The Boob Tube…
Aside from the occasional special event, I don’t watch TV, and haven’t watched it regularly for nearly 2 years now. But even if I watched it as religiously as I once did, I still probably wouldn’t have caught a single episode of “Freaks And Geeks”. Which is a crying shame, because I finally saw a few episodes last night on DVD and they were easily some of the funniest stuff I’ve seen in a long time.
The brilliance of the show lay in its casting. I don’t know who did the casting calls, but whoever they are, they’re geniuses. There isn’t a bad performance in the bunch, though I definitely have my favorite. Even the minor actors and cameos are great as well, from that kid in The Royal Tenenbaums to Joel Hodgson and Jason Schwartzman - who appear in the same episode, and as disco store employees! And people wonder why I believe in a good and loving God!!!
Apparently, only 18 episodes were produced, and only half of those actually aired. But thank God for DVD. Not only does it bring us 4 discs of hobbit-y goodness, but it also gives sadly underappreciated TV shows a much-deserved second lease on life.
I also caught a few episodes of “The Office” earlier this week, and it’s good stuff as well. Filmed in the style of a documentary, the program takes a look at the life and travails of people working in, well, an office. There’s the boss who think he’s the funniest and smartest guy in the world (when he’s anything but), the power-hungry right-hand man, the buxom young secretary, and the bored and cynical newcomer trying to maintain his sanity.
It’s a bit of an acquired taste, I suppose - the comedy is all lowkey - but the performances are an absolute riot (especially the boss, whom you love to hate). I doubt this could become a hit in America - again, I think the style of humor would be an issue, and it can get pretty risque at times - but once again, DVD comes to the rescue.
Comments
charity
May 21, 2004 10:22ami remember watching an episode of “the office” and trying to figure out where i had seen gareth (the power-hungry right-hand man) before. i thought maybe he was “mouse” on “the matrix”, but it didn’t quite seem to fit. but your link has provided the answer! he was the pirate with the wooden eyeball in “pirates of the caribean”! yay! i can be at peace now…
Hardcore Joel
May 21, 2004 10:38am‘Freaks And Geeks’ is the greatest show of the 1990s. It ranks up there with ‘The Wonder Years’ and ‘Degrassi’ for me. I only saw a couple episodes on TV before they cancelled it so I’ve been pursuing it since then. I bought the special edition DVD set (with eight discs and a snazzy yearbook). It’s so, so good. My favourite episodes include the one where the geeks hang out with the new girl (great dialogue about farting around girls) and when Bill tries to teach the guys to dance (Noshing & Moshing). Pretty much anything with Bill in it is brilliant.
If you visit http://www.freaksandgeeks.com, there’s an active community of fans, including the creators of the show who stop in regularly.
Jason
May 21, 2004 12:01pmYeah, Bill is the best! The farting stuff was brilliant, and that dance scene was abso-fricking-lutely hilarious! Oh, and when his mom starts seeing the gym teacher… priceless!
I’m borrowing the DVDs from my friend over the weekend, so any Lincolnites who want to join me for “Freaks And Geeks” marathon, let me know!
Bethany
May 21, 2004 12:15pmI don’t know how I was culturally aware enough at the time to watch Freaks and Geeks when it first aired on TV, but fortunately I was…that show is hysterical. Of course as nearly all truly funny shows are, it was shortlived. Alas. Thank God for DVD.
Andrew
May 24, 2004 5:36pmFreaks and Geeks actually won an Emmy for the casting, I think. Either way it’s one of my favourites as well. Shows you Americans can make good TV when the right people get the funding. Too bad about the horrible networks.
Rebecca
May 25, 2004 11:13amJeremy and I love “Freaks and Geeks”! It is such a great show—what a shame it was cancelled. Uh… can we borrow your dvd’s? (That is, of course, after you’ve watched them to your heart’s content.)