Judd Apatow, the creator of Freaks and Geeks, has revealed that he rejected a deal for a second season. He said he had to make a difficult decision because it “wasn’t right” for him or his team. The show followed high school students in 1980s America as they navigate life during their last year before college.
The show’s stars included Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, and Linda Cardellini. It aired on NBC from 1999 to 2000 but was canceled after just 18 episodes. However, the short-lived series has had a lasting legacy among fans of TV comedy for its strong characters and realistic depiction of high school life. Apatow explained that he “just couldn’t see [himself] sitting in my office writing another season.”
The real world came calling with opportunities too good to pass up: directing big-budget movies like Bridesmaids (2011) and The 40-Year Old Virgin (2005) or producing sitcom hits like Girls and Love… Plus it became clear that some of the people who worked on Freaks & Geeks were not going to be available for a second season.
The show’s legacy lives on and the original episodes continue to air in syndication around the world, with Apatow occasionally screening them at film festivals or special events as part of his ‘Apatow Down Under’ tour. “I can’t think of it without getting choked up,” he says now.” This is why we’re all proud that Freaks & Geeks was made by adults who knew what they wanted to do and weren’t afraid of being honest about adolescence.”
Why did Judd Apatow Reject Freaks and Geeks Season 2 Offer?
I think Judd Apatow rejected the Freaks and Geeks Season two offer because the show was not in his interest. It’s also an unusual hybrid: It wants to be both comedy and drama.” He observed that while Apatow occasionally found humor in awkward situations, he usually seemed most interested in exploring how people react when they’re confronted by something unpleasant or confusing. “The A.V. Club was less enthusiastic about the second season of Freaks & Geeks than he was about the first, writing that some episodes are excellent while others will be skipped over by all but hardcore fans or people who have spent a long time watching television”
There are many things you may already know about director/producer Judd Apatow who has been making waves in Hollywood over recent years, but what you might not have known is how close he came to turning down an offer by NBC before his career took off.
Freaks & Geeks was a show that tells the story of two groups of high school kids, one set being popular and cool while the other is made up of complete nerds or freaks (hence its title). The show only had 18 episodes but managed to leave such an impression on viewers that it has become something of a cult classic – with many people considering season two as their favorite over season one. Judd Apatow loved what he created so much that after NBC canceled the show in 2000, he turned down an offer for them to revive it because at this point his career was really taking off.
Freaks And Geeks Season One Reviews:
The New York Times called Freaks & Geeks “a real breakthrough” … Entertainment Weekly said Fox had created “…the freshest comedy since Seinfeld.” … Rolling Stone magazine called it “the most natural, real high school series ever created”
Entertainment Weekly said Fox had created “…the freshest comedy since Seinfeld.” Rolling Stone magazine called it “the most natural, real high school series ever created” Freaks And Geeks Season Two Reviews:
The A.V. Club’s Zack Handlen was less enthusiastic about the second season of Freaks & Geeks than he was about the first, writing that some episodes are excellent while others will be skipped over by all but hardcore fans or people who have spent a long time watching television. He did say that Apatow and his team were still producing comics material for an hour-long TV show when other programs were settling for less.
Steve Johnson from the Chicago Tribune wrote that “Freaks and Geeks is a good show with some brilliantly funny moments, but it’s also an unusual hybrid: It wants to be both comedy and drama.” He observed that while Apatow occasionally found humor in awkward situations, he usually seemed most interested in exploring how people react when they’re confronted by something unpleasant or confusing. The A.V. Club was less enthusiastic about the second season of Freaks & Geeks than he was about the first, writing that some episodes are excellent while others will be skipped over by all but hardcore fans or people who have spent a long time watching television
