Freaks and Geeks/Girlfriends and Boyfriends

Girlfriends and Boyfriends
Season 1, Episode 8
Airdate	January 17, 2000
Production Number	106
Written by	Patty Lin, Paul Feig
Directed by	Leslie Linka Glatter
← 1x07 Carded and Discarded	1x09 → We've Got Spirit
Freaks and Geeks — Season One

Girlfriends and Boyfriends is the eighth episode of the first season of Freaks and Geeks. An ambivalent Lindsay must come to terms with her relationship with Nick and decide how far she wants to take it. Sam makes a new friend and also takes his relationship with Cindy forward, but in an unexpected direction.

Guest Stars: Dave (Gruber) Allen (Jeff Rosso), Steve Bannos (Mr. Kowchevski), Natasha Melnick (Cindy Sanders), Sarah Hagan (Millie Kentner), Jerry Messing (Gordon Crisp), Trace Beaulieu (Mr. Lacovara), Stephanie Erb (Ms. Yeats), R.F. Daley (Mr. Mainzer), Riley Smith (Todd Schellinger), Tom Virtue (Mr. Simpson), Mark Allan Staubach (Mark)

Plot Overview

The episode begins with Lindsay walking through the school hallways while noticing all the frolicking couples along the way. She then meets the Freaks outside, where Nick treats her (quite publicly) as his girlfriend. Sam and the Geeks are assigned their lab partners in biology class for a lab project. To Sam's jealous annoyance, Bill ends up partnered with Cindy while he ends up with Gordon Crisp, a fat kid with a strong body odour.

Nick and Lindsay's public displays of affection don't go unnoticed - Millie warns Lindsay that guys like Nick will want to go 'all the way', and Jeff gives her a pamphlet on sex together with typically 'inspirational' advice. Bill is invited over to Cindy's house to work on their project after school, where he discovers a few surprising things about her. Sam brings Gordon over to his place and the two connect quickly despite Sam's initial apprehension. Gordon winds up giving Sam advice on how to go after Cindy.

The next day, Nick informs Lindsay that his parents are away for the weekend and asks her to come over on Friday night, much to her horror. After school he sends her a rose, which draws the attention of Mrs. Weir. The Weirs wind up giving Lindsay a lecture about sex and how she should exercise some restraint. Following Gordon's advice, Sam joins the yearbook club, of which Cindy is a member. The move pays off immediately as he and Cindy wind up hanging out together after school trying to sell ad space in the yearbook. A visit to Mr. Weir's store ends up with the two of them splitting up to cover more ground, to Sam's annoyance.

When Friday arrives, Sam and the Geeks decide to go and see a movie. Sam invites Gordon as well, and the two wind up having an illuminating conversation. Cindy invites Sam to hang out with her at a fast food restaurant after school. When they meet up though, it becomes clear to Sam that she sees him as a very good friend, a role he grudgingly accepts along with the onerous duties that come with it. Lindsay continues to have reservations about her tryst with Nick, but goes anyway only to find to her bemusement that Nick has some unexpected ideas of his own.

Notes

Featured Music

• "Whipping Post" by The Allman Brothers Band
• "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" by Journey
• "Nights In White Satin" by The Moody Blues
• "Lady" by Styx

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• The New Geek: Sam's makes friends with his lab partner Gordon, who ends up joining the geeks to see a movie.

• Lindsay and Nick: Their relationship becomes official and public, and its status becomes clear to both of them.

• Sam and Cindy: Sam and Cindy finally get past the awkward 'occasional conversation' phase and become full blown friends.

Characters

• Lindsay: An ambivalent Lindsay ends up, somewhat inadvertently, 'officially' becoming Nick's girlfriend, but is not really sure she wants to be with him.

• Sam: Sam finally manages to get close to Cindy and communicate with her, but becomes a close friend to her instead of something more.

Referbacks

• Nick's Audition: Nick refers to his audition with the band 'Dimension' when he talks to Lindsay about their new drummer - the audition took place in the episode I'm With the Band

Trivia

Allusions and References

• Merv Griffin: After Sam's awkward exchange with Cindy by his locker, Neal quips "Woah ho, heh heh, Merv Griffin, nice interview!", a reference to the talk show host and entertainer.

• Rush and Jimi Hendrix: Jeff extolls the virtues of the new album by Rush, the Canadian progressive rock band, implying that his praise doesn't come lightly given that he's seen Jimi Hendrix live. Hendrix, who died 10 years prior to when the series takes place, is noted as being one of the greatest guitarists in rock music history.

• Airplane: Sam suggests that the Geeks see Airplane again, the classic comedy starring Leslie Nielson that came out in summer 1980. Neal and Bill quote some famous lines from the film - "Don't call me Shirley" and "Have you ever seen a grown man naked?"

• The Elephant Man: Lindsay asks Nick if he wants to go and see 'The Elephant Man', the critically acclaimed 1980 David Lynch film about deformed celebrity Joseph Merrick.

• Sylvia Plath: After Cindy recites her poem for the yearbook, the teacher in charge says "Thank you Sylvia Plath", a reference to the precocious mid 20th century poet.

Memorable Moments

• Sam's first proper (and enlightening) conversation with Gordon.

• The Weir's dour conversation with Lindsay about sex.

• As Cindy and Sam hang out at 'Sackie's', the nature of their relationship becomes clear to him.

• Nick's awkward serenade.

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