Freaks and Geeks on IFC

Freaks and Geeks is now airing on IFC. The 1999 “Freaks and Geeks” was NBC’s comedy about socially marginal suburban high school kids.

Episode 1: Pilot
Directed by Jake Kasdan
Written by Paul Feig
Originally aired September 25, 1999

Alison: It’s become beside the point to proclaim the excellence of “Freaks and Geeks.” The success currently being enjoyed by creator Paul Feig, producer Judd Apatow and many of the cast members speaks for itself (and makes it all the easier to offer a derisive “I told you so ” sniff in the direction of what, a decade out, still stings as a total heartbreaker of a cancellation).

But rewatching the pilot, you have to appreciate the sheer craft with which it’s been made. Pilot episodes have a lot of business to manage — establishing characters, locations, relationships and, most essentially, audience expectations — and the pilot for “Freaks and Geeks” efficiently, ingenuously outlines all of its core dynamics in its long opening shot.

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