Freaks and Geeks is not really science fiction, but the Geeks are huge science fiction fans, so that’s close enough for this blog. If you have never seen Freaks and Geeks before, it’s started playing on IFC this week. You should still be able to catch the pilot in reruns, with episode 2 starting Friday. And sit back for a bumpy and wonderful ride with a number of actors who’ve seen since, all in one little show that no one watched.

Way back in the summer of 1999, when no one was paying attention at NBC, someone greenlit the show Freaks and Geeks without really knowing what they were getting. It was created by Paul Feig and produced by Judd Apatow. It was set in Michigan in 1980 in a suburban high school (that was way to white to be realistic). Lindsay was a former good girl, mathlete who lost a lot of her deeply held beliefs after her grandmother died. She was looking for a new group to fit in with and the Freaks were a close enough fit. Led by Daniel Desario (James Franco) along with his girlfriend Kim Kelly (Busy Phillips) and a couple hangers on, Ken Miller (Seth Rogen) and Nick Andopolis (Jason Segel), the Freaks were busy smoking pot, cutting school and getting in trouble.

Lindsay’s brother Sam (John Francis Daley) was one of the Geeks, along with Neal Schweiber (Samm Levine) and Bill Haverchuck (Martin Starr). They were later joined by Gordon Crisp (Jerry Messing) and occasionally given advice by older geek Harris (Stephen Lea Sheppard). Sam had a crush on a cute cheerleader Cindy Sanders (Natasha Melnick) who saw Sam as a nice guy and a friend.

The plots were fairly standard, but the execution and writing were amazing. This show didn’t feature the wacky antics of the jocks and cheerleaders (except for a very funny intro in the pilot), but the losers and nobodies in high school. The people who everyone else ignored for the most part. And NBC didn’t know what to do. Ratings weren’t high and the show was so different, that NBC did know how to promote it. After only 12 episodes had aired, the show was canceled. Most of the remaining episodes were burned off in the summer and then the Family Channel showed the entire series later that year (including one episode that NBC refused to show).

You’ll notice that I haven’t really described the plot or storylines in the episodes. That’s because to do so would be a disservice to the viewer. There is no way I could describe the show well enough. It’s truly a show that needs to be watched to be appreciated. And now that it’s on IFC, you can catch it at no cost. WARNING: After watching the episodes on IFC, you will most likely want to buy the box set. It’s that good. Later we’ll talk about Undeclared, the un-official sequel to Freaks and Geeks, only set in college. But if you want to see where Apatow and his band of merry men got their start, watch Freaks and Geeks and prepare to be amazed.