Although Freaks and Geeks met an early demise, series executive producer Judd Apatow made it his mission to see the series’ young cast succeed. According to the new book by Thea Glassman Freaks, Gleeks, and Dawson’s Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television (via IndieWire), actor Jason Segel, who starred in the cult classic series as Nick Andopolis, says Apatow embarked on “a ‘Count of Monte Cristo’–style revenge mission” to make everyone in the cast a star. Apatow worked on his mission by including cast members in future projects.
Freaks and Geeks debuted on NBC in 1999, but was set in the 1980 to 1981 high school year, and followed Lindsay Weir (Linda Cardellini) and her brother Sam (John Francis Daley) as they navigated high school. Lindsay befriends a group of freaks, portrayed by Segel, James Franco, Seth Rogen and Busy Philipps, while younger brother Sam is part of the geek group, portrayed by Samm Levine and Martin Starr. Freaks and Geeks didn’t do well when it aired, and was canceled during its first season. Post cancelation, though, the series gained popularity and is now considered a cult classic.
Apatow’s collaborations with the cast include projects like The Five Year Engagement and Forgetting Sarah Marshall with Segel, Knocked Up with Segel, Rogen and Starr, and Pineapple Express with Rogen and Franco, among others.
Related: How John Francis Daley Went From Being a Freak & Geek to Directing Dungeons & Dragons
What the Freaks and Geeks Cast Went on To Do
Paramount
Apatow’s plan seemed to work as the Freaks and Geeks cast has gone on to do some impressive work.
Before being hit with sexual misconduct allegations, Franco was succeeding in Hollywood as a diverse actor tackling roles in a variety of genres. He starred in films like Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, Milk, Spring Breakers, and The Disaster Artist (which earned him a Golden Globe Award), and was nominated for on Oscar for his work on 127 Hours. He is next scheduled to appear in The Long Home, which he is also directing.
Cardellini is best known for her roles in ER, Bloodline, and Netflix’s Dead to Me. For her work on the latter, she earned an Emmy Award nomination.
Rogen has appeared in a number of comedy films including This is the End (which he also directed), Neighbors and its sequel, and The Disaster Artist, and in dramas like Take This Waltz, Steve Jobs, and The Fabelmans. He recently starred in the FX on Hulu miniseries Pam & Tommy, earning Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his work on the series. Off-screen, he has served as a writer, executive producer and director for multiple projects.
Segel is known for starring in How I Met Your Mother, and films including Bad Teacher, The Muppets, and Sex Tape. He co-created the 2023 Apple TV+ series Shrinking, where he portrays a grieving therapist.
Following Freaks and Geeks, Philipps went on to appear in another popular teen drama, Dawson’s Creek. She later starred in ABC’s Cougar Town, and appeared in films like White Chicks, He’s Just Not That Into You, and I Feel Pretty.
Daley has taken his talents off-screen, serving as a co-writer on films including Horrible Bosses, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, and Spider-Man: Homecoming. He recently co-directed Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
Levine is best known for his portrayals of PFC Hirschberg in Inglourious Basterds and as Neal Schweiber on Freaks and Geeks.
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