User Reviews

I never caught "Undeclared" in its short run on Fox, but recently purchased the DVD set based on the strength of "Freaks and Geeks", Judd Apatow's too-smart-for-TV TV series from 1999-2000. "Undeclared" (like "Freaks and Geeks") is cleverly written, funny, and full of characters you'll begin to care about almost immediately.

Many of the series' funnier moments come from Ron (Seth Rogen), whose wit is a defense for his basic insecurity. If you thought he was funny as Cal in "The 40 Year Old Virgin", you'll love him here, too.

There are some great cameo performances from Will Ferrell as a speed-addicted research paper writer, Fred Willard as a bored history professor, and Ted Nugent and Adam Sandler as themselves. The DVD has a lot of really funny unaired footage, including an entire episode that never made it to TV.

My reaction to "Undeclared" was the same as when "Freaks and Geeks" went off the air - sad that I wouldn't see these characters anymore, but really glad that I'd seen the few episodes made.

Funny how this show had alot of big names and only lasted a season. Freaks & Geeks stars had alot of guest appearances and big name celebrities, this show had great potential.

Network: Fox; Genre: Comedy; Rating: TV-14 (language, adult content and suggested sex); Available: DVD; Perspective: Modern Classic (star range: 1 - 5);

Seasons Reviewed: Complete Series (1 season)

After NBC's cancellation of the soulful high school dramedy "Freaks and Geeks" (an act still devastating for that minority that actually puts thought into what they watch on TV), producer Judd Apatow lead a heartbroken cast and crew on his own personal mission to recreate the fun of "Freaks" under a new title, a new setting and a logically progressive premise. Out of Apatow's stress, bitterness, anger and undeniable raw talent, comes "Undeclared". Unfortunately, he took the idea to Gail Berman's Fox network in the middle of the gluttonous reality show fad. But before that inevitable cancellation befell the unluckiest guy in the business, "Undeclared" was a charming, intensely enjoyable little concoction.

"Undeclared" doesn't just take the kids from high school to college, Apatow advances it into a contemporary setting, cuts the length in half and this time goes for straight comedy instead of a dramatic mix. Also families who felt they could gather around "Freaks" should hed the warning that "Undeclared" is decidedly more adult, delving into all the sophomoric humor and sexual situations you'd expect from a group of guys on their own for the first time - but under Apatow's lense, you've rarely see it with this level of sophistication.

Mirroring Apatow's search for public acceptance, "Undeclared" stars Steven Karp (perfectly cast Jay Barucel, play quite possibly the most unabashedly geeky main character TV has given us) as our underdog college freshman who seeks to change his geeky high school image with his new found freedom at UNEC - the University of North Eastern California. With the help of his roommate, British ladies man Lloyd (Charlie Hunnan) and suite-mates Ron (Seth Rogen, "Freaks and Geeks", now blessed with a meatier roll and writing credit) and Marshall (Timm Sharp, "Six Feet Under") they seek any means to amuse themselves between the late-night cram sessions and all-day Girls Gone Wild binges. "Undeclared" captures the sheer boredom of the freedom that comes with college better than any show I've ever seen. Across the hall is Steven's new crush, Lizzie (Carla Gallo), and dorm hotty Rachael (Monica Keena, a star in the making). Most of the action takes place inside the dorm and like "Freaks" it is populated with a colorful group including suit-mate Susan Payano, "the new Harris" Jared Groddie, Amy Pohler and Steven's divorced dad, Hal (Loudan Wainwright III), who can't seem to stay away.

This time, now desperate for a hit, Apatow is trying to hard to please, lining up big name guest star friends like Adam Sandler, Fred Willard, Will Ferrell, Mary Kay Place and Ben Stiller. But the real fun, particularly for Apatow fans, comes when the "Freaks" alumni start showing up and "Undeclared" becomes a full-on class reunion. Jason Segal about steals the series once again in the obsessive boyfriend role. Samm Levine, Martin Starr, Busey Phillips, Nattasha Melnick and Steve Bannos all make return appearances in new characters. Levine, in particular, is an absolute hoot as a pickle-obsessed frat leader in the must-see 2-part satire of fraternity life "Rush and Pledge" and "Hell Week".

OK, I'll admit, neither "Freaks and Geeks" nor "Undeclared" may not sound like the most compelling thing in the world on paper. But Apatow's genius lies in his ability to create characters so real they could be your best friends and fosters a tightly cohesive chemistry among the cast. He makes us love each of them in some way. The show is made up of individual moments, a highlight being a dance-off between Keena and Payano that threatens to bring back OMC's "How Bizarre". The laughs live almost entirely on character bits. Like "Geeks", this is a show you lounge in. Its world is so lasting that, with only 13 episodes, "Undeclared" is one of those shows that grows in your mind the more you think about it and the further from it you get.

The saddest part of all this is that "Undeclared" was canceled right as it appeared to have hit it's stride. The first half of the series, while still fun, is clearly a work in progress before the show finds itself and we kick into classic material in the last half. "Freaks and Geeks" is a modern masterpiece and it says a lot that this semi-sequel is a worthy follow-up. Those stung by the short life of "Freaks" should find solace in this gem. "Undeclared" was not just another trip to the cliché-free teen series for Apatow, but it is the quintessential modern college series. Hip, insightful, compact, funny and lots of fun. Of all the recent shows that where cut down too soon, "Undeclared" ranks high on the list. It is one of those TV shows, like "Geeks" that will be appreciated by those who don't even like TV.

* * * * / 5

This is a rare television gem that relies on originality and cleverness to bring a diverse group of characters to life without using the usual sitcom gimmicks to drag it down. The series is fast-paced going quickly from one funny little scene to another all the while showing us the quirkiness of these University of North Eastern California students. One thing that makes this fun and smart show stand out even more is the fact that the show was cast first and then a pilot was written based on the personalities of the primary actors making their characters even more funny and human than any others on TV. Make time to see this wonderful show and I'm sure you won't regret it. The writing is excellent and the cast truly shines in what I'm sure will be star-making performances. I only hope people will see this great show for what it is, appreciate it and not let it suffer the same fate of producer Judd Apatow's previous effort the marvelous "Freaks and Geeks".

My friend first recommended this show to me a few months ago. I looked it up and saw that it was a sitcom featuring a bunch of college freshmen. Immediately, I thought it sounded pretty interesting, but couldn't find it on any streaming services and probably ended up getting distracted by something else and forgot about it (shoutout Gen-Z attention span). Then, one day in June, I was buying something on Amazon and needed something else to add to my cart to pass $25 for my order and unlock free shipping. I looked for a little bit until I remembered my friend's previous recommendation. I thought, "You know, maybe this could be a good show to pick up. I'm a college student, but I'm not at my campus right now because of the coronavirus pandemic. This could help bring back some memories of school while I'm stuck at home". I ended up adding the DVD box set to my cart and waited to see what it had in store for me.

Now, nearly two months later after watching on and off, I can say that this show not only dearly reminded me of life at college, it made me miss it so much! Like many others, I was consumed by the sheer relatable-ness of the show and the characters. Every single episode featured some aspect of my own college experience that I could think back to and reminisce on. What truly shines about this show and what made is so believable is the exceptional cast that you grow to love from the pilot. From the duality of masculinity and awkwardness between Lloyd (Charlie Hunnam) and Steven (Jay Baruchel), to the easygoing "bro" friendship between Ron (Seth Rogen) and Marshall (Timm Sharp), to the bubbly, outgoing, sister-like roommates of Rachel (Monica Keena) and Lizzie (Carla Gallo), everyone plays their part beautifully and the result is a friend group that I couldn't help wishing I had more of during my own freshman year. The supporting cast deserves mention as they were also outstanding in their respective performances--some include Steven's weird but supportive father Hal (Loudon Wainwright III), Lizzie's psycho boyfriend Eric (Jason Segel), and quirky roommate Tina (Christina Payano).

It was clear that the actors and actresses in Undeclared had fantastic chemistry among everyone from the first time we meet them. Part of this had to do with the fact that the actors were cast first and had their characters built around them, rather than the other way around. This led to every interaction feeling just so natural and realistic (I cannot emphasize enough how relatable this acting is!) All of the relationships between the characters, how they transition to college, the feelings whirling through their minds, the expectations and anxieties, etc. Everything is exactly like real life--nothing is fluffed up here. Just pure, raw college emotions. I want to especially give a mention to Baruchel, who played the uncomfortable, insecure, just-trying-to-fit-in-freshman phenomenally. I loved that the show included a character like him because, honestly, anybody who watches his interactions and mannerisms can relate to something that he is feeling or doing at least once. It was very nice to have a character that reflected reality instead of the stereotypes we see all too often in sitcoms nowadays.

The writers also deserve equal praise for their ability to convey the all-too-real feelings that every college student knows yet doesn't want to talk about while including a healthy amount of comedic moments to balance it out. They brought something unique about college to each episode and managed to portray a genuine on-screen college experience that still to this day illustrates what that memorable period in your life feels like. I found many of the events described being relatable to experiences that I've either been through personally or known people that have. Big shout-out here goes to Judd Apatow, the creator and brainchild of this magnificent show. While he didn't write every episode, his influence is felt throughout.

One particular aspect of college I wanted to point out because I thought they particularly delivered well were the romantic relationships. Being quite a romantic person personally and having dabbled with dating and relationships during my own college experience so far, this part was especially intriguing to me going into the show and I think they nailed it! I absolutely loved the way they described the troubling emotions and uncertainties going through the characters' heads as they try to work their minds around dating in this new environment while at the same time figuring out their own identity. Again, it's so refreshing to see some realistic scenarios play out and not fall into the decision of rehashing the same cliche romance stories we've seen time and time again. It made the show infinitely more intriguing for me as a viewer to always wonder how the next episode would develop the romance between the characters.

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As many people know, Undeclared was canceled somewhat unexpectedly after it's first season. Going into the show knowing this, I felt a sense of bittersweet sadness--knowing that the episodes I would watch were just the beginning of a forever-unfinished concept of a show. However, after finishing the final episode just a couple hours ago, I didn't find myself thinking of the episodes that I "missed out" on, but rather I felt enamored. I felt truly enamored that I had the privilege to view this special part of the entertainment industry that was wrongfully-neglected after so many talented people took the opportunity and desire to create such a living, breathing world that was so relatable and personable to all of us in some way. I couldn't be more grateful for the joyous laughter, personal lessons, and pure college fun that this show brought to my life during an otherwise dull and emotionless time.

This is just about the best college based comedy show there has ever been. Due to there being around 6 main characters there are so many stories and strands of plot weaving around almost every episode. And then you have steve's dad and lizzie's boyfriend and bit characters like Perry all having great turns. Actually Eric turned out to be my favourite character. He was truly hilarious.

While the STORY isn't AS good as Freaks and Geeks, its more focused on being a comedy and it greatly succeeds at that!

Judd Apatow had won my heart and sympathy with his show 'Freaks and Geeks', a show that was canceled soon after it started. So i thought i might give this show a try, knowing that this one too had been canceled soon after it's launch.

I was not all disappointed but not all happy either.. The only tag this show has is 'comedy' and that is the only thing i couldn't find in all of the story line , the drama and the weak acting. Although this show had great actors and great appearances, it just didn't get to me..

The only thing i loved in this show was Seth Rogens and the occasional appearances of Jason Segel. The story is also good, not great. It's filled with old book clichés and expected turns which won't keep you hooked for that long.

I don't exactly disapprove of this show, but it just wasn't up to my taste.. You might have a different taste and you might enjoy the show, but in my opinion we have so many great shows going on, why not let bygones be bygones.

If you liked Freaks and Geeks this is a must-see. Judd Apatow once again created a hysterical and touching series with characters that really become more like friends. The half hour format makes these a bit lighter than Freaks and Geeks - and when this show was canceled they weren't quite as able to still wrap things up as with the earlier show. But this certainly filled the void in my TV-viewing life left by the departure of Freaks and Geeks. Many of the members of the cast from that show appear here - some as regulars, others in hysterical guest performances. This is definitely one of those watch it in a single weekend marathon kind of shows.

College freshman Steve Karp (Jay Baruchel) moves in with older roommates Lloyd Haythe (Charlie Hunnam). Ron Garner (Seth Rogen) and Marshall Nesbitt (Timm Sharp) are the other guys in the suite. He befriends neighbors Lizzie Exley (Carla Gallo) and Rachel Lindquist (Monica Keena).

This is Judd Apatow's next TV show after the critically acclaimed 'Freaks and Geeks'. The students are a likable fun group. Steve is a geek loser, but surprisingly sleeps with one of the girl who's trying to break up with her boyfriend played Jason Segel. There's nothing new in this show. Although it's great to see some of the up and comers like Amy Poehler, Kevin Hart, and Jenna Fischer have minor roles. The show is falling in line with much of Judd's later works.

Of course, this show has been said to be a spin-off of sorts to Freaks And Geeks, and it certainly gives off that vibe to a degree, but in a college setting. It took me a while to get used to Jay's character, but he really does play the main character Steven, the awkward & out-of-place feeling college boy. The first 4 or 5 episodes took a lot to watch because there wasn't much happening and it felt slow, however, the early 2000's really started to shine afterwards throughout the series, making it very set in its time considering the show ran from 2001-2003. The humor is also feels like the humor that can't be replicated, and I think that's what makes this show so special. Not only does the humor still feel in its time, but it also feels very original... personally I think it might the best thing about the show. I personally prefer the humor in this show over Freaks And Geeks humor, but of course there is no better show than Freaks And Geeks imo. My favorite episode is the will Ferrell one, absolute classic. I am really glad I had this to watch for the first time and fall back on after I had just watched Freaks And Geeks for the first time. Overall, despite some minor flaws, this show was absolute gold, and like Freaks And Geeks, it was probably canceled way too soon.

The show began with a good deal of potential. However, I felt like the show had an identity crisis. It partly wanted to contain the substance of a drama with a more mature storyline like "Freaks and Geeks" and it partly wanted to become some sort of "Saved by the Bell"... it ended up leaning toward the latter.

The later episodes became flatter and it became apparent the plot was reusing old familiar story lines and overall going nowhere. However, the first few episodes are enjoyable and worth a watch.

If you're looking for other quality teen-college dramas, I recommend "Life as we know it".

As someone with a deep affection for "Freaks and Geeks," I was looking forward to seeing this show on DVD. Although perhaps unfair to compare the two, I do feel that comparing and contrasting (in true college essay question style) highlights the shortcomings of "Undeclared."

CHARACTER SPECIFICITY. The freaks and geeks of "Freaks and Geeks" had sharply defined personalities. By contrast, these people are very general types. The main character is a standard issue nerd. Seth Rogen seems to wander into scenes without a character to play.

CHARACTER SYMPATHY. The kids on F&G formed little family units, and bonded and took care of each other. The "Undeclared" kids are basically all strangers to each other, and are as likely to compete or argue as to connect.

EMOTIONAL PULL. F&G took place during high school, and the emotional vulnerability of the characters and their growing pains gave the show a warm emotional poignancy. Think of the episode where one boy discovered that his father was cheating on his mother, and how this, in turn, caused Sam to worry about his own family's stability. The college kids in "Undeclared" are a selfish, immature bunch interested in sex and beer, and they're far more difficult to connect with as a viewer.

COMPLEX STORIES. Because it was a half hour longer, F&G had far richer stories and ideas. But even accounting for this, "Undeclared" still comes off pretty anemic in the story department. A typical "Undeclared" episode takes a small idea and does very little with it.

HUMOR. F&G was hilarious. The episode where Sam wore the disco suit to school is a classic. Nothing in "Undeclared" can rival that level of humor.

Watching this show helped me relive my college days (just a couple years ago). However, that's only part of the reason I enjoyed "Undeclared".

The characters were funny and realistic on certain levels. Steve Karp was the kind of lead character many guys, if not all, could relate to. The girls weren't too bad on the eyes either. Hopefully, most, if not all, will continue to find work as I felt all of them deserved more than this.

I'm surprised that FOX gave up on this so soon. I'm not sure what is going on over there, but they were once known for weird, irreverent, silly, sometimes low budget and clever tv shows. It seems lately that FOX can't do enough to make themselves seem "mainstream".

Sad to see it go.

this show is show hilarious! after one episode (i watched it on accident once after that 70's show, which is still the very best show on tv), i was hooked. My personal favorite episode is the one where steven and lizzie each have a respective night out with their gender, where steven, lloyd (my fav character), ron, and marshall (my 2nd fav character)go to a party and marshall gets lloyd's overflow. lizzie, rachel, and a bunch of extras go to a bar and have a good time also. hilarious episode. the most underrated show on tv, and while th andy richter show looks really good, i hope it doesn't replace the best attempt at a new show since malcolm in the middle (fox works wonders by going against convention...look at it, simpsons is a cartoon, 70's show is a period piece, malcolm introduced a new style, undeclared is breaking new ground, grounded for life is flashbacked, titus is hardcore...man i love fox)watch it, you won't be disappointed

I'm so glad I found this show. It's definetely on my top 10 list of TV shows. I don't get how it isn't more popular.

The actors are incredible and every episode leaves you wanting more.

A must watch in the "comedy" category of TV shows.

This was by no means Apatow's best project, but it was a solid series that kept me entertained throughout its only season. Clever, relevant, and funny plot lines and themes were selected, and damn it made me miss college. The dialogue wasn't always ROTLMAO, but I definitely LOL'd a great deal.

The cast was very good, with many high-profile celebrities making cameo appearances. Baruchel, Hunnam, Rogen, and Sharp had great chemistry, and watching them interact made me want to call up my boys for Madden and beer. I didn't even recognize Hunnam until I looked him up on IMDb. That's Jackson 'Jax' Teller! What range! Jason Segel was also great as stalker-boyfriend Eric.

It's funny when you put one or two awkward scenes in an episode but this show is full of awkwardness you can't watch it without cringing they tried to pull a "college" freaks and geeks and it clearly didn't work.

I was surprised and delighted to find out that Undeclared is by the same guy who produced both Freaks and Geeks & The Critic. I guess I shouldn't have been that surprised, as all three are great shows. It makes me wonder how FOX stays on the air at all with such bungled marketing campaigns. They made Undeclared seem like a brainless teen sex show when it is in fact a smart and very funny half hour of tv. I dislike trendy crap that usually turns on the TRL generation, and the ads made this show seem like it would be in the same vein as other WB crapfests.... but it is a great show. Give it a chance, you will not be disappointed.

The ad campaign Fox ran made this show seem like a TV version of 'American Pie." The truth is much better; in fact, this has the potential to be a truly great show. Produced by Judd Apatow, creator of the much-missed "Freaks and Geeks," Undeclared has many of the same elements that made F&G so loved.

Funny, painful and sweet at the same time, Undeclared will bring back memories of what young adulthood truly is like. Jay Baruchel plays freshman Steven Karp with just the right mixture of burgeoning self-confidence and massive insecurity. The opening scene, where he celebrates his newfound adulthood by tearing his X-Files poster in half, then immediately becoming overwhelmed by remorse, is a classic.

A premiere does not a show make, but this has a lot of promise. Especially for those of who continue to mourn F&G, Undeclared show offers something we haven't seen since the former show's demise: an intelligent, emotionally true portrait of youth.

A shame this show was canceled from FOX. But I guess they needed to make more room for crappy Reality shows and more room for new Sitcoms and cartoon shows that they will yet again cancel so it becomes a full circle (Futurama, and the godly Family Guy).

The show itself was smart, hilarious, and all characters were different, unique and everyone could relate to one of them. From the party/girlgrabbing Brit to the meek lead character played by fellow Canadian Jay, the Virgin, the Skank and we can't leave out the Moron and the Perv/Geek. This show took all the college stereotypes and played it out well. The storylines on each episode were original, quirky, and just plain funny. FOX if it wasn't for the Simpsons and American Idol, you'd be in the gutter.

After watching Freaks and Geeks and falling deeply in love with it I had to fill the void it had left so I did some research and found out about "Undeclared". As I said in my "Freaks and Geeks" review, I worship at the altar of Rogen and Apatow, they are writers and filmmakers whom I look up every single time I think or discuss film and story, to whom I relate almost everything I see, they inspire me in many different ways, they often move me on an emotional level and, best of all, they are truly and constantly hilarious and always get a laugh out of me.

"Undeclared" is a show created by Judd Apatow in 2001 starring Jay Baruchel, Seth Rogen, a very young Charlie Hunnam, Monica Keena, Carla Gallo, Timm Sharp, Loudon Wainwright amongst a slew of guest actor including Jason Segel, Adam Sandler, Will Ferrel and Amy Poehler just to name a few. We follow the main cast, who are freshmen dorm-mates, in their lives in collage through 17 22-minutes-long episodes which each offer a new and different adventure for the characters whilst still maintaing an arch through the whole series.

Once again Apatow and his usual team of writers and directors deliver excellent content which as always starts from and honest and poignant place and develops from there comedy that is both hilarious and touching. These people feel real and well rounded, they all have a complex dynamic in them and you get behind each and everyone of them, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, their struggles, their joys and all in between whilst at the same time laughing really hard at what goes on in their lives without ever feeling as if we are poking fun at these people.

I have written so extensively in the past about why these writers work is so brilliant, I feel like I have exhausted the words to explain it. Their tone is so endearing without ever being melodramatic and their comedy is always genuine and edgy rarely ever being on the nose. As I always say: we laugh with these people, not at them. It seems banal, but looking at all the garbage comedy that we have to endure every year it bears repeating and it is even more important because I feel like we should champion these little gems that got a little lost in the mix.

This show is unfortunately slave of its 22-minute format, it could easily be a 1 hour show for me, so there is not that deep or insightful of a character development you can get into, yet what they manage to do with the time they have is surprising. Look it would be so easy for a show like this, as we see with so many others, to fall into stereotypical characters and story beats, clichéd resolutions and boring developments, with the people represented being turned into one dimensional beings. But the writers are better than this, they give everyone, even the smallest characters, a three dimensional dynamic and thrust them into situations that ring true and develop in ways that are there to say something interesting. Some of the same themes from "Freaks and Geeks" are back and explored in new ways whilst new themes emerge: sexual behavior, finding a place in the world, figuring out affection and love and most of all social dynamics are all explored. From them emerges naturally comedy to the point where it so ingrained in the narrative and organic to the flow of the dialogue you don't even think of it. This is how comedy works and how to do it right.

The cast is brilliantly in place and all deliver personal characterizations with excellent comedic timing that is fundamental in keeping the tone coherent. Jay Baruchel excels at being so likable without ever loosing the vulnerability his character bears. Charlie Hunnam is surprisingly funny, Seth Rogen is really inspired casting in the role of the grumpy guy, Timm Sharp needs only to appear on screen for the laughs to starts flowing and both Gallo and Keena strike a perfect balance between humanity and comedy.

As I said before the show is slave of its time format and it is unfortunately what brings it down many times. There are a couple of episodes in the middle that don't really add up to anything special because they don't get to explore the story beats they are putting forward. Moreover, there is just so much left unexplored it sometimes gets really frustrating, at times there is a really fascinating development going on and the show has to move on to the next beat in order to arrive at a conclusion in each episode and so the story isn't given enough time to breathe.

Still, the overall arch of themes and comedy is too good and contagious to be overcome by these problems and we end up with another great piece of storytelling and laughter by Apatow. I suggest checking this out, it takes a very short time to binge watch and it can be enjoyed by everyone.

The Fox network which usually is patient with their shows bailed out on this very funny series. It was a realistic view of college life from many perspectives. It was brought to you by the same people involved with Freaks and Geeks. A show I never got around to watching but was also critically acclaimed and lamented when cancelled. The cast was very likable and I am sure we will be seeing them elsewhere. If FX or some other outlet decides to start showing these episodes do yourself a favor and watch and enjoy. Will Ferrell's cameo is superb.