Undeclared: Why The Spin-off Failed
posted 7 hours ago #
This 28-minute video essay on Undeclared: Why The Spin-off Failed is quite satisfying. There's a long list of shows that, for whatever reason, I've found myself a fan of but they've never lasted very long - Undeclared is one of them. If you've never seen it, I'm not surprised! After Freaks & Geeks, Judd Apatow went on to make a half hour sitcom about a group of college kids and their adjustments to the new found freedom. It may not have aged well but it hit the spot back in 2001.
Moreso tho, the video does a great job of cataloging the history of Judd Apatow's early works, his stumbles and how he shoehorned in a "backdoor pilot" for a spinoff of a show that was cancelled before it ever took off. The list of shows is impressive but the list of talent involved is even wilder - an absurd number of very funny people involved here that would find success much later. Apatow was just too early!
Vaguely related: if you have the means to poke around and find episodes of Other Space, Hyperdrive, Nathan Barley or No Heroics - you'll likely enjoy what you find.
Moreso tho, the video does a great job of cataloging the history of Judd Apatow's early works, his stumbles and how he shoehorned in a "backdoor pilot" for a spinoff of a show that was cancelled before it ever took off. The list of shows is impressive but the list of talent involved is even wilder - an absurd number of very funny people involved here that would find success much later. Apatow was just too early!
Vaguely related: if you have the means to poke around and find episodes of Other Space, Hyperdrive, Nathan Barley or No Heroics - you'll likely enjoy what you find.