More than two decades after Freaks And Geeks’ untimely cancellation, the series remains one of the most beloved cult classics of all time. Created by Paul Feig, Judd Apatow served as executive producer and launched multiple young actors to Hollywood super-stardom. The teen dramedy premiered in the fall of 1999 on NBC, set in the year 1980, it starred Linda Cardellini as Lindsay Weir, who finds her way into the group of slack “freaks” at William McKinley High School in Michigan, outside a suburb of Detroit.
John Francis Daley played her younger brother Sam, of the “geeks.” The series also stars James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Samm Levine, Martin Starr, Becky Ann Baker, Joe Flaherty, and Busy Philipps. Freaks And Geeks filmed eighteen episodes for the first season but received word of cancellation after twelve. Episodes aired sporadically, and the finale broadcasted October 17th, 2000, and the show left an incredible legacy.
Read on for 15 little known facts about Freaks And Geeks.
16 Linda Cardellini Stole Her Character’s Green Jacket
January 15th, 2019, Linda Cardellini appeared on talk show Busy Tonight. She and host Busy Phillips, friend, and former Freaks and Geeks costar. The two reflected on their time on the show, and Phillips asked Cardellini if she took anything from set, to which the actress replied the iconic green cargo jacket.
15 The Show Interrupted A Lot Of The Actors' College Plans
Once cast in Freaks and Geeks, many of the young actors, like Jason Segel, chose to join the cast over pursuing college. Busy Phillips and Linda Cardellini dropped out of their university program. One of the younger cast members, Seth Rogen, dropped out of high school, lied about completing correspondence school, and wrote Superbad.
14 Apatow Insisted His Two Female Leads Not Lose Weight Before The Pilot
Judd Apatow and Paul Feig spoke to the two lead actresses, Linda Cardellini and Busy Phillips, before the pilot for an uncomfortable conversation. In opposition to most Hollywood attitudes, the creator and the executive producer wanted authentic looking teens on-screen and asked that the two not lose weight.
13 Most Of The Show’s Budget Went To Music
Again, in the pursuit of authenticity, Freaks and Geeks dedicated a substantial portion of its budget to the rights to period-appropriate music, including big names, like Rush, Billy Joel, The Grateful Dead, The Who, Van Halen, Styx, and The Moody Blues. The expensive musical taste created problems when re-airing the show on Fox Family, so the network exchanged for cheaper songs.
12 John Francis Daley Was The Only Age Appropriate Actor
Though all the actors played high schoolers, John Francis Daley was 14, as was his character, Sam Weir. Linda Cardellini, who played his 16-year-old sister Lindsay, was 24 when shooting the pilot. Three of the actors, Samm Levine, Martin Starr, and Seth Rogen were 17. Jason Segel was 19. Busy Phillips and James Franco were 20 and 21.
11 Most Storylines On The Show Come From Real High School Experiences
As an exercise for the writer’s room, Feig asked the writers to complete questionnaires based on their own experiences in high school, with questions like, "What’s the most humiliating thing that happened to you in high school? What was the best thing that happened to you in high school?" Many scenes came from the answers to that initial survey.
10 A Lot Of Now-Famous Actors Auditioned For Roles On Freaks And Geeks, Like Jesse Eisenberg For Sam Weir
Jesse Eisenberg was Judd Apatow and Paul Feig’s second choice for Sam Weir. Shia LaBeouf auditioned for his friend Neal Schweiber. Busy Phillips originally read for the role of Lindsay Weir, then was cast as Kim, and Lizzy Caplan auditioned for both lead female roles. Lauren Ambrose also auditioned for Lindsay.
9 Feig And Apatow Encouraged Improv
Many actors have noted Judd Apatow’s uncanny ability to recognize talent. Perhaps that explains how the entire cast of Freaks and Geeks stayed gainfully employed long after its cancelation. Jason Segel and Seth Rogen improvised jokes, and Rogen wrote the screenplay for Superbad on set. Creativity fosters comedy and young talent.
8 The Freaks And Geeks Pilot Shares A Campus With Clueless And Other Films
The Freaks and Geeks attended William McKinley High School, where most of the show’s action happens. The show’s pilot filmed at Ulysses S. Grant High School, which may seem familiar from sighting in other films and shows, like Crazy, Stupid, Love, Euphoria, Black-ish, and Malcolm In The Middle.
7 Jason Segel And Linda Cardellini Played A Couple On-Screen And Dated For Five Years In Real Life
Costars Linda Cardellini and Jason Segel dated from the show’s cancellation in 2000 until 2005, around the time How I Met Your Mother premiered and brought Segel to a new tier of fame. According to the Los Angeles Times, the pair seem to have split amicably, and he used some moments from the relationship as fodder for his Forgetting Sarah Marshall screenplay.
