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 in Freaks and Geeks, a cult classic sitcom that initially failed to find an audience and was canceled too soon.
Apatow produced the short-lived series Freaks and Geeks which 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 Making Freaks and Geeks Season 2
Judd Apatow served as a producer on the period comedy-drama series Freaks 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 with Entertainment 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 that it wasn’t a hard call for him and 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.
The This Is 40 director 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 of Freaks 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 rationalize its lack of mainstream success as 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.
Freaks and Geeks launched the careers of actors like James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Jason 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 Geeks is streaming on Pluto TV and Hulu.
