The Greatest TV Pilots Of All Time

Freaks and Geeks

The comedy-drama Freaks and Geeks, created by Paul Feig and Judd Apatow, might just be one of the most honest high school dramas of all time, and that’s quickly established in the pilot episode which establishes the social structure of William McKinley High. According to Mental Floss, “Judd Apatow hired 24-year-old Jake Kasdan to direct the pilot without every seeing his work. Kasdan had written and directed just one movie, the detective flick Zero Effect. Apatow was aware of his work because the two men shared an agent. He hired Kasdan on the agent’s advice and watched the movie the next day. Fortunately, things worked out.”

While the show was canceled after only 12 of the eighteen episodes were aired, a campaign led by fans persuaded NBC to broadcast three more episodes. The three remaining episodes were aired on Fox Family Channel. The series is frequently on best TV shows of all time and canceled too soon lists.