actor Paul Feig and Executive Produced by Judd Apatow, who’s known for directing films like 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up. The show also featured a cast of actors and actresses who would go on to become household names like James Franco, Seth Rogan, Jason Segal and Linda Cartellini as well as others.
The comedy-drama set in the early ’80s focused on the lives of Lindsay and Sam Weir as they attempt to navigate the ever chaotic social structure we know as high school. Lindsay (Linda Cartellini) is a former Mathlete who decides in the pilot episode to change her image and find her way into the “Freak” cliq with Daniel Desario (James Franco), Kim Kelly (Busy Philipps), Nick (Jason Segal), and Ken (Seth Rogan). Meanwhile, her younger brother Sam (John Francis Daley) is just trying to survive the constant threats of being beat up, dodge ball and overall awkwardness of being the low man on the totem pole along with his fellow “Geeks” Neal (Samm Levine) and Bill (Martin Starr). Freaks and Geeks manages to both provide nostalgia for the viewers who grew up in that late ’70s, early ’80s era but still manages to connect with any viewer who’s ever gone through the high school experience. Trying to fit in, dealing with drugs and alcohol, being picked on, and finding out that we aren’t all the same are just some of the topics touched on through the series.
While it only lasted one season, eighteen episodes to be specific, Freaks and Geeks in a way was lucky to know they were being cancelled. The show ends on a note that leaves you feeling complete in a way. It’s certainly left open, in case they had mysteriously been picked back up last minute, but enough of the plot lines and stories are wrapped up enough to where you don’t get mad that questions are left unanswered. Freaks and Geeks also manages to achieve something I find rare in both television and film, in that it can successfully make you laugh your ass off and minutes later have you completely caught up in drama, even on the verge of tears. My favorite episode is actually the third in the series entitled “Tricks and Treats”. In it, the “Geeks” find that going Trick or Treating as freshmen isn’t so widely accepted among their classmates and their own neighbors. While at the same time, Lindsay has her first encounter with vandalism with the “Freaks” as she smashes pumpkins and eggs trick or treaters until things get a little too close to home.
Though the DVD collection is somewhat pricey, I can’t tell you enough how much I think everyone would enjoy this series. I know a lot of folks out there already have, but it never ceases to amaze me how many people don’t know about it. So find a copy at Best Buy or online and do yourself a huge favor and enjoy the series that is Freaks and Geeks.