Latest news with #FreaksandGeeks
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Seth Rogen and Jason Segel Relive 27 Years of Friendship: Smoking Before ‘The Matrix,' Peeing Next to Scorsese and Harrison Ford Watching Segel Naked
Jason Segel and Seth Rogen, who both emerged from the Judd Apatow comic universe, are now two of the funniest multi-hyphenates in the industry. Segel, with Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein, co-created 'Shrinking,' a dramedy about an unconventional therapist, played by Segel, going through the stages of grief. Rogen, with his longtime writing partner, Evan Goldberg, co-created 'The Studio,' and co-directs every episode. He stars as a newly appointed studio executive trying to keep his head above water. Seth Rogen: The first time we met — 27 years ago — I was 16 or 17 when we shot the pilot of 'Freaks and Geeks.' How old were you? More from Variety Dave Chappelle Joins Mo Amer for Rare Interview on Political Comedy, Fiery 'SNL' Monologues and Crying Over Netflix's 'Mo': 'I'm Not Doing This S--' If the 'Show Sucked' Like Father, Like Son: Arnold and Patrick Schwarzenegger on Nepo Babies, Nude Scenes and 'Becoming the Greatest Star of All Time' How 'The Studio,' 'Yellowjackets,' 'Monsters' and 'White Lotus' Make Bad Behavior Appealing Jason Segel: I was 18 or 19. It's crazy to think about that. In preparation for this, I was thinking about the first time we bonded. I have a very clear idea of the moment. Rogen: What was it? Segel: While we were shooting the pilot, 'The Matrix' came out. We didn't know each other that well. We didn't know anybody else that well. We were all just meeting each other. And all we knew is that you and I both liked to smoke weed. Rogen: [The film] came out the day the pilot wrapped, so in my head, the whole pilot was just a march to 'The Matrix' being released. Segel: We rolled giant joints and drove to the movie theater and saw 'The Matrix' together. I remember coming out of that movie legitimately feeling like something had changed. It was a very inspiring thing. Rogen: It was like our 'Star Wars.' Segel: You and I started writing harder after that. I think about that period as something you can never get back. We had the naivete of youth. We didn't really know how to do it. Rogen: I remember having no fucking clue what I was doing at all. Meeting you — you had thoughts about the craft of acting. You were the first serious actor I ever talked to. All I did was memorize the lines and try to say them in a way that sounds remotely realistic and natural. Then I realized everyone else on the show was creating a whole character. Segel: But don't you think acting is all just tricks so that when they say 'Action,' you feel comfortable? Rogen: The longer I act, the less I understand it, honestly. Sometimes I look back at the choices I made, and they're more surprising at times than things I would do now. Segel: People always ask, 'What would older you say to younger you?' I think the opposite is more important for me at this age. Don't forget the guys who felt like, 'Why can't I make this movie and end it with a Dracula puppet musical? Why can't we do this whole movie about trying to get booze?' You know what I mean? There was a naivete that we had: 'Who's going to stop us?' Rogen: I've let pragmatism invade my thinking in many ways. You get too realistic about things, and you're like, 'What's going to work?' instead of 'What sounds fun in the moment?' Segel: The most strategic decisions I've made have been the worst ones. Do you have a true north — a view of life you're trying to express? Rogen: No. Sometimes. I'd say that some things I've made are trying to eventually have an idea that they're trying to get across — something I believe. But I mostly start thinking of an idea as I think of the energy of it. That's what becomes exciting to me. I never start with one single thing. Where do your ideas come from now? Segel: I don't write very often because I don't love it. I find it to be kind of fraught. I think of an idea, something I'm dealing with in my life, and then I try really hard not to write it. But if it keeps nagging at me, I'm like, 'This is something I'll write.' Rogen: Me and Evan talk about a Darwinistic approach to our ideas often — the ideas that stick around are the good ideas. Segel: It's not that hard to think of ideas. But I get a little indecisive about committing to one. You gave me a piece of advice for a script I'm working on now that really stuck with me. I didn't feel like I was smart enough to write this thing, and you said, 'We're the age now where you write stuff like that.' That's the beauty of this thing, starting to realize, 'OK, now let's try to up the degree of difficulty.' Rogen: Aging is weird in many ways. But acknowledging that your taste has changed and your sensibilities have changed … That was a scary thing for me and Evan to even acknowledge: Oh, we don't want to make stuff about dumb teenagers anymore. Segel: Or being afraid of girls. Rogen: It's been a decade since Evan and I wrote and directed and produced a thing I was also in. It took us a transition period from our 30s into our 40s where we were working on other stuff the whole time, but it wasn't our stuff. Segel: Do you and Evan have the same taste, or is it like a Venn diagram? Rogen: It's close enough that we've never really had a major conflict over what we want to work on. There's never been a thing that one of us really wants to make and the other doesn't want to make at all. Segel: You really notice, in 'The Studio,' this energy that goes through it. It felt to me like a mix: 'Birdman' meets 'Curb.' Rogen: That's exactly what we were going for. Segel: It's all of the awkwardness and reality of 'Curb,' but set to a rhythm. Rogen: I wanted it to be fast — that was a word I would use a lot. I thought a lot about: What do I want to do all day? What do I like to do? What I don't love to do is insert shots and establishing shots. I don't love doing scenes that feel like they're serving some storyline that will pay off in a few episodes. I love high-stakes, intense scenes where everyone wants to grab each other and shake each other. As we were writing the show, the first conversations we were having were 'How do we infuse every scene so I'm only doing scenes that are really funny?' Segel: It's like you only did the scenes that people like. Rogen: We didn't cut. Nothing we shot was not in the show. Do you guys improvise a lot? Segel: When it makes sense. Our show is also this mix of comedy and drama. You know I love talking about acting. Rogen: Not as much as some. Segel: All those improv skills that we learned for comedy and got pretty damn good at turned out to really apply to dramatic scenes also. Rogen: Even more so, I think. Because you aren't trying to make jokes. Segel: And you're not trying to prove you're clever. With 'Shrinking,' the writers are incredible, and they give us a really good treasure map that's pretty fucking detailed. But then you're dropped into the treasure map and it's three-dimensional and you're like, 'Oh, but there's an interesting little thing over here …' Rogen: Does the same person direct the whole show? Segel: No. Rogen: How's that? That's the one thing I'd never really done. 'Pam & Tommy' was the first time since 'Freaks and Geeks' or 'Undeclared' that I'd acted in a television show, and I honestly struggled with having different directors. I was very thrown off by it, having all these people come in, handing off the show from one person to the next. Segel: I get it. There's a lot of moving targets, and you're block shooting for locations, so … Rogen: … different directors will come in throughout the day. Segel: That happens occasionally. But we have a really cohesive unit up top with Bill Lawrence. But it's an interesting thing, you know, because you do all the jobs, but I don't think anyone knows, until you get into editing, what the show is. Rogen: Not on our show. Segel: This is a show about grief, and we wanted to honor that. People are really going through this shit in the world. You also want it to be funny. So it was a lot of turning the dials of how bad you can make him as a therapist. Rogen: I was explaining it to Lauren, my wife, as we were watching it. She was like, 'Is he doing cocaine and sleeping with prostitutes?' I didn't think this show went there. Segel: You've known me a long time, so you'd probably agree if you were directing me: I was like, 'Guys, you can have him do as much bad stuff as you want.' Rogen: 'It'll be OK.' Segel: People are going to think, 'Oh, I hope he's OK.' Rogen: Sympathy. Segel: Spend the currency. Rogen: How did you get Harrison Ford? Segel: We got Harrison Ford because Harrison Ford is the kind of person you make an offer to so that for three days you can say, 'We've made an offer to Harrison Ford,' and then you'll pick the real guy. Rogen: Sounds cool in a restaurant. Segel: He read it, and he didn't know anything about me. Brett Goldstein met with him, and they had a really nice meeting, and they sent him 'The End of the Tour' and 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall.' Then, apparently, Bill Lawrence got a text that said, 'I'm in. And tell the kid, great dick.' Rogen: Even if he was out, that would be great. I would take that. Segel: How about your cameos? Is that the people you've amassed throughout your career? Rogen: No, not at all. I'd say half of them were people I didn't know at all. We wanted people you haven't seen us with before. Martin Scorsese, we just sent it to his manager. I'd met Zoë Kravitz once or twice. I met a lot of these people in passing. I'm sure you have at a party. Segel: I did meet Martin Scorsese once. I met him at the Golden Globes, and we peed next to each other at the urinals. But I had the kids' one and he had the tall one. So everything about it was just way off. That's a great memory. Rogen: He's a little guy. Segel: Were you intimidated to direct people like that? Rogen: It was the worst thing in the whole world. We were shooting the show in such a specific way that I was so nervous it would be creatively rejected. Segel: I'm so interested to hear that you get nervous. Rogen: The character is me in many, many ways. And the crux of the character is that he doesn't want to let down his idols. And that's one of the biggest things that I'm navigating: Whenever I get anyone to come do a thing we're doing, I'm so aware of how upset I'll be if they think it's bad. Segel: How do you act while you have to be carrying all this other stuff too? Rogen: To me, it's more fun to be directing the scene and in the scene and having written the scene than it is to just be acting the scene. The fact that it's way harder, I like it. Segel: It's a tightrope. Rogen: 'Steve Jobs' was the first time I had done anything where there were these long, elaborate shots and these long walk-and-talks — it has to be exactly right. It was the first time I made a thing where everyone's really leaning in and everyone's engaged. And when you got it, everyone's clapping. That was an energy I wanted to try to create on a day-to-day basis. Segel: You're describing my ethos of acting. Repeatability is an important skill when you start doing all the other angles. But the magic part, the part where I'm like, 'Oh, fuck, we did it,' is when you catch something. Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Seth Rogen spotted in Kennebunkport, Maine restaurant over Memorial Day weekend
KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine — You can add Hollywood actor and director Seth Rogen to the list of celebrities who have traveled to Kennebunkport to enjoy the restaurants and shops the community has to offer. Rogen, 43, dined at Mabel's Lobster Claw on Ocean Avenue over the holiday weekend, according to a recent Instagram post by the restaurant. 'We had a special visitor at Mabel's Lobster Claw yesterday,' the restaurant wrote, alongside a photo showing Rogen and three others. 'Thank you for joining us, Seth Rogen — we hope you enjoyed your meal and your time in Kennebunkport!' The owner of Mabel's Lobster Claw could not be reached for comment. Known for his laugh and for a comedic style, Rogen first appeared on the scene as Ken Miller, a sarcastic and disaffected teenager on 'Freaks and Geeks,' a dramedy on television at the turn of the century. Since then, he has had box office successes on film, from such comedies as 'Knocked Up' and 'Neighbors' to such acclaimed dramas as 'Steve Jobs' and 'The Fabelmans,' directed by Steven Spielberg. Currently, Rogen is getting noticed for directing and starring in 'The Studio,' a comedic look at Hollywood whose debut season is now streaming on Apple TV+. More: Seth Rogen says this is the key to the A-list cameos in 'The Studio' Other celebrities known to visit Kennebunkport include Taylor Swift, who dined at Alisson's Restaurant while shooting a music video more than a dozen years ago, and two-time Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn, who once stopped at Coastal Jewelers in Dock Square, according to the owners of both local businesses. Last June, singer Lady Gaga visited an ice cream parlor in York while attending her sister's local wedding. In August, boxing champion Mike Tyson stopped by a cannabis shop in Eliot. Also, last September, Academy Award-winning actor Matt Damon visited a juice bar in Kittery. And then there was one celebrity last summer who had a prolonged stay in southern Maine: award-winning actress Kathleen Turner, who had a role in 'A Little Night Music' at the Ogunquit Playhouse in July and early August. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Seth Rogen spotted in Kennebunkport, Maine restaurant
New York Post
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Jason Segel reveals why he started not to enjoy himself during ‘How I Met Your Mother'
For Jason Segel, starring in 'How I Met Your Mother' caused some problems IRL. The actor, 45, opened up about how working on the long-running sitcom made balancing his movie career difficult. 'The way my life was for about six years was I would be shooting 'How I Met Your Mother,'' Segel said on Monday's episode of The Hollywood Reporter's 'Awards Chatter' podcast. 'And during that time, I would be writing a movie that we would then shoot on the four months off and get done in time to get back to 'How I Met Your Mother.'' Advertisement 6 Neil Patrick Harris and Jason Segel in 'How I Met Your Mother.' CBS The show aired for nine seasons from 2005 to 2014 and also starred Josh Radnor, Neil Patrick Harris, Cobie Smulders, and Alyson Hannigan. 'And it was an amazing time. It was an electric time. But I also was getting a little tired and I was starting to not enjoy myself so much,' admitted Segel. 'And that was a bummer because I was doing such cool things.' Advertisement 6 Jason Segel in 'How I Met Your Mother.' FOX During his time on the hit show, the 'Shrinking' star received some sound advice from Judd Apatow. The director, 57, was the one who executive-produced the young star's first-ever television series, 'Freaks and Geeks,' in 1999. 'Judd had instilled this thing in us during 'Freaks and Geeks,' where he said, 'If you can improv the way that you can, then you can write. I just need to teach you how to write,'' Segel explained. Advertisement He recalled that Apatow told him, 'You're a weird dude, and the only way you're going to make it is if you write your own material.' 6 Jason Segel in 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall.' Photo Credit: Glen Wilson Segel then 'pitched' Apatow 'lightly' on a script of his own: 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall.' 'I went to Hawaii, and I rented a little house in Hawaii. And I wrote 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' in two months, and then we made it. And then I was kind of off to the races,' he recounted. Advertisement Segel wrote the script during a hiatus from 'How I Met Your Mother' after the first season. The 2008 rom-com went on to be a huge hit and starred Kristen Bell, Russell Brand, Mila Kunis, Paul Rudd, and Jonah Hill. 6 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall.' Photo Credit: Glen Wilson Podcast host Scott Feinberg spoke about the benefits and downfalls of Segel's position, sharing that while the sitcom gave him 'financial security' and recognition, it also 'locked [him] into playing a guy for a long, long time.' 'Listen, it's like the best problem you could ever have, for sure, especially when you're scared you might never work,' Segel responded. When the actor made the 2011 movie 'The Muppets' — which he starred in and also co-wrote — he would shoot 'How I Met Your Mother' during the day and the movie at night. 6 'Freaks and Geeks' on NBC. NBC Photo: Chris Haston That same summer, the star filmed his other script 'The Five-Year Engagement.' Advertisement 'So I was a tired dude,' Segel admitted. These days, after a slew of comedic and dramatic hits, the actor revealed which role he'd love to dive into next. 6 Jason Segel attends the American Cinematheque's This Is Not Fiction 2025 Festival Closing Night Premiere of HBO Max's '100 Foot Wave.' Getty Images Advertisement 'I would like to play a really archvillain,' Segel told Parade in October 2024. 'I think that I walk this line between charming and creepy, and I always kind of fall at the very end towards charming. But if I fell towards creepy, it could be really interesting.' Segel said he just wants to portray someone 'really bad,' but who 'seems so nice.'
Buzz Feed
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
10 Shows That Got Canceled Out Of The Blue, And 9 That Actually Had Pretty Valid Reasons
There's nothing quite like the sting of seeing y our favorite show get axed out of nowhere. One minute, you're hooked, and the next, it's canceled without warning. This seems especially common with cult-favorite shows, which often don't last more than a few seasons but leave a legacy that lasts for decades. However, not every cancellation is a shock. Between behind-the-scenes drama, plummeting ratings, and scandals, some shows practically sealed their own fate. From fan favorites that ended way too soon to series that, frankly, had it coming, here are 10 cancellations that blindsided fans and nine that made perfect sense. The shows that were cancelled out of the blue: 1. FX's Terriers was released in 2010, lasting a single season, despite incredibly favorable reviews. This detective drama followed ex-cop and recovering alcoholic Hank and his best friend, Britt, as private detectives in California. Then-FX president John Landgraf explained that it was because of low ratings and an ineffective marketing campaign. 2. From the mind of the problematic Joss Whedon, Firefly developed a dedicated fanbase quite rapidly. However, it wasn't enough for the network, as it failed to pull in ratings. It only aired 11 out of its 14 scheduled episodes. 3. Pushing Daisies similarly gained a solid following. Unfortunately, a few different factors played into its ending. For one, the 2007-2008 Hollywood Writers Strike. Secondly, ratings weren't high. The show ended after two seasons. Powered By 4. For as short-lived as it was, Freaks and Geeks built a cult-like following. Even though the show is responsible for launching the careers of James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, and Linda Cardellini, to name a few, it only lasted a single season. According to NME, its cancellation after one season (NBC never aired six episodes in its original run) was the result of an erratic schedule, poor marketing, and creative differences. 5. NCIS: Hawai'i had already developed a pretty strong base. However, CBS felt like it wasn't enough. The company said cost and ratings, along with trying to keep their schedule fresh, led them to nix the show. Powered By 6. Netflix's The Get Down brought a refreshing take on musical dramas and earned great praise. However, the streamer decided to nix the show after the first season due to a reported high production cost, behind-the-scenes issues, and other factors that led the show to end. Powered By 7. Another Netflix series gone too soon, Mindhunter, followed FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench, with psychologist Wendy Carr, as they interviewed serial killers to gain an understanding of their psyche and use that information to solve similar cases. However, the show's creator explained that the show had begun getting too expensive, and Netflix wanted to appeal to a broader audience, so they pulled the plug after two seasons. Powered By 8. There are a few reasons why Don't Trust The B***h in Apartment 23, unfortunately, didn't make it past two seasons. According to Krysten Ritter, who starred as Chloe, ABC nixed the show after poor scheduling and being "dragged around by a sh*t-smeared dog." Powered By 9. Lovecraft Country started bubbling up as a promising series on HBO. However, in the middle of the production for its second season, it was abruptly canceled. Without an official cause by the network, rumors began swirling about its cancellation, especially since Season 1 ended on a cliffhanger. Some believed it could've been due to the high cost of production; others said that it was because there wasn't a solid vision for the next season. According to Tinderbox: HBO's Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers by James Andrew Miller, several sources from HBO alleged that showrunner Misha Green created a "toxic" and "hostile" work environment. Powered By 10. My So-Called Life was another fan favorite that developed a cult-like following after its conclusion. However, low ratings and uncertainty about its target audience caused ABC to cancel the show after two seasons. The shows that were cancelled for valid reasons: 11. House of Cards became a Netflix mainstay in the 2010s, but once sexual misconduct allegations against its star Kevin Spacey emerged, they decided to pull the plug. Its sixth and final season focused on Claire Underwood after rewrites and reshoots. Powered By 12. TLC's reality show, 19 Kids And Counting, ran for 10 seasons, following Jim Bob Duggar and his wife, Michelle, and their 19 children. In 2015, the show was canceled after Josh Duggar, their eldest son, faced allegations of child molestation. Powered By 13. After ABC ordered a reboot of Roseanne for a 10th season, the show's star fumbled the bag completely. Roseanne Barr went off on a racist Twitter rant targeting former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. ABC swiftly took action, announcing that the show would be canceled. However, they later reworked the series into The Conners. Powered By 14. In addition to poor ratings, Clone High 's initial cancellation was due to the backlash it faced for its offensive portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi, which led to hunger strikes in India, according to reports. The show later received a reboot without Gandhi's inclusion. Powered By 15. A television adaptation of the 1988 movie Heathers was set to debut on the Paramount Network. However, it faced several delays initially and raised concerns surrounding its subject matter, particularly school shootings. It was ultimately canceled, but the show eventually aired. Powered By 16. HBO nearly had a hit on its hands with Luck. According to CBC, the death of three racehorses on set and some major pushback from PETA led the network to cancel the show after its first season. What's worse is that Luck was already working on its second season by the time network executives called it off. Powered By 17. Louis C.K.'s downfall included the cancellation of the FX show Louie. The show went on an "extended hiatus," but once the comedian confirmed that the allegations of sexual misconduct against him were true, the network cut ties, and it never returned. Powered By 18. Megyn Kelly made her switch from Fox to NBC, and the transition was hardly smooth. Megyn Kelly Today was canceled after she said that it was okay for people to wear blackface as a Halloween costume. Powered By 19. Finally, there's The Briefcase. This show followed two financially struggling families, each given $100,000 — but with a catch. Over 72 hours, they had to decide whether to keep the money or share some (or all) of it with the other family in need, whom they learned more about along the way. The show faced heavy backlash, with critics arguing it exploited the less fortunate. Ultimately, it suffered dismal ratings and was canceled after just one season.
Express Tribune
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
8 sitcoms to binge while waiting for the 'Malcolm in the Middle' revival
Fans of Malcolm in the Middle have a major reason to celebrate, with a four-episode revival landing later this year on Disney+. The new instalments will feature most of the original cast and promise a fresh wave of chaos and heartfelt moments that made the show a generation-defining classic. If you are finding the wait unbearable, it might be the perfect time to dive into other series that capture a similar offbeat spirit. When Malcolm in the Middle first aired on Fox in 2000, it shook up the sitcom format with its single-camera style, absence of canned laughter, surreal yet grounded storytelling, and frequent breaking of the fourth wall. In the years since, many shows have borrowed and evolved this formula. Here are eight sitcoms to binge that echo the magic of Malcolm in the Middle. 1. Raising Hope (2010–2014) From the creator of My Name Is Earl, this quirky family sitcom follows young Jimmy Chance as he unexpectedly becomes a single dad to baby Hope. Featuring hilarious, often absurd family dynamics, Raising Hope delivers a sweet, off-kilter humour that Malcolm fans will instantly appreciate. 2. Modern Family (2009–2020) A multi-generational look at modern life, Modern Family uses a mockumentary format and single-camera setup to brilliant effect. Its sharp humour, heartwarming moments, and chaotic family energy make it a perfect binge while waiting for Malcolm and the gang to return. 3. Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000) Although short-lived, Freaks and Geeks left a lasting mark. This coming-of-age dramedy captures the awkwardness of adolescence with sharp wit and raw realism, much like Malcolm's journey through the madness of his own family and school life. 4. Everybody Hates Chris (2005–2009) Inspired by comedian Chris Rock's childhood, Everybody Hates Chris offers a hilarious, relatable portrayal of growing up in a tough Brooklyn neighbourhood. Its dry humour, voiceover narration, and underdog protagonist feel very much in the spirit of Malcolm. 5. Arrested Development (2003–2006, 2013–2019) If you love dysfunctional families who are their own worst enemies, Arrested Development is essential viewing. Known for its intricate jokes, layered storytelling, and rapid-fire humour, it's a brilliant substitute for Malcolm in the Middle's chaotic charm. 6. Grounded for Life (2001–2005) This underrated gem follows the working-class Finnerty family as they juggle parenting teenagers while barely holding themselves together. With its fast pace, heartfelt core, and mischievous humour, it will easily fill the Malcolm void. 7. The Middle (2009–2018) No relation to Malcolm, but The Middle captures the struggles of a working-class family with plenty of humour and heart. Starring Patricia Heaton, it portrays the beautiful mess of raising kids and making ends meet in small-town America. 8. Malcolm in the Middle (Rewatch!) And of course, why not revisit the original? Whether it's for the zany cold opens, Reese's ridiculous antics, or Lois's unhinged parenting style, now is the perfect time to rediscover everything that made Malcolm in the Middle so groundbreaking.
