MSCL.com

I was just poking around on Amazon, and noticed that the Freaks and Geeks box set is number six on their list of top 100 bestsellers. It's funny; it has been available to preorder officially on Amazon for about a week now, but has been hovering in the thousands on the bestseller list. I wonder why the sudden jump in sales.

Also, if you people haven't already noticed, the plain old box set is $49 at Amazon. I recall Paul Feig and Judd Apatow swearing that it wouldn't be less than $100 at any time in its release back in the days when people were signing the petition to get it released. Oh well. So much the better, I'd think, even though I've opted for the fancy-ass special edition.

From a recent mail from Paul & Judd to the DVD petition mailing list:

To all our international fans: we are currently unable to sell the [Special Edition] DVD directly overseas, because the music is clear for use only in North America. To clear it worldwide would have cost too much money -- which we don't have. We are attempting to address the issue, so all international fans please email FreaksINTL@aol.com with the quantity you want. If we are able to supply you, we will contact you very soon.

The weird thing is: They forgot to mention the URL of the website where one can buy the Special Edition... (which is http://www.freaksandgeeksdvd.com )

Wheee!!! 2 more days until the release of Freaks and Geeks on DVD. This is my second most highly anticipated release with MSCL being first of course. Just wanted to voice my excitement.

I tried to rationalize buying the deluxe collector's edition, but I decided that paying twice as much wasn't an option. I did that with MSCL and vowed never to do it again, so I decided to be content with the regular set. I wasn't able to get to the store last night, so I picked up the set tonight for $50 at Target. After ripping all the plastic off, it is all I can do to keep myself from ordering the collector's edition online tonight.

First of all, instead of the fold out gateway packaging I have resigned myself to because of Fox's odd preference for shoddy packaging, the Freaks and Geeks packaging (which is the same size as a Buffy set) has the mini-disc booklet packaging. No more flopping cardboard threatening to rip each time I take out a disc! No more plastic trays popping off at the corners because the one dot of glue wasn't strong enough to hold it in place!

The booklet has a letter written by Paul Feig and a Q&A by Judd Apatow. Unlike the Buffy booklets, which squash three episodes per page (or MSCL which managed to squeeze all 19 episodes onto zero pages), there is one page per episode. Each page has a list of the guest stars, an episode summary written by Paul, a list of the music used, and a list of who did which commentaries (ten of the episodes have two different commentaries), as well as pictures. All told, the booklet is 28 pages long (including the covers). My only complaint, and it's a minor one, is that they don't list which discs the special features are on.

Would it be worth my while to buy the special edition to get the yearbook and nine more hours of bonus stuff? Given how wonderful the regular set is, I'm leaning towards yes. This has restored my belief that a DVD set can be a glorious thing. I can't wait to watch everything!

candygirl wrote:Would it be worth my while to buy the special edition to get the yearbook and nine more hours of bonus stuff? Given how wonderful the regular set is, I'm leaning towards yes. This has restored my belief that a DVD set can be a glorious thing. I can't wait to watch everything!

It's what the MSCL set should've been.

*whispers* that's what I thought too!

I didn't see FNG during it's TV run. But I bought the DVD set based on what I've read in this post and elsewhere. I'm about halfway through the episodes now. I like it, but I can't help contrasting it to MSCL, which I like a lot more. Maybe FNG has to sink in a little. I can't help thinking what Patty and Graham would do if they were parents on FNG. I love the DVD set though. I wish, like all of you, that MSCL had received the same treatment.

I must confess that I didn't spring for the $120 special edition version. That's a little pricey for me right now.

I finished watching the episodes of Freeks and Geeks. I really think the show hit its stride in the mid to later episodes. I like them a lot. I'm looking forward to listening to the commentaries.

Since the show is now available on DVD for a few weeks (and I will hopefully receive my set today or tomorrow ), it's time to make this topic un-sticky. Good to know that this project was so successful. And if Buena Vista ever comes around asking how a MSCL HDDVD set 2nd edition should look like, I'll point them to this thread

Here's an image of my set -



I didn't have much time to take a closer look at the DVDs, but so far: I love it. Lots of stuff and lovely designed DVD menus. I've never seen such an extensive DVD booklet for a tv show -- even most movies don't have one. Lots of commentaries, behind the scenes stuff and more.

And it really makes you wanting more -- but $120 for that Special Edition 8-disc set is just too much.

I too just got my set of F and G's. I don't remember seeing any of the episodes on TV so they are all new to me (so far). I just finished watching the first ep. and I really like this. So far so good. I also got the Ben Stiller show on DVD last night so I may never leave my room for the forseeable future. Does anyone know if Parker Lewis Can't Lose will ever be released on DVD? If my old, fading, cloudy memory serves me I think we used to watch Parker Lewis right after Ben Stiller on Sunday nights.

Last night I went to buy Simpsons season 4 and came home with Freaks and Geeks. I've never seen the show so I'm really hoping you guys are right about it. I haven't watched any of the episodes yet but the packaging is so perfect I could cry. I was happy to see that Busy Phillips is on the show, I like her a lot and that's saying something about her abilities because so far I've only seen her on Dawson's Creek. I'll probably post my thoughts on the show once I've watched it.

Grim,
I too had never seen the show before and am now about 7 episodes into it. I LOVE this show. I think you will be happy with your purchase. Now that I am seeing how good it is, it almost makes me cry that it got canned so soon after it started.

So far I've watched all but the final three episodes. When I realized I was so close to the end I wanted to stretch it out a bit so I've been going back and watching all of the extras. I'm holding off on commenting much about the series before I finish it but since I began watching it I've been meaning to mention (espeically to Jody Barsch*) that seeing Daniel on F&G gives me a whole new appreciation for Jordan Catalano. Now I see how much worse Jordan could have been.

I finished watching all the eps. and I really think it was a great show but the first half of the season is better than the second IMHO. Still glad I got the set and sad it was cancelled.