"Freaks and Geeks" We've Got Spirit (2000)

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Director:

Danny Leiner

Writers:

Paul Feig (creator)
Mike White (writer)

TV Series:

"Freaks and Geeks" (1999)

Original Air Date:

24 January 2000 (Season 1, Episode 9)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Sam tries out to be the school mascot hoping to impress Cindy. Meanwhile, Daniel, Ken, and Kim suddenly...

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | 1980s | Geek | High School | Sporting Goods Store

Cast

Linda Cardellini	...	Lindsay Weir
John Francis Daley	...	Sam Weir
James Franco	...	Daniel Desario
Samm Levine	...	Neal Schweiber
Seth Rogen	...	Ken Miller
Jason Segel	...	Nick Andopolis
Martin Starr	...	Bill Haverchuck
Becky Ann Baker	...	Jean Weir
Joe Flaherty	...	Harold Weir
Busy Philipps	...	Kim Kelly
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Beardsley	...	Humphries
Daniel Chacón	...	Lincoln High Jock #2
Matt Czuchry	...	Teenage Guy #1
David Doty	...	Councilman Appleby
Joanna Garcia	...	Vicki Appleby
Shia LaBeouf	...	Herbert
Jarrett Lennon	...	Colin
Natasha Melnick	...	Cindy Sanders
Samantha Shelton	...	Heidi Henderson
Riley Smith	...	Todd Schellinger
Mark Swanson	...	Caleb
Amy Wheaton	...	Pretty Girl
Thomas F. Wilson	...	Coach Ben Fredricks (as Tom Wilson)

Runtime:

43 min (approx.)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Company:

Apatow Productions

Trivia:

Cameo: [Shia LaBeouf]The kid who broke his arm as the mascot instructing Sam Weir about how to climb the cheerleader pyramid.

Goofs:

Factual errors: At the end of the basketball game, Todd Schellinger is fouled with no time on the clock. Since there is no time on the clock, the other team cannot get possession of the ball off of a missed shot. Therefore the foul shots should be shot without any players under the hoop, similar to a technical or flagrant foul shot. When Schellinger is shooting there are rebounders under the basket.

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars (1977)

Soundtrack:

How Funky Is Your Chicken

Probably my least favorite episode of the series

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Yet another good episode. Probably my least favorite episode of the series, but it is still much better than the 'good' episodes of other shows.

The whole 'school-mascot' thing simply did not appeal to me. It was a lot of fun to watch, but I didn't care for it as much. Neither did I care for the Sam/Cindy/Todd triangle or the basketball game.

The Freaks storyline in this episode was pretty minor compared to the Geeks. Ken and Kim are always hilarious, though. Which makes me sad that they didn't have more screen time.

But what really worked for me was the Lindsay/Nick break up. It may not be an entertaining storyline, but it feels very real and I can relate to it. One of the reasons why I love this show so much is not only because of the humor but mostly because of the realistic character behaviors. I felt bad for Nick, he was a loser but his heart was in the right place. Same as for Lindsay.

THREE stars.