Optic Nerve: Freaks and Geeks Episode Guide Concluded

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Freaks and Geeks: Episode Guide

Episode 13: Chokin' and Tokin' 3/20/00 NBC

Bill embarrasses Sam and Neal by disclosing their various physical ailments in history class (in an effort to bond with the pretty young teacher). They criticize him for making them look bad in front of Maureen and Vicki. Sam and Neal announce plans to spend Saturday with the girls instead of joining Bill at a sci-fi convention. Bill fears that they are leaving him behind. Alan insists that Bill is lying about his severe allergy to peanuts. He tries to prove that Bill is faking by slipping some peanuts into his sandwich. Bill is hospitalized in critical condition. Jean consoles his mother, while Sam and Neal try to deal with the idea that they may lose their friend. Alan's father drags him to the hospital and orders him to apologize. While Bill is unconscious, Alan slips into his room and pleads with him to recover. Alan says that he has the same interests as Bill and his friends, and harasses them because they have always ignored him. After Bill awakens that night, Alan tries to mock him; but Bill had heard his earlier apology. He asks Alan to join them at the sci-fi convention. Alan cannot bring himself to go through with it. Lindsay worries that Nick is addicted to marijuana. They get along well when he is forced to stay clean for a few days, but he immediately drops everything when a new supply comes in. Nick snaps that Lindsay has no right to judge him, as she has never smoked pot. Lindsay tries smoking a joint and gets completely wasted. She calls on Millie to help her through a babysitting assignment, and Millie immediately realizes what is going on. ("I know what high people look like. I went to a Seals and Crofts concert last summer.") Lindsay is grateful when Millie takes care of her throughout the ordeal. However, Millie suspects that their renewed friendship will be forgotten once Lindsay has recovered.

Episode 14: Discos and Dragons (intended as 1st season finale) 7/8/00 NBC

The freaks are baffled when Nick takes up disco dancing at the behest of his perky new girlfriend, Sara. Ken is certain that Nick is only dating Sara in an attempt to make Lindsay jealous. Nick continually dismisses this theory, and insists that he has never been happier. Lindsay seems heartbroken by this news, particularly when Nick declares that he has given up pot smoking for Sara. Nick tries to hide the fact that he is still obviously hung up on Lindsay. Daniel is sentenced to audio/visual squad duty as punishment for pulling a fire alarm in an attempt to postpone his math final. The other geeks are terrified by the prospect of having Daniel invade their territory, while Sam insists that he isn't a bad guy. Daniel agrees to join the guys for an evening game of Dungeons and Dragons. He really enjoys it, and asks to play again the next night. Sam, Neal and Bill decide that this doesn't make Daniel a geek, but rather signifies their evolution into "cool guys." Lindsay is accepted to a two-week academic summit at the University of Michigan as one of the top one percent of students in the state. She is not sure that she wants to spend her summer this way, while Kim expresses envy at the fact that Lindsay gets to leave town. Jeff loans Lindsay a copy of the Grateful Dead's American Beauty album to help ease her stress. Neal, Bill and the Weirs see Lindsay off as she leaves for the summit. She gets off the bus in Ann Arbor to find Kim waiting for her. They board a van with two Deadhead classmates and depart to follow the group on its tour.

Episode 15: Dead Dogs and Gym Teachers 10/10/00 Fox Family

Bill freaks out when his mom tells him she's been dating his gym teacher, Coach Fredricks, a "dumb jock" who thinks Rocky II is the best movie of all time. Bill tries to put up with Fredricks hanging around the house and sleeping over, but eventually mouths off to Fredricks in gym class. "What are you gonna do? Call my mom?" In an attempt to win Bill over, Fredricks takes him and his friends to Go-Cart City. Bill loses the go-cart race and goes ballistic. After a heart-wrenching talk with an earnest Fredricks, Bill breaks down and cries. But later a truce is reached when Bill lets Fredricks watch "Dallas" with him. On the freak side: Kim and Lindsay accidentally run over Millie's dog. Out of guilt, Kim starts spending time with Millie and invites her to a Who concert. After seeing Millie blow off homework and talk back to her mom, Lindsay is worried that the freaks are a bad influence and urges Kim to back off. But it's not until they catch Millie getting ready to guzzle her first beer that Kim blurts out the truth about killing Millie's dog, thus saving her from a life of shoplifting, rock concerts and churchless Sundays. Meanwhile, Nick writes a song for Lindsay titled "Lady L," but Ken smashes his guitar before he can play it for her.

Episode 16: Noshing and Moshing 10/17/00 Fox Family

Neal wrestles with the dilemma of whether to tell his mother about his father's affair. His grades slip, and he gets into trouble with his teachers. He devotes all of his time to a ventriloquism act. Sam is embarrassed to be seen with Neal, while Bill freaks out because he once saw a movie about a dummy that came to life. Neal's brother Barry comes home from college for the weekend. He is aware of his father's philandering, but warns Neal to keep quiet for the good of the family. During the Schweibers' annual dinner party, Dr. Schweiber goads Neal into performing his act. He makes many cutting remarks about his father, and then runs out. When his mother comes to see him, Neal tearfully tells her about the affair. She says that she already knew, and assures Neal that he doesn't have to bear the burden of his parents' marital woes. Lindsay is given detention after coming to the aid of a girl being attacked by a large, stupid boy. She receives further punishment for complaining about a school policy that forbids students from doing homework during detention. She is cheered by Barry's arrival, and goes to the Schweibers' party to see him. Barry raves about college, and assures her that she will be able to forget high school and reinvent herself. Neal is distraught when Lindsay and Barry share a kiss. Daniel deals with pressures at home, where he is expected to help care for his disabled father. Kim breaks up with Daniel because she considers him unreliable. He escapes from his problems through punk music. A girl who dropped out of McKinley invites him to a club, so he tries to impress her by adopting a punk persona (even using raw eggs on his hair). After being physically abused in the mosh pit and discovering that Jenna has a boyfriend, a defeated Daniel seeks comfort in Kim's arms.

Episode 17: Smooching and Mooching 7/8/00 NBC

Nick is outraged to discover that his father has sold his drums, which Mr. Andopolis considered an unnecessary distraction. When his father refuses to apologize (or give him the money from the sale), Nick leaves home. After getting kicked out of Daniel's house for a bathroom violation, Nick turns to Lindsay for help. Lindsay claims that she would be happy to have Nick stay over, but believes her parents would disapprove. She is shocked when Harold agrees to let Nick sleep on the couch. Harold provides Nick with encouragement and gives him a part-time job to fund drum lessons. Lindsay becomes jealous, and wonders why her father cannot be more supportive of her. After a few days, Mr. Andopolis comes by the Weir house and asks Nick to return home. However, he rebuffs Harold's parenting advice. Cindy, who has recently broken up with Todd, reveals to Bill that she has a crush on Sam. She asks Bill to convince Sam to invite her to a party. Sam is freaked out to learn that the event is a make-out party. Neal insists that he and Bill be allowed to tag along, as he believes he has a way to rig Spin the Bottle. Neal is furious when his "surefire" technique fails (the bottle repeatedly points at Bill), while Bill gets some action with an initially disgusted Vicki in a closet. Sam finally gets the chance to kiss Cindy, although he is a little bewildered when she then turns the lights off and jumps him.

Episode 18: The Little Things 7/8/00 NBC

Sam discovers that life as Cindy's boyfriend is not nearly as exciting as he had imagined. They do not have any common interests, and Cindy seems incredibly bossy and shallow. After she expresses disgust for the movie "The Jerk" and refuses to wear the heirloom necklace he had given her, Sam decides to break up with Cindy. Neal and Bill believe that he is crazy to throw away a chance at popularity, but eventually realize that he made the right decision. Ken's girlfriend Amy confesses a shocking secret: at the time of her birth, she had both male and female genitalia. Ken has a difficult time coming to grips with this news. He considers breaking up with her, even though he might be in love with her. Ken misinterprets Daniel's innocent greeting "Hey guys" as a joke about Amy, and punches him out. Amy is horrified that Ken has revealed her secret to Daniel and Nick, and refuses to speak to him. A talk with Sam about his problems with Cindy forces Ken to realize how lucky he is to have a good relationship. He tracks down Amy to apologize. Vice President George Bush plans a public appearance at McKinley. Jeff convinces an unenthusiastic Lindsay to ask the Vice President a question, but advisors reject her topics and give her a pre-written question about restaurant preferences. After the Secret Service bars Jeff from the event because of his history of political activism, Lindsay decides to fight back. She asks Vice President Bush why he rejected her issue-oriented questions.

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by neil

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