'UNDECLARED' TURNS OUT TO BE A 'MAJOR' FIND.Two years ago, a small but dedicated group of viewers fell in love with a series called ``Freaks and Geeks'' that explored, with uncommon honesty (by network standards), the sheer angst of not being counted among the coolest kids in high school. It was the only series in the history of TV to run but a half-season on a network yet garner Emmy nominations two years running. (Thanks to Fox Family Channel's presentation of unaired episodes this year, it rang up yet another nomination for its brilliant writing.) Fans of ``Freaks and Geeks'' - and those who wondered what all the commotion was about - can check out ``Undeclared,'' Fox's new half-hour, single-camera comedy about the fun and trauma that college offers. Though the series may miss the contributions of Paul Feig Paul S. Feig (b. September 17 1962, Royal Oak, Michigan) is an American director, actor and author. He is best known for creating the short-lived cult NBC television series Freaks and Geeks , who gave ``F&G'' its soulful resonance, Judd Apatow, Feig's colleague and creator of ``Undeclared,'' has found a nice, wonderfully palatable balance between thoughtful character comedy and the ribald rib·ald adj. Characterized by or indulging in vulgar, lewd humor. n. A vulgar, lewdly funny person. [From Middle English ribaud, ribald person, from Old French, from high jinks high jinks or hi·jinks pl.n. Playful, often noisy and rowdy activity, usually involving mischievous pranks. Noun 1. high jinks - noisy and mischievous merrymaking high jinx, hijinks, jinks sitcom audiences expect. Steven Karp (Jay Baruchel) is a former high-school geek A technically oriented person. It has typically implied a "nerdy" or "weird" personality, someone with limited social skills who likes to tinker with scientific or high-tech projects. The origin of the term dates back to the late 1800s. committed to being one of the cool kids at the University of North Eastern California Eastern California is not a well-defined term. It generally refers to the strip of California, United States to the east of the crest of the Sierra Nevada, or to the easternmost counties of California:
Said friends include Lloyd (Charlie Hunnam Charles Matthew "Charlie" Hunnam (born 10 April 1980 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is an English actor. Biography Discovered while clowning around in a shoe store by a production manager for the British Children's show Byker Grove, Charlie Hunnam was cast in his first role as ), a suave British ladies' man; Ron (former ``Freak'' Seth Rogen Seth Rogen (born April 15, 1982) is a Canadian actor, comedian, and Emmy-nominated writer. Rogen began his career doing standup comedy for four years during his teens, coming in second place in the Vancouver Amateur Comedy Contest when he was sixteen. ), a lumpy, wisecracking schemer; Lizzie (Carla Gallo), Steven's dream girl, who unfortunately has a most irrational boyfriend back home; and Rachel (Monica Keena), a sweetie who's in full panic mode now that she's on her own. I've seen seven episodes, and they're all keepers, but a few stand out. Tonight, Steven and Lizzie make an unexpected love connection just as he discovers his parents' marriage has fallen apart. In one future episode, the kids get ``free money'' courtesy unscrupulous credit-card distributors on campus; Ron tries his hand at day-trading (his fate is best explained by his lament, ``I won't even be able to get a Discover card!''), while Steven hooks up with a local speed freak who cranks out term papers for pay (hilariously portrayed by ``Saturday Night Live's'' Will Ferrell). In another, Adam Sandler (cagily ca·gey also ca·gy adj. ca·gi·er, ca·gi·est 1. Wary; careful: a cagey avoidance of a definite answer. 2. Crafty; shrewd: a cagey lawyer. playing himself) plays the campus, hangs out with the gang, finds them dull and abandons them for female companionship. Steven, forced to hang out in the student lounge thanks to Lloyd's frequent conquests, becomes part of a group of students who all consider themselves romantic losers. By midseason, Steven and Lizzie find tentative happiness, as does forlorn, sad-sacky Ron. Like ``Freaks and Geeks Freaks and Geeks is an American television series, created by Paul Feig and produced by Judd Apatow, that aired on NBC during the 1999–2000 TV season. Although the show, considered a comedy-drama, garnered much critical acclaim and a devoted cult following, repeated ,'' which won an Emmy for its casting, ``Undeclared'' boasts a bunch who are both wonderful actors and simply look like real college freshmen. Baruchel's a Chaplin-esque combination of wit and winsomeness win·some adj. Charming, often in a childlike or naive way. [Middle English winsum, from Old English wynsum : from wynn, joy; see wen-1 ; Gallo is the stuff of teen dreams - sweet, but her enthusiasm protests a little too much. Rogen and Hunnam are deadpan delights, while Wainwright is, after 30 years (more or less) in the public eye, an absolute find - you can simultaneously see the geek he was in his youth, the serious man he grew to be, and the utterly confounded regular guy he is today, all in one scene, one line, one gesture. Fans of ``Freaks and Geeks'' will enjoy spotting the guest spots by former ``F&G'' stars; everyone should enjoy the realistic human comedy - alternately blissfully subtle and hilariously crass - that ``Undeclared'' will uncork on a weekly basis. ``UNDECLARED'' What: Seriocomic se·ri·o·com·ic adj. Both serious and comic. [serio(us) + comic.] se sitcom about college freshmen struggling to adjust to their thrilling, frighteningly new-found freedom. The stars: Jay Baruchel, Charlie Hunnam, Carla Gallo, Seth Rogen, Monica Keena, Loudon Wainwright, Timm Sharp, Christina Payano. Where: Fox (Channel 11). When: 8:30 tonight. Our rating: Three and one half stars |
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