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I don’t normally watch television. When I was in high school, I got all of my homework done in my 8th hour study hall, and then I either did an extracurricular activity or went home and played video games. My friends didn’t like TV that much either, which is why my housemates and I now don’t have cable, a dish, or even an antenna hooked up.
I still somehow managed to stumble upon Freaks and Geeks on Netflix, and I’m very glad that I did.
It’s 1980. Saturday Night Live is still funny. Punk and prog rock have both invaded a Michigan suburb (loosely based on creator Paul Feig’s hometown), where despite modern science, kids have to go to high school and figure out who the hell they want to be. The show focuses on Lindsay Weir, a 16-year-old girl who has to decide whether to continue being the school’s best mathlete and a geek; or to join the freaks that experiment more with staying out late, drugs, and sex.
Joining Lindsay are her parents and little brother, who are all suitably awkward and loving, but she still can’t stand them at times, because hey, it’s high school. Her brother’s geeky friends round out a hilarious trio who remind me of the conversations I used to have. The other high school students are a who’s who of comedies in the early 2000s: Jason Segel, James Franco, Seth Rogen, and more all got their start here. Lindsay (Linda Cardellini, who was 24 at the time of filming) was on E.R. for awhile after and done lots of voice work. If I can come up with one major criticism, it’s that Lindsay Weir is just too damn cute to possibly be as unpopular as she thinks she is. Who is the executive producer who brought this all together? Judd Apatow; maybe you’ve heard of him?
A show this honest and emotional wouldn’t work if it weren’t funny, but thankfully it is. I don’t know the last time I laughed out loud as often at a television alone in the dark. The dialogue is tightly written and expertly executed, and even when they’re not talking the characters’ facial expressions are excellent. There are more than a few moments with kids giving themselves pep-talks, grooming, or dancing in front of a mirror. When I’m not laughing, I’m cringing. There are so many scenes where I sat there thinking, “man, I’ve been there, or know someone who has.” Very rarely have I seen such an accurate and honest depiction of adolescent struggles.
Unfortunately, the show never took off and it only managed 18 episodes before being canned. Like the students who were still figuring things out and trying to get noticed, Apatow and company didn’t let this be the last thing they did. It may sound strange, but the quality of this show, combined with the later success of those involved, convinced me to get me off my butt and start writing again.
If you like any of Judd Apatow’s movies, you’ll love Freaks and Geeks; although since it was on television it's more PG-13 than R. It should be required viewing for anyone who will ever go to high school or raise a teenager. I cannot possibly recommend it enough, and because it never really went anywhere, you can stream the whole thing on Netflix for free or find it somewhere else pretty easily. Do it.
