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You don’t have to be a fan of Freaks & Geeks to enjoy this absorbing look back at a true television trailblazer. Premiering at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival, Freaks and Geeks: The Documentary is a nostalgic deep dive into the unlikely ascent and perhaps inevitable fall of a true cult classic. Premiering tonight at 9:00 p.m. on A&E, this truly must-see doc features interviews with Seth Rogan, Jason Segel, James Franco, Linda Cardellini, Paul Feig, Judd Apatow, and many more.
FREAKS AND GEEKS: THE DOCUMENTARY: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
The Gist: Perhaps no show embodies the “canceled too soon” moniker more than Freaks and Geeks. Premiering on NBC in 1999, this hour-long dramedy was a television anomaly. Created by Paul Feig and executive produced by Judd Apatow, the series eschewed traditional TV norms and instead focused on the genuine, often embarrassing coming-of-age exploits of characters who resembled actual people. Earnest, awkward, and bursting with sincerity, the show was an innovative square peg in a system that values the safety of the traditional round hole.
Featuring an array of interviews from the cast and crew, Freaks And Geeks: The Documentary is an emotional look back at an unconventional show that was way ahead of its time.
Our Take: Freaks And Geeks: The Documentary is so much more than a fond reminder of a beloved TV favorite. While the film shares a bevy of fun stories that fans of the series will enjoy (Samm Levine earning the job off his William Shatner impression; Jason Segel detailing his first conversation with James Franco after the two were cast), the doc also explores the behind the scenes tale about how the series went from a promising NBC prospect to cancelation.
Freaks And Geeks: The Documentary serves as an affecting coda to a beloved cult classic. An enthralling combination of nostalgia, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and humor, the film does an exceptional job of showing why this show resonated with its passionate fanbase on such a visceral level.
Memorable Dialogue: Paul Feig on Sam and Cindy’s famous dance scene from the pilot episode: “What seems like [something that’s] not a victory is actually a victory, and that’s really what the show is about.”
Memorable Moment: One of the most interesting parts of the documentary is the battle between Judd Apatow and NBC. The film interviews a variety of NBC execs who openly talk about why the series wasn’t commercially successful during its initial run, and the decision to ax the show despite overwhelming critical acclaim.
Despite the constant time slot changes and being sacrificed to ratings juggernaut Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, Freaks and Geeks had fans within the NBC family. Shelley McCrory, who formerly held the title of senior vice president of comedy development at the network, was an early advocate for the series.
“If we don’t make this show, we’re quitting the television business,” McCrory famously said during the development process.
Parting Shot: Freaks & Geeks was more than a TV show, it was a cozy love letter to the never-ending whirlwind of embarrassment, heartache, and insecurity of adolescence. Sometimes, and in the case of your teenage years oftentimes, life can feel like a burden we’re forced to endure. Understanding that you’re not alone in your confusion, that other people are just as lost and scared as you, is a true gift.
Regardless of ratings, Freaks & Geeks succeeded because it found television perfection in the relatability of imperfection.
Our Call: Stream it. Stream it twice, actually. It’s that good. The Freaks & Geeks doc made me miss this show so damn much that I honestly considered calling out of work tomorrow to re-watch it on Netflix. It’s an absorbing, entertaining film that will make you appreciate just how much this innovative, emotionally raw series affected the comedy landscape.
The outsiders have become the in-crowd thanks to the transcendent brilliance of Freaks & Geeks.
Cultureshock: Freaks & Geeks: The Documentary airs tonight at 9:00 p.m. Eastern on A&E. It will be available to stream on the A&E website, On Demand, and the A&E app beginning on July 17.
