[The Jewish Cunthead]

This is a great 1st round matchup, too bad only one can move on.

(23)Freaks & Geeks


vs.

(42)Family Ties


Voting ends Tuesday 10/30

[williamssl]

Alex P. Keaton is a great conservative. But even I know that Freaks and Geeks is much better. Look at that cast. They started here. And the show was great to boot.

[Lucky]

I'm looking at that cast. Am I supposed to recognize any of it? I vaguely recall that guy on the far left although I can't recall who he is and that dude on the far right I think is some dork from films who I don't care for.

Is this like vote trading or something? Am I the only person on this board who never watched that show?

Also, for the record, I'd like to point out that despite the horror of '80s fashion and the ridiculous hairstyles of the time Justine Bateman stands as evidence that they weren't all stupid and some of them could look hot and be sane.

[Batman]

I'll get around to watching Freaks & Geeks one of these days, and I imagine I'll probably like it a lot. But I'm with Lucky--look at that cast? Who?

[Lucky]

The guy on the left is Harry Osborne from the Spider-Man movies. I've figured that out. And is that chubbier guy next to him Seth Rogan? Otherwise, I got nothing. Seth Rogan and Harry Osborne? That's supposed to impress me?

And yeah, I'll watch the show eventually I think and I get the impression I'll enjoy it. But I'm glad to know I'm not the only one here who never has.

[DevSop]

Seth Rogan is the big guy, John Francis Daley is the main geek, Linda Cardellini is the sister and the one who went from geek to freak, Busy Phillips is the blonde chick. It's basically the Knocked Up/SuperBad crew in their first roles.

[Batman]

Again--Who?

[Lucky]

Yeah, I've never heard of Linda Cardellini or John Francis Daley and it doesn't seem that I've seen them in anything worth remembering.

Never seen Knocked Up or SuperBad and found 40 Year Old Virgin funny but overrated. Either way is "LOOK AT THAT CAST!" really a proper argument for the show when its a bunch of relatively unknown people who had had some very recent success together without becoming stars of their own? Shouldn't the argument be "This show basically became these recently popular comedies"?

I'm not knocking. I liked Virgin and will get around to seeing the other 2 in time. And I'll get around to seeing the show. I'm just saying, that cast is NOT notable as best as I can tell. If that list is what it is then yeah. I stand by the opinion that John Francis Daley and Linda Cartellini are not notable.

EDIT: I DO know Busy Phillips. I do recognize Harry Osborn. I do recognize that geek on the far right. I would not use any of them as evidence of quality. Rogan is mildly amusing in the 1 thing I've seen him in.

[DevSop]

Linda Cardellini is currently on ER and she was Velma in the recent Scooby Doo movies. John Francis Daley is currently on Bones and he was the new waiter in Waiting...that completely obliterates Dane Cook in the last scene.

But it's really not a publically popular cast...yet. I hate comparing things but the Freaks & Geeks cast could be compared to the Stiller/Vaughn/Wilson comedy connection in that the same people will almost always be recognizable in the movies. 3 of the Freaks cast were in Knocked Up. They've all done guest/recurring roles on each other's shows. Just very recognizable if you're a fan of Freaks or Undeclared.

[Lucky]

But Vaughn, Stiller, Wilsons, Ferrel also established much of their fame separate of each other. And they're worlds beyond. I mean, if the cast does get popular I'll concede that the show is notable in that regard. But they're not yet. So its not a plus for it. Plus, those guys are real stars.

I mean, there are films and TV shows you can look back on and say "Look at that cast." This just seems to be "I love these guys' stuff."

You said it. It seems to be a notable cast if you're a fan of that crew of comedians, shows, and movies. But if I'd never heard of Undeclared before this board?

[DevSop]

I agree, I just think they're getting there based off the popularity of Knocked Up, SuperBad, and the buzz on their upcoming projects. And if the popularity of those films and actors leads people to go back and check out Freaks or Undeclared, I think it's a huge bonus. I didn't catch the shows when they first aired, but I'm glad I finally caught them on DVD. But they were never going to be breakout hits, it's a niche fandom probably and I seem to be getting caught more and more in them.

The Apatow fandom, the Whedon fandom, etc.

[williamssl]

I watched Freaks posthumously, meaning on DVD when it was off the air. I regret not watching it when it was actually on. It was one of those shows that topped the TV Guide etc lists of "The Best Shows You're Not Watching" lists.

Regardless of whether you vote Freaks here (you should) or not (FAG!!!!), go back and watch the show at some point. You won't regret it.

[Pun]

The guy behind Rogan and Franco plays Marshall on How I Met Your Mother.

[The Jewish Cunthead]

I love Apatow, Seth, et al but Michael J. Fox fucking OWNED that show.

[williamssl]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

[williamssl]

Fuck you, Tina Yothers.