Series cast summary: | |||
Linda Cardellini | ... |
Lindsay Weir
(18 episodes, 1999-2000)
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John Francis Daley | ... |
Sam Weir
(18 episodes, 1999-2000)
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James Franco | ... |
Daniel Desario
(18 episodes, 1999-2000)
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Samm Levine | ... |
Neal Schweiber
(18 episodes, 1999-2000)
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Seth Rogen | ... |
Ken Miller
(18 episodes, 1999-2000)
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Jason Segel | ... |
Nick Andopolis
(18 episodes, 1999-2000)
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Martin Starr | ... |
Bill Haverchuck
(18 episodes, 1999-2000)
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Becky Ann Baker | ... |
Jean Weir
(18 episodes, 1999-2000)
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Joe Flaherty | ... |
Harold Weir
(18 episodes, 1999-2000)
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Busy Philipps | ... |
Kim Kelly
(18 episodes, 1999-2000)
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Steve Bannos | ... |
Frank Kowchevski
(12 episodes, 1999-2000)
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Dave Allen | ... |
Jeff Rosso
(11 episodes, 1999-2000)
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Sarah Hagan | ... |
Millie Kentner
(11 episodes, 1999-2000)
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Jerry Messing | ... |
Gordon Crisp
(11 episodes, 1999-2000)
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Natasha Melnick | ... |
Cindy Sanders
(10 episodes, 1999-2000)
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Stephen Lea Sheppard | ... |
Harris Trinsky
(10 episodes, 1999-2000)
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Chauncey Leopardi | ... |
Alan White
(9 episodes, 1999-2000)
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It's the 1980s and at McKinley High, there's two different groups of teenagers, the Freaks with cool and charismatic Daniel Desario and tomboy Lindsay Weir and the Geeks with Lindsay's shy younger brother Sam, gentle Bill Haverchuck, and self-proclaimed ladies' man Neal Schweiber. The show chronicles the normal teen/adolescence problems any teenager goes through including acceptance, drugs, drinking, and bullying. Written by Corey Semple (Hairsprayer07)
"Freaks and Geeks" is about as good of a television show as tv can be. I'm only two years out of high school, and although the show is set in 1980, it effectively captures the life of high schoolers. Nowadays, with this huge surge in teen movies and television, I feel that young people are misrepresented by television shows like Dawson's Creek and movies like "Varsity Blues." Simply put, beautiful people were rare at my high school. Nobody I ever knew engaged in sexual relations with a teacher as a freshman, and I was never approached by women wearing only whipped cream (and I was a three-year varsity athlete). My high school life exactly resembles what the kids in "Freaks and Geeks" do: talk about sci-fi movies, get high, feel alienated by my parents, had confusing talks with guidance counselors, etc. And these kids look like teens, with big glasses, young faces, and zits. From watching "Dawson's" or all the other teen movies out there (although some of those films are admitteldly entertaining I liked "She's All That" and "10 Things I Hate About You) one would glean that all teenagers are young Adonises. "Freaks and Geeks" thankfully corrects that error.
Most importantly though, "F&G" is a great show. Hopefully NBC finds an audience for this show. It is definitely different, slower paced, and doesn't play the latest hit music at full volume, but it IS clever, funny, and warm. It also deftfully balances comedy and drama, without ever being cloying, manipulative, or condescending to its audience. I hope this show stays around for a long time. If NBC drops it, please, some other network, give "Freaks and Geeks" it's very well-earned chance.