Paul Feig celebrates the geek in all of us

Paul Feig
Paul Feig says most people feel they are outsiders, and that's what makes writing about teenage geeks so interesting. His series "Freaks and Geeks" didn't last long on NBC but launched the careers of director Judd Apatow and actors Seth Rogan, James Franco and Jason Segel
MPR photo/Euan Kerr

A few seconds into the opening episode of the cult TV series "Freaks and Geeks" viewers see a nerdy character called Sam Weir getting shaken down by the class bully. Neither boy is aware Sam's older sister is watching.

She steps in and saves her brother, chasing the bully away. It should be a happy scene, but everyone feels bad. It's the classic teen experience.

Writer and director Paul Feig has made a career out of capturing moments like this. He created "Freaks and Geeks."

The show was canceled after less than one season, but it launched the careers of Judd Apatow, director of "Knocked Up" and "Superbad," and actors Seth Rogan, James Falco and Jason Siegal.

Today Feig is executive director of the hit TV show "The Office."

He has also turned his hand to writing children's books, starting with "Ignatius MacFarland: Frequenaut!"

Feig told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr he writes about outsiders and specifically geeks, first because many people feel like they don't belong to the cool, hip group, and second because he's truly a geek himself.

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