When Judd Apatow’s show "Freaks and Geeks" first aired on NBC in 1999, it didn’t receive a lot of viewership. Like many great works of art, it was ahead of its time, and was unfortunately cancelled after just one season.
Fortunately, that wasn't the end of this gem. "Freaks and Geeks" was resurrected following the rise of the Internet to be watched and appreciated by new generations of young people. In fact, the show's timelessness has allowed it to become something of a cult classic.
Though "Freaks and Geeks" is set in the early '80s, its portrayal of high school and adolescence continue to be relevant for today's generation of teens. The show illustrated the lives of high school misfits — the "freaks" (the cool stoner outcasts) and the "geeks" (the nerds) — who were trying to make the most of their teenage experience while staying true to themselves. Each of the characters was flawed in their own way, which is what made them realistic and relatable.
The characters' experiences of angst, confusion, embarrassment and passion provided an honest look at the teenage experience in a way that many shows fail to do. What set "Freaks and Geeks" apart from other shows aimed at young adults is that, even within the span of a single season, the characters were given permission to grow and change and explore their identities in a way that was both vulnerable and entertaining.
One of my favorite things about "Freaks and Geeks" is the show's main protagonist, Lindsay Weir, played by Linda Cardellini ("Mad Men," "Bloodline," "Avengers: Age of Ultron"). Once a goody-two-shoes mathlete, Lindsay chooses to abandon her geek status to hang with the freaks, who she hopes will help her find her identity. Her desire to rebel and turn away from her past self in search of her true purpose is what made her especially relatable. Lindsay didn’t neatly fit the label of freak or geek, but she was striving to find what it was she really wanted from life, even if that meant making some drastic decisions.
"Freaks and Geeks," which could easily have been written off as just another one-hit wonder, has left a lasting legacy for many generations of teens. An important part of that legacy was the fact that it helped to launch the successful careers of many of its cast and crew members.
The show was largely written, directed and produced by Judd Apatow. Despite the show's premature cancellation, Apatow went on to make a successful career for himself, producing such blockbuster comedies as "Bridesmaids" and "Anchorman"as well as the new Amy Schumer movie "Trainwreck."
The freaks, James Franco ("127 Hours," "Spring Breakers," "James Dean"); Seth Rogen ("Neighbors", "Superbad"); Busy Philipps ("Dawson's Creek," "Cougar Town"); and Jason Segel ("How I Met Your Mother," "Forgetting Sarah Marshall") were among those who established successful acting careers after the show ended. Guest stars such as Rashida Jones, Shia LaBeouf and Jason Schwartzman also appeared on the show before they became famous.
The show also marked the start of a fruitful friendship between James Franco and Seth Rogen, who went on to collaborate on such comedic projects as "The Interview," "Pineapple Express" and "This is the End," as well as the hilarious parody music video, "Bound 3. "
The show is notorious for investing a large part of its budget to curate a soundtrack that would perfectly match the setting and theme of the show. The soundtrack included excellent music by the Grateful Dead, The Who, Styx, Billy Joel and more. I still get a bit weepy and nostalgic whenever I heard Styx's "Come Sail Away," which was played at the end of the series' iconic final episode.
When watching "Freaks and Geeks," it's also interesting to consider the many ways in which television content has changed since the show first aired. For example, an episode called Kim Kelly is My Friend was banned by NBC for being too controversial in its depiction of a character who had experienced domestic violence. Today, such issues are far more openly portrayed on television.
"Freaks and Geeks" is a unique coming-of-age comedic drama that has managed to transcend generations and continues to capture the hearts of young people nearly 16 years after its initial premiere. Though the show depicts the high school experience in the early '80s — three decades before I started high school — it is by far one of the most accurate and entertaining youth-oriented shows that I've had the pleasure of watching. Its humorous and honest rendering of the universal struggles of young people is what makes "Freaks and Geeks" one of my favorite shows.
(Also, who can resist young James Franco?)
