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Has any TV show launched as many careers as Freaks and Geeks?

Posted on 7/22/15 at 2:37 pm
Posted by BowlJackson
Birmingham, AL
Member since Sep 2013
52881 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 2:37 pm
Currently watching the series and it's insane the amount of acting talent. Not even just the main cast, but every episode it seems like has a future star playing some minor role. The consistency of recognizable actors is unreal.

I'll make one rule and say skit shows don't count, because SNL and Mickey Mouse club have both probably launched more careers (although not with the same consistency as F&G IMO.)

The Freaks are the most famous and recognizable.
James Franco
Seth Rogen
Jason Segel
It's pretty unreal that these three huge stars all got started here and that they also still work together a good bit too.
Busy Phillips of current "Cougar Town" fame is also easily recognizable
Linda Cardanelli is still acting too, was just in Age of Ultron

The Geeks are not as famous but they're also still acting successfully.
Sam went on to Bones
Neal had a good role in Inglorious Bastards
Bill is on Silicon Valley on HBO

The list of recurring or one time characters is stacked too:
Shia LaBeouf
Ben Stiller
Rashida Jones
Lizzy Caplan
Kayla Ewell
Alex Breckenridge
Joanna Garcia
Jason Schwartzman

Several other actors I won't bother to list because you recognize their face but not their name (Ned Shneebly from School of Rock, Champ Kind from Anchorman)
Posted by jrodslu
Member since Jan 2006
15263 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 2:42 pm to
Yeah, Happy Days.
Posted by SG_Geaux
Beautiful St George
Member since Aug 2004
77964 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 2:43 pm to
quote:

Yeah, Happy Days.



Ummm... What ?
Posted by TigerinATL
Member since Feb 2005
61482 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 2:43 pm to
Not a TV show but Clueless had a surprising amount of relatively unknown talent that ended up doing bigger and better things.

Alicia Silverstone
Stacy Dash
Brittany Murphy
Donald Faison
Paul Rudd
Breckin Meyer
Posted by Matisyeezy
End of the bar, Drunk
Member since Feb 2012
16624 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 2:45 pm to
It doesn't count as launching his career, but don't forget that the show also had Michael "Squints" Palledorous! Probably my favorite actor that I immediately recognized.
Posted by BowlJackson
Birmingham, AL
Member since Sep 2013
52881 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 2:46 pm to
A few weeks ago I randomly pulled up the imdb page for a shitty early 90's comedy and was amazed at the comedic talent for such an average movie. I was going to start a similar thread about movies with best comedy lineup but for the life of me I can't remember what movie it was and its killing me
Posted by Kafka
I am the moral conscience of TD
Member since Jul 2007
141889 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 2:47 pm to
SNL?
Posted by BowlJackson
Birmingham, AL
Member since Sep 2013
52881 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 2:47 pm to
I forgot about Squints I didn't recognize him though until I was told who he was. Goldberg from the Mighty Ducks also has a recurring role with the Freaks.
Posted by Matisyeezy
End of the bar, Drunk
Member since Feb 2012
16624 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 2:49 pm to
quote:

I didn't recognize him though until I was told who he was




Posted by BowlJackson
Birmingham, AL
Member since Sep 2013
52881 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 2:55 pm to
I mentioned SNL and Mickey Mouse Club in the OP. For the purpose of this thread I'm not considering skit shows because it's probably easier than regular shows to get upcoming talent. Both of those probably launched more, but idk if either has the consistency of faces recognizable from elsewhere that F&G has.
Posted by lsuwontonwrap
Member since Aug 2012
34147 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 3:02 pm to
In Living Color:

Jim Carrey
Jaime Foxx
The Wayans
David Alan Grier
Ali Wentworth
Jennifer Lopez
Posted by THRILLHO
Metry, LA
Member since Apr 2006
49512 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 3:12 pm to
Wonder Years was pretty loaded with youngins, but they were all in brief roles, not regulars like most of the Freaks and Geeks folk:

Juliette Lewis
Jim Caviezel
Alicia Silverstone
Giovanni Ribisi
Mark-Paul Gosselaar
Dustin Diamond
David Schwimmer
Carla Gugino
Seth Green
Breckin Meyer
Posted by madmaxvol
Infinity + 1 Posts
Member since Oct 2011
19133 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 3:15 pm to
quote:

Yeah, Happy Days.


quote:

Ummm... What ?


Henry Winkler - tons of stuff
Ron Howard (launched his adult career...more than Andy Griffith)
Scott Baio - Joanie Loves Chachi was spinoff - Charles in Charge
Pat Morita - Karate Kid
Crystal Bernard - Wings
Cindy Williams - Laverne and Shirley was a spinoff
Penny Marshall - Tons of stuff we all know (Laverne in Shirley was a spinoff)
Robin Williams - tons of stuff we all know (Mork was a spinoff)
Rita Wilson - Sleepless in Seattle, Jingle All the Way
Ted Mcginley - Married with Children, The West Wing
Linda Purl - Matlock
Heather O'Rourke - Poltergeist


All in all, lots of people gained some level of success from Happy Days.
Posted by Bench McElroy
Member since Nov 2009
33939 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 3:17 pm to
The first show that comes to mind for me is Seinfeld. They had so many guest stars who went on to do bigger and better things after their appearance on the show.
Posted by THRILLHO
Metry, LA
Member since Apr 2006
49512 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 3:20 pm to
quote:

Laverne in Shirley


Posted by CocomoLSU
Inside your dome.
Member since Feb 2004
150706 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 3:20 pm to
quote:

It doesn't count as launching his career, but don't forget that the show also had Michael "Squints" Palledorous! Probably my favorite actor that I immediately recognized.

a.k.a. young Steve-O.
Posted by jrodslu
Member since Jan 2006
15263 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 3:24 pm to
quote:


Henry Winkler - tons of stuff
Ron Howard (launched his adult career...more than Andy Griffith)
Scott Baio - Joanie Loves Chachi was spinoff - Charles in Charge
Pat Morita - Karate Kid
Crystal Bernard - Wings
Cindy Williams - Laverne and Shirley was a spinoff
Penny Marshall - Tons of stuff we all know (Laverne in Shirley was a spinoff)
Robin Williams - tons of stuff we all know (Mork was a spinoff)
Rita Wilson - Sleepless in Seattle, Jingle All the Way
Ted Mcginley - Married with Children, The West Wing
Linda Purl - Matlock
Heather O'Rourke - Poltergeist


All in all, lots of people gained some level of success from Happy Days.


Thanks, I got busy at work.
Posted by mindbreaker
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2011
7637 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 3:53 pm to
buffy the vampire slayer has a pretty good resume too
Posted by lsuwontonwrap
Member since Aug 2012
34147 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 4:00 pm to
Law and Order
Posted by UMRealist
Member since Feb 2013
35360 posts
Posted on 7/22/15 at 4:11 pm to
quote:

Ron Howard (launched his adult career


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