8.644 minSeason 1 • Episode 18
LatestNeal 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.
High school mathlete Lindsay Weir rebels and begins hanging out with a crowd of burnouts (the "freaks"), while her brother Sam Weir navigates a different part of the social universe with his nerdy friends (the "geeks").
Acting
Franco, Segel, Cardellini before they were famous—already perfect.
Writing
Every character gets dignity. Even the bullies.
Production
Period detail so obsessive it uses actual 1980 Michigan yearbooks.
Creator
Paul Feig
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Launched the 'Apatowverse'—Rogen, Segel, Franco, Cardellini all started here. TV's most valuable incubator.
Feig and Apatow fought NBC constantly; the 'freaks' were deliberately cast older to seem more dangerous. It worked.
US
