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Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series - Collector's Edition
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray A - America - Shout! Factory Review written by and copyright: Anthony Arrigo (18th July 2016). |
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The Show
 McKinley High. 1980. Chippewa, MI. This is the setting for one of television’s greatest offerings; a series cut short due to the capricious whims of network executives who refused to grant additional time for a larger audience to be found. “Freaks and Geeks” (1999-2000) may have lasted a mere single season, spanning eighteen episodes, but its impact on pop culture and children of that bygone era still reverberates to this day. While it could be argued the show itself had only a minor impact on the early millennial zeitgeist, the litany of actors that emerged from this wellspring of future talent can’t be argued – Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, Paul Feig, Judd Apatow… the list goes on. It maybe doesn’t go on to list more household names, but suffice it to say the talent employed here is an embarrassment of riches. The show has a strong and very dedicated fan base, one that has likely purchased previous editions of the complete series on home video and will already have this gorgeous hi-def release in their mitts at the time of this writing. For the uninitiated and curious, allow me to provide a cursory overview of the show’s premise… The main focus of the show is on the Weir siblings, Lindsay (Linda Cardellini) and Sam (John Francis Daley), as they deal with the daily rigors of high school life. Lindsay is a former good girl trying to go bad for reasons that are unclear (read: being a teenager), and she’s started to hang out with the “freak” crowd that consists of Daniel Desario (James Franco), Ken Miller (Seth Rogen), Nick Andopolis (Jason Segel), and Kim Kelly (Busy Philipps). Sam, meanwhile, belongs to a group on the opposite end of the spectrum: the "geeks". He’s constantly flocked by his two nerdy friends Neal Schweiber (Samm Levine) and Bill Haverchuck (Martin Starr). As anyone will remember, life in high school isn’t easy. Sure, with the benefit of hindsight it can be easy to find the accomplishments, friendships and value of those four years to be rosier than they seemed at the time, but when you’re mired in the thick of math tests, bullies, overbearing school administrators, dating and daily turmoil it can feel like the entire weight of the world is trying to crush you into oblivion. “Freaks and Geeks” excels at capturing the essence of those trials and tribulations, allowing viewers to vicariously experience high school all over again through the prism of these distinct characters. There are myriad plot threads running throughout the series but the core focus tends to be on Lindsay’s struggle to find her place among new friends, while on Sam’s side of the world his constant struggle is trying to bag a date with Cindy Sanders (Natasha Melnick), the “hottest girl in school” (who isn’t really all that hot). Woven among these stories are a multitude of characters almost too numerous to mention, though cast highlights include Mr. Rosso (Dave “Gruber” Allen), the school guidance counselor, Mr. Kowchevski (Steve Bannos), the no b.s. math teacher, Mr. Fredricks (Tom Wilson), the gym teacher, and the Weir parents, Jean (Becky Ann Baker) and Harold (Joe Flaherty), who are excellent as the parental unit that keeps both Lindsay and Sam grounded while also helping to navigate them through life. As much as I love this show and its universe, there are still some issues I have with the direction it takes at times. For one thing, aside from the stereotypical “teenage rebellion” reasoning there seems to be no good excuse for why Lindsay wants to hang with the burnout crowd. She doesn’t have much of an “in” with the group, and all they do is ruin her life without adding anything of value. Lindsay is the smartest girl in school, with more opportunities than anyone else, yet she continually decides to throw away her good fortune in an effort to look like she belongs with her loser friends. I can relate to the struggle of trying to fit in during a time when everything in life is constantly changing, but why Lindsay chooses to go from one extreme to the other is a little puzzling. The show also seems to be afraid to commit to allowing characters to undergo true changes. One episode has Lindsay getting back to her “mathlete” ways, rekindling her relationship with former bestie Millie (Sarah Hagan) and diving back into the smart kid crowd, while the “freaks” take Lindsay’s lead and look to turn their own lives around. But, of course, by the end of the episode everyone is more or less right back where they started. I wanted to see some real growth out of these characters, something that sticks, but in the world of scripted television things usually stay the same because consistency is king. But these are minor issues. Few shows present a world in which I want to live, and “Freaks and Geeks” is absolutely one of them. The characters have depth, you feel for them and empathize, and the universe that Apatow and Feig have created is as believable as it needs to be. One nice touch I love: band shirts. Many characters wear band shirts and every single one is appropriate to the period. You aren’t going to see any anachronistic promotion here. It can be (relatively) easy to set a show in a certain era, but little flourishes such as that can make all the difference. There are good shows, there are great shows, and then there are those once-in-a-lifetime shows that bear repeat yearly viewing; those you just can’t watch enough. This is one of those rare shows. The complete series set features all eighteen episodes in chronological order, and for the first time they’re shown in widescreen format (more on that later). The episode listings are as follows: “Pilot” - A group of high school students in 1980 faces various social struggles. Wealthy "brain" Lindsay wants to rebel. Her geeky freshman brother Sam and his two friends are targeted by a bully. “Beers and Weirs” – When Mr. & Mrs. Weir go out of town for the weekend, Lindsey hosts a keg party. Sam, Bill, and Neal, worried that the partygoers will get too rowdy, substitute a keg of non-alcoholic beer for the one the freaks have on ice. “Tricks and Treats” – Halloween doesn't go as expected for Sam, Lindsey, or their parents. “Kim Kelly is my Friend” – Kim befriends Lindsay for ulterior motives, while Sam is bullied unmercifully by Karen Scarfolli (Rashida Jones), whose locker is next to his. “Tests and Breasts” - Daniel cons Lindsay into helping him pass an algebra test, while Sam and his pals try to figure out the basics of human sexuality. “I’m with the Band” - Lindsay encourages Nick to pursue a career in music. Nick continues to practice with his current band, but quickly decides he's better than them. Lindsay encourages Nick to audition for a bigger local band. When things don't go well in the audition, Lindsay is there to comfort Nick. Sam, Bill, and Neal struggle with having to shower in gym class. “Carded and Discarded” - Sam, Neal, and Bill befriend a pretty new transfer student, but soon fear of losing her to the popular crowd and try to win her over with a series of fun things they plan for her. Lindsay, Nick, Daniel, and Ken decide to get fake IDs so they can see a hot local band perform at a bar. However, after they go through the trouble of getting their IDs and going into the bar, the group is stunned to find out who the hot local bands lead singer is. “Girlfriends and Boyfriends” - Lindsay and Nick get more serious, and her parents give unwanted advice. Sam joins the yearbook staff to get closer to Cindy, who thinks of him only as a friend. “We’ve Got Spirit” - Sam tries out to be the school mascot hoping to impress Cindy. Meanwhile, Daniel, Ken, and Kim suddenly become the basketball team's most rabid fans following a series of run-ins with jocks from the rival school, Lincoln High. Lindsay tries to figure out the best way to break up with Nick. “The Diary” - Lindsay's parents are convinced Kim is leading their daughter down a path toward drugs and sex, so they consider taking a peek in her diary. Meanwhile, Bill is tired of the same jocks picking the teams during P.E., often leaving him picked last, so he makes prank calls to Coach Fredricks then confronts him directly. The adults may be the ones learning lessons from the students. “Looks and Books” - A car accident results in Lindsay deciding to stop hanging out with her "freak" friends. She decides to rejoin the mathletes and start hanging out with Millie again. Sam adopts a new modern hairstyle in the hopes of impressing Cindy. When this fails, he seeks out a new wardrobe. “The Garage Door” - Neal learns his father is cheating on his mother. Ken develops a crush on the tuba player in the school's marching band and Lindsay helps set them up. “Chokin’ and Tokin’” - When Bill talks about being allergic to peanuts in class, Alan tries to prove he's lying but Bill ends up in the hospital after an allergic reaction. Lindsay smokes weed for the first time. “Dead Dogs and Gym Teachers” - Lindsay tries to convince Harold to let her join her friends at a Who concert. Kim and Lindsay accidentally run over Millie's dog. Kim starts hanging out with Millie. Lindsay wants to tell Millie the truth about her dog, but Kim does not. Meanwhile, Nick teaches himself to play guitar and writes a love ballad for Lindsay. Ms. Haverchuck stuns Bill with the news that she has been dating Coach Fredricks. “Noshing and Moshing” - Neal wrestles with the dilemma of whether to tell his mother about his father's affair. Lindsay is given detention after coming to the aid of a girl being attacked by a boy. Daniel deals with pressures at home and with Kim. He escapes from his problems through punk music. “Smooching and Mooching” - Nick stays with the Weirs while he's on the outs with his dad, and the geeks go to a make-out party. “The Little Things” - As McKinley High prepares for a visit from Vice President Bush, Ken and Sam must sort out conflicted feelings in their love lives. “Discos and Dragons” - Nick explores disco, Lindsay listens to the Grateful Dead, and Daniel tries something new. What's cool? Friendship.
Video
Originally broadcast at a ratio of 1.33:1, “Freaks & Geeks” was actually shot on Super 35 meaning a widescreen presentation is possible without compromising the integrity of the image. And that is exactly what Shout! Factory has done here, opening up the frame and presenting the show with a 1.78:1 1080p 24/fps AVC MPEG-4 encode. How are the results? A-ma-zing! The original camera negatives were scanned at a resolution of 4K, with extensive cleanup work done on every episode. The booklet included with the set illuminates the process a bit more: “Freaks and Geeks” was done in the heyday of standard def, shot on 35mm film and then transferred and finished on video. HD masters of the show never existed. . .(W)e had the chance to go back (to) the original camera negative, clean it up, and preserve it. . .The good people at Illuminate Hollywood went back to the film masters and made 4K scans of the entire series. And there was a ton of footage. They said some episodes shot as much as a feature length production. To faithfully recreate the series from the 4K scans, Illuminate used a tool called iConform to perfectly match every shot, take and synch to the original and made that sure each one looks exactly as it did when it aired for the first time on TV. That means they painstakingly recreated all original artwork, fonts, titles, dissolves, transitions, speed changes, and visual effects to match the original NTSC masters. We took nearly 1 petabyte worth of digital files, removed all the dirt and scratches, and color graded the whole thing to take advantage of the original film quality. And all of this was done under the watchful eye of series cinematographer Russ T. Alsobrook. And then series creator Paul Feig noticed something: even though the show was framed by 4x3 TVs, the full 1.78:1 image that was originally shot looked great. . .so in addition to the 4x3 transfers, we decided to give you 33% more “Freaks and Geeks” on screen—what the camera actually shot, rather than what was later framed for TV—all in crystal clear high def from a 4K scan. I found the new widescreen presentation to be revelatory. The image shines like never before, looking more on par with a feature film broken up into smaller pieces than a television show from the turn of the millennium. The clarity is crystal clear, allowing every detail from the wider framing to come through splendidly. Colors are richly saturated, black levels are inky and deep, and grain is fine & mostly consistent. One minor caveat: the pilot episode was the only one shot 1.33:1, and a title card states that before the episode begins. Some of the framing does seem a little cramped at times, though it never looks too noticeable. I can’t imagine any important information has gone missing due to the re-framing. For the purists out there, the original 4x3 1.33:1 presentation is also included here, in a set identical to the widescreen version. After watching the new widescreen versions of the episodes I can’t imagine why anyone would go with the full-frame image. Not only does the widescreen picture look superior in every way, but it’s been officially endorsed and approved by the show’s creators.
Audio
As is the norm with nearly all Shout! releases, “Freaks and Geeks” scores an English DTS-HD Master Audio track with both 5.1 and 2.0 stereo options. Levels are outstanding across the board, with the show’s numerous source music cues sounding fantastic in lossless audio. The rear channels are used sparingly, providing only the faintest of ambiance, though. The multi-channel track does sound a bit fuller, but selecting the 2.0 option will provide no less a sonic experience. Subtitles are available in English.
Extras
This set is positively LOADED with bonus features, though owners of the previous home video editions will find only one new extra here: a lengthy conversation with Apatow and Feig held recently. Otherwise, expect to find all of the previously available commentaries, deleted scenes, auditions, featurettes and more. DISC ONE: Audio commentaries are available for each episode, with a few getting multiple tracks: “Pilot” – track one features Judd Apatow, Paul Feig & Jake Kasdan; track two features “The Fans Meet Sam” with Michael “Humphries” Beardsley, Arnold “The Vegan” Freeman, Kibbles the Rocker (on phone), and Samm Levine. “Beers and Weirds” – track one features Judd Apatow, Linda Cardellini, Paul Feig, Jake Kasdan, Jason Segel, and writer J. Elvis Weinstein; track two features “The Parents” with Bob Daley (John Francis Daley’s father), Debbie Hagan (Sarah Hagan’s mother), and Jean St. James (Martin Starr’s mother). “Tricks and Treats” with John Francis Daley, Paul Feig, Samm Levine, Stephen Lea Sheppard, and Martin Starr. “Kim Kelly is my Friend” – track one features Judd Apatow, director Lesli Linka Glatter, and writer Mike White; track two features “The Executives” with Justin Falvey (DreamWorks), Shelley McCrory (NBC), Dan McDermott (DreamWorks), and Judd Apatow. There are deleted scenes (SD) for each episode, with optional audio commentary from Judd Apatow, Martin Starr, and John Francis Daley: - “Pilot” runs for 4 minutes and 23 seconds. - “Beers and Weirs” runs for 5 minutes and 40 seconds. - “Tricks and Treats” runs for 5 minutes and 20 seconds. - “Kim Kelly is my Friend” runs for 2 minutes and 18 seconds. DISC TWO: Audio commentaries: “Tests & Breasts” – track one features Mr. Fredricks, Mr. Kowchevski, and Mr. Rosso (in character); track two features Judd Apatow and director Ken Kwapis. “I’m with the Band” – track one features Judd Apatow, Paul Feig, writer Jeff Judah, writer Gabe Sachs, and Jason Segel; track two features “The Production Team” with cinematographer Russ Alsobrook, Judd Apatow, gaffer Curtis Bradford, Paul Feig, producer Victor Hsu, costume designer Debra McGuire, and production designer Jeff Sage. “Carded and Discarded” with Judd Apatow, Linda Cardellini, Paul Feig, Joanna Garcia, Samm Levine, Seth Rogen, Mr. Rosso, and Jason Segel. “Girlfriends and Boyfriends” with Judd Apatow, Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, Paul Feig, Samm Levine, writer Patty Lin, and Jason Segel. There are deleted scenes (SD) for each episode, with optional audio commentary from Judd Apatow, Martin Starr, and John Francis Daley: - “Tests and Breasts” runs for 3 minutes and 58 seconds. - “I’m with the Band” runs for 6 minutes and 14 seconds. - “Carded and Discarded” runs for 4 minutes and 3 seconds. - “Girlfriends and Boyfriends” runs for 10 minutes and 16 seconds. DISC THREE: Audio commentaries: “We’ve Got Spirit” with “The Fans” featuring Geoff, Black, Tami Lefro, and Eric Williams. “The Diary” – track one features Judd Apatow, Paul Feig, and producer Rebecca Kirshner; track two features Judd Apatow, Becky Ann Baker, and Joe Flaherty. “Looks and Books” – track one features Judd Apatow, John Francis Daley, Paul Feig, Samm Levine, Natasha Melnick, Jerry Messing, and Stephen Lea Sheppard; track two features Paul Feig and director Ken Kwapis. “The Garage Door” – track one features Judd Apatow, John Francis Daley, Paul Feig, writer Jeff Judah, Sam McMurray, Seth Rogen, and writer Gabe Sachs; track two features Paul Feig, director Bryan Gordon, and Samm Levine. “Chokin’ and Tokin’” with Judd Apatow, director Miguel Arteta, Sarah Hagan, Seth Rogen, and Martin Starr. There are deleted scenes (SD) for each episode, with optional audio commentary from Judd Apatow, Martin Starr, and John Francis Daley: - “We’ve Got Spirit” runs for 8 minutes and 12 seconds. - “The Diary” runs for 12 minutes and 53 seconds. - “Looks and Books” runs for 5 minutes and 58 seconds. - “The Garage Door” runs for 2 minutes and 58 seconds. - “Chokin’ and Tokin’” runs for 8 minutes and 51 seconds. DISC FOUR: Audio commentaries: “Dead Dogs and Gym Teachers” with Judd Apatow, Claudia Christian, Sarah Hagan, producer Bob Nickman, Busy Philipps, Seth Rogen, Martin Starr, and Tom Wilson. “Noshing and Moshing” – track one features Judd Apatow and James Franco; track two features Michael Andrews and Jake Kasdan. “Smooching and Mooching” – track one features John Francis Daley, Paul Feig, Samm Levine, Natasha Melnick, Jerry Messing, Stephen Lea Sheppard, and Martin Starr; track two features “The Girls” with Linda Cardellini, Joanna Garcia, Natasha Melnick, and Sarah Hagan. “The Little Things” with Judd Apatow, Jake Kasdan, Seth Rogen, and writer Mike White. “Discos and Dragons” with Judd Apatow, Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, Paul Feig, Samm Levine, Stephen Lea Sheppard, and Jason Segel. There are deleted scenes (SD) for each episode, with optional audio commentary from Judd Apatow, Martin Starr, and John Francis Daley: - “Dead Dogs and Gym Teachers” runs for 4 minutes and 5 seconds. - “Noshing and Moshing” runs for 2 minutes and 22 seconds. - “Smooching and Mooching” runs for 7 minutes and 48 seconds. - “The Little Things” runs for 6 minutes and 10 seconds. - “Discos and Dragons” runs for 5 minutes and 12 seconds. BONUS DISC: “A Conversation with Paul Feig and Judd Apatow” (1080p) is an interview that runs for 45 minutes and 59 seconds. Moderated by Los Angeles Times critic Robert Lloyd, this interview takes a retrospective look at the series and examines its legacy and lasting impact. “Paley Center Q&A” (SD) is an interview that runs for 72 minutes and 11 seconds. This features many of the show’s cast members discussing their respective roles on the show. Table reading (SD) features the cast going over the following episodes: - “Kim Kelly is my Friend” runs for 49 minutes and 38 seconds. - “I’m with the Band” runs for 47 minutes and 16 seconds. - “Girlfriends and Boyfriends” runs for 51 minutes and 45 seconds. There are additional deleted scenes (SD), with optional audio commentary by Sam Weir and Bill Haverchuck (in character), which runs for 9 minutes and 4 seconds. Numerous cast auditions (SD) are included for the following: - “Main Cast” runs for 12 minutes and 16 seconds. - “The Freaks” runs for 7 minutes and 37 seconds. - “The Geeks” runs for 6 minutes and 54 seconds. - “Students of McKinley High” runs for 8 minutes and 57 seconds. - “Freaks and Geeks Alternate Universe” runs for 11 minutes and 37 seconds. - “The Authority Figures” runs for 11 minutes and 45 seconds. “Long Live Rock” (SD) is a featurette that runs for 7 minutes and 41 seconds, featuring some of the show’s musical pieces. “Sober Students Improv Players” (SD) is a featurette that runs for 5 minutes and 4 seconds, featuring a brief presentation from the students. “Tales of the Secret Service” (SD) is a featurette that runs for 7 minutes and 19 seconds, this is some additional footage with Ben Stiller’s one-off character. “Behind the Scenes” (SD) is a featurette that runs for 18 minutes and 32 seconds, offering up candid footage from the set. “Smorgasbord” (SD) footage contains a number of odds and ends related to the show: - “Raw Footage” runs for 27 minutes and 1 second. - “Odds and Sods” runs for 26 minutes and 3 seconds. - “NBC Promos” runs for 27 minutes and 58 seconds. - “Bloopers” runs for 5 minutes and 28 seconds. - “Seven Minutes in Heaven” runs for 1 minute and 51 seconds. - “Graduation” runs for 2 minutes and 33 seconds. - “Extras Goodies” runs for 14 minutes and 46 seconds. - “Thanks, Goodbye” runs for 2 minutes and 50 seconds.
Packaging
Included within the sturdy, side-loading slip-case are two Vortex keep cases – one for the widescreen format, the other for full-frame - each slightly thicker than a standard Blu-ray case. Contained within those cases are the four discs, with two on a secured swinging hub. A bonus disc is included in a slim case. There is also a thick booklet filled with episode information, quotes, technical specs, photos and much more.
Overall
This show is awesome. This set is awesome. The a/v quality is awesome. Everything here is absolutely 100% awesome. Highly recommended.
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