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Judd Apatow has delivered some of the most commercially successful comedy movies, launching the careers of several popular actors. However, Apatow’s attempt to produce a television comedy in the late 1990s resulted inFreaks and Geeks, a cult classic sitcom that initially failed to find an audience and was canceled too soon.
Apatow produced the short-lived seriesFreaks and Geekswhich ran for just one season. Over the years, the series has gained a cult following, raising questions over a possible return with a second season. During an interview, Apatow firmly rejected the possibility of reviving the series after almost two decades, and here is why.
Judd Apatow Shut the Door on Ever MakingFreaks and GeeksSeason 2
Judd Apatowserved as a producer on the period comedy-drama seriesFreaks and Geeks, created by Paul Feig. It explored the complexities of teenage life from the perspective of a brother-sister duo and their friends. However, the series was canceled after just one season.
In an interview withEntertainment Weekly, Apatow confirmed that there was an offer to revive the series, which had gained a cult following since its initial run and cancellation. Apatow admitted thatit wasn’t a hard call for himand Feig to turn down the offer, stating:
The idea of having it return in some substandard way was too scary.
Apatow explained that despite just having eighteen episodes in its first and only outing, the series was a creative miracle with everything falling into place.
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TheThis Is 40director added that recreating a similar output would be nearly impossible, especially since the first attempt was an organic effort right from the writing to the execution.
If we did anything else, it would probably be way worse than what he just accomplished.
Apatow made the above comment, implying that the creative team was almost unsure of everything they did right that made the first season such a powerful and emotional experience. Therefore, Apatow made it very clear that he did not want to tarnish the show’s legacy.
Judd Apatow Discussed the Legacy ofFreaks and Geeks
In the same interview, Apatow also reflected on the show’s legacy and the popularity it had gained in the two decades since it had gone off the air. Apatow stated that when the series was canceled after just one season, he tried to rationalizeits lack of mainstream successas follows:
I always hoped that it would be like some independent rock album a certain group of people liked a lot.
Furthermore, Apatow credited the show’s resurgence to the streaming and broadcast reruns, but also thanked fans for buying the DVDs back in the day when there were no other avenues to watch it.
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Freaks and Geekslaunched the careers of actors like James Franco,Seth Rogen, andJason Segel, with the latter two collaborating with Apatow on several film projects over the years. As a result, it is safe to say that the show’s true legacy lies in the talent it helped uncover.
Freaks and Geeksis streaming on Pluto TV and Hulu.
Pratik Handore
Content Writer
Articles Published :1774
With a keen interest in comic book movies and blockbuster franchises, Pratik usually covers news and updates on the DCU, MCU, Star Wars, and more.A die-hard fan of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, Pratik spends most of his time exploring different storytelling mediums that invoke a sense of wonder and adventure. Other filmmakers whose works have deeply influenced him include Alfred Hitchcock, James Gunn, and Guillermo del Toro.
