A Tribute to Great Television: Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)

With school back in session all over the United States I feel as though I must pay homage to the greatest show about high school, and no it's not Saved by the Bell, or 90210, that's Freaks and Geeks.  While Freaks and Geeks got the shaft from NBC, and only lasted one year, feign surprise if you must, the show is a classic, and if you have not got to experience Lindsey in her fatigue jacket breaking her good girl mold, or the early careers of James Franco, and Jason Segel then its time to make this show a priority on your Netflix.

The show centers around two different types of groups in the 1980s high school scene, the freaks, and the geeks, I wonder if that's where title comes from?  The show focused on two characters Linda Cardellinni's character Lindsey Weir, and her brother Sam Weir played by John Francis Daley. The show brought is both a hilarious and realistic look at those awkward and exploratory years of high school, and the different paths traveled.

Freaks and Geeks was created by Paul Feig, the main who has gone on to direct Bridemaids, The Heat episodes of The Office, Arrested Development, Nurse Jackie, Mad Men, this list could go on and on.  Feig is also an actor, and if you were a Sabrina the Teenage Witch fan you may recognize him as Mr. Pool.  Feig's knack for creating some of the best comedy in recent years is evident through his layered work, but Freaks and Geeks is one of his best creations.

While Feig was the creator Freaks and Geeks had some of the most famous names in film in television behind the scenes as producers, writers, and directors.  Judd Apatow (40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up) directed, wrote and was a producer on this show.  This was the birth  of Apatow's collaborations with Franco, Segel, and Seth Rogen.  Other famous television directors/writers who worked on this show were Mike White who created the television series Enlightened and has acted in films like School of Rock.  Ken Kwapis who has gone on to direct The Office, The Bernie Mac Show, and ER.  Lesli Linka Glatter has also gone on to direct Mad Men, True Blood, and The Newsroom.  The creative team behind this show was one of the best assembled.

As stated above this show not only brought about the careers of some great creative minds, but also launched the careers of Linda Cardellinni (ER, Scooby Doo, Mad Men), James Franco (127 Hours, Spider-Man, James Dean), Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Knocked Up), Seth Rogen (This is the End, Knocked Up, 40 Year Old Virgin), four great careers.  Ironically most of the geeks have played in other things but mostly smaller roles.

Why and how did this show now deemed by many to be, "the best cancelled television series of all time" fail? Critics deemed this show to be "something special" and "out of the ordinary" this was not your traditional sitcom, but fit within the dramedy category with tons of nostalgia to set the background.  Freaks and Geeks was realistic, almost too realistic, capturing that awkward humor that spawned The Office, 30 Rock and many more. At this point in the 90s/early 2000s this type of show did not fit, but stood out as something different much like the freaks and geeks in the show.  One of the other problems was that the show was  not given the proper treatment by NBC, again never surprising.  The show did actually score three Emmy nominations during its run two for Best Writing, and one for Best Casting, the show won the Best Casting in Comedy Series Emmy.  Props to voters for understanding that this show created one of the best ensembles.  Even Emmy knew this show was special.

Freaks and Geeks was ahead of its time, and a great representation of a new age in television. While I did not go to high school during the 1980s, hell I was 6 when the 80s ended this show created a great time capsule for the era, and helped connect you with each friend group, and the families associated with people. Even though this show only had one season, it's a classic, which can't be forgotten.

This is the End is a Hilarious Tale of 'Real' Celebrities Dealing with the End of Days

This is the End (4 out of 5 Stars)

Directed by: Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg

Written by: Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (Pineapple Express)

Starring: Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Craig Robinson, and Danny McBride

Imagine the world is coming to world coming to an end, and you are at a party at James Franco's new stylish pad, and go.  That is the basic premise to the the film This is the End (set to be released June 12).  Apocalyptic movies often have dark/ominous tones, but why not have some laughs as the world falls out from under your feet? Literally!

End starts as its centers around Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel two best friends from their Canada days playing themselves.  Everyone plays a version of them self in this movie, although Michael Cera's representation may be a bit exaggerated, and if not that's even funnier.  Jay is not an "L.A. guy" and is in town visiting Seth.  Seth and Jay end up going to a party at James Franco's house, insert a lot of amazing cameos from some of the funniest people working today, and you have one hell of a sequence.  After some pot and a need to get out of the party Jay drags Seth away from the fake Hollywood types only to have things go bat shit crazy.

I do not want to give any of the jokes from this film away, because they are far too funny.  Nor do I want to hype this movie the way people do with films like The Hangover or Bridesmaids, but its safe to say this may be the funniest film of the summer.  The cameos are endless, from Paul Rudd, Jason Segal, Kevin Hart, Mindy Kailing, Aziz Ansari, Emma Watson and many more.  There is one cameo towards the end which stole the show for me, but I will let you discover that masked man on your own.  

I think one of the best parts about this film is the clever way the script uses a version of reality to make fun of the situation, along with the actors and their true selves.  From the fact that Jonah Hill is a nice guy and now that he has an Oscar nomination he has to step up his game, or the gay jokes/rumors about James Franco, to the way the film pokes fun at films they have done like Seth Rogen in The Green Hornet.  Rogen knows his pals, and co-screenwriter (who has worked with all of these people before) knows how to stick the knife and jab with true comedic wit.  The script obviously has it flaws, the duo tend to sometimes let gags run on too long, and for those not in "the know" some of the gags may not make much sense.  Yet, the jokes were some of the funniest I have heard in a long time, especially anything that makes fun of Spider-Man 3.

This film is clever and a step ahead of both Superbad, and Pineapple Express (which came from the the same creative team.)  I have heard Seth Rogen talk about this project, and it was clearly something he was passionate about.  This film took a lot to get financed, and to find a production company, but when all was said and done the end result is something that will be remembered.  I like the direction from Rogen and Goldberg, they are taking comedy to a new level with this film.  While their previous collaborations have been funny, this film is both smart, and funny, which sets it apart from many films within its genre or type.  This is the End, is a not just a great comedy, but an laugh out loud enjoyable film.

Take this Waltz is an Interesting Dance About Someone in a Committed Relationship Falling in Love with Someone New

Take this Waltz (3 1/2 out of 5 Stars)

Directed and Written by Sarah Polley (Away from Her)

Starring: Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Luke Kirby, and Sarah Silverman

When you are in a great relationship for a long time, how do you know that meeting someone new will not change things.  In relationships there is often this restless feeling, a seven year itch.  You meet someone new who sparks something inside you that you have missed for years, your head and your heart start to wander, and wonder.  There are these new exciting feeling back in your world, one's that bring back new intimacies  and those intense emotional and sexual feelings.

Waltz explores all of these emotional struggles.  Margot (Williams) meets Daniel (Kirby) while she writing a piece on a reenactment; he teases her she yells back.  Margot and Daniel end up sitting next to each other on the plane ride home, and start to find this instant chemistry within their conversation.  As the two of them get into the cab together and Margot gives her address Daniel realizes they live right across the street from one another.  When they get out of the cab, after one of those magical experiences, Margot quickly utters "I am married."  Margot walks into her home where she kisses her husband Lou (Rogen).  The two have an incredibly happy marriage, Lou is in Margot's words "the best guy" but Margot and Daniel continue to meet and explore their chemistry.

Most people will know director/writer Sarah Polley from her acting; she starred in The Sweet Hereafter, Go, and the remake of Dawn of the Dead.  While Polley may be a more familiar face on screen, she has becomes one of the best writer/directors working today.  Polley's first film Away from Her was the most intimate look at the way Alzheimer's disease affects not only the patient but the person with whom they have been married.  This film scored Pollery her first Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

In Waltz Polley continues to shows audiences she she great breadth in understanding the different levels of intimacy in relationships.  Polley's dialogue and script are the strength.  The conversations, and interactions each of these characters is some of the most real/honest dialogue.  Polley does not compromise her own writing for the sake of cliche, nor does she make you feel as though these characters are contrived.  Polley is one of those director/writers whose actions transcend beautifully to the screen.  Polley knows her characters well, and whether we are watching Margot realize their is something more at an amusement park, watching Dan walk out of the party losing all hope, or seeing Lou deal with the pain of Margot's words towards the end. Each of moments makes you feel as though you are living them.

Williams performance is the key to the anguish, and pain; she is one of the best working actresses today.   Throughout this film you may empathize with her, feel bad for her, or think she is a terrible person.  Margot is a complicated character with so many levels left to peel away, and Williams captures each of them brilliantly. Williams is a natural talent and even when she was playing real life persona Marilyn Monroe there was always genuine pieces of her within the role.

While Rogen tends to typically play himself in most of his films, Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, this is the first time I have seen him step outside of his own persona, and challenge himself to play something more than just himself.  Rogen's Lou is a good guy, who pours cold water on Margot every time she takes a shower hoping that at 80 when he tells her that their shower was not malfunctioning, that it was him.  Lou is that kind of guy, lovable.

There is something beautiful yet painful about the realizations people have about love, and Margot's journey towards the end of the film.  Has Margot's thought of a fling made sense.  Sarah Silverman's character Geraldine acts as a more stark parallel to Margot. Geraldine is a recovering alcoholic; she knows she will never recover.  The question then is can Margot make sense of her own future, and if so will it ever be what she imagines?  Polley's words enact a mediation on restlessness, proving things may never be perfect.