What Life Advice Did Jason Segel Receive From Judd Apatow On Sets Of Freaks And Geeks? Here’s What Former Recalled

As a devoted admirer of Jason Segel‘s illustrious career, I find it truly captivating to delve into his reminiscences about the formative years spent on the sets of Freaks and Geeks. The profound impact that Judd Apatow had on Segel’s life and craft cannot be overstated. His advice to improvise, which ultimately led to the creation of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, is a testament to the transformative power of mentorship in the entertainment industry.


Jason Segel reminisces about his experiences on the Freaks and Geeks set, sharing stories from interactions with Judd Apatow and wisdom gleaned from the show’s executive producer.

During a chat with Willie Giest on The Today Show, the actor from How I Met Your Mother disclosed that Apatow’s guidance played a significant role in penning the blockbuster film, Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

During an interview on The Today Show, Segel shared that Judd had pulled him and a few others aside and said, “If you can improvise as well as you are here, you can write scripts.

He continued by saying, ‘I’ll show you how to do it because you need to learn.’ This is what the director, Apatow, advised, which helped the actor improve his scriptwriting skills for future projects after Freaks and Geeks.

The series aired for just 18 episodes on NBC, and it was terminated by the streaming service before the full first season could be shown.

Besides the series marking a debut for the actor, Freaks and Geeks significantly propelled the careers of Seth Rogen, James Franco, Linda Cardellini, and Busy Phillips as well.

Regarding his 1999 show, Segel explained, “I think this is what transpired: Freaks and Geeks took place; we did another show named Undeclared with a similar cast. I believe that Judd Apatow embarked on a revenge crusade, reminiscent of The Count of Monte Cristo, to prove Hollywood wrong and demonstrate that these actors were talented.

In a subsequent disclosure, it was unveiled that Apatow, leveraging his connections, began casting the stars from Freaks and Geeks in various films.

In his career, Seth achieved significant roles such as The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up. Subsequently, Segel took on the character of Marshall in How I Met Your Mother, sharing the screen with Josh Radnor, Neil Patrick Harris, Cobie Smulders, and Allyson Hannigan.

Despite Freaks and Geeks not airing after its initial season, it remains deeply cherished by the cast members. Jason expressed that he referred to it as “undoubtedly one of the most enriching experiences of my life.” He added that it has influenced everything he’s done since then.

As for Segel and Apatow, the duo returned for movies like This Is 40 and Pineapple Express.

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2024-10-19 16:52