Freaks and Geeks
On an average day of channel surfing and general brain rotting activities I’ll stumble upon something so wrong that I feel the need to right it. Well, that day was yesterday when I landed on one of those “What ever happened to..” shows that focused on 3 people nobody really cares about. In fact, I don’t even remember who was on it, maybe it was like Carol Sever or something. Anyways, in an effort to right the world, here’s a relevant “What Ever Happened to….”
What Ever Happened To the Cast of Freaks and Geeks
Freaks and Geeks was a groundbreaking, short-lived, career launchpad for some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Set in the 80’s, the show explored serious adolescent issues through situational comedy.
Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen played experimental drug expert Ken Miller. Not only was this Rogen’s first professional television appearance, it also introduced him to a group of entertainers that would eventually help him become the likes of Zack (Zack and Miri Make a Porno), Officer Michaels (Superbad), Ben Stone (Knocked Up), Cal (40 Year Old Virgin), Dale Denton (Pineapple Express) and soon to be the Green Hornet.
James Franco
James Franco played high school badass / super hunk Daniel Desario. Soon after the gig on Freaks and Geeks concluded he found himself playing James Dean (James Dean Biopic), Harry Osborne (Spiderman Trilogy) and most recently Saul Silver (Pineapple Express) and an Oscor worthy performance as Scott Smith (Milk).
Linda Cardellini
Linda Cardellini played the lead role in Freaks and Geeks, Lindsay Weir. The show seemed to center around her and her transition from book-smart genius to free thinker. When the show ended she perfectly played the role of Velma (Scooby-Doo) and was immediately cast as a regular on ER as Samantha Taggert.
John Francis Daley
John Francis Daley was a mere child when he starred as Sam Weir, younger brother to Lindsay. When Freaks and Geeks came to a close, Daley grew like a major league baseball player and recently landed a regular spot as Dr. Lance Sweets on Fox’s Bones.
Sam Levine
Sam Levine played Neal Schweiber throughout the show’s first and only season and showed some amazing potential playing a teenager dealing with his father’s secret second family. Since the show’s end, Levine has been seen in almost every TV show and movie that involved a nerdy teenager. Look for Levine to break this mold in Quentin Tarantino’s latest Inglorious Basterds as he plays a Jewish American soldier looking for blood in WWII.
Jason Segal
Jason Segal was always a giant and played to his strengths as drum enthusiast Nick Andopolis. When Freaks and Geeks ended he soon teamed back up with Apatow and crew to star in the hilariously short lived show Undeclared (which also starred Seth Rogen) as jealous boyfriend Eric. Segal’s TV career has since taken off with the success of How I Met Your Mother where he plays the endearing Marshal Erickson. On the big screen he’s been spotted in comedies like Forgetting Sarah Marshal, Knocked Up and most recently I Love You, Man. Segal is also attached as a writer for the latest Muppets Movie.
Busy Phillips
Busy Phillips played the constantly jealous girlfriend to Daniel, Kim Kelly. One of the show’s more dramatic turns occurs through Kim’s storyline and her developing friendship with Lindsay Wier. Since leaving the show, Phillips played Audrey Liddell, one of Pacey’s girlfriends in Dawson’s Creek. She has also guest starred on shows like Entourage, How I Met Your Mother and ER and most recently played Kacy Corbin in the Sarah Conner Chronicles.
Judd Apatow
Judd Apatow is the foundation to all of this. He set each one of these stars on an incredible course through Hollywood and acted as the glue between them. Freaks and Geeks was the producing gig he needed to launch his own career, but at the same time he made sure to keep everyone he’d ever worked with in mind for the future. Since Freaks and Geeks, Apatow has gone on to produce Undeclared for television, then moved to movie production with 40 Year Old Virgin, Talladega Nights, Knocked Up, Superbad, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Stepbrothers, Pineapple Express and will be releasing Funny People later this year.
Freaks and Geeks didn’t just change acting careers, it changed the way audiences looked at comedy. Slapstick and fart jokes are like bad leftovers whereas real life situation and brilliant dialogue are fresh. See, wasn’t that better than turning on the TV and seeing some journalist you don’t care about talk about the career of someone you care even less about?
BTW – there were tons of guest stars on Freaks and Geeks that I left out of this in an effort to stay manageable. A couple of honorable mentions are Lizzy Caplan who went on to star in Cloverfield and most recently True Blood, and Rashida Jones who went on to star in Boston Public and The Office and can be seen in I Love You, Man.
This was such a great show and I had the hugest crush on Linda Cardellini. Fox should’ve gave this show more time to develop.
You forgot the glasses kid.
Glasses kid’s name is Martin Starr, but despite the last name he really is more of a supporting character in most shows now. He was the computer nerd eating pizza in the recent Hulk movie….