Paul Feig thinks a Freaks and Geeks musical is entirely possible, ’cause freaks go all the way
Freaks and Geeks only aired 12 of its 18 episodes on NBC from 1999 to 2000. But its legacy has secured it as a cult classic that started the careers of big names like Jason Segal, James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Busy Philipps. Even if Freaks and Geeks only lasted one season, one season was all it needed to make an impact on viewers. People constantly ask for a reboot of the comedy, which Judd Apatow produced. Well, we have some great news: Paul Feig, who created the show, recently said that he thinks a Freaks and Geeks musical could actually happen someday!
When you think about it, everything that went down at William McKinley High School could totally work as a musical.
“I’ve been saying for 15 years I so wanna do the Freaks and Geeks musical,” Feig said in a moderated conversation at the Tribeca Film Festival following the premiere of a new documentary about the show called Freaks and Geeks: The Documentary, Entertainment Weekly reports. “I just gotta write the book for it, but I think it will happen one day because it’s just sitting there, waiting to be done. A musical number of a dodgeball game, come on!”
“Come on” is right, because almost everyone who loved the original show would most likely lose their “cool” over a Freaks and Geeks musical.
If you think about it, there were a lot of musical moments in Freaks and Geeks.
Who could forget that episode when Nick Andopolis (Segal) competed in a Disco dance-off to impress Sara (Lizzy Caplan)? That would be a perfect moment for a hilarious disco song to break out in the future musical version of the show. Just think of all the Led Zeppelin references Nick could make in a musical too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvuNiZjlGZU?feature=oembed
And don’t forget that an Alice Cooper song was once included in the original show.
The guidance counselor, Mr. Rosso (Dave Allen), tried to bond with the students by performing Alice Cooper’s “I’m Eighteen” for them. That episode was basically a musical special when you think about it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvN8z5i9w6U?feature=oembed
Come to think of it, Freaks and Geeks was basically made to be a musical.
With all of the different high schoolers and their various internal struggles about discovering themselves and fitting in? It would probably end up being a funny version of Spring Awakening. And that sounds amazing.
Rumors that Freaks and Geeks might return have come and gone throughout the years.
In 2016, Deadline originally reported that Apatow said, “You never know. It could happen.” But he clarified on Twitter that a reunion with the original cast most likely wouldn’t happen.
. @Deadline I thought I was pretty clear that it wasn't going to happen with a tossed off 'you never know.' I guess people really want it.
— Judd Apatow 🇺🇦 (@JuddApatow) January 17, 2016
Well, there goes that dream. Our best bet sounds like it will be a Freaks and Geeks musical.
So get on it, Paul Feig!
Just stop thinking about it and start doing it. As Daniel Desario (Franco) once said, “Rock ‘n’ roll don’t come from your brain.” Until then, we’ll have to watch the new documentary about the show to get us by.
