Apatow is also billed as a producer for the FSM spin-off Get Him to the Greek which stars the returning Russell Brand and Jonah Hill. It also features Sean 'Diddy' Combs as a record label executive and also; Christina Aguilara, Pink and my wife, Katy Perry, most-likely as themselves.
However, the movies that he has directed are The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up and the upcoming Funny People (which I'm excited to watch). The two aforementioned movies have strong storylines, as well as, strong comedy.
Anyways Undeclared and Freaks and Geeks were directed by Apatow and canceled after one season by FOX and NBC respectively. Both shows were ended before their time and had a lot of potential...
Undeclared was aired in 2001. It revolves around the life of Steven Karp, a first-year student with an 'undeclared' major who is played by Jay Braruchel; if you're Canadian you know him from Popular Mechanics For Kids. The show also notably stars Seth Rogan as one of Steven's best friends in the show. Also, Jason Segel and Amy Pohler are recurring characters; Segel one of the main character's boyfriends and Pohler plays the RA of the main characters' floor.
Karp is an awkward and nerdy kid who makes new friends in college and somewhat drops his 'nerdy' title. Despite being nerdy, he struggles in school and is unable to declare a major in his first year, hence the title.The show had some serious comedic cameos in it's first season. These cameos include Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell and Adam Sandler, wow.
The show is awkward at times, so I can see the lack of appeal in some episodes, but it had a lot of potential to becaome a good show because of the concept and strong character development. This was Judd Apatow's second attempt at a comedy series. The first was Freaks and Geeks, which aired in 1999.
Freaks and Geeks takes place in the 80's and is about the lives of high school senior Linsey Weir played by Linda Cardellini (who was a nurse on ER 'til the end) and her brother Sam Weir played by John Francis Daley (who is currently a doctor on Bones).It all begins when Lindsey decides to drop her academically superior 'mathlete' friends, to join a group of burn-outs a.k.a. 'freaks'. Freaks are the people in high school who slack off, get into trouble, smoke up, etc. Her younger brother Sam is a skinny underdeveloped member of a 'geeky' trio. Hence the title, Freaks and Geeks.
The 'star-studded' Freaks include Seth Rogan, Jason Segel and James Franco. The show takes a bit more to get into. It starts off slow and typical with Lindsey trying too hard to fit-in with her newly discovered friends...
To me the show really picks up when she stands up to the 'freaks' and they show her that they really are her true friends and have her back. From then on the show feels different; less-awkward and you get a sense that everyone is where they should be identity-wise.
I like the show because it doesn't show the glorified side of high school that is typically depicted on TV; where the jocks, cheerleaders and 'normal' people are the stars. This show tells the story from the eyes of the unpopular geek and incurable misfit.
Reasons the show may have gotten cancelled is because in the beginning, the protagonist Lindsey Weir is really not one to look up to. She comes across fake and tries too hard to fit-in, which is a complete contrast to the confident and strong character she later becomes. Viewers may have not picked-up on her development because it happens near the middle of the series.I enjoyed watching it and seeing the younger versions of Hollywoods brightest and funniest stars. Overall Undeclared and Freaks and Geeks are both quality and relatable series. They depict the 'true' side of life as opposed to the shows currently airing now that depict the 'lavish' life that everybody dreams of.
I'm out like Judd Apatow's TV series from the air...
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