pageeight AROUNDTOWN Freaks and Geeks’ humor dated Seventh in a series younger brother, Sam (John Francis Daley)— to journey outside of the world she knows. Man, so they clearly have developed acting wwUzma Ahmad a prime target for upper-class bullies—is Daniel, realizing his rotting potential, searches skills not in evidence in Freaks and Geeks. News/Wire Editor beginning high school along with his friends, for outlets to prove his worth. The geeks— With five different directors and eight writers, the “geeks.” who are surprised when Daniel accepts their the series lacks continuity, and the dialogue The “freaks” are punk-rock loving invitation to a game of Dungeons & Dragons— often seems forced and full of non sequiturs. Airing 1999-2000, Freaks and Geeks is troublemakers. They smoke cigarettes under the are baffled by what they hope is an emergence However, compared to current school-related a single season, 18-episode television series bleachers and behind the school and throw big from geekdom. shows such as ABC Family’s The Secret Life of that depicts life in Chippewa, MI—a fictional parties where everyone comes together to drink The season closes as Lindsay—despite an American Teenager and the CW’s Gossip and do drugs. Daniel Desario (James Franco) rigorous encouragement by her parents and Girl, Freaks and Geeks is superior at depicting is the dreamy and rebellious bad boy. Nick counselors—secretly rejects the acceptance the reality of high school life. Unlike those other Andopolis (Jason Segel) is the music-loving to an intellectually elite summer program at shows (and modern updates of 1990s programs drummer who later goes on to date Lindsay. the University of Michigan. As the final scene such as the CW’s 90210) in which drinking Other “freaks” include Ken Miller (Seth Rogen) fades out, she is seen getting off the bus to the and sex are exaggerated to flashy, perverse and and Kim Kelly (Busy Philipps). summer camp and instead joining her burnout glorified degrees, Freaks and Geeks presents a The “geeks” include Neal Schweiber (Samm friends to follow a tour of a famous band that more accurate portrayal of the feel and look of Levine), Bill Haverchuck (Martin Starr), Millie she comes to cherish. teenage life. Furthermore, the actors on this show Kentner (Sarah Hagan)—Lindsay’s nerdy and Although Freaks and Geeks was nominated actually look like teens—with their wacky hair, highly religious former best friend—and others. numerous times for writing, cultacting and directing classics big glasses, regular clothes, zits and youthful With their oversized glasses and high-hitched awards and even went on to receive an Emmy faces—not adults trying to appear younger, a la pants, the “geeks” struggle to survive through for Outstanding Casting, I failed to connect the aforementioned CW sleazefests. dodgeball games during gym and confrontations with the series, a fact that might have more to Although the show found much positive with bullies. do with me than with the quality of the series. response from both viewers and critics, its allure As the season progresses, the story unfolds Perhaps, if I had been a teenager in the early proved to be short-lived, as it was cancelled as characters increasingly become stereotypes 1980s or if my personal experience were more after just one season. of their respective groups. Lindsay, under the freaky or geeky, I would have related more to Criticism notwithstanding, watching this cult influence of the “freaks,” ditches school, tries the characters and/or would have appreciated classic proves to be a perfect way to reminisce marijuana for the first time and has awkward the humor. I just did not find the series that about both the 1990s and those good old high meetings with the school’s guidance counselor. funny. school days. The rest of the burnouts are surrounded by Furthermore, the Emmy nominations comical situations with teachers, issues with aside, the acting performances of the cast are suburb in Detroit. Centered on teenagers relationships and trouble with their studies. merely adequate. Franco, Rogen and Segel in Freaks and Geeks attending William McKinley High School in Spoiler alert: readers who plan to rent particular have gone on to star in blockbuster the early 1980s, this comic show chronicles all the DVD series should skip the next two comedies such as Pineapple Express, Knocked the typical high school trials and tribulations: paragraphs. Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and I Love You, DVD drugs, drinking, disconnection from parents, As the season came to an end, each acceptance and bullying. character—whether “freak” or “geek”—seems The season opens as Lindsay Weir (Linda to be moving on to a new phase in his or her life. Novel channels Austen Cardellini), the school’s number one “mathlete” Nick, who began as a disco-hating punk rocker, transforms from a proper girl to a rebellious starts to broaden his interests and indulge situations. tomboy as she begins to hang out with the cool, himself in disco dancing competitions. Kim, wwAdriana Zalloni However, Ellie does eventually fall victim to slacking “freaks.” At the same time, Lindsay’s who rarely ventures outside Chippewa, decides World Editor a monotonous, repetitive life, always seeming to fall for the wrong guy, frustrating the reader as Marilyn Brant’s debut novel, According (s)he reads the novel. Brant could have avoided Sainthood proves divine to Jane (Kensington Books, 255 pages) is a lull in the story by making her failures at love an uplifting and erudite tale of one woman’s less frequent, but nonetheless, her cheery tone struggle to find love and happiness while For example, in “Northshore,” the pair angrily keeps the reader interested. w Hillary Lindwall channeling Victorian author Jane Austen. Brant cleverly weaves in allusions to some w addresses an ex: “Don’t stay / Don’t plan / The story begins in protagonist Ellie Barnett’s Managing Editor Don’t heal / Don’t mend / Don’t take / Don’t of Jane’s more famous novels, such as Pride sophomore English class, when Ellie hears and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Emma, send / Don’t love me, don’t love me, don’t love a “tsk” of displeasure directed towards Sam Tegan and Sara Quin’s latest album, Sainthood, me.” This subject matter, to which everyone can making it easy for Austen fans to enjoy the Blaine, the cute bad boy who has been giving quirky comments. the pair’s sixth studio release, dropped Oct. 27, relate, along with the upbeat, bouncy tune and Ellie a hard time since kindergarten. Confused, much to the delight of their modest following. chorus makes the song one of the best on the Ellie questions the origin of the voice, which Sainthood is an album full of mystery and album, along with “Hell,” “The Ocean” and responds, “I am Jane Austen.” From that playfulness at the same time. The first track “Northshore.” moment on, Jane makes herself at home inside on the album, “Arrow,” begins with an almost While many of the songs on Sainthood Ellie’s head. harsh guitar and synthesizer sound, making the begin with a simple guitar line, the melodies of Jane’s first and most frequent piece of advice song seem a little eerie from the get-go. The each song are so different and memorable that is to stay away from Blaine, whom Jane dubs song seems to be full of holes, which keeps the the album never becomes monotonus. as Ellie’s “Mr. Wickham,” the antagonist of listener wondering when they will be filled. This Furthermore, even though the Quins are Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. This proves happens about a minute into the tune, finally siblings and their voices are similar, the listener impossible, however, as their paths continue to satisfying the listener’s craving. can tell the difference between songwriting cross as life brings them together and tears them None of the songs on Sainthood are styles. Even though one cannot be certain apart. complicated. They consist only of the voices which sister wrote which song just by listening Brant employs an unusual narrative method of one or both of the sisters, guitar, percussion to Sainthood, it is obvious that some songs were that interrupts the plot after Ellie’s sophomore and a synthesizer line here or there. That is written by Tegan while others were written by year but returns to that period at the points at part of the reason why their music is so easy to Sara. The differences are subtle at points, but which Ellie and Sam meet in their adulthood. digest. Along with the crystalline production, they are prevalent. Their relationship unfolds in a series of Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla, the spare Additionally, the listener stays engaged flashbacks as Ellie continues to mature with the instrumentation offers nothing to muddle the by Tegan and Sara through their lyrical choices. help of Jane’s witty comments and wise advice. sound or the lyrics. Although love is the overarching theme, the She dates a series of men, but never seems to The twins compose infectiously catchy tunes metaphors used to describe romance range from find the perfect one. Each is a stock character: and their minimalist lyrics do not overwhelm arrows to alligators to a red belt, a technique one who is in a relationship, one who is not the music, allowing the hooks to stick in one’s that undercuts the potential monotony of the committed, one who fears marriage, one who head, inducing repeated listens. singular topic. cares too much, one who turns out to be gay and As identical twins, Tegan and Sara’s Overall, Sainthood is a success.