The Best Short-Lived Show of All Time: "Freaks and Geeks"
Pajiba's Guide to What's Good for You / Seth Freilich
Sam: What am I going to say to Cindy?
Bill: Don’t say anything — be dominant. It’s all, all about dominance. I saw this monkey show on PBS. If you talk to her first it’s a sign of weakness and she will not pick you to be her mate.
Sam: Are you drunk?
Bill: I think so, yes I am.
Sam: Aw man, go into my room, lock the door and don’t drink anymore.
Bill: That’s very dominant.
When I first learned about our new little feature — Pajiba’s Guide to What’s Good For You — I knew right away that my first topic would be about the best short-lived television show of all time. And I was also pretty sure that I’d be bestowing that honorific upon the head of “Freaks and Geeks.” But let’s look at the other shows that also came to mind.
The first obvious choice was “Sports Night,” a clever (and sometimes brilliant) show that definitely died before its time. But with two seasons and 45 episodes under its belt, it’s a bit of a stretch to call it “short-lived,” particularly as there were shows with shorter runs equally deserving of the title. Ditto for “Arrested Development,” for which I’ve professed my love before — it left us early, no doubt, but three seasons and 53 episodes does not a short-lived show make.
British gems like “Blackadder” (24 episodes and a couple of specials), the original “The Office” (12 episodes and the two-part Christmas special) and “Fawlty Towers” (a paltry 12 episodes) all technically meet the short-lived requirement, but I decided to knock them out of the running for two reasons. First, the British sitcom is structured with much shorter seasons to begin with (generally only 6 episodes), so a longevity comparison with U.S. shows isn’t quite so easy to make. Second, and more importantly, each of these three shows basically ended by creator choice, and if the creator says the show has lived its life, it’s kind of hard to argue that it was “short-lived” (though you can certainly argue it was too short and dearly missed, particularly in the case of the brilliant “Fawlty Towers”).
Last year’s “Invasion” is a show that really grew on me and I could make a case that it’s a great short-lived show, but I wouldn’t try to argue that it’s the best short-lived show. Not only does it face stiff competition that knocks it down in the rankings but, unlike most of the other shows here, there really is no overall critical consensus about the show’s worth. And while I have never been one to base my own opinion or decision simply on whether or not there is a consensus of the masses, in crowning something as the Best, I think the consensus is certainly worth considering. Now, the consensus of those who watched “The Job” tends to be that it was fantastic. And even though it ran for two seasons, with only 19 episodes under in its belt it can certainly be considered short-lived. But I knocked this out of the running largely because creators Dennis Leary and Peter Tolan arguably improved upon the framework started here when they moved on to “Rescue Me.” So there’s a little “it had to die so something better could rise from the ashes” feel to it.
Two more shows also got a brief consideration before being dismissed. The first was “Herman’s Head.” That went away pretty quickly when I learned, to my total surprise, that it actually ran for a full three seasons. Clearly that’s not short-lived. Plus, I’m not quite so sure that the show would live up to my fond memories. The same can’t be said, however, for “Undeclared.” I have no doubt it would live up to my memories (and the DVD set sits prominently in my Amazon wish list, so I’ll get around to confirming this fact one of these days) and with one season of only 17 episodes, it’s definitely in the right category. But just as I knocked “The Job” out because “Rescue Me” was the better beast, “Undeclared,” as good as it was, was still a step down from its “Freaks and Geeks” precursor.
And then there was one — one show that I really had to give a long and hard think to, the one show with a shot at taking the title: the Fox comedy “Action,” starring Jay Mohr, which only gasped air for a mere 13 episodes. This show was absolutely hilarious, and has total rewatchability (in fact, I recently watched the whole show’s run on Comedy Central and it held up 100 percent). Really funny, dark, and twisted stuff. While it was a great comedy, however, at the end of the day it was simply a great comedy. “Freaks and Geeks” had so much more going for it, not the least of which is that a show about coming of age is infinitely more relatable than a show about a narcissistic asshole Hollywood producer.
Finally, I realize that this list, aside from the British comedies, is relatively current, but that’s a problem inherent with this topic. Since we’re talking about short-lived shows, the ones that are going to stick out the most to me are obviously going to be the ones I actually saw while they were on the air (unless they’ve hit DVD and I’ve discovered them that way). So I can’t really tell you if there was a 70’s or early 80’s show which was worthy of serious consideration, although I’m sure there must be at least one or two in the bunch, and I have no doubt that my fearless readers will mention them in the comments. I’m sure those comments will also include shows I may have overlooked (either because I just forgot about them, or because I consciously chose not to include them since I’ve never seen ‘em, such as “My So-Called Life” and “Wonderfalls”). Although, at the end of the day, you’d be very hard pressed to offer anything up that could really have the potential of dethroning my winner.
Nick: Hey, I believe in God, man. I’ve seen him. I’ve felt his power! He plays drums for Led Zeppelin and his name is John Bonham baby!
So, “Freaks and Geeks.” For those who aren’t in the know, let’s do a quick recap. Set in suburban Detroit during 1980-‘81, the show focused on two groups of students at McKinley High. The viewpoint of the show is largely presented through older sister Lindsay Weir (Linda Cardellini) and younger bro’ Sam (John Francis Daley). Spurred by her grandmother’s death, Lindsay decides to find her “real self” by shedding her prior skin of a bookish overachiever and befriending the titular Freaks. This group appears to be chosen by Lindsay, at least in part, because of her not-so-secret crush (to the viewers, at least) on Daniel (James Franco), who’s the default leader of the group and a James Dean-wannabe trying to be rebellious while also secretly trying to discover his own Self. Lindsay’s desire for Daniel is curbed a bit by the caustic Kim (Busy Philipps) — not only is she Daniel’s current girlfriend, but Kim’s the one member of the Freaks group who seems unwilling to open the door to such a “square” (she does manage to come around, mostly, as the show progresses). Lindsay is much more accepted by the goofy Nick (Jason Segel), a wannabe drummer who bemoans John Bonham’s passing and worships at the altar of Neil Peart’s (of Rush) mind-bogglingly enormous drum kit. And Ken (Seth Rogen) is entirely indifferent to Lindsay, as he is to most things in life (the only real given about Ken is that if the keg is in the corner then he, too, shall be in the corner).
Meanwhile, Lindsay’s younger brother Sam is of the titular Geeks. A high-school freshman, he and his friends are afloat in that awkward stage of life that is male puberty. Mind you, they’re not nerds, and this is an important distinction — as the show’s creator, Paul Feig, and executive producer, Judd Apatow, have often pointed out, nerds were their own little social clique, smart and focused on academics. Geeks, on the other hand, weren’t necessarily all that smart or good in school, they just had other (often unconventional) interests, which meant more to them than the things that typically hold high-school students’ interests (e.g., Star Wars and “The Dukes of Hazzard,” not history class or sports). Sam is trying to adjust to this world of high school that he’s been thrust into, said world including bullies, gym-class showers, sex education, cheerleader crushes, and the never-ending rigors of just trying to fit in; he would probably be much happier if he could return to the in-retrospect bliss of junior high. Sam’s friend Neal (Samm Levine), meanwhile, is an 80-year-old Jewish grandfather stuck in the body of a 14-year-old boy — while he’s as socially awkward as Sam, he carries a confidence and sureness about himself that helps keep things centered for the group, most of the time. Which is particularly necessary because the final member of their trio, Bill (Martin Starr), is a gangly uber-geek who is spacey and bizarre and coming at things with an entirely unique worldview (and he’s also the comedic gold of this show — who else would dress up as Jamie Summers, The Bionic Woman, for Halloween?!).
Of course, this is high school, so nothing is quite as cut and dried as a two-paragraph synopsis, and nobody’s journey is a simple A-to-B route. Lindsay finds herself continually pulled back to the life she’s trying to get away from — her nerdy friend Millie doesn’t understand why she’s trying to be cool and hang with the burnouts; the high school guidance counselor just wants her to rejoin the school’s Mathlete team; and her parents are generally oblivious to her changes, although they do sometimes notice and frown at the direction she’s taking (and her father invariably relays some unintentionally hilarious tale about how a personal friend or famous icon of the past made similar decisions and wound up desolate or in jail or dead). Sam, meanwhile, is just struggling to hold on. Resigned to the fact that he’s got no choice but to accept all these changes in his life, Sam slowly moves forward in the new world order, making the same mistakes and missteps that countless others have made before him. Others take similarly awkward coming-of-age journeys, from Kim trying to find a balance to her rough exterior (which became necessary due to her difficult home life), to Nick’s attempt to keep his rock star dreams alive when his Army dad wants him to get it together, to Neal trying to come to grips with his father’s affair.
Ken: I always say girl plus car equals dead animal.
What makes this show so utterly fantastic is that it hits the mark dead-on. To be sure, high school is an oft-revisited theme in movies and TV, but I can think of few endeavors that ever really got it right. For example, the John Hughes oeuvre is great, no doubt, and while there are moments in those movies that are authentic, the overall tenor of his celluloid world doesn’t really feel like my high school. But watching “Freaks and Geeks,” McKinley High feels like my high school, and I’ll bet it feels like yours too. And this is true even though the show is clearly set in the early ’80s, a decade before I was going through the same things. Many of Sam’s experiences still ring true for me, and I suspect the same could be said for kids who were in high school in the ’70s or who are going through it right now. The fact of the matter is that the high-school experience, in all its brutality and awkwardness and wonder and fun, is something that doesn’t really change over time. Sure, the outside world is constantly moving forward and leaking into the high-school bubble, exerting its influence in various meddlesome ways but, at the end of the day, high school is high school. And even if you weren’t exactly a geek or a freak when you went through the experience, there will undoubtedly be moments of this show that ring true for you, regardless of what caste you were in.
It’s this timelessness and realism that gave the show its heart and soul. But heart and soul isn’t enough for a show to reach the echelon of greatness — otherwise “7th Heaven” would be lauded as the end-all-be-all. No, “Freaks and Geeks” managed to achieve the sought-after but rarely found perfect mix of all the necessary TV elements. Primarily, there was good dramatic storytelling that didn’t try to hit you over the head with issues and messages. The writers understood that simply dealing with things in a natural and realistic way would get any “message” across (where they even had a message agenda) way better than having an episode where a creepy dude shows Sam and Neal cartoon porn and subsequently touches Neal’s goody bits. There was also a sense of humor that is rarely executed so masterfully. The show had the witty dialogue that has become the bread and butter of modern dramedies like “Veronica Mars” and “Gilmore Girls,” but there were also equally hilarious non-dialogue bits — who can forget Millie and Nick’s amazing duet of “Jesus is Just Alright with Me” or Styx stymieing Sam’s slow-dance with a sudden tempo change in “Come Sail Away?”
Of course, all the great material is for naught without actors up to the task. Yet again, the mark is hit with a set of actors who performed the hell out of their roles. All of the main actors nailed it like champs. In fact, while the Geek actors have yet to really make any leap in Hollywood, the four Freaks are all enjoying successful post-“Freaks and Geeks” careers, from sitcoms (Segal, in “How I Met Your Mother”) to dramas (Cardellini in “ER”) to hit movies (Franco in the “Spiderman” franchise and Rogan in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” not coincidentally written and directed by executive producer Judd Apatow). But even the side actors were spectacular — particular standouts include Thomas F. Wilson (Biff of the Back to the Future trilogy) as the overbearing gym teacher (who surprisingly does Sam a good-on by giving him an honest and earnest lecture about sex, filling in the gaps between the school health videos and Sam’s surreptitiously obtained porn video), Joe Flaherty as Lindsay and Sam’s amazingly deadpan father, and Dave Allen as the hilarious ex-hippie guidance counselor Mr. Rosso.
Neal: Friday night — always a good time for some Sabbath.
So all of this begs the question — why did such an amazing show fall to the ranks of short-lived status? There’s no clear-cut answer, although the brunt of the burden would seem to fall squarely on NBC’s shoulders. They decided to air the show, which seems particularly geared towards the ever-precious 18-49 demographic, on the television dead zone of Saturday nights. The show wallowed in this time slot for five episodes in the fall of 1999 before NBC yanked it. During those early episodes, I had heard rumblings that this show was amazing. And even though I’m a TV Whore, even I didn’t bother to watch — after all, Saturday nights were for heavy drinking (I was in law school in those days, so, truth be told, all nights were for heavy drinking), not staying at home and watching TV (and these were the dark days before TiVo, and it was rare that I’d take the oh-so-difficult effort of actually setting my VCR to record a show). I suspect that this same Saturday night life vs. television conflict caused many other potential fans and viewers to miss the show. So when NBC brought it back after the holidays, they smartly put it on Monday nights. Its ratings went up slightly in this more affable timeslot but, without a real marketing push or support from the network, it didn’t do anything great and it was yanked again after five episodes (and it really wasn’t helped any by being put against the then-juggernaut that was “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”). The network aired two more eps a month later and then burnt off three more episodes on a single Saturday night during the July doldrums (and three episodes were never even aired by NBC).
While its frustrated fan-base was small, it was devoted. In fact, I learned of it from one such devoted fan, a friend of mine who was an extra on the show and who repeatedly extolled its virtues, ranting endlessly about its greatness. When she managed to garner a tiny bit of real screen time, though no dialogue, I finally buckled down and set the VCR. Unfortunately, I hopped on the wagon pretty late as that episode, “Looks and Books,” was the last of the second set of five episodes that NBC aired. I dutifully tuned in for the two episodes that ran that March, and I actually stayed home on that Saturday night in July when the final three episodes (including the finale) were burnt-off. I later managed to catch all of the episodes when Fox Family gave it a short syndicated run.
Luckily for all of us, this devoted fan-base didn’t let up. Several years and one online fan petition signed by 40,000+ fans later, a fantastic DVD set was put out. Amazingly, they managed to clear all of the original music, which is extensive and fantastic, and it would have been crippling had they not been able to do so (while this isn’t a problem for newer shows, because they include DVD terms in their original music licensing, this is a big issue for many pre-DVD era shows). They also included a fuck-ton of commentaries from writers, producers, directors, actors, and even some of the show’s characters. Bloopers, deleted scenes, alternate takes — pretty much everything a fan could ask for is there.
Ladies and gentlemen, freaks and geeks, nerds and jocks, friends and foes — “Freaks and Geeks” was simply the best short-lived show ever (and one of the all-around best shows, too) and you owe it to yourself to go rent or buy these DVDs post-haste.
DJ: Aren’t you one of those guys who’s always running in here yelling “disco sucks?” What’s the matter, cat got your bong, man? Is that how you learned to communicate, running in here and yelling stuff? Is that what your precious rock and roll teaches you?
Ken: No, it teaches me that disco sucks!
Seth Freilich is Pajiba’s television columnist. Although he currently lives in Washington, D.C., he makes his triumphant return to Boston next month.
Jenny, I Sure Do Miss Your Pajiba | | World Trade Center
Comments
Great review. My friend lent me her dvd's of F&G and I still have not gotten around to watching it. I have heard nothing but raves over the years. I will try to watch this weekend.
Profit was a great little show (9 episodes) from the early 90's featuring a naked, amoral Adrian Pasdar. Definitely worth checking out.
Posted by: Marianne at August 8, 2006 4:38 PM
I agree with you 100%. I was 12 in 1981 and this show may as well have been about me and my geek friends. I'm glad that its appeal isn't lost on those born (much) later.
"Freeks and Geeks" - best short lived show ever. I'm alright with that. But I think that the brilliant "Firefly" at least deserves an honorable mention. If you haven't seen it you can get the complete series for 30 bones at Target.
Posted by: Murray G at August 8, 2006 4:42 PM
Every word of that review is true. Here in the UK we didn't even get a few episodes on the TV, let alone a rerun. There's no region 2 DVD release either, so we have to rely on someone with a fancy NTSC multiregion DVD player or interweb bootlegs. There's just no justice in this world.
We got Firefly though, and it was awesome.
Posted by: Si at August 8, 2006 4:46 PM
I always appreciate a good use of the word "fuck-ton."
Posted by: wrion at August 8, 2006 5:07 PM
i'm watching F&G right now for the first time, and at even just 6 ep. in, it's definitely brilliant. I think you could have stuck Firefly and Spaced onto your list (though Spaced ended under the same reasons as the other British comedies), but I can already tell F&G is something special. It's too bad it got the shaft.
"hold on, I can't hear you, let me switch to my bionic ear....okay...not so loud! i do have bionic hearing ya know."
Posted by: nesto at August 8, 2006 5:32 PM
Glad you mentioned "Wonderfalls"--can't believe such an insightful, humerous show was cancelled so rapidly!
Posted by: wildrose at August 8, 2006 6:30 PM
Uh...that would be "humorous"...my bad!
Posted by: wildrose at August 8, 2006 6:33 PM
I'm just happy you mentioned 'Blackadder'. Is there anyone else in Canada who loves that show? I sure can't find anyone else who does-- and one of my sisters doesn't count.
Posted by: M at August 8, 2006 6:35 PM
I agree that "Freaks and Geeks" is probably the all time best short-lived TV show. I absolutely loved it! I'd also like to nominate the recently cancelled "Huff." If you haven't seen this show, the first season is on DVD and I highly recommend it!
Posted by: Alison at August 8, 2006 6:48 PM
You're not alone, M. I love me some britcoms.
This was one I never got to see, but always wanted to. I enjoyed the one or two episodes of Undeclared I saw.
But come on, no honorable mention for Firefly? (Or is that because of 'Serenity'?) Aw, Spaced. There's one I wanted to watch more of too.
Posted by: Mara at August 8, 2006 6:54 PM
I am just now discovering this show on DVD and absolutely love it. In my opinion, the only other short-lived show that competes with F&G as "the best" is Firefly, but they are very different genres. Equally excellent and equally apt to make me hate the networks who cancelled them.
Posted by: watoosa at August 8, 2006 7:12 PM
Everyone's talking about TV, and I'm just glad to hear that someone else's law school career was as much of a boozefest as mine - all of my colleagues went to get an education. I went to avoid life for another three years, and was much too busy avoiding Torts to watch this show. Which is why I'll be renting this one ASAP. I'm sure I'll love it.
Posted by: Kitty X at August 8, 2006 7:28 PM
I can't really tell you if there was a 70's or early 80's show which was worthy of serious consideration, although I'm sure there must be at least one or two in the bunch, and I have no doubt that my fearless readers will mention them in the comments.
"Square Pegs".
Totally different head. Totally.
Posted by: Thlayli at August 8, 2006 8:07 PM
"You know who used to cut class? Jimi Hendrix. you know what happened to him? He DIED!"
Posted by: Leigh at August 8, 2006 9:26 PM
A-MEN
Posted by: Deniz at August 8, 2006 10:35 PM
this show is genius. i've watched it through on dvd 3 times. the only thing that gives it a run for me is the first 18 episodes of "twin peaks."
Posted by: matt at August 8, 2006 11:23 PM
Truly a universal show, as you say. As coincidence would have it, I was an undersized high school freshman nerd/geek named Sam in '80-'81, and this show brought back the experience in full, the pain and the joy, even though I was in my mid-30s when it aired. Your review is worthy of the show, and I can't wait to buy the DVD.
Posted by: sansho1 at August 9, 2006 12:13 AM
amen to that mara! firefly was the best ever, and not even a quick mention... shame on you tv whore!
Posted by: irina at August 9, 2006 12:50 AM
I have to agree with the Firefly love. Though my exposure to F&G has been limited (though enjoyable), I doubt it could dislodge Joss Whedon's best work from my personal television obsessions/evidence that Very Stupid People are in charge of America's entertainment.
Posted by: Alie at August 9, 2006 2:31 AM
I love this show more than I love my parents.
That's not actually true, but it's pretty damn close.
(Incidentally, the best moment in the entire show is when Bill is alone in his house after school, watching Gary Shandling on TV, eating grilled cheese and laughing hysterically with his mouth open. And The Who's "I'm Free" is the scene music. Can anybody possibly beat this with a better scene? I think not.)
Posted by: Padma at August 9, 2006 6:31 AM
I totally agree on that review. I've watched F&G recently, thanks to my very good american friend, and I just loved it. Of course, my love for Firefly is huge, and I would probably put it on first place before F&G, nevertheless, I will always cherish F&G, for his unique point of view on teen age. I always found Sam and his friend more interesting than Lindsey&co though.
Bill as the bionic woman will forever make me laugh.
Posted by: french girl at August 9, 2006 6:41 AM
I've heard fantastic things about "Freaks & Geeks", and I really must watch it..
But what about those shows that were not only short lived, but have since completely disappeared? For example, once upon a time ago, a great little satire called "Grosse Pointe" aired...
Unfortuneatley, it's not available in any format at the moment...
Posted by: Nina at August 9, 2006 8:59 AM
Yeah I remember Grosse Pointe, what the hell happened to it?
And Firefly was just the best ever.
Posted by: Tina at August 9, 2006 9:25 AM
Yup, the first thing that I noticed was that you neglected to mention Firefly. Tsk tsk.
I'm a Blackadder junkie also, though some of the shows don't quite stand the test of time (it's the appalling canned laughter that gets me most). The fourth series was, and still is, excellent however. I'm not ashamed to say that the end of the final episode still gets me all misty.
Posted by: JTL at August 9, 2006 10:21 AM
Firefly was fantastic. Why, oh why can't we have more Firefly? And thanks for the Wonderfalls mention. I would miss it, but it never got enough of a chance to be missed. Great show, though.
Posted by: Sally at August 9, 2006 10:22 AM
While I have never seen F&G, it has been on my to do list for quiet some time now.
But why I write here is to restate the travesty that is your leaving Firefly out from discussion.
Whore, I demand an apologia!
Posted by: Jere at August 9, 2006 10:23 AM
God, Freaks and Geeks is such an amazing show. My dad made me watch it a while ago and wow, do I thank him for that. It's just brilliant. As a current high school student, I can testify that this show remains universal today, even though I wouldn't necessarily fit into either of the social cliques that the show focuses on.
Posted by: Joe at August 9, 2006 10:39 AM
So I can't really tell you if there was a 70's or early 80's show which was worthy of serious consideration, although I'm sure there must be at least one or two in the bunch, and I have no doubt that my fearless readers will mention them in the comments.
"Manimal," anyone?
Posted by: Tim at August 9, 2006 10:49 AM
I am, unfortunatly, in a public computer lab and kept laughing out loud while reading this review and comments. Embarrasing, but oh so good. How I love Freaks & Geeks....
and I also second the firefly love.
Posted by: casey at August 9, 2006 1:37 PM
"always never quite right"
now that will be stuck in my head for days!
i love Freaks & Geeks, truly i do, but Firefly will always hold a special place in my heart. i am a total geek girl, and as such i have to put Joss Whedon above all else.
the only thing i learned in law school is how to hold my alcohol. isn't that what law school is all about?
Posted by: pq at August 9, 2006 1:43 PM
I agree with Marianne (#1 above). "Profit" was incredible, and the only reason why it doesn't knock Freaks & Geeks out of the top spot for me is that it was *so* short lived that it never managed to build a true story arc. What an arc that could have been, though! It makes me so mad that a show like Law & Order has been on for what seems like multiple decades, while Profit was barely given a chance.
I also really enjoyed "It's Your Move," a Jason Bateman vehicle that aired briefly in 1984. That one may very well not live up to my memories, though.
Posted by: JoGirl at August 9, 2006 3:21 PM
The omission of Firefly is truly bizarre. But the article was great, so we can still be friends. I confess, I've never seen F&G, but I shall run out and give it a look-see.
Speaking of short run Jason Bateman vehicles, JoGirl, ever see "Some Of My Best Friends"? Actually had some great comedic moments...
Posted by: TK at August 9, 2006 5:00 PM
Author's Note: OK, OK, OK -- I left "Firefly" off the list. But there's a quite simple explanation for the omission. "Firefly" falls into that category of shows I consciously chose to ignore, like "Everwood" and "My So-Called Life," because I've simply never seen it. So instead of berating me for leaving it out of this column, you should actually be berating me for having never seen it in the first place. It is in my Netflix queue, however (along with about 400 other things), so I should get around to it one of these days (and I'm sure that, on that day, I'll love it as much as y'all).
Posted by: TV Whore at August 9, 2006 5:07 PM
M, I'm with you - Blackadder was absolutely brilliant!
The only other show I can think of that deserved much better than it got was a show on NBC back in 2000 called The Others. NBC literally killed the series by killing off the entire cast in a horrific 'final episode'. It was an excellent show - Tobe Hooper even directed one of the episodes - why they killed off the entire cast and thus killed any chance at syndication is beyond me.
Posted by: Don at August 9, 2006 5:30 PM
I'll have to get my hands on the DVDs at some point.
That said, I'll second everyone else's vote for Firefly. I'm a total addict.
Posted by: Iris at August 9, 2006 6:43 PM
Me likes F&G...hilarious and sometimes really embarassing...must have been my awkward youth...
Posted by: Gina at August 9, 2006 9:19 PM
I was 12 in 1981. Freaks and Geeks caught it perfectly. Too perfectly, almost. My So-Called Life is overrated, anyway. And whoever mentioned Profit... that show was amazing as well.
Posted by: Azraelle at August 9, 2006 9:44 PM
I can't believe you've never seen Firely! You're in for a treat, boy howdy. When I watched the DVDs with my boyfriend, I had to force myself not to watch them all in one sitting, 'cause I wanted to make it last as long as possible. I think I put off watching the final episode for 2 weeks because I wasn't ready for it to end.
As for Freaks & Geeks, I don't even remember being aware it was ever on TV. A friend sent me two VHS tapes of the show that he had recorded off his tv. Unlike with Firefly, I just watched as many episodes as I could whenever I got the chance. That same friend makes sure to watch the show at least once a year, 'cause he loves it so much. My boyfriend has never seen it, so we will be (or at least attempt) renting it this weekend.
Posted by: MDA at August 10, 2006 10:59 AM
Saw Freaks N' Geeks a few weeks ago, and definitely loved the excellent blend of drama, humour, dialogue and nostalgia, but i'm afraid it still has to come second to another brilliant short-lived series i saw for the first time a few months ago...FIREFLY!
If that's not on the top of your Netflix queue by now, I'd be shocked! I'm even tempted to paypal you a dollar or two to get you started ;)
Posted by: goose at August 10, 2006 11:20 AM
similarly, i never saw F&G when it actually aired, but thanks to my roommate's friend, we acquired the DVD set... and what followed was the most monumental marathon of DVD-watching known to our house. we simply could not stop: it was clever, silly, warm, goofy, endearing, and hands-down the most truthful portrayal of high school i have ever seen on the screen. we couldn't stop watching.
Posted by: kat at August 10, 2006 12:10 PM
Freaks and Geeks is too easy. It's too good and too popular with your audience. This is like explaining to frat boys what great things video games, porn, and pizza are. I expect more from the minds of Pajiba. If you're going to convince me that you really are intellectual titans with refined opinions with mystery and subtlety that put them out of reach of my own pedestrian musings, then I want you to take me on a ride at the end of which I step off, scratch my head, and say "I'll be damned, The Highwayman really was the best short-lived series ever." Or maybe Viper. That would be the real homerun.
Posted by: Eep at August 10, 2006 12:44 PM
As far as other short-lived but good 70s-80s shows, how about Sable?
Tim, you rock for bringing up Manimal. Hahahaha
Posted by: Eep at August 10, 2006 12:54 PM
If you haven't seen My So-Called Life, then you aren't qualified to judge the best short-lived show of all time.
Posted by: Jtoth at August 10, 2006 1:04 PM
Someone MUST mention Cupid - the one with Jeremy Piven and Paula Marshall, of course. I guess that someone will be me.
According to the creator, Ron Thomas, it can't even be released on DVD, as the location of the original tape is unknown.
Posted by: SRS at August 10, 2006 1:38 PM
SRS--I can't believe you mentioned "Cupid!" I was a huge fan of that as well, and completely heartbroken when it was cancelled. I thought that my college roommate and I were possibly the only people that ever watched that. Good to know I have company.
Posted by: LAK at August 10, 2006 6:31 PM
Thank you for mentioning Invasion, which totally grew on me. I wish ABC had given it a chance because it just seemed to get better the further into the season they got.
Never seen F&G, but it's now on my Netflix queue.
Posted by: telesilla at August 10, 2006 6:56 PM
DEAD LIKE ME, best short lived tv show.
Posted by: Katharine at August 11, 2006 8:27 AM
Author's Note: Time to shame myself...shame on you Seth, how the hell could you forget "The Prisoner?"
Posted by: TV Whore at August 11, 2006 11:20 AM
BTW: the Disco DJ (and salesman at the disco clothing store) was, I believe, played by Joel Hodgson, the creator of MST-3000 (a guilty fave of mine but definitely not short-lived.)
Posted by: KDR at August 11, 2006 3:05 PM
Do you guys remember The State? I know of only like, two or three people who ever saw it. HI-Larious!!! How long did it run? It sure seemed short-lived....
"Really? I didn't know you could eat Muppet."
"We got $240 worth of puddin', and that's a whoooole lotta puddin'."
Posted by: Go Big Red at August 11, 2006 3:57 PM
Manimal! Thanks for reminding me. And Firefly, definitely. Now I'll have to check out F&G--I usually avoid shows that remind me of being a teenager.
But I have to say--because it's a compulsion--that's not what "beg the question" means.
Posted by: Ann at August 11, 2006 5:41 PM
M, you can add me to the list of Canadians who love Blackadder.
Also, while the mystery as to why my beloved Firefly was left off of this list has been solved, I still feel that it should be known that Serenity got a very thoughtful and positive review here at Pajiba; Dan even went as far as to say it was the "best sci-fi movie" he had ever seen. Was he exaggerating? Possibly. Do I care? Absolutely not.
Freaks and Geeks was a really funny, touching, honest show. As a fusion of both freak and geek (and a bit of nerd and dork thrown in there, just to make social situations even more exciting), the show really hit home for me, despite having graduated in the twenty-first century. I applaud your choice, TV Whore.
Posted by: Lisa at August 11, 2006 6:37 PM
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Posted by: molly at August 11, 2006 9:09 PM
now how bout a wonder years dvd?
Posted by: Master Tulsa at August 12, 2006 2:48 AM
All the shows mentioned that I've seen were good, but what about 'Andy Ricktor Controls the Universe'? I thought that show deserved at least one more season! An employee that has conversations with his company's rascist, geriatric founder at work? Hilarious!
Posted by: Matt at August 13, 2006 9:13 AM
TV Whore, thank you for mentioning "The Prisoner," although I figured that would also fall under the British unmentionables. It's by far the best, and receives at least one entire DVD viewing every six months. "Freaks & Geeks" was really good, although I have to admit that Paul Feig's own books were better.....
Posted by: Laura A at August 14, 2006 10:31 AM
You hit all my faves (BlackAdder, Firefly etc. etc) however to not at least mention "Austin Stories" in an article listing the unjustly yanked makes a solitary tear run down my cheek.
Posted by: G-moff Tarkin at August 14, 2006 2:56 PM
Seth - Move Firefly to the top of your Netflix queue. I'm confident that after you watch it, you'll also move it to the top of your list.
Posted by: Craig at August 14, 2006 3:43 PM
I just Netflixed this show and have managed to consume all six disc in a week. It is brilliant and I love it. I agree with your list of shows but feel that you forgot to include Dead Like Me. It was on for 2 season but trust me, it was too short! Also you mentioned Wonderfall but not in great detail. Also brilliant!
Posted by: Jordan Valdez at August 14, 2006 8:18 PM
Guess I have another DVD set to buy... I always wanted to see this show, and now that it's been so fiercely endorsed I feel motivated.
I agree with the folks who mentioned Cupid, I was so pissed when ABC yanked it. Also great...Lucky with John Corbett, a dark and funny study of gamblers in Las Vegas. That show made me feel like I'd drunk about a gallon of coffee, kind of icky but wired as hell.
Posted by: redkitten at August 15, 2006 11:53 AM
I was a high school sophomore in 1980/81, the timeframe this show depicts. When I say that it's authentic, I really mean it. This was my life. I've finally obtained the DVD box set and plan on digesting every last morsel of it: the commentary, extras, etc. This site is great. Thanks. -cc-
Posted by: ~c@zmik~ at August 15, 2006 12:36 PM
"You're a dumbass Andopolis, rock n' roll don't come from your brain, it comes from your crotch."
This show was genius. My sister and I would always catch it randomly on television and were psyched that the DVD was so well done.
Posted by: Hals at August 15, 2006 1:35 PM
I am one of the many who signed the petition, forwarded the petition around, signed the petition 50 more times, coerced and then forced others to sign the petition and, essentially, couldn't get through a day without brow-beating my co-workers about the petition. "Freaks and Geeks Petition" was all I could think/talk about. What a bore I'd become. What a single-mindedly fanatic devotee. It did no good, in the end, although it did result in a DVD release eventually. There'll not ever be a show as astounding as "Freaks and Geeks" on television again, and I don't know that there should be, anyway. We had the best and we didn't nurture it. It was simply the finest show on television. Thank you so, SO much for choosing it and featuring it in this column.
Posted by: K at August 15, 2006 2:20 PM
Undeclared is better than you remember. Pure genius (with less poignant drama, etc. and more dorm humour), but truly a gift to Freaks fans.
Posted by: Det. Rhiannon Brock at August 15, 2006 3:41 PM
So glad Spaced was mentioned in the comments. Officially my second favorite show of all time (behind Arrested Development) and severely underappreciated. Firefly is in my top 5 as well, but then again I think anything Joss Whedon does is genius so I might be biased.
But great review as usual, the world had definitely not gotten enough Freaks and Geeks before its untimely death.
Posted by: liz at August 15, 2006 4:01 PM
Ich bein Lindsay Weir.
Posted by: SHE at August 15, 2006 4:21 PM
I was one of the people who saw the ads for this show when it came out and wanted to check it out, but never did, due to its Saturday night timeslot. Damn shame. Thanks for the recommendation though, it's on my Netflix queue now.
Also in the Dead Like Me ouevre of 2 season-long series is Carnivale. It was on HBO before Deadwood came out, and it was stunning. Beautifully shot with a compelling religious allegory and story arc. Even more brutally, it was cut down in its prime, at the peak of one doozy of a cliffhanger. Damn HBO to hell. Now I can hear the word "cocksucker" 1000 times in a single hour. whoopee.
Posted by: MG at August 15, 2006 5:22 PM
i've seen both firefly and F&G, and while firefly was quite good and had an untimely end, i like F&G more and agree with the whore's assessment. sorry, geeks!
Posted by: emily at August 15, 2006 6:25 PM
Aw, I'm so glad Pajiba thinks that "F&G" is good for me! I hopped on the bandwagon late, too, with those last 3 episodes aired on NBC. Luckily, I quickly caught up, thanks to FoxFamily.
One nitpick, although I'm not sure how much you guys care: there are severall typos in the article, with regard to some of the actors' names. For instance, it's Rogen, not Rogan. And it's J.F. Daley, not Daly.
Posted by: Alex at August 15, 2006 11:48 PM
Freaks and Geeks is definitely a timelessly funny show. I just completed my high school run this year and I find the characters and relationships to be totally relatable. And yay for Firefly! Best 27$ I ever spent for a DVD-box set!
Posted by: Renee at August 15, 2006 11:50 PM
Matt - you so totally rock. I loved "Andy Richter Controls the Universe."
Favorite line from ARCTU: "No more sporks, spinives or knifoons! It's like a Dr Suess kitchen in here!"
And I watched F&G and now will have to rent to relive it... thank you Pajiba!
Posted by: Lisa at August 16, 2006 2:03 PM
Speaking of great but short-lived high school-centric shows--Popular, Season 1. Anyone?
Posted by: Cait at August 16, 2006 4:30 PM
I stumbled upon freaks and Geeks at a local hollywood video, seeing as they only ahd disc 2 of the 6 disc series i read the synopsis. I was intrgued so I went home and signe dup wit blockbuster, In less them A week i got the first 3 DVDs...After watching the FIRST episode I was hooked....I saw ALL 3 DVDs that same night. I mailed them back and received the last 3 DVDs today. I just finished watching DVD 5 (1 more to go). I love this show. Too bad I am just watching it now, I am going to talk to everyone I know about this show. It is just flat out brilliant, and hilarious.
BUY/RENT FREAKS AND GEEKS YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!
Posted by: Marco at August 17, 2006 3:25 AM
Great show. Unfortunalty the show was also shown on Saturday nights here in Australia and axed after 2 episodes. Thankfully despite Australia being a PAL country it's impossible to buy a DVD player here that doesn't have NTSC support and the vast majority of DVD players that aren't Sony are multi-region. So I purchased the DVD.
Posted by: Tamara at August 18, 2006 2:25 AM
Shannon's Deal should be on the list. Great show, only 14 eps, created by John Sayles, Jamey Sheridan as compulsive gambler/lawyer Jack Shannon, Elizabeth Pena as his secretary Lucy, and Richard Edson as Wilmer, a collector for the loan sharks to whom Jack owes money. Intelligent, well-written, with strong acting.
The pilot movie as I remember it is one of the best things I've ever seen produced for the small screen.
Posted by: jamie at August 19, 2006 1:19 PM
I managed to see all of F&G when it was aired on terrestrial TV here in the UK and I fell in love with it. For a show that I had no reason to watch or have an interest in (based on my tastes etc) it made such a great impact on me. I *do* remember the duet you mention and it was hilarious.
I can't believe you managed to write an entire article about Freaks and Geeks with mentioned Richard Linklater's film Dazed and Confused, for me the two are almost inseperable in my mind.
Posted by: The_Farwall at August 19, 2006 8:12 PM
Great choice for number one. Firefly was also excellent but I am shocked no one has mentioned "Eyes". Tim Daly owned that show. It was brutally funny and had a back mystery that would have been great to see play out over a season or two.
Posted by: Dave at August 24, 2006 11:17 AM
A fantastic show. I own the DVD set and watch it all the time. It never loses its charm. The more I watch it, the more I appreciate the sheer genius of it all. The character of Bill Haverchuck is absolutely hilarious and Martin Starr executed it magnificently. My favorite ep is when Bill gets picked last in gym class!
Posted by: Cara at August 27, 2006 6:26 PM
I've never been so addicted to a show...honestly. My wife heard from her uncle that the show was a must-watch, and so she got the first DVD from Netflix. I had never even heard of it, but the pilot had me completely hooked. We are now on the 5th DVD, and I am saddened that there are only a few episodes left. I rarely get into tv shows, but here I am Googling F&G to see what I can find out about the program. Really, really bums me out that such a beautifully perfect show was not given the proper treatment by NBC. If everyone who sees it, loves it, then how could network execs be so dense? I suppose that's a loaded question, though.
Posted by: Dave at August 29, 2006 4:03 PM
I completely agree. It's too bad that the modern TV-watching demgraphic doesn't allow for truly fantastic shows like Freaks and Geeks to exist. I connect with a lot of these kids because I was there. I was a freak, an outcast, a rocker, but unlike in F&G, we weren't true outcasts.
I suppose it's cancellation was for (some) good, seeing as if it had been drawn our over many seasons, the quality may have gone downhill, or some of the actors may have quit, or some other tragedy. I'm thankful that this great series exists and it's something I can cherish, appreciate, and enjoy from beginning to end. Good people don't die you, only good shows do.
Posted by: Jake at September 6, 2006 6:32 PM
I'm glad you didn't mention Firefly, because honestly it was really low budget and lame looking, poorly written, and looked like almost all of Joss Whedon's garbage he spews onto television. Sci-fi nerds loved it, but regular people didn't, and for good reason (the sci-fi kids are used to crappy effects and low budget garbage, which seems backwards to me).
I AM glad to see "Action" mentioned though, it was witty and acerbic and a damn shame it was yanked off the air. Should have been Jay Mohr's gigantic career-making-for-life break, but it never got the chance to be. And I completely agree with your reasons for not including Sports Night, AD, and the Brit-coms.
Cupid was another good mention (in the comments), I'd forgotten that I'd watched that when it was on, and I love me some Piven.
Posted by: J at October 7, 2006 4:22 AM
Great clip of Judd Apatow on Help Me, Help You:
Posted by: Dave at October 13, 2006 9:31 PM
Ugh, so yeah. Totally randomly discovered your sigte while on defamer, and am LOVING IT. I was so psyched to read your review of Action! I loved that show. I am just very sad and perturbed that you did not put up My So Called Life. The Onion did the same thing. I get that MSCL was a girl's show, but F and G wouldn't have existed w/o it. Plus, I've only recently gotten into Freaks and Geeks- it was in senior yr. of hs, and I saw it once and loved it but I was a nerd girl and was thus studying. MSCL, though, that was on in 7th grade, in the midst of my No TV In the Hpuse drought, and so I went to my best friend's house to watch it. It was so awesome!!! They got the whole teen angst thing so right, just like Freaks and Geeks. Man.
Posted by: not doing ANY work at December 6, 2006 5:53 PM
Just for the record...
Firefly sucked.
Joss Whedon sucks.
Posted by: Steve at December 27, 2006 5:20 PM
Agree with this review-- every last word of it. I was born in late '79 so even though I was a very young child for most of the 80's I remember the feeling of it all. Freaks and Geeks captured not only that for me, but it was -exactly- like highschool. And it's the -only- creative effort in all of TV/Movie/book land that has ever done that for me. It had everything. Great acting, great storyline, hilarious and tear-jerking moments. Freaks And Geeks dismissal was when I learned to hate NBC.
Sadly, I think if this show were to come out now, it would succeed. I think people are pretty burned out on Network TV now. Lawyers, doctors, and cops, oh my.
Posted by: Ari at December 28, 2006 10:29 PM
i, too, loved "andy richter controls the universe." does anyone know if it is (or will ever be) available on DVD?
by the way, the books written by paul feig are amazing. he seriously lived every moment of F&G.
Posted by: robin at January 20, 2007 9:54 PM
Three things - One, I'm not a sci-fi nerd(though I do admit to liking Next Gen and the X-Files. and that show Eureka - is that ever coming back?), but I found Firefly to be supremely entertaining. Which, admittedly, may or may not be because I have a girl crush on Jewel Staite.
Two - Totally psyched that other people mourned the loss of Cupid, and I know that tapes of it exist because I've watched two episodes of it at The Museum of Television and Radio here in NYC, and I think there were at least a total of 6 that I could choose from. LOVE Piven.
Three - The Prisoner Rocked - the DVD is GREAT. Just thought of a fourth - I'm still really pissed the ABC chose not to play the rest of Day Break, EVEN ONLINE. Grrr.
Posted by: Rachel at February 8, 2007 11:13 AM
Great post--I agree with it 100%. It reminded me so much of my high school years (it was actually shot at my old high school--U.S. Grant High in Van Nuys).
Two more short-lived series I think are worth remembering, though not in the class of Freaks and Geeks-- Adventures of Brisco County Jr, and Bakersfield PD.
Posted by: Mike at February 11, 2007 12:37 AM
You forgot the Chris Elliot opus "Get A Life". Simply the best show that has ever graced network TV.
Posted by: Diablo at February 14, 2007 9:45 PM
who else thinks daniel desario is awsome
Posted by: COOL GUY4 at February 21, 2007 11:08 PM
Anyone else mention the too short "Life As We Know It"??? It was a great little series surrounding the coming-of-age stories of 3 high school friends - including Veronica Mars' Chris Lowell and Kelly Osborne.
Add me to the list of those who mourned the disappearance of "Cupid" and "Wonderfalls." And while I loved F&Gs... My vote for #1 goes to Jay Mohr's "Action" - nothing made me laugh like that show.
Posted by: HarlanJames at February 26, 2007 8:20 PM
Just to add something to this list, that I think wasn't mentioned before: The $treet.
Maybe it wouldn't be "the greatest" and all (it doesn't beat F&G, IMHO), but I have no doubt at all it was cancelled way too soon.
Maybe you'll remember something about it if I say Jennifer Connelly was a regular, as well as Tom Everett Scott and Adam Goldberg.
Posted by: Gargumma at March 18, 2007 4:48 AM
1) Freaks and Geeks
2) Firefly
3) Undeclared
4) Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future.
Posted by: Gene at March 26, 2007 2:44 PM
I agree with the people who said "dead like me" and love freaks & geeks.
Another show nobody's mentioned is "beggars and choosers" I was a show about a second tier network it also lasted two seasons (not nearly enough)
"I'm going up Coldwater, so if I lose you, don't take it personally." "Sure." "I'm leaving you." "What?"
Mr. Gordon's office." "Is he there, please?" "Who's calling?" "This is his mother calling." "Will he know what this is regarding?"
"Suicide is stupid when they're doing so much with liposuction now!"
"I respect the audience, I just don't respect their intelligence or their taste."
Also i don't know it if only aired in canada but "the newsroom" is excellent and was cancelled before it's time.
Posted by: jessica at May 3, 2007 2:40 PM
What about 'Parker Lewis can't loose'??
Posted by: Nacho at May 25, 2007 7:35 AM
I've just watched most of F&G the episodes and even though I'm from the U.K and have no clue what 1980's American high school was like I can totally relate.
I'm the only one in my school that has probably watched the series I don't think most 16 year olds have heard of the series but i managed to track it down it is truly the best short lived show of all time I don't want it to end and yet I watched 4 episodes in a row whilst trying to cram for exams!
I'm going to pester everyone to watch it when I go back to school!!
Best episode: "tests and breasts"..."track one was for the smart people, track two for the normal people and track three for the dumb ones. Do you know how it feels to be told your dumb at 11?" That was just hilarious and when Lindsey burst out laughing in the end...oh the irony.
Posted by: mona at June 4, 2007 12:58 PM
So impressed with the shout out to Action! I loved that show and Jay Mohr. It was a travesty when they took it off the air so prematurely. Nice to know someone else appreciated it.
Posted by: Red at June 12, 2007 2:29 PM
I just recently discovered Freaks and Geeks and am loving it. I wish I had given it a chance when it was on the air. Unfortunately I was 16/17 at that time and only interested in bubble gum. I do agree with some of the other people on the board you really should watch My So Called Life to be able to truly judge which was the best short lived show. It's been what 10 years and I still remember those characters fondly and wonder what became of them. Time will tell if I'll feel the same way about Freaks and Geeks. Another show I would like to mention that was short lived is Wolf Lake, I think it was only on for half a season. Thanks! Jordon Catellano Forever! lol
Posted by: Mimers at June 22, 2007 1:34 AM
I will never get why NBC didn't give this show a chance. It had everything a good show needs -- great writing, terrific acting, and realism. One thing I liked is that the high school kids actually looked like high school kids. As opposed to those dumb-assed shows like "90210," where the kids were portrayed by 35-year-old actors (who all sucked, by the way).
It really was the best one-year show I can remember. I was a high school kid back then, and it might as well been filmed in my school.
I leave with this thought: You got a problem with that, Gorthon?
Posted by: Juanis at July 11, 2007 3:50 PM
I would absolutely tend to agree with your choice of picking this as the best short-lived show ever. I might also give a nod to The Young Ones, though, simply based on absolute hilarity and replay value. There's an 80s title for you.
Posted by: Punch Cloud at July 30, 2007 3:08 PM