Parents' Guide to

Freaks and Geeks

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Stellar teen dramedy explores angst, experimentation.

TV Syndicated Drama 1999
Freaks and Geeks Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

age 12+

Based on 10 parent reviews

age 17+

Proceed with caution

Maybe most people won't agree with me but I don't think this is appropriate for children 14+. Maybe some parts aren't appropriate for adults. A great deal of implied sexual behavior (a teenage girl sucking a teenage boy's finger, lots of dialogue about sexual behavior and teenage boys watching a porno).

This title has:

Too much sex
1 person found this helpful.
age 7+

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (10):
Kids say (27):

Despite consisting of just 18 episodes, this series earned accolades among fans for its sharp writing and comical, but honest portrayal of the uncertainties of teen life. All of the characters struggle to identify themselves within the context of their social environment, and anyone who's lived through those formative years will relate to their feelings of uncertainty and angst. Freaks and Geeks boasts an extremely talented cast, evident by the fact that most of the members have gone on to notable careers in television and film.



Not surprisingly, though, this teen-centered show has a lot of content that's not meant for kids. There's underage drinking and smoking, some drug use (marijuana in small doses), a fair amount of language, references to sexual relationships among teens, and plenty of negative role models among Lindsay's friends. Those taking in this content from beyond the teen years can afford to chuckle over it, and the show does make a conscious effort to present some realistic consequences for unsavory behavior. In the end, though, tweens will absorb the wrong messages from what they see, so it's best to keep this one for yourself and your mature teens.

TV Details

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