Freaks and Geeks Episode 4
"Kim Kelly Is My Friend"
Original Airdate: Sep. 5, 2000
Writer: Mike White
Director: Lesli Linka Glatter
Cast: Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley, James Franco, Samm Levine, Seth Rogen, Jason Segal, Martin Starr, Busy Philipps, Becky Ann Baker, Joe Flaherty
Freaks and Geeks came from the mind of Paul Feig, was championed by executive producer Judd Apatow, and its spec script was shopped around to various networks, who all turned it down. The only one to show interest, and even enthusiasm, was NBC. From there, the show was able to put together a lightning-in-a-bottle creative team — a cast of actors who were the characters they played, and a writing staff who pulled from the darkest moments of their childhoods to create something special. Unfortunately, the show was burdened with being ahead of its time. Moreover, it was doomed by joining a network that was constantly changing executives, and whose new president, Garth Ancier, was confused by the ways the show went against convention.