"Freaks and Geeks" (2000)

Long before Judd Apatow was "knocking-up" Hollywood. Before James Franco was sharing the big screen with Tobey McGwire. Before Linda Cardellini was running through "E.R." stat! Before Jason Segel gave us all something to forget about in "...Sarah Marshall." Before Seth Rogen was pumping out movie after movie, Busy Phillips was prowling "Cougar Town", and John Francis Daly was recurring on "Bones" and then hired to co-write New Line's updated version of the "Vacation" series of movies. They all had one thing in common. NBC's "Freaks and Geeks."

F&G was the best show ever canceled by the network. I don't think they gave it much of a chance. They moved from nights week to week, making it difficult for even the most rabid fan to find. Airing 16 of the 18 episodes taped. Yes, I'm still very bitter. This was truly a great show.


F&G was creator Paul Feig's semi-auto bio show about a group of geeks and a separate group of burn-outs growing up in 1980 small town Michigan. Feig said that growing up a geek, he was often teased with the pajorative "fag". So, he gave the character who would most closely resemble his experience the name Sam Weir (rhymes with queer). He intended this slur to be a runner to torment Sam through the series. NBC stopped it after one use. Guess it was too real.

Sam (John Francis Daly) was a 14 year old freshman geek with best friends Neil (Samm Levine) and Bill (Martin Star). The three clung together with their common interest of: "Star Wars"; "Star Trek"; Bill Murray; Steve Martin; girls and how to interact with them; and how to stay safe from bully "Allan"

Lots of kids are teased as freshman and freshman geeks get the worse. Sam had it from all sides, except from his older sister Lindsay (Linda Cardellini). In the pilot, Lindsay began a cross over from straight "A" student and mathlete to a freak. Wearing her father's drab Army jacket, doubting the existence of God, and pulled away from everyone that once was in her confidence.


The burn-outs of Daniel (Franco), Kim (Phillips), Neil (Segel), and Ken (Rogan) each had their own baggage in life that seemed to point to their apathy for school and a need for escapism.

F&G could have easily of gone 100 episodes without breaking a sweat. Story lines were rich in subtext, characters real depth with back story. These people were so relatable that you either were them or knew them growing up.

Superbly casted. Allison Jones(casting) was hired to cast "The Office" by EP Greg Daniels because, as he said, "I thought Freaks and Geeks was the best casted show ever." Seeing all the success that almost all the players have had since F&G, who could disagree?

This dramedy was as touching a show as TV could ever make. One can not help but to love the kids even when they are being selfish punks. When NBC canceled F&G they deprived us of something really special. You can however still get it on DVD. Or rent it legally online.