"Freaks and Geeks" (1999) TV series 1999-2000

Creator:

Paul Feig
(more)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

25 September 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

It's 1980 and this is what high school was like for the rest of us.

Plot:

A television show about two unique groups of teenagers dealing with life in high school during the 80's.

Plot Keywords:

1980s | Geek | High School | High School Boy | Boy With Glasses

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Linda Cardellini	...	Lindsay Weir (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
John Francis Daley	...	Sam Weir (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
James Franco	...	Daniel Desario (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
Samm Levine	...	Neal Schweiber (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
Seth Rogen	...	Ken Miller (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
Jason Segel	...	Nick Andopolis (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
Martin Starr	...	Bill Haverchuck (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
Becky Ann Baker	...	Jean Weir (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
Joe Flaherty	...	Harold Weir (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
Busy Philipps	...	Kim Kelly (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
Michael Beardsley	...	Humphries (14 episodes, 1999-2000)
Shawn Soong	...	Stroker (14 episodes, 1999-2000)
Sarah Hagan	...	Millie Kentner (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Steve Bannos	...	Frank Kowchevski (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Jerry Messing	...	Gordon Crisp (11 episodes, 1999-2000)
Natasha Melnick	...	Cindy Sanders (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Dave Allen	...	Jeff Rosso (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Stephen Lea Sheppard	...	Harris Trinsky (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Chauncey Leopardi	...	Alan White (9 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Directed by
Jake Kasdan		(5 episodes, 1999-2000)
Judd Apatow		(3 episodes, 1999-2000)
Bryan Gordon		(2 episodes, 1999-2000)
Ken Kwapis		(2 episodes, 1999-2000)
Lesli Linka Glatter		(2 episodes, 2000)

Series Writing credits
Paul Feig		(18 episodes, 1999-2000)
Judd Apatow		(6 episodes, 1999-2000)
Mike White		(3 episodes, 2000)
Jeff Judah		(2 episodes, 1999-2000)
Bob Nickman		(2 episodes, 1999-2000)
Gabe Sachs		(2 episodes, 1999-2000)
J. Elvis Weinstein		(2 episodes, 1999-2000)
Patty Lin		(2 episodes, 2000)

Series Produced by
Judd Apatow	....	executive producer (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
Paul Feig	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
Terri Potts	....	associate producer (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
Victor Hsu	....	producer (17 episodes, 1999-2000)
Jeff Judah	....	supervising producer (17 episodes, 1999-2000)
Bob Nickman	....	supervising producer (17 episodes, 1999-2000)
Gabe Sachs	....	supervising producer (17 episodes, 1999-2000)
J. Elvis Weinstein	....	producer (17 episodes, 1999-2000)
Mike White	....	supervising producer (17 episodes, 1999-2000)
Jake Kasdan	....	consulting producer (15 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Original Music by
Michael Andrews		(13 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Cinematography by
Russ T. Alsobrook		(12 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Film Editing by
Tara Timpone		(8 episodes, 1999-2000)
Sean K. Lambert		(5 episodes, 1999-2000)
Brent White		(3 episodes, 2000)

Series Casting by
Allison Jones		(13 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Production Design by
Jefferson Sage		(12 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Set Decoration by
Sarah Burdick Stone		(11 episodes, 1999-2000)
Chris L. Spellman		(3 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Costume Design by
Debra McGuire		(13 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Makeup Department
Lisa Layman	....	key makeup artist / key makeup (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
Lisa Meyers	....	key hair stylist (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Laverne Caracuzzi	....	key makeup artist / makeup artist (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Peggy Hannaman	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Camille Henderson	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Tim Phoenix	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
K.G. Ramsey	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Elaina P. Schulman	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
David Syner	....	key makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Cheryl Voss	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Christopher Campbell	....	post-production supervisor (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Andrew Stone	....	unit production manager (12 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Schwartz	....	second assistant director (15 episodes, 1999-2000)
Liz Ryan	....	first assistant director (6 episodes, 1999-2000)
Douglas E. Wise	....	first assistant director (6 episodes, 1999-2000)
Carey Dietrich	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 1999-2000)
Pip Gilmour	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Stephanie Kime	....	second second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Kimberly Sizemore	....	second second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Chuck McSorley	....	property master (17 episodes, 1999-2000)
Jeff Plauster	....	propmaker gangboss (17 episodes, 1999-2000)
Michael Spitaletto	....	painter (13 episodes, 1999-2000)
Melissa McSorley	....	prop food stylist (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
John Stone	....	construction coordinator (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Chad Fontaine	....	labor (4 episodes, 1999)
Erik Carlson	....	assistant art director (unknown episodes)
Carl Denooyer	....	swing gang (unknown episodes)
Bart C. Hubenthal	....	set dresser / swing gang (unknown episodes)
Todd Jacques	....	swing gang (unknown episodes)
Chris Marneus	....	construction foreman (unknown episodes)
Glenn Matayoshi	....	assistant props (unknown episodes)
Caty Maxey	....	assistant art director (unknown episodes)
John Naehrlich	....	leadman (unknown episodes)
David P. Newell	....	swing gang (unknown episodes)
Beth Norton	....	painter foreman (unknown episodes)
Amy Reynolds	....	art department coordinator (unknown episodes)
Gary Rizzo	....	lead man (unknown episodes)
Clare Scarpulla	....	set designer (unknown episodes)
Saul Solache	....	swing gang (unknown episodes)
Aaron Sternlicht	....	swing gang (unknown episodes)
Jeffry C. Voorhees	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)
Cole Young	....	carpenter (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Michael Crabtree	....	foley artist (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
Catt LeBaigue	....	supervising sound editor (17 episodes, 1999-2000)
Brendan Beebe	....	boom operator (13 episodes, 1999-2000)
Thomas Brandau	....	production sound mixer (13 episodes, 1999-2000)
Bruce M. Honda	....	dialogue editor (13 episodes, 1999-2000)
Troy Porter	....	adr mixer (13 episodes, 1999-2000)
Deron Street	....	assistant sound editor (13 episodes, 1999-2000)
Neil Brody	....	re-recording mixer (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Joseph D. Citarella	....	re-recording mixer (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Dale Chaloukian	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
James Eric	....	utilities (unknown episodes)
Will Gethen-Jones	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Eddie Surkin	....	special effects coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Donna Evans	....	stunt coordinator (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Mickey Cassidy	....	utility stunts (2 episodes, 1999-2000)
Brian Avery	....	stunt double (1 episode, 2000)
Chris Blackwood	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Debbie Evans	....	stunt driver (unknown episodes)
Diana R. Lupo	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
John Joyce	....	camera operator: "b" camera & Steadicam operator / camera operator (17 episodes, 1999-2000)
Curtis Bradford	....	chief lighting technician (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Eyal Gordin	....	camera operator (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Tom Harjo	....	key grip (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Aaron Atom Vyvial	....	grip (3 episodes, 2000)
Michael Albala	....	lamp operator (unknown episodes)
Steven Aquilino	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (unknown episodes)
Anthony Lee Beverly	....	best boy grip (unknown episodes)
James Boniface	....	generator operator (unknown episodes)
Jason Campbell	....	lamp operator (unknown episodes)
Kevin Cook	....	company grip (unknown episodes)
Eric Alan Donaldson	....	company grip (unknown episodes)
Timothy Hedgecock	....	lamp operator (unknown episodes)
Kurt Iswarienko	....	lamp operator (unknown episodes)
Greg Luntzel	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Calese Russell	....	company grip (unknown episodes)
Lee Schmicker	....	assistant chief lighting technician (unknown episodes)
Eric Stapelfeldt	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (unknown episodes)
Ric Urbauer	....	key rigging grip (unknown episodes)
Naomi Villanueva	....	camera loader (unknown episodes)
Glenn Wade	....	dolly grip (unknown episodes)
Steve Wagner	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (unknown episodes)
Jon Yirak	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Sasha Adkinson	....	extras casting (17 episodes, 1999-2000)
Alison Franck	....	casting assistant (unknown episodes)
Sara Getzkin	....	casting associate (unknown episodes)
Jennifer Saxon	....	extras casting (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anthony Franco	....	key costumer (14 episodes, 1999-2000)
Bob Squire	....	costume supervisor (7 episodes, 2000)
Gina Trikonis	....	costume supervisor (7 episodes, 2000)
Joe Franco	....	set costumer (unknown episodes)
Jennifer Kouba	....	set costumer (unknown episodes)
Joseph T. Mastrolia	....	set costumer (unknown episodes)
Katrina Mastrolia	....	set costumer (unknown episodes)
Hector Morales	....	set costumer (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Shawni Modrell	....	assistant editor (13 episodes, 1999-2000)
Larry Field	....	final colorist (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Ron Shaw	....	assistant editor (11 episodes, 1999-2000)
Christopher Campbell	....	post-production (unknown episodes)
Bryan Wood	....	post-production assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Joan Jett	....	composer: main title song (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Jonathan Karp	....	music editor (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Buck Damon	....	music supervisor (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Amanda Scheer-Demme	....	music supervisor (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Michael Dilbeck	....	music supervisor (2 episodes, 2000)
Wende Geikie	....	music supervisor (2 episodes, 2000)

Series Transportation Department
Michael Sean Ryan	....	transportation coordinator (17 episodes, 1999-2000)
Michael Bangs	....	transportation captain (unknown episodes)
James Boniface	....	driver (unknown episodes)
Richard Burch	....	driver (unknown episodes)
Tom Lyons	....	transportation captain (unknown episodes)
Mike Storc	....	transportation (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Amy D'Alessandro	....	titles (17 episodes, 1999-2000)
Gary Michael Clark	....	payroll accountant (14 episodes, 1999-2000)
Michelle Axelrod	....	production coordinator (13 episodes, 1999-2000)
Jacqueline R. Clay	....	script supervisor (13 episodes, 1999-2000)
Maureen Jennings	....	assistant to producers (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Patty Lin	....	story editor (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Richard Lorenzana	....	production accountant (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Marisa Tambornini	....	assistant to producers (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Deborah Laub	....	location manager (9 episodes, 1999-2000)
Bruce Lawhead	....	location manager (3 episodes, 2000)
Josh Assael	....	production intern (unknown episodes)
Julie Brill	....	assistant to writers (unknown episodes)
Grace Bustos	....	stand-in (unknown episodes)
Oscar Casillas	....	production assistant to writer (unknown episodes)
Almarie Clifford	....	studio teacher (unknown episodes)
Richard De Labio	....	assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Hope Diamond	....	publicist (unknown episodes)
Kenneth England	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Lannie Franklin	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Maurice 'Moe' Freeman	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Greg Gabel	....	office production assistant (unknown episodes)
Rebecca Gross	....	accounting production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jason King	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Susan M. Lorenzana	....	assistant accountant (unknown episodes)
Jennifer Lucene	....	assistant production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Pedro Mata	....	assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Lucas Moore	....	studio teacher (unknown episodes)
Mark Palmer	....	craft service (unknown episodes)
Wayne Rich	....	assistant production coordinator (unknown episodes)
George A. Romero	....	set medic (unknown episodes)
Jason K. Smith	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Sarah Stokes	....	script coordinator (unknown episodes)
Phil Trocki	....	studio teacher (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Apatow Productions
• DreamWorks Television

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1999-2000) (USA) (TV)
• Independent Film Channel (IFC) (2010) (USA) (TV)
• Nelonen (200?) (Finland) (TV)
• Net5 (200?) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV) (2002-2003) (Japan) (TV)
• Shout! Factory (2004) (USA) (DVD) (complete series)
• Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) (2002) (Austria) (TV) (ORF1)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Four Media Company  post-production video services
• Movie Movers  production trailers
• Shout! Factory  soundtrack

Also Known As:

Runtime:

60 min (18 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Australia:PG (some episodes) | Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) (DVD rating) | USA:TV-14

Filming Locations:

City of Industry, California, USA

Company:

Apatow Productions

Trivia:

Nearly everything that happens to the characters happened to Paul Feig or other members of the crew - for example, the blue suit that Sam Weir wears in "Looks and Books", the showering in the locker room storyline in "I'm With the Band".

Goofs:

Anachronisms: At the end of "Discos and Dragons" when Lindsay takes off with Kim and some Grateful Dead groupies, their VW bus turns the corner, and passes by a modern-day White Ford van.

Quotes:

Neal Schweiber:So I wake up this morning, and guess what is sitting on the end of my bed?
Bill Haverchuck:A turd?
Neal Schweiber:Yes, Bill, a turd.
Bill Haverchuck:Ewwwwww! Gross!
Neal Schweiber:An Atari video set. Is my dad the coolest, or what? So shall we say Asteriods, my place, 3:30?
Bill Haverchuck:Yeah, if that's when you wanna get your butt kicked.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Fast & Furious/Adventureland/Sugar (#1.6)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Bad Reputation

Perfect Television (only a network executive couldn't love it)

Network: NBC; Genre: Drama/Comedy; Content Rating: TV-PG (for language, drug use and adult content); Available: on DVD; Perspective: Modern Classic (star range: 1 - 5);

Season Reviewed: Completed Series (1 season)

There are few shows, currently on the air or in the entire pantheon of television, that are so obviously crafted with as much love as 'Freaks and Geeks'. Created by Paul Feig and produced by Judd Apatow, 'Freaks' crackles with an honest writing and flawless chemistry and creates it's own wonderful universe. To watch the show is to be awash in details and obvious care that was taken to make it.The high school series has never been so real.

'Freaks' follows a group of geeks and a group of burnouts at McKinley High School in 1980, both of which centering around the Weir siblings. Lindsay Weir (Linda Cardellini) is our heroine whose rebellion from the Mathlete life and into the world of the burn-outs (with the terrific James Franco, Jason Segel, Seth Rogen & Busy Philipps) creates a domino effect that the entire series spins on. Sam Weir (John Francis Daley) is an underdeveloped geek whose unrequited love of cheerleader Cindy Sanders (Natasha Melnick, perfectly cast) drives much of the geek story lines. Sam faces the torment and humiliation of daily life in high school with friends Neil and Bill (wildly underrated, star-making Samm Levine and Martin Starr, respectively). The show is a badge of honor for all involved.

The school is populated with a fully realized universe of supporting characters from Lindsey's church-going friend Millie to Dungeon master Harris to Mr. Rosso (David "Gruber" Alan, hilariously stealing any scenery not bolted down) - the school guidance counselor without any boundary for the inappropriate. . No more accurate depiction of the look and feel of high school (or the hell that was high school depending on your perspective) TV has ever seen.

Becky Ann Baker and Joe Flaherty make the perfect '50s era parents. Flaherty comes off the most over-the-top, but even that fits the vision. The dinner table scenes between the Weir family are so uncharacteristically happy and intentionally corny that it will surely be off-putting to the average cynical viewer. Years before "The Office" made embarrassment and viewer discomfort into a science, "Freaks and Geeks" was doing a similar thing, effectively making us really feel Sam and Lindsey's embarrassment over their parent's behavior. I particularly like the set design of the Weir house, and the show in general. "Freaks" is set in 1980 but designed with 50s, 60s and 70s paraphernalia. Unlike the many fast food period pieces now, - "That 70s Show", "The Wedding Singer", "American Dreams" - where the decade is treated like a "Saturday Night Live" sketch, the decade doesn't turn over to 1980 and suddenly everyone runs out and buys parachute pants and the Thriller album.

The self-professed anti-'Dawson's Creek', the series is almost as distinctive for what it isn't than for what it is. It isn't a flashy show with 20-something preps playing high school kids set to blaring Top 40 pop songs where the biggest problems among the characters include juggling two hot dates on the same night. In other shows - most overly concerned with what the consuming public thinks of them, the geeks and the burnouts are fringe groups usually given as much thought as the potted plant in the corner, or used as 1-joke stereotypes. 'Freaks and Geeks' is the first show to acknowledge that they may be more interesting. They don't participate in the high school caste system and they muse about never being able to get girls.

I love the way the show's camera lingers on faces and soaks up Cardellini's incredible expressions. It rests on the kids as they sit and talk about their favorite drummer or the TV show they watched last night just like everyone does. At an hour the show allows for those quite moments. Just as it takes time out to do elaborate mid-show set pieces like an action movie-like dodge ball sequence or a violent spat between Kim Kelly (Philips) and her parents. The series is packed with these unforgettable little moments - heart-breaking and screaming funny, sometimes all at once. In 18 episodes it says more than most shows ever do: the geeks watching their first porno, the freaks getting their first fake IDs, the family catastrophes in Niel and Bill's homes and the painfully real crush Sam has on Cindy. Their world doesn't always a happy ending and awkwardness and embarrassment rule the day.

The fact that 'Freaks and Geeks' wasn't given a chance to make it by NBC is a sad testament to how network executives box in their viewers to find a ratings silver bullet. No matter, these 18 episodes are self-containing and fully satisfying enough to get over the sting of the network apathy. I'll break a rule and do a little necessary promotion here. All this is captured in a DVD set this show deserves, with as much attention and love put into the extras (29 commentary tracks!) that was put into the show. It is the single best DVD I've ever seen.

Who knows if the show would have been able to keep it up as the kids grew up and the show had to be written around it. As it stands, this is like lightening captured in a bottle. That perfect mix of all the elements coming together to make a truly classic series. No matter what the future holds, "Freaks" has a reserved place in my heart. This is really one for the ages, people. No list of modern classics is complete without "Freaks and Geeks".

* * * * * / 5