Freaks and Geeks Episode 7
"Carded and Discarded"
Original airdate: Jan. 10, 2000
Writer: Judd Apatow, Paul Feig
Director: Judd Apatow
Cast: Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, Kayla Ewell, James Franco, Samm Levine, Seth Rogen, Jason Segal, Martin Starr, Busy Philipps, Becky Ann Baker, Joe Flaherty
When we first meet Maureen Sampson, whose presence is consistently soundtracked by Billy Joel, the teacher in the geeks' science class is telling them all about survival of the fittest. And throughout "Carded and Discarded," the geeks are desperate to prove themselves the fittest, to win Maureen's love and affection as the people around them threaten to take her from them. It's a caveman mentality, one they feel is necessitated given their years of ostracization. And yet, Maureen's presence — this new person in their orbit — only serves to highlight the ways that the geeks' history have cut them off from a part of this world they aren't necessarily barred from.