Freaks and Geeks – The Complete Series (1999)

Review by: Craig Curtice
Date: 10/1/04

Appearing on NBC for just one season in1999 Freaks and Geeks was a brilliant little television show about students surviving a Michigan high school in1980. The show was beautifully written for an endearing ensemble cast, and it assembled arguably one of the best television soundtracks ever (selecting Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” as its theme song is just the tip of the musical iceberg). Freaks and Geeks could be described as a Gen-X Wonder Years that hints at Dazed and Confused.

Experience the cruel spectrum of teenage hilarity and anguish with “geeks” Sam, Neal, & Bill, and through Sam’s older sister Lindsay, the smartest girl in school who has begun hanging out with “freaks” Nick, Ken, & Daniel and his girlfriend, Kim. Trying to keep them all line is the energetic hippie guidance counselor Mr. Rosso (who in one episode sings “I’m Eighteen” to kids in his office), and Sam and Lindsay’s parents, Harold and Jean Weir; good folks who extol the poor choices of dead rock stars.

Besides the teachers, kids, the clothes, the décor, and the time-period references, it’s the musical cues that add special breadth and dimension to each episode. Billy Joel’s “Rosalinda’s Eyes,” The Who’s “The Song is Over,” XTC’s “No Language in Our Lungs,” Joe Jackson’s “Look Sharp,” Black Flag “Rise Above,” Van Halen’s “Everybody Wants Some,” and Janis Joplin’s “Maybe” are just few of great songs that accompany wistful scenes.

Despite high marks from critics and a nuclear fan base, Freaks and Geeks was canceled after only 18 episodes, but thanks to public outcry and Shout! Factory, the entire series is available in one nifty DVD package. The exhaustive six-disc set contains every hour-long episode, deleted scenes, bloopers, casting auditions, and numerous audio commentaries from actors, directors and writers. For those with really deep pockets there’s also a very limited eight-DVD set that looks like a McKinley High yearbook.

For a generation of students surviving school through the late-1970’s and 80’s, much has been made of teenage films—obviously Fast Times at Ridgemont High and The Breakfast Club are high benchmarks, but television has never depicted high school quite accurately. Sure, TV shows like Square Pegs, 90210, and Saved By the Bell were mildly entertaining, and My So Called Life, although realistic was overly dark and gloomy. Freaks and Geeks is amazingly close to the actual high school experience millions of kids had twenty-odd years ago.

The complete series of Freaks and Geeks is an outstanding generational time capsule and although expensive (suggested retail is $70) it’s highly recommended. And by the way, I didn’t get a set free in the mail to review; I purchased one from my local bookstore. Believe me when I say it was worth every penny.

(Craig Curtice is a staff writer for 2 Walls Webzine.)