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Summary: Freaks and Geeks sets a new standard for tv shows on DVD !!
Review: (...) In case you don't want to read the whole thing here are a few excerpts... With all the "Special," "Ultimate," "Extreme," and "Collector's" editions floating around out there, the world of DVD is no stranger to hyperbole. In this case, though, the hype fits the product. Not only does Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series deliver the full run of episodes as advertised, but it comes replete with a package of bonus materials that nearly eclipses the main feature. Packed with over 40 hours of special features, including commentaries, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, and audition tapes, about the only thing this six-disc set doesn't do is wash and wax your car. Let me be perfectly honest: I didn't make it through even half of the extra features on these discs. Otherwise, I'd still be writing this review in June. We're talking about two and a half straight days of viewing here, a cornucopia of extras that makes the Lord of the Rings extended sets look like Artisan catalog releases. Freaks and Geeks sets a new standard for television shows on DVD. I just got mime and it is AWESOME!
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Summary: Have a Haverchuck Day!
Review: As we inevitably get older, our adult responsibilities (jobs, bills, marrige, kids) become our main priorities in life. When this happens we seem to have a inner need to put on our nostalgic 'rose colored glasses' and say something like "these are the best years of your life" to the nearest teenager around. Most likely they are thinking "if that's true, then shoot me now"! The reason for this is that we seem to magically forget, that unless you were the Varsity football quaterback or the Head Cheerleader, being a teenager in high school pretty much su**ed! Thank goodness for the single 1999 season of a TV show called "Freaks and Geeks" (created by Paul Feig & Judd Apatrow) came out to hilariously remind us of the real truths of high school and to realistically protray the lives of teenagers. The series takes place in the early 1980s and revolves around the teenage lives of brother & sister, Sam and Lindsay Weir. Sam (John Francis) is just entering that black hole we now call high school. He's small and puny, loves "Star Wars", "Dugeons & Dragons", Steve Martin and hanging with his even 'geekier' friends Neal (Sam Levine) and Bill (Martin Starr). Just from that short description you know, that we are watching the hellish trials & tribulations of three guys, who are pretty much at the bottom of the high school 'food chain'. On the other side of the coin is Sam's older sister, Lindsay. Lindsay (Linda Cardellini) is super smart, a 'staight A' student (a former mathlete!!) and was an all around good kid, who stayed out of trouble. But with the recent death of her grandmother, she's now questioning and testing her life. That means wearing an oversized army jacket and hanging out with her new 'Freak' friends (we use to called them 'burnouts') that includes the misunderstood bad boy, Daniel (James Franco), funny man, Ken (Seth Rogan) Nick (Jason Segal), who lives to be the next drummer in the rock group 'Rush' and the original 'Mean Girl', Kim (Busy Phillips). You knew these guys in high school. They were the ones endlessly cutting class, blasting heavy metal in the parking lot and keeping the 'Boy's Bathroom' supplied with a huge concentration of cigerette smoke. We follow these two clicks of teenagers through the high school year as they (sometimes humorusly) confront the social stuff, that is so important in the lives of teenagers. I think the reason this show is so good is the pure excellence of the writing. This show honestly lays out the 'ins and outs' of high school life. It really shows the pecking order that exists. The dialogue is hilarious yet stays realistic. You can honestly believe its stuff, that would come out of the mouth of a teenager. This is not a rehashing of "Revenge of the Nerds". The characters remain real without being boring. The other reason this is such a great show is the all around excellence of the ensemble cast. They look and sound like real high school kids, not an over beautified cast of some prime time soap opera! This show was only (criminally) a single season with anemic ratings, but now is developing a cult-like following, that has made it more popular than when it was on the air (shades of 'Star Trek'!!). This has lead to the DVD box set release of "Freaks and Geeks - The Complete Series". If ever there is an example of care being put into releasing a TV series to DVD, than this is it. Kudos go out to Executive Producers Paul Feig & Jud Apatow along with the company, 'Shout Factory' for doing such a great job! The picture and sound are wonderful! The original soundtrack featuring name groups (including bands such as Rush, Styx, Grateful Dead, The Who ETC.) remains intact without editing. This DVD set is also loaded with tons of extras. All twenty-nine episodes include commentary tracks from various writers, producers and members of the cast. Also, each episode includes rare deleted scenes and outtakes (which also include commentaries). This simply is "Freaks & Geeks" heaven! If you already are a fan of "Freaks & Geeks" or if you would like to give a chance to a fantastically, funny show that wasn't given a fair chance from the TV networks, than check out this DVD box! Highly recommended!
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Summary: The best show that has ever been on television, period.
Review: Awesome, awesome, awesome. It was EXACTLY like being back to high school in the early 1980's (and I know 80's nostalgia... I've got Robotron and an Asteroids arcade game in my den). Beyond wonderful. A rare gift from network tv (which they promptly took away). Buy it, buy it, buy it. Now.
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Summary: Not for Dawson-lovers
Review: Before the dawn of the new millennium, two great, but misunderstood shows were facing the ax by network execs - this show and Sports Night. I mention the latter because it, too, has made its way onto DVD, to the delight of the cult audiences who mourned its loss on the battlefield of prime-time TV. The bummer is that Sports Night's package was nothing short of horrendous. Bad encoding and a complete lack of any features meant that fans could just be happy that it was on DVD at all. The exact opposite is the case with this package. Lovingly and beautifully packaged with tons of outtakes, deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes footage, not to mention dual commentaries on EVERY episode and an impressive accompanying booklet, THIS is how a DVD package for a beloved, if criminally short-lived show is done. If you're a fan of the show or know someone who is, I really can't think of anything they could find to complain about. The official site for the show offers an even more impressive set with two additional discs of material, but I'd reserve that for the hardcore cult members. You can't go wrong here. The transfer is beautiful, the soundtrack sounds excellent, and I've had the set over a week and I've barely scratched the surface of all the bonus features. Get it. Now. I will add that I while I usually find it pointless to critique the content of films, TV shows, whatever - because you either like them or you don't and nothing anyone says is gonna change that, I really never thought that this show was as polarizing as it appears to be. I've read some reviews where reviewers complain that "no one wants to relive high school" via a TV show. Aside from being a wholly ludicrous and untrue statement (the popularity of lesser shows such as Dawson's Creek and 90210 can attest to that), it just doesn't fly here. One doesn't "relive" that experience via a show like this. You relate to it, you laugh about it, and you sympathize with the characters who are still going through it, all in a totally romantic setting which, while pretty accurately depicted, just isn't real. This show isn't nearly as dark and dreary as some may claim, and nearly every episode has the nice "happy ending" boy tied around it. And the concerns that this show may be sending negative messages to children? Well, first of all, this ain't a kids show. You can tell by how it aired at night and not on Saturday mornings. Secondly, I can think of many positive messages presented in nearly every episode. And third, if you're relying on this show - or ANY show - to send your kids messages? Please stop writing reviews and go and spend some time with your child, pronto. And the argument that shows which face early cancellation do so because of a lack of quality is another inane argument which can be countered by noting other great shows (Family Guy, Sports Night and Firefly, just to name a few) which met the same fate. That's like arguing that the reason Britney Spears outsells Modest Mouse has everything to do with quality and nothing to do with marketing. Aside from NBC's inability to promote this show to its typical, vanilla, middle-aged ER crowd, they placed it on Saturday nights when no one was home to see it. The bottom line is that it's out on DVD and presented in this amazing package because there's a demand. People are going to shell out the cash because it truly is that great. If you're not relating to this show, you're neither a "freak," nor a "geek," and the title should indicate that this show probably isn't for you. Don't worry. I hear that Dawson's Creek is also out on DVD, so that's probably more up your alley.
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Summary: everything smart gets cancelled....
Review: Crap like Beverly Hills 90210 stays on the air until the kids are old enough to have wrinkles, but this sweet gem of a show goes off the air after 18 episodes. Well, what can one expect in a world where people watch Fear Factor?
Freaks and Geeks is about what high school was like for 90% of people, not the 10% that are portrayed on television, on shows like the O.C. Whenever I watch it, it brings back memories of so many situations I went through. I wasn't even able to watch it when it was on the first time around, because it hit too close to home. Now I am a little older, and can laugh. Of course, I still get flashbacks.
Anyway, if you have a sense of humor, and counted down the minutes until high school was over and real life could start, this is show for you. If you liked high school, go watch the O.C.
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Summary: It's official, Freaks and Geeks to be released on DVD!
Review: Finally, the ultimate TV high school comedy/drama will be released with all of it's original music and dialogue in tact. Easily the best show of the 1999/2000 television season, this barely seen 18 episode collection of phenominal writing, perfect casting, and extraordinary acting by a largely unknown (at the time) cast will have you rolling on the floor laughing one minute and crying like a baby the next. I can't do it justice myself just by writing about it, you really have to experience the show to appreciate all of the hard work and love the cast and crew put into every single minute of this gem. Just the fact that the cast has been in such demand and has gone on to so many bigger projects since this show's premature cancelation (James Franco -"Spiderman", Linda Cardellini - "Scooby Doo" "ER", John Daley "Boston Public", Busy Philipps - "Dawson's Creek" etc.) should tell you something about the caliber of all of the actors in this show. A truly fantastic television program that will be appreciated by anyone who went to high school and at the same time tried to figure out how to be a teenager. Don't even get me started on the unbelievable soundtrack! Absolutely the best of the best.
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Summary: Freaks and Geeks DISC 1 REVIEW. Stunning!!!
Review: Freaks and Geeks Disc 1 Review. I have just finished watching the promotional DVD of Disc 1. As a big fan of the show when it aired I was thrilled when I heard it was finally coming to DVD, but very apprehensive about what the DVD's themselves would look like, especially after being let down so often by other companies TV shows on DVD.
I would have settled for decent video and audio transfers and a few extras, but this disc is something else.
It's INCREDIBLE!!! The video quality is amazing.
The bit rate on every episode averages 7 Mbps!
I have never seen anything close to that for a TV show before.
I read somewhere that the people who author the "Lord Of The Rings" DVD's also did these, and it really shows. The original stereo mix and a 5.1 mix sound fantastic and the extras couldn't be better. There are ... Multiple deleted scenes (with or without commentary by Judd Apatow, John Daley and Martin Starr) for each episode. 5 Commentaries (2 each for the "Pilot" and "Beers and Weirs" and one on "Tricks and Treats") 2 Auditions (Linda Cardellini & Jason Segel) A "Behind the Scenes" piece Original Promotional Ad's used by NBC And this is only Disc 1. However, the best part IMO, are the menus. There are 16 menus on this disc and each one completely different. Each has its own piece of music from the show and most have dialog from the show itself. If there are any DVD producers reading, this release will hopefully set the standard for what a TV show on DVD should be. If they give out awards for DVD's expect to see this win a few. It's absolutely amazing.
For those of you that have never seen the show read some of the other comments that testify to it brilliance. It's the best blind buy you'll ever make.
I'm going to see if I can still get my order in for the Limited Edition set!
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Summary: Setting The Bar High
Review: Freaks and Geeks was a realistic TV series that was never given a fair chance to catch on with audiences. Taken off the air for weeks at a time by NBC, the show struggled to bust out. Viewers who did tune in were delighted to find a gem of a program. The show featured talented young actors, exceptional writing, original period music and a realistic portrayal of teenagers unheard of on broadcast television. Unfortunately, dismal ratings condemned the show and it was canceled after only 18 episodes. Fans of the show, however, did not give up hope. Five years later the creators of Freaks and Geeks have finally released this excellent series on DVD. The delay in the DVD release can be attributed more to the difficulty in obtaining licensing rights for all of the original music that appears throughout the series. This alone was a monumental task. Think of this box set as eighteen one hour movies. Each episode exploring a different facet of teenage experience. Whether it's dating, bullies, new friends or unlikeable teachers, viewers will laugh and cry as they delve into the lives of ordinary kids, who like most of us, were just trying to get by in high school. The DVD set is certainly a labor of love from those who worked on the series. Their passion for this show is quite evident. I would be very surprised if this DVD does not win an industry award for its packaging and content. The discs are loaded with so much material that it will literally take you weeks to view all of it. It's difficult for me to compare this series to anything similar that's been made for TV because there's nothing out there that has been better. However, if you're a fan of such teen angst films like 'Over the Edge', 'Dazed and Confused', 'Suburbia' or 'Thirteen', then definitely pick up this box set. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed. It's that good.
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Summary: Sometimes the underdogs win
Review: Freaks and Geeks, one of the best shows ever presented on television, is now available in a DVD package which sets a quality standard that will probably never be beat. There are hours of extras (including great deleted scenes and commentary tracks for every episode), and everyone involved in this effort should be congratulated. The show didn't last a full season on NBC and efforts to get another network to renew the series failed. This generally means total oblivion, but too many people cared about this show to let it disappear entirely. This DVD package represents a true victory (appropriate for a show about the underdogs of high school) and shows that quality will find an outlet if enough people appreciate it. Freaks and Geeks presents the first truly accurate depiction of teenagers as I remember them from my own high school experience. The show is basically a complete 18 episode miniseries that chronicles one year (1980-81) at a Michigan high school. The perfect balance of comedy and serious moments gives a sense of watching real life rather than a TV show. Although the show has special relevance for my generation (I graduated in 1982), anyone who watches this show will see aspects of people they knew in high school. The actors and writers deserve a lot of credit for creating complex, nuanced characters. Anyone who remembers feeling awkward around the opposite sex, being made fun of by other kids, or feeling like an outcast can relate to the characters in this show. The show's message is that no matter how people are labeled, they remain individuals who can still surprise you. I never thought I would find myself sympathizing with the "Freak" crowd (which I pretty much avoided in high school), but this show demonstrates that everyone can be potentially sympathetic once you get to know them and find out what their life is really like. I became hooked on Freaks and Geeks in the first 5 minutes of the original airing of the pilot episode; its cancellation a mere 6 months later was a stunning blow, but not a big surprise. The show was simply too honest for most viewers in its portrayal of teenagers as most often clueless and never knowing the right things to say or do (even the smart ones). Most teenagers would rather see themselves as ultra-hip, sexy, mature and spouting post-graduate level dialogue as portrayed in popular fantasies such as Dawson's Creek and 90210. As for adults, many prefer not to relive their high school years, and some may have been turned off by the show's title, especially if they never thought of themselves as either a "Freak" or a "Geek". It's one of the very few shows I've seen that has perfect casting; the only other show that immediately comes to mind is Northern Exposure. Both shows have a diverse cast of quirky yet appealing and believable characters such that every new episode seemed like a reunion with old friends. Freaks and Geeks also contains a coming-of-age story and nostalgia for the past (the soundtrack filled with 70's rock hits is great) that is reminiscent of The Wonder Years. Unlike the Wonder Years (which was a good show in its early years), Freaks and Geeks never became formulaic or predictable. Although the entire cast is terrific, my favorite characters are Nick Andopolis (played by Jason Segel) and Bill Haverchuck(played by Martin Starr). Nick is a stoner freak with potential (if he could just get his act together), and Bill is a kind-hearted geek who takes the daily humiliations of high school in stride with a little help from his friends. This description does not do justice to the nuanced performances that make these characters so memorable. They manage to be both hilarious and poignant at the same time, and you constantly find yourself rooting for them and all the other characters throughout their trials and tribulations. Fortunately, the producers saw the cancellation coming. They prepared a perfect final episode that brings a nice sense of closure to the series, leaving many characters changed considerably from where they started at the beginning of the school year. I could go on, but I can't think of anything else to say that others haven't said already. If you like quality television, buy this DVD!
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Summary: Buy it NOW!
Review: Good god this show and DVD is amazing. The DVD is so well put together, and it exceeded my expectations for an already incredible show. If you've never seen or even heard of the show, I still highly recommend buying this. If you enjoy just plain great writing, then buy this, sit down and watch the entire series, and I guarantee you will be an instant fan.
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