Freaks and Geeks (1999), Paul Feig
Having run out of books to read for the time being, and not feeling particularly inspired to review most of the books I’ve read recently, and not being able to sufficiently remember the good books I’ve read in the past, I come now to reviewing other mediums, such as television and the show that should have been a huge success, Freaks and Geeks.
Set in 1980, the show revolves around Lindsay Weir, her friends (the Freaks) and her brother’s friends (the Geeks). It follows the format laid out by the Wonder Years by being set in a past decade and following the growth of school-age children. However, unlike the Wonder Years, Freaks and Geeks tackles more serious issues such as the disadvantages faced by children from families that lie outside the realm of cookies and hot milk. Freaks and Geeks takes the innocence of the Wonder Years and it’s First Love theme, and makes it more real and, by being set closer to now, also much more relevant.
The 1980s saw the fazing out of the hippy era and disco, and the introduction of heavy rock and punk into the mainstream corridors of high school. Teenagers started to take their independence and individuality seriously. Rebellion in school increased, family ties were loosened as teenagers struggled to find meaning in the fast-paced decade that introduced Atari game consoles into family living rooms (“an a-what-i?”) and made Star Wars a house hold name (Star Wars was released in 1977, but was embraced by the children of the 80s).
The series lasted only 1 season before being pulled from the airwaves exactly at the moment that loyal viewers became securely hooked. Freaks and Geeks suffered the misfortune of battling through a Saturday night timeslot in the US and by being released at the same time as a goofy comedy set in the 70s that was hugely successful. It seems that the US Audience at that time was not in the mood for the subtle humour and sometimes nose-sniffling drama of Freaks and Geeks.
When Freaks and Geeks vanished off Australian airways I was very surprised and angry that the tastes of a foreign audience were able to dictate my viewing choices. I’ve never really shared the television tastes of the majority and I am used to having my shows subjected to obscure timeslots, but I had hoped that Freaks and Geeks could survive through the strength of a cult audience. I have since discovered, with the help of the internet, that I was not the only person watching the show and that there was, as I expected, a large audience of people upset by the removal of Freaks and Geeks from the airwaves.
The surviving series was popular enough to warrant a release on DVD which can (and should) be bought and watched. Then watched and watched again. I have just finished watching the complete series again, this time with Jeremy (who regrets never having watched it before). He said that he remembers the posters advertising the show in the US, and would have watched it except for its Saturday night timeslot. When we hit the final episode, it was with a heavy heart. We both wish the series would have continued and we could have known what was to happen to Daniel and Kim, Ken and Amy, Nick, Lindsay, Sam, Neil, Bill and yeah, even Millie and Alan. Unfortunately, due to stupid programming and evil network, all we can do is guess what the creator, Paul Feig, had in mind.
I’ve never really shared the television tastes of the majority and I am used to having my shows subjected to obscure timeslots, but I had hoped that Freaks and Geeks could survive through the strength of a cult audience.
Set in 1980, the show revolves around Lindsay Weir, her friends (the Freaks) and her brother’s friends (the Geeks). It follows the format laid out by the Wonder Years by being set in a past decade and following the growth of school-age children. However, unlike the Wonder Years, Freaks and Geeks tackles more serious issues such as the disadvantages faced by children from families that lie outside the realm of cookies and hot milk. Freaks and Geeks takes the innocence of the Wonder Years and it’s First Love theme, and makes it more real and, by being set closer to now, also much more relevant.
The 1980s saw the fazing out of the hippy era and disco, and the introduction of heavy rock and punk into the mainstream corridors of high school. Teenagers started to take their independence and individuality seriously. Rebellion in school increased, family ties were loosened as teenagers struggled to find meaning in the fast-paced decade that introduced Atari game consoles into family living rooms (“an a-what-i?”) and made Star Wars a house hold name (Star Wars was released in 1977, but was embraced by the children of the 80s).
The series lasted only 1 season before being pulled from the airwaves exactly at the moment that loyal viewers became securely hooked. Freaks and Geeks suffered the misfortune of battling through a Saturday night timeslot in the US and by being released at the same time as a goofy comedy set in the 70s that was hugely successful. It seems that the US Audience at that time was not in the mood for the subtle humour and sometimes nose-sniffling drama of Freaks and Geeks.
When Freaks and Geeks vanished off Australian airways I was very surprised and angry that the tastes of a foreign audience were able to dictate my viewing choices. I’ve never really shared the television tastes of the majority and I am used to having my shows subjected to obscure timeslots, but I had hoped that Freaks and Geeks could survive through the strength of a cult audience. I have since discovered, with the help of the internet, that I was not the only person watching the show and that there was, as I expected, a large audience of people upset by the removal of Freaks and Geeks from the airwaves.
The surviving series was popular enough to warrant a release on DVD which can (and should) be bought and watched. Then watched and watched again. I have just finished watching the complete series again, this time with Jeremy (who regrets never having watched it before). He said that he remembers the posters advertising the show in the US, and would have watched it except for its Saturday night timeslot. When we hit the final episode, it was with a heavy heart. We both wish the series would have continued and we could have known what was to happen to Daniel and Kim, Ken and Amy, Nick, Lindsay, Sam, Neil, Bill and yeah, even Millie and Alan. Unfortunately, due to stupid programming and evil network, all we can do is guess what the creator, Paul Feig, had in mind.
posted by Eliza at
8:12 pm
