September 1, 2009

• Freaks and Geeks- The Diary (episode 10)

  I am out of sorts in my posting but here is a link to my latest...Monday Afternoon Mash-Up Madness.

  Previously on Freaks and Geeks: Previously on Freaks and Geeks:  Pilot, Beers and Weirs, Tricks and Treats, Kim Kelly is My Friend, Tests and Breasts, I'm with the Band, Carded and Discarded, Girlfriends and Boyfriends, We've Got Spirit.

  
  This photo came from The Green Bay Press Gazette...who knew?
  
  

  This episode was directed by Ken Olin probably best known for his role on thirtysomething.  The episode was written by Paul Feig and Rebeccas Rand Kirschner.

  Plot Summary: Lindsay's parents forbid her from hanging out with Kim. Bill grows tired of being picked last for teams for baseball in P.E. class, and not being allowed to really participate.

  The episode has Kim and Lindsay hitchhiking.  Have any of you ever done that?  I am terrified of hitchhikers.  Too many murder movies start off with someone picking up a hitchhiker and then things go horribly awry.  On the positive side many porn movies involve picking up hitchhikers and then things get delightfully entertaining. 

  Kim's mom suggests that they read Lindsay's diary.  Did any of you keep a diary?  I did after a horrible event in my life made me a depressed mess.  It helped me get out my angst.  Oh and I guess I said I had a diary and I am male.  Why is it that females have diaries and males have journals when they are essentially the same.  What is interesting about the episode is that reading diaries is so common in sitcoms however in Freaks and Geeks they take a different approach to the diary.  Lindsay's mom tries out new things and tries to change.  How many shows have you seen where a diary is found and they talk about drugs or sex?  Lindsay's diary says "Two of the worst ones are mom and dad. They are the most boring, repressed people on the face of the earth. They say they love each other, but who knows? It's probably just part of their routine. Anyway, can robots really be in love?... Their full life is this monotonous routine, she cooks dinner -- practically the same meal every night -- he comes home barking like a dictator who's scared his penis will fall off if he ever has to clear the table, and she lets him walk all over her."   Then Jean tries to work on the marriage.  Sort of interesting how this is somewhat similar to one of the subplots of Knocked Up another Judd Apatow creation which stars Seth Rogen, who played Ken in this series, and Martin Starr, who played Bill in this show.

  Then there is the awkward scene where Kim and Lindsay are standing in the entryway to the house and Neal, Bill and Sam are in the living room and the all realize that Jean and Harold are having sex.  The episode ends with Kim saying, "Lindsay, your parents are swingers."  I was thankful that during my high school years I didn't live at home so I didn't have to be subjected to that type of behavior from my parents.

  The geeks' storyline is mainly focused on Bill.  He is upset with how phy-ed. is conducted.  He ends up always playing rightfield when he thinks he could be a great shortstop.  I always hated when teachers allowed students to pick teams.  I was never picked last but I could see the pain in my classmates' faces.  When I taught phy-ed. I always picked the teams so as not to hurt feelings.  I am glad I did that because I wouldn't want any prank calls like the one Bill gave Mr. Fredericks.  I have to admit I cranked called one of my teachers but it was after I had him as a teacher.   I don't remember why I cranked him but I remember cranking him about things like Nebraska football (he was a Huskers fan).  The hilarity ensues with the prank call because Mr. Fredericks has his students read what was said.  There is a deleted scene where Neal reads what Fredericks heard and Neal starts adding insults and some of the insults were straight out of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.  Also he does more imitations in the deleted scenes.  I do like his Captain Kirk impersonation.  Oh and the original story had Sam being accused of calling Fredericks.  Bill is fingered for the prank and tells Fredericks what is going on and why he hates phy-ed.  Fredericks lets Bill be captain and select first.  The game where Bill finally gets to play shortstop is hilarious especially after his epic catch and they celebrate even though it was the first out.

  This episode marks the beginning of Bill's interaction with Mr. Fredericks and it focuses on a geek other than Sam.  There are few episodes with the storyline focusing on Neal and then on Bill.

  Oh and now that Nick and Lindsay have broken up watch for little comments about how Nick is coping with the break-up.

  Here's Bill's prank call and the interrogation.
  

  Trivia:  The shows that Mr. Fredericks watches when Bill calls is Diff'rent Strokes and What's Happening.

  Seth Rogen does not appear in this episode.
  The geeks celebrate when Bill makes a diving catch in the gym class softball game, even though it's only the first out. Neil comments that there are only 8 and 2/3 innings to go. In softball, as opposed to baseball, there are 7 innings in a game, not 9.

  Music:  "Journey to the Center of the Mind" by Amboy Dukes; "No Language in Our Lungs" by XTC; "Theme From Different Strokes" by Al Burton and Gloria Loring; "Theme from What's Happening!"; "Overture" by Bill Conti (from "Rocky II")...I fell in love with the XTC song used in this episode.

  Quotes:
  Random Jock: The geeks have inherited the earth

  Lindsay: Kim, we've been reading it (On the Road by Jack Keoruac) in English class for the last two weeks, where have you been?
  Kim: All we ever do in that class is read.

  Harold: Well, everybody's got parents, Jean, even hookers. Remember that TV movie we saw?

  Kim: Okay, one thing that helps is to point your boobs to the road.

  Daniel: Hey, don't get mad at me. I'm just trying to be rational.
  Kim: Are you calling me irrational? Because I'll tear your head off, Daniel. I'll tear it off and I'll throw it over that fence.

  Sam: Think we could be arrested for making prank calls?
  Neal: Yeah, and we'll get sent to telephone prison.

  Here's the episode.  Enjoy!
  

  And I have decided that the next series we will be watching will be Rome.

  • 1:52 AM
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