Freaks and Geeks: Season 1
1999 · 18 episodes · ★ 8.2
What Season 1 of Freaks and Geeks
Lindsay Weir and her brother Sam start the 1980-81 school year at William McKinley High School in Chippewa, a fictional suburb of Detroit. Lindsay joins the "freaks," a rowdy group of kids made up of Daniel, Ken, Nick and Kim, and her parents, Harold and Jean, worry about these friendships. Sam, meanwhile, hangs out with the "geeks," Neal and Bill, and sets his sights on Cindy, the most popular cheerleader. Between parties, pranks and run-ins with teachers, the two siblings live in worlds that cross paths every day. Millie, Lindsay's former friend, appears as a recurring character.
Season 1 Episodes
1x01 Pilot
Lindsay's family and friends fear the worst when she quits the academic decathlon team and begins hanging around with a new crowd. A new friend tries to help her find her way. Meanwhile, Sam ponders asking cheerleader Cindy Sanders to the homecoming dance, while trying to cope with persistent teasing and torture at the hands of a savage bully.
Directing: Jake Kasdan · Writing: Paul Feig · Starring: Kristy Wu, Brianna Brown, Sarah Hagan, Alan Simpson
1x02 Beers and Weirs
Lindsay's friends learn that her parents are going away for the weekend and suggest having a kegger. Sam and Neal become worried after a school assembly focusing on alcohol-related deaths and they decide to switch the real beer with non-alcoholic beer. Daniel and Kim get back together and despite the lack of alcohol, the party quickly gets out of hand.
Directing: Jake Kasdan · Writing: Judd Apatow, J. Elvis Weinstein · Starring: Kevin Ruf, Kenn Michael, Sarah Hagan, Natasha Melnick
1x03 Tricks and Treats
Sam convinces Bill and Neal to trick-or-treat on Halloween, but they end up embarrassed while Lindsay and her friends wreak havoc in the neighborhood.
Directing: Bryan Gordon · Writing: Paul Feig · Starring: Maura Soden, Sarah Hagan, Chauncey Leopardi, Jon Kasdan
1x04 Tests and Breasts
Lindsay offers to help Daniel study for an algebra test, but ends up accused by the teacher of cheating. Daniel lends sexually naive Sam a porn film.
Directing: Ken Kwapis · Writing: Bob Nickman · Starring: Busy Philipps, Omri Katz, Sarah Hagan, Alan Simpson
1x05 I'm with the Band
Lindsay encourages Nick to pursue a career in music. Nick continues to practice with his current band, but quickly decides he's better than them. Lindsay encourages Nick to audition for a bigger local band. When things don't go well in the audition, Lindsay is there to comfort Nick. After learning they have to shower in gym class, Sam, Bill, and Neal refuse to do it.
Directing: Judd Apatow · Writing: Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah · Starring: Jerry Messing, Paul Feig, Sarah Hagan, Chauncey Leopardi
1x06 Carded and Discarded
Sam, Neal, and Bill befriend a pretty new transfer student, but soon fear of losing her to the popular crowd and try to win her over with a series of fun things they plan for her. Lindsay, Nick, Daniel, and Ken decide to get fake IDs so they can see a hot local band perform at a bar. However, after they go through the trouble of getting their IDs and getting into the bar, the group is stunned to find out who the hot local bands lead singer is.
Directing: Judd Apatow · Writing: Judd Apatow, Paul Feig · Starring: Kevin Corrigan, Sarah Hagan, Trace Beaulieu, Chauncey Leopardi
1x07 Girlfriends and Boyfriends
Lindsay reluctantly agrees to come over to Nick's house while his parents are out of town. Sam hopes to become lab partners with Cindy, but becomes jealous when Bill is named Cindy's lab partner.
Directing: Lesli Linka Glatter · Writing: Paul Feig, Patty Lin · Starring: Tom Virtue, Lyle Kanouse, Sarah Hagan, Trace Beaulieu
1x08 We've Got Spirit
Sam tries out to be the school mascot hoping to impress Cindy. Meanwhile, Daniel, Ken, and Kim suddenly become the basketball team's most rabid fans following a series of run-ins with jocks from the rival school, Lincoln High. Lindsay tries to figure out the best way to break up with Nick.
Directing: Danny Leiner · Writing: Mike White · Starring: Amy Wheaton, Matt Czuchry, Shia LaBeouf, Riley Smith
1x09 The Diary
Lindsay's parents forbid her from hanging out with Kim, as they see her as a bad influence. Bill grows tired of being picked last for teams for baseball in P.E. class, and not being allowed to really participate.
Directing: Ken Olin · Writing: Judd Apatow, Rebecca Rand Kirshner · Starring: Sam McMurray, Matthew McKane, Ann Dowd, Chauncey Leopardi
1x10 Looks and Books
A car accident results in Lindsay deciding to stop hanging out with her “freak” friends. She decides to rejoin the mathletes and start hanging out with Millie again. Sam adopts a new modern hair style in the hopes of impressing Cindy. When this fails, he seeks out a new wardrobe.
Directing: Ken Kwapis · Writing: Paul Feig · Starring: Percy Daggs III, Sarah Hagan, Chauncey Leopardi, Riley Smith
1x11 The Garage Door
Neal learns his father is cheating on his mother. Ken develops a crush on the tuba player in the school's marching band and Lindsay helps set them up.
Directing: Bryan Gordon · Writing: Gabe Sachs, Patty Lin, Jeff Judah · Starring: Tava Smiley, Sam McMurray, Jessica Campbell, Amy Aquino
1x12 Chokin' and Tokin'
When Bill talks about being allergic to peanuts in class, Alan tries to prove he's lying but Bill ends up in the hospital after an allergic reaction. Lindsay smokes weed for the first time.
Directing: Miguel Arteta · Writing: Judd Apatow · Starring: Alexander Gould, Claudia Christian, Leslie Mann, Sarah Hagan
1x13 Smooching and Mooching
After fighting with his father, Nick moves out and to Lindsay's surprise begins staying with the Weir's. Cindy tells Bill that she has a crush on Sam. She asks Bill to convince Sam to invite her to a party.
Directing: Jake Kasdan · Writing: Steve Bannos · Starring: Trace Beaulieu, Riley Smith, Samaire Armstrong, Natasha Melnick
1x14 The Little Things
Sam discovers that life as Cindy's boyfriend is not nearly as exciting as he had imagined. Ken's girlfriend ,Amy, confesses a shocking secret, putting Ken in an awkward situation. Lindsay struggles with asking Vice President George Bush a question during an assembly.
Directing: Jake Kasdan · Writing: Jon Kasdan · Starring: Ben Stiller, Jessica Campbell, Trace Beaulieu, Matthew McKane
1x15 Discos and Dragons
Daniel is sentenced to audio/visual class as punishment for attempting to pull the fire alarm to get out of taking a test. Lindsay is accepted to a two-week academic summit. Nick has a new girlfriend and takes up disco dancing.
Directing: Paul Feig · Writing: Paul Feig · Starring: Trace Beaulieu, Joel Hodgson, Samaire Armstrong, Lizzy Caplan
1x16 Kim Kelly Is My Friend
Kim's friend, Karen, bullies Sam and calls him a geek. Kim invites Lindsay to dinner at her house, exposing Lindsay to the abuse Kim takes at home.
Directing: Lesli Linka Glatter · Writing: Mike White · Starring: Mike White, Tom Virtue, Sarah Hagan, Rashida Jones
1x17 Dead Dogs and Gym Teachers
Lindsay tries to convince Harold to let her join her friends at a Who concert. Kim and Lindsay accidentally run over Millie's dog. Kim starts hanging out with Millie. Lindsay wants to tell Millie the truth about her dog, but Kim doesn't. Meanwhile, Nick teaches himself to play guitar and writes a love ballad for Lindsay and decides to play it for her despite Kens' objections. Ms. Haverchuck stuns Bill with the news that she has been dating Coach Fredricks.
Directing: Judd Apatow · Writing: Judd Apatow, Bob Nickman · Starring: Claudia Christian, Sarah Hagan, Matthew McKane, Chauncey Leopardi
1x18 Noshing and Moshing Season Finale
Neal 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.
Directing: Jake Kasdan · Writing: J. Elvis Weinstein · Starring: David Krumholtz, Sam McMurray, Bianca Kajlich, Trace Beaulieu
Season 1 Cast
James FrancoDaniel Desario18 episodes
Samm LevineNeal Schweiber18 episodes
Martin StarrBill Haverchuck18 episodes
Joe FlahertyHarold Weir18 episodes
Becky Ann BakerJean Weir18 episodes
Steve BannosFrank Kowchevski12 episodes
Sarah HaganMillie Kentner11 episodes
Natasha MelnickCindy Sanders10 episodes
Chauncey LeopardiAlan White9 episodes
Dave AllenJeff Rosso9 episodes
Trace BeaulieuHector Lacovara6 episodes
JoAnna Garcia SwisherVicki Appleby5 episodes
Sam McMurrayDr. Vic Schweiber3 episodes
Matthew McKaneMike Stevens3 episodesWhere to Watch Season 1 of Freaks and Geeks
It is currently not available on the major streaming platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does season 1 of Freaks and Geeks have?
Season 1 of Freaks and Geeks has 18 episodes.
When Did Freaks and Geeks Season 1 Air?
Premiered on September 25, 1999.
Where to Watch Freaks and Geeks Season 1?
Currently not available on the major subscription platforms (availability may vary by country).
What is the best episode of Season 1?
According to the public rating on TMDB, 1x15, "Discos and Dragons", with a 8.9.