When Great Shows Die #1

This is the first in a series about great television shows that flew under the radar of the main-stream.  When people complain that television is a wasteland of fluff that doesn’t deserve their time I always point to a great number of shows that they might have missed. Shows that, for some reason, didn’t get the audience that they deserved.

FREAKS AND GEEKS  (NBC, 1999-2000)

Freaks And Geeks was created by Paul Feig and produced by a man whose name you probably know by now: Judd Apatow (The 40-Year Old Virgin, Knocked-Up, Superbad).  The show focused on Lindsey Weir and her brother Sam during the 1980-1981 school year at McKinley High School.  Although getting rave critical reviews, the show just couldn’t find an audience on network TV.  One explanation for this series not finding a larger audience is this:  NBC shuffled the time slot so much during it’s short-lived run that even the dedicated fans had a tough time keeping up.  Another excuse given by some critics is that: The show was just “too-real” and hit “too close to home” for it’s target audience to actually enjoy watching it. (what?!?) You heard that right.  A show that truthfully shows the trials and tribulations of finding out who you really are during those formative years (although with a healthy dose of reality-based humor) is apparently just ”too” real for anyone to watch it.  All I can say is that I watched it.  I hunted weekly for where NBC would shove it.  When it was picked up by another network… I watched it again.  When the DVD hit shelves… I bought it and watched it again!  There is a lot to be said about a well-made show with great scripts that tell funny and touching stories about fantastic characters placed in a world that anyone (ANYONE) can relate to.  Pick up the complete series on DVD today… You will not be disappointed!

The series aired 12 episodes before being cancelled by NBC.  FOX Family picked up the show for syndication airing 3 additional episodes before pulling the plug.  The 3 final episodes can be found on the complete series DVD.