"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:

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

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 13 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)
Stephen Lea Sheppard	...	Harris Trinsky (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Dave Allen	...	Jeff Rosso (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Natasha Melnick	...	Cindy Sanders (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		(5 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		(11 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Cinematography by
Russ T. Alsobrook		(10 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Film Editing by
Tara Timpone		(8 episodes, 1999-2000)
Sean K. Lambert		(5 episodes, 1999-2000)
Brent White		(2 episodes, 2000)

Series Casting by
Allison Jones		(11 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Production Design by
Jefferson Sage		(10 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Set Decoration by
Sarah Burdick Stone		(9 episodes, 1999-2000)
Chris L. Spellman		(3 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Costume Design by
Debra McGuire		(11 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Makeup Department
Lisa Layman	....	key makeup artist / key makeup (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
Laverne Caracuzzi	....	key makeup artist / makeup artist (12 episodes, 1999-2000)
Lisa Meyers	....	key hair stylist (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 (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Andrew Stone	....	unit production manager (10 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Schwartz	....	second assistant director (15 episodes, 1999-2000)
Liz Ryan	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1999-2000)
Douglas E. Wise	....	first assistant director (5 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)
Melissa McSorley	....	prop food stylist (13 episodes, 1999-2000)
John Stone	....	construction coordinator (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
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
Catt LeBaigue	....	supervising sound editor (17 episodes, 1999-2000)
Brendan Beebe	....	boom operator (14 episodes, 1999-2000)
Bruce M. Honda	....	dialogue editor (14 episodes, 1999-2000)
Troy Porter	....	adr mixer (14 episodes, 1999-2000)
Deron Street	....	assistant sound editor (14 episodes, 1999-2000)
Thomas Brandau	....	production sound mixer / sound mixer (11 episodes, 1999-2000)
Neil Brody	....	re-recording mixer / sound re-recording mixer (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Joseph D. Citarella	....	re-recording mixer / sound re-recording mixer (10 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 (8 episodes, 1999-2000)
Brian Avery	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
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 (17 episodes, 1999-2000)
Curtis Bradford	....	chief lighting technician (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Eyal Gordin	....	camera operator (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Tom Harjo	....	key grip (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
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 (16 episodes, 1999-2000)
Bob Squire	....	costume supervisor (5 episodes, 2000)
Gina Trikonis	....	costume supervisor (5 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
Larry Field	....	final colorist (14 episodes, 1999-2000)
Shawni Modrell	....	assistant editor (11 episodes, 1999-2000)
Ron Shaw	....	assistant editor (9 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 / composer: theme music (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Jonathan Karp	....	music editor (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Buck Damon	....	music supervisor (9 episodes, 1999-2000)
Amanda Scheer-Demme	....	music supervisor (9 episodes, 1999-2000)

Series Transportation Department
Michael Sean Ryan	....	transportation coordinator (16 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 (18 episodes, 1999-2000)
Gary Michael Clark	....	payroll accountant (15 episodes, 1999-2000)
Michelle Axelrod	....	production coordinator (11 episodes, 1999-2000)
Jacqueline R. Clay	....	script supervisor (11 episodes, 1999-2000)
Maureen Jennings	....	assistant to producers (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Patty Lin	....	story editor (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Richard Lorenzana	....	production accountant (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Marisa Tambornini	....	assistant to producers (10 episodes, 1999-2000)
Deborah Laub	....	location manager (7 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)
Rich Delabio	....	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)
• Nelonen (200?) (Finland) (TV)
• Net5 (200?) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Shout! Factory (2004) (USA) (DVD) (complete series)
• Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) (2002) (Austria) (TV) (ORF1)

Other Companies

• Four Media Company  post-production video services
• Movie Movers  production trailers

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:

Busy Philipps orginally auditioned for the part of Lindsay Weir. The producers did not think she was right for the part but asked her to try out for the supporting role of Kim Kelly.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In "Chokin' & Tokin'", Lindsay grabs the "M" volume of the encyclopedia to look up "Marijuanna". She finds it in the back of the volume, even though it starts with "MA" which would be closer to the front of the volume.

Quotes:

Bill Haverchuck: I heard my mom say to her girlfriend, "Any guy with feathered hair is *foxy*."

Movie Connections:

Featured in "I Love the '90s: Part Deux" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Bad Reputation

Long live William McKinley High School, 1980! (minor spoilers)

I have just finished watching the Complete Series DVD collection of "Freaks and Geeks," one of the best high school television series on televisions that, thanks to idiotic network executives who continue to make the decisions that make network television more and more unbearable to watch, have truly missed out on a gem. And, thanks to a healthy fan network, I was able to enjoy every bit of the series (as short as it was) on DVD.

Freaks and Geeks was one of the most honest portrayals of high school life, pleasantly departing from the overrated attention given to other television series and films who consistently focus on the "untouchable" classes of the dreaded high school social caste system that we are all likely too familiar with. The assorted teen dramas, and the difficulty of just subsisting in the often passively rigid classes within the high school social scene. This television series presented things from two perspectives: a group of freshman friends marked as "The Geeks" and a group of older friends, underachievers known as "The Freaks." The Geeks often provided the comical element to the show, while the Freaks often explore more dramatic story lines such as problems with parents (a constant subplot), self-esteem, drugs, and more. Although the Geeks confronted their own share of problems, their youth and easygoing attitude often made the situation more light-hearted.

Other commentators have often posited the question (on the "Freaks and Geeks" board along with other short-lived television series) why shows like these never last long on television. While "Saved by the Bell" might have been the only show to be quite successful with it (though only after significant retooling of the original series, "Good Morning Mrs. Bliss would NBC even agree to pick up the show), my guess is that this show may have initially had a difficult time finding a loyal audience in the crucial early days of the show. There were issues of drug use and teenage sex which some might not have found ideal for the younger viewers of this show (people in their very early teens as this show tended to sometimes celebrate drug use...even though there was one episode that was clearly anti-drug). Five years ago was a different time, however. And shows like "The O.C." (on Fox) seems to get away with stories surrounding its "young" characters and attitudes towards casual sex. Sadly, however, the network, too, is to blame, as it shifted the show into unrecognizable time slots, airing a show that was ideal for young audiences at a time when they would least likely be watching television--Friday and Sunday evenings. I cannot say that this would be why other television series surrounding high school would also be canceled.

It might also be that the show was never given a fair chance. Some might have quickly judged it as a rip-off of "The Wonder Years" (John Daly and the Geek Gang--especially Neil and Harris--did look like characters you might find on that show, not to mention the high school looking just like that in The Wonder Years).

My other guess for the reason that shows like these are often short-lived is that they are too expensive to produce. "Freaks and Geeks," like "My So-Called Life" filled a lengthy time slot of fifty minutes or so. Filmed partially on location and partially on a set (like "Sqaure Pegs" and "My So-Called Life"), a show like this becomes very expensive to produce and, may unfortunately force some hasty decisions about how long a network would ride out slack ratings.

I still think NBC passed up a good thing, and possibly other networks if it was pitched to them once being canceled. It was a great show that tried to produce a very dynamic set of characters and stories and did well.

I would also like to say while I adored nearly every character on the show (except for Nick who's obsession with Lindsay transformed him into not only a bizarre, but a boring character), I thought Martin Starr was the best as the witty Bill Haverchuck (I love his Bionic Woman bit when he is getting his costume ready in the Halloween episode). Though I thought him to be needlessly bizarre in the beginning (particularly due to his gawky appearance), he turned out to be one of the best characters. He always tried his best to be a good friend to everyone and, he always had some of the funniest lines in th show (Joe Flaherty, as Sam's dad, also had a bunch of good one-liners). And, while he was not in the show but sporadically, I also loved 'Harris,' the Geek mentor who always seemed so confident about everything.

Long live Freaks and Geeks! May the television show's creators reconsider trying this one again (even if you have to start over with a new cast, since everyone has aged six years--as of this writing).