bobbob1313 Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 Because nobody watched it - I believe it was NBC's attempt to copy the success of That 70s Show. I watched it - as it was mostly about the time period I was actually in high school. I don't really think it's anything like That 70's Show, though. It's got it's own style. Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 Yes - but you know how TV is these days - someone gets a hit, and then the hit is copied. What's surprising on this one is, Fox was first. You may recall that they also had an That 80s Show for a time. It's the same path that The Wonder Years, American Dreams, and a short lived show called Almost Grown, were on - nostalgia sells. Link to post Share on other sites
Beltmann Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 I believe it was NBC's attempt to copy the success of That 70s Show.Both shows were set in the Seventies, but that's pretty much where the similarities ended. Freaks and Geeks was closer in spirit to something like, say, My So-Called Life. Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 Freaks & Geeks was suppose to be the early 80s - I think. What I am saying is - one network has a hit with a show about a bunch of kids in high school in the past - so another network green lights a show about a group of high school kids in the past. Link to post Share on other sites
Beltmann Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 Freaks & Geeks was suppose to be the early 80s - I think. What I am saying is - one network has a hit with a show about a bunch of kids in high school in the past - so another network green lights a show about a group of high school kids in the past.Gotcha... and yeah, I think Freaks was indeed set in the early 80s, not the 70s. Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 Gotcha... and yeah, I think Freaks was indeed set in the early 80s, not the 70s. 1980, I believe. This is a great show. About halfway through it. Link to post Share on other sites
caliber66 Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 Freaks and Geeks was closer in spirit to something like, say, My So-Called Life.That's what I was going to say. Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 If it indeed took the success of That 70s Show to get Freaks & Geeks greenlighted, then I finally have something good to say about That 70s Show. Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 Finally got round to watching this: Really, really good film. Was very impressed with it, from the story to the way it was filmed... fantastic. Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 I've just got two things to say, and both are cliches: How come I didn't see this show before, and why the hell did it get cancelled after 12 episodes? Wow, this show is really good. I'm on the last episode and I'm sad to see it go. The second to last episode was one of the finest 45 minutes of television I've ever seen. I think repeated viewings may make this my favorite show ever... I was a big fan of Undeclared, the other show by the guys who made this one. Another great show that suffered and untimely death... Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 "Freaks & Geeks" really is one of the best ever.Watched the first 6 eps of "Weeds" over the weekend. My Mary Louise Parker crush has fully re-blossomed. And Kevin Nealon is funny as hell. Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Ten great shows that were canceled in their first seasons 13 TV Shows That Should Never Have Been Cancelled Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Ten great shows that were canceled in their first seasons 13 TV Shows That Should Never Have Been Cancelled"Greg The Bunny" should be on one or both of those lists. I definitely agree with "Andy Richter Controls the Universe" on that second list. That was a fantastic show that deserved a much longer life. Link to post Share on other sites
caliber66 Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 I was a big fan of Undeclared, the other show by the guys who made this one. Another great show that suffered and untimely death...I liked that one too. Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 "Greg The Bunny" should be on one or both of those lists. I definitely agree with "Andy Richter Controls the Universe" on that second list. That was a fantastic show that deserved a much longer life. I think his new show just got the axe. Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 I think his new show just got the axe.I like that show, but I'm amazed it ever made it on the air in the first place. I don't know if it was the one that was in theaters last year, but I watched a Jonestown documentary last night on American Experience. Holy cats. Harrowing. Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Tony Margaritatime Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 I like that show, but I'm amazed it ever made it on the air in the first place. I don't know if it was the one that was in theaters last year, but I watched a Jonestown documentary last night on American Experience. Holy cats. Harrowing. I watched that too. Harrowing is right! Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Turns out it is the same doc: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/jonestown/ Link to post Share on other sites
Beltmann Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 True to form, Rodriguez bored me while Tarantino mesmerized me. Link to post Share on other sites
aricandover Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 True to form, Rodriguez bored me while Tarantino mesmerized me. wow, it was the exact opposite for me. I thought Planet Terror was awesome, from top to bottom. casting Jeff Fahey and Michael Biehn as brothers was genius. the first 20 minutes of Deathproof was incredibly boring, I was ready to walk out. I just wanted those girls (especially Sydney Poitier) to shut up. but I stuck with it, and in the end, it was worth it. although I can't imagine watching it with the missing footage put back in. NW: Link to post Share on other sites
Beltmann Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 wow, it was the exact opposite for me. I thought Planet Terror was awesome, from top to bottom. casting Jeff Fahey and Michael Biehn as brothers was genius. the first 20 minutes of Deathproof was incredibly boring, I was ready to walk out. I just wanted those girls (especially Sydney Poitier) to shut up. but I stuck with it, and in the end, it was worth it. although I can't imagine watching it with the missing footage put back in.I liked the first 20 minutes or so of Planet Terror, but then I grew weary... the experience as a whole never lived up to the highs of a few select fragments or gags. The problem I have with Rodriguez is that while he has boundless enthusiasm for the nuts-and-bolts of filmmaking, he's just not a very strong storyteller. All of Planet Terror is told at precisely the same pitch, and for me that grew repetitive. The fact that he's reviving old junk tropes doesn't forgive it, either, especially in light of how Tarantino, by contrast, skillfully avoided the pitfall of producing juvenile crap when paying homage to juvenile crap. In fact, I was thankful to need a restroom break near the end of Planet Terror; I was happy to kill a few minutes while waiting for Tarantino's segment to arrive. I really enjoyed the oddball structure of Death Proof. The opening stretch is, perhaps, a bit demanding, but there are many admirable things going on during it. The conversation is perfectly calibrated and acted; while I never liked those girls, I believed in them as individuals and enjoyed watching the characterizations. Plus, the opening stretch is loaded with fantastic ideas and imagery. Remember when Poitier dances to the jukebox and finally, at the end of an unnaturally long take, spins her hair for the amusement of everyone else in the bar? The way that scene was done, in terms of tone, composition, speed, and affection for human movement, reminded me of the dancing scene in Band of Outsiders. (I know it's cliche to compare Tarantino to Godard, but I can't help it... that's what I thought of while watching.) Once the first killings occur, the movie becomes an inspired mashup of the slasher and gearhead genres, and I was hooked. I especially enjoyed hanging out with the second group of girls. And of course the centerpiece stunt is riveting; it captures a very real sense of speed and physical vulnerability and probably ranks among the best stunt scenes I've ever seen. Plus, for my money, Tarantino's revenge punchline is far wittier than anything in Planet Terror. Link to post Share on other sites
aricandover Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 The conversation is perfectly calibrated and acted; I thought that was some of the worst dialogue I've ever sat through. so much so, that I guess it distracted me from noticing anything good going on cinematically. things do pick up though, and Kurt Russell's breaking of the 4th wall was awesome. Link to post Share on other sites
Beltmann Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Kurt Russell's breaking of the 4th wall was awesome.Yeah, I liked that, too. Reminded me of Funny Games, where the bad guys keep winking at the audience. Link to post Share on other sites
Synthesizer Patel Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 I don't think Grindhouse is out in the UK until June, but I've always had the suspicion that Planet Terror won't match up to Death Proof. It's kind of a big shame that these people have to make this kind of film really anyway though. It's the sort of stuff that young directors should be making on tiny money, and creating their own little tricks and styles through trying to balance their dreams of a film with the reality of the budget (and not just the directors, but the crew too should be hungry young people looking to develop and learn on the job). By the time these directors are carrying Tarantino's kind of weight they should be busting studios with stuff like Heavens Gate, not regressing. Anyway, all that aside I still want to watch it. Link to post Share on other sites
EL the Famous Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 I think I may need to sneak out of work (no way the wife will go and see this) and see that Grindhouse. I actually read somewhere that the poor response to the length of the film is prompting them to split both flicks up and release them as their own entity. Sounds fucked up to me. Link to post Share on other sites
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