Lindsay tries to convince Harold to let her join her friends at a Who concert. Kim and Lindsay accidentally run over Millie's dog. Kim starts hanging out with Millie. Lindsay wants to tell Millie the truth about her dog, but Kim doesn't. Meanwhile, Nick teaches himself to play guitar and writes a love ballad for Lindsay and decides to play it for her despite Kens' objections. Ms. Haverchuck stuns Bill with the news that she has been dating Coach Fredricks.
WAR
61.1
Wins Above Replacement
“The Little Things” ranks #14 of 18 Freaks and Geeks episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 78.5 — Elite. The episode packs 75 scored jokes at 2.1 per minute, averaging 6.9 on craft and 6.7 on impact, with Sam landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
Ken · Amy: THANKS, KEN. / YEAH. YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, I, UH, I HAD MY APPENDIX OUT, SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THERE.
Ken Amy Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Mr. Rosso: HEY, I'VE GOT A TEST WHICH REVEALS WHAT TYPE OF JOB YOU'RE BEST SUITED FOR. YOU WANT TO TAKE IT?
Mr. Rosso Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Mr. Rosso: MR. ROSSO TRYING TO BREAK INTO HIS CAR WITH A COAT HANGER WHILE SINGING 'IF MY FRIENDS COULD SEE ME NOW' [then]: I LOCKED MY KEYS IN MY MOTHER'S CAR.
Mr. Rosso: AND NOW ALL MY COMPATRIOTS ARE GETTIN' RICH WORKING WALL STREET, AND I CAN'T GET MY KEYS OUT OF MY MOTHER'S CAR.
Mr. Rosso Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Cindy: YOU CAN'T BREAK UP WITH ME. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE NICE. THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY I'M GOING OUT WITH YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Cindy Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch All Jokes — 75 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Unknown adult/authority figure: SERGEANT PEPPER, WHERE'S THE REST OF THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND?
Lindsay · Harold: YEAH, IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN. / OH, AND YOU'RE NOT? / NO, I'M A DEMOCRAT. / YOU KNOW, EVERYONE'S A DEMOCRAT TILL THEY GET A LITTLE MONEY. THEN THEY COME TO THEIR SENSES.
Freak/burnout character: THE PORN STAR? [in response to 'George Bush is coming']
Freak character (likely Nick or Daniel): BUSH PROBABLY DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE TUBA.
Burnout friend · Amy: [Burnout mimics 'Hail to the Chief' badly out of tune while Amy reacts with horror]
Daniel (Desario) · Security/authority figure: HOW WE EVER GONNA PLAN OUR COUP? / DON'T EVEN JOKE, DESARIO. I CAN GET YOU THROWN IN JAIL JUST FOR SAYING THAT.
Daniel: COOOOOUP. COUP. COUP. [Daniel chanting softly as he's escorted away]
Daniel Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Geek character (likely Bill or Neal): ONCE YOU START DOWN THAT DARK PATH, FOREVER WILL IT DOMINATE YOUR DESTINY. AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT YODA ALWAYS SAYS.
Cindy · Todd · Cheerleader: NOT ALL OUR CHEERLEADERS ARE PRETTY. / YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN. / TODD, SHUT UP. / I WASN'T TALKING ABOUT YOU. / GOD, WOULD YOU GET OVER YOURSELF?
Cindy · Sam · Todd: SAM, YOU'RE NOT GONNA DEFEND ME? / WHAT? HE SAID HE WASN'T TALKING ABOUT YOU. / SO YOU'RE JUST GONNA LET IT GO? / WOULD YOU STOP? / I LIKE SAM. / WHAT, DO YOU WANT TO SEE US FIGHT? / I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT.
Bill · Neal: MOUSETRAP! I WIN! / CONGRATULATIONS, BILL. MAYBE YOU CAN GET THE SCHOOL TO START A TEAM.
Sam · Bill: ALL SHE EVER WANTS TO DO IS MAKE OUT AND STUFF. / I'D KILL TO BE THAT BORED.
Sam Bill Setup/Punchline Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Bill · Neal · Sam: WHY ARE YOU GOING OUT WITH HER? / BECAUSE SHE'S A GODDESS! / AM I THE LAST SANE MAN ON THIS GODFORSAKEN PLANET?
Neal: PASS HER OVER HERE. I'D MOVE TO THE MALL IF SHE WANTED ME TO.
Neal Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Ken: UM, 'CAUSE I HATE IT THERE? / HOW COME EVERYONE ALWAYS THINKS I'M JOKING ALL THE TIME? SOMETHING TO DO WITH MY VOICE, ISN'T IT?
Ken Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Ken: SHE WAS THE BEST MOMMY MONEY COULD BUY.
Ken Deadpan/Understatement Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Ken: IT'S, UH, IF I WAS DATING YOU WHEN YOU WERE JUST BORN, THINGS, UH, MIGHT BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT... BUT NOW YOU'RE ALL GIRL NOW, SO IT'S OK.
Ken Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Ken · Amy: THANKS, KEN. / YEAH. YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, I, UH, I HAD MY APPENDIX OUT, SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THERE.
Ken Amy Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Lindsay · Mr. Rosso: I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. / WHY? / BECAUSE I'M A DEMOCRAT.
Mr. Rosso: I GUESS ME AND MY HIPPIE FRIENDS WERE ALL JUST WASTING OUR TIME AT BERKELEY DEMONSTRATING AND STOPPING AN UNJUST WAR. PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE BOTHERED.
Mr. Rosso: I'VE GOT THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD! 12 GRAND A YEAR, AND I'M OVERPAID.
Mr. Rosso Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Sam · Cindy: DID YOU HAVE A GOOD LUNCH? / I THOUGHT THE CAFETERIA FOOD LOOKED A LITTLE GROSS, SO I HAD AN APPLE. IT WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD. IF YOU LIKE SALISBURY STEAK.
Sam Cindy Awkward Silence Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Kim: I WANT TO ASK HIM ABOUT THE ALIENS AT ROSWELL.
Kim Character Comedy Absurdist Bill · Neal: [BAD ENGLISH ACCENT] IF IT WERE ME, I'D TAKE HER TO A BROADWAY SHOW. / BROADWAY? WE'RE IN MICHIGAN. / [NORMAL VOICE] DINNER THEATER?
Neal · Bill: THE JERK IS PLAYING AT THE DISCOUNT THEATER. THAT'S NOT EXACTLY ROMANTIC. / LAUGHTER IS THE ULTIMATE APHRODISIAC. GET A WOMAN LAUGHING AND YOU'VE GOT A WOMAN LOVING.
Geek · Bill: YOU COULD MAKE HER SOMETHING. LIKE OUT OF PAPER MACHE. / YEAH, THAT'S GREAT. IT'S FROM THE HEART.
Geek Bill Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Neal · Harris · Group: HEY, HARRIS? WHAT KIND OF PRESENTS DO YOU GET JUDITH? / JUDITH HAS VERY PARTICULAR TASTES. ABOUT THE ONLY THING SHE EVER WANTS IS SCENTED OILS AND PLENTY OF TIME WITH HER MAN. / Everybody: ECCH!
Sam's mom (Jean) · Sam: YOUR GRANDMOTHER GAVE THIS TO ME WHEN I WAS JUST ABOUT CINDY'S AGE. IT'S AN HEIRLOOM. [...] AFTER ALL, THIS IS YOUR FIRST LOVE.
Ken: IT MEANS THAT SHE WAS PACKING BOTH A GUN AND THE HOLSTER.
Ken Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Mr. Rosso · Ken: Rosso conducting a counseling session in a cramped temporary 'office' (a broom closet or similar) after being displaced by Secret Service
Ken · Mr. Rosso: I MIGHT BE GAY. / I SEE. THAT'S COOL. / AND, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT YOU'D BE A GOOD PERSON TO TALK TO ABOUT IT, SINCE YOU'RE GAY. / I'M NOT GAY.
Ken · Mr. Rosso: WHY DID YOU THINK THAT? / I DON'T KNOW. YOU JUST KINDA HAVE THIS WAY ABOUT YOU, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU WITH A WOMAN. / I DON'T BRING DATES TO SCHOOL.
Mr. Rosso · Ken: THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING GAY. IT'S JUST NOT MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE. / I THINK I'D BETTER GET GOING. / KEN, YOU CAN STAY AND TALK ABOUT THIS. / NO, I DON'T THINK I CAN.
Mr. Rosso: MR. ROSSO TRYING TO BREAK INTO HIS CAR WITH A COAT HANGER WHILE SINGING 'IF MY FRIENDS COULD SEE ME NOW' [then]: I LOCKED MY KEYS IN MY MOTHER'S CAR.
Mr. Rosso · Lindsay: THE BUSH PEOPLE FOUND THE ONES YOU WROTE TOO 'SOPHISTICATED.' / SOPHISTICATED? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? / THAT'S CODE FOR 'NICE TRY, BUT THIS IS A GLORIFIED PHOTO OPPORTUNITY.'
Lindsay: OOH. MAYBE IF I'M LUCKY, HE'LL TELL ME WHICH STEAKHOUSE HAS THE BEST PRIME RIB.
Lindsay Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement Mr. Rosso: AND NOW ALL MY COMPATRIOTS ARE GETTIN' RICH WORKING WALL STREET, AND I CAN'T GET MY KEYS OUT OF MY MOTHER'S CAR.
Mr. Rosso Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Cindy · Sam: SO I TOLD TODD THAT REPUBLICANS AREN'T...SELFISH. IT'S JUST THAT THEY DON'T BELIEVE POOR PEOPLE SHOULD GET HANDOUTS. I MEAN, THEY SHOULD GET JOBS. HANDOUTS JUST MAKE THEM LAZY, DON'T YOU THINK? / UH, I DON'T KNOW. I GUESS SO. / WELL, THEY DO.
Cindy Sam Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Sam: AND SPEAKING OF HANDOUTS, HA HA, UH, I GOT YOU SOMETHING.
Sam Wordplay/Pun Cringe/Discomfort Cindy · Sam: WHAT IS IT? / IT'S AN HEIRLOOM NECKLACE. IT'S BEEN IN OUR FAMILY FOR GENERATIONS. / HOW MUCH DID IT COST? / UM, I DON'T KNOW. IT'S AN HEIRLOOM.
Cindy Sam Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Sam · Cindy: WELL, DO YOU WANT ME TO PUT IT ON YOU? / NO, THAT'S OK. YOU KNOW, IT'S METAL, SO IT'D BE COLD ON MY NECK AND EVERYTHING.
Sam Cindy Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Lindsay: WHAT--IF YOU HAVE A ZIT, YOU'RE NOT ENTITLED TO AN OPINION? IS THAT IT?
Lindsay Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Lindsay · Harold Weir: ISN'T THAT STUPID? THEY'RE AFRAID OF REAL QUESTIONS. / HE'S NOT COMING TO YOUR HIGH SCHOOL TO BE INTERROGATED BY A BUNCH OF PIMPLE-FACED TEENAGERS.
Lindsay: MOM, BUSY DOING WHAT? WAITING FOR THE PRESIDENT TO DIE SO HE CAN TAKE OVER?
Lindsay Dark/Subversive Irony/Sarcasm Harold (Dad): YOUR ONLY AFFILIATION RIGHT NOW TO ANY PARTY IS TO THE WEIR PARTY. WE NEED HELP.
Harold: AND MAYBE YOU COULD WEAR ONE OF THE STORE'S NEW T-SHIRTS. [Harold produces A1 Sporting Goods T-shirt for Lindsay to wear in front of VP Bush]
Harold Visual Gag Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Sam · Bill · Cindy: HE HATES THESE CANS! STAY AWAY FROM THE CANS! [Sam, Cindy, and Bill watching The Jerk in Sam's living room]
Sam · Cindy: WHAT ARE YOU-- OW! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? / I'M GIVING YOU SOMETHING. / OH, GOD, WHAT ARE YOU GIVING ME? / I'M GIVING YOU A HICKEY, YOU GOOF.
Sam Cindy Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Sam · Bill: OH, MY GOD! I'M ENDANGERING YOUR LIFE! COVER ME! / NO, YOU'RE COVERED!
Sam Bill Character Comedy Reaction Beat Female freak · Kim: ROSSO'S COOL. DID YOU EVER REALLY LOOK AT HIM? HE'S ACTUALLY KIND OF GOOD-LOOKING. / YEAH, IF YOU'RE ATTRACTED TO GUYS THAT LOOK LIKE JESUS.
Ken · Daniel: KEN PUNCHES DANIEL IN THE FACE [sudden, unexplained physical outburst]
Ken Daniel Physical/Slapstick Escalation ★ Rewatch Sam · Ken: I'M GONNA BREAK UP WITH CINDY SANDERS. / WHY? / SHE'S HOT. [Ken's bathroom interlude with Sam]
Sam Ken Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Cindy · Sam: YEAH, I THINK I'M GONNA GET A 'B' IN MATH. I'M SO RELIEVED. / [Sam awkwardly transitions to asking her on a proper date]
Cindy Sam Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Neal: YEARS FROM NOW YOU'RE GONNA BE SITTING IN YOUR HOUSE, LOOKING AT YOUR UNATTRACTIVE KIDS WITH YOUR UNATTRACTIVE WIFE, SAYING TO YOURSELF, 'MAN, WHY DID I EVER DUMP THAT GODDESS CINDY SANDERS?'
Neal Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Neal · Bill: HAVE I EVER TOLD YOU ABOUT THE TIME THAT I MADE OUT WITH VICKI APPLEBY? / OH, SHUT UP. YOU'RE SUCH A LIAR.
Sam · Ken: IT'S JUST WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN COMMON. I MEAN, SHE THOUGHT THE JERK WAS STUPID. / YOU SERIOUS? MAN, MY GIRLFRIEND LOVED THE JERK. [bathroom conversation between Sam and Ken]
Sam Ken Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback Cindy · Sam: SAM, YOU'RE WEARING A TURTLENECK. / ARE YOU COVERING UP MY HICKEY? / WHAT? NO! NO, I-- / IT'S KIND OF EMBARRASSING.
Cindy Sam Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Callback Sam · Cindy: IT'S KIND OF EMBARRASSING. / COME ON, DON'T GET ALL MAD. / OH, THANKS, SAM. SO I GUESS IF YOU GOT ME A DIAMOND RING AND I DIDN'T WEAR IT BECAUSE I WAS TOO EMBARRASSED, YOU WOULDN'T GET ALL MAD, EITHER?
Sam Cindy Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Sam · Cindy: COME ON! I GOT YOU A NECKLACE, AND YOU'VE NEVER WORN IT. / IT WAS UGLY!
Sam Cindy Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Cindy · Sam: SO I GUESS IF YOU GOT ME A DIAMOND RING AND I DIDN'T WEAR IT BECAUSE I WAS TOO EMBARRASSED, YOU WOULDN'T GET ALL MAD, EITHER? / HEY, COME ON! I GOT YOU A NECKLACE, AND YOU'VE NEVER WORN IT. / IT WAS UGLY!
Cindy Sam Cringe/Discomfort Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Cindy: YOU CAN'T BREAK UP WITH ME. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE NICE. THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY I'M GOING OUT WITH YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Cindy Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Sam · Cindy: HEY, I AM NICE! I'M JUST NOT HAVING ANY FUN. ARE YOU? / NO. NO, I'M NOT HAVING ANY FUN, SAM.
Sam Cindy Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Cindy: HAVE YOUR STUPID HEIRLOOM BACK. [Cindy throws the necklace at Sam]
Cindy Physical/Slapstick Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Bill · Sam: UM, YOU DID THE RIGHT THING. YOU'RE TOO GOOD FOR HER. ARE YOU GONNA EAT WITH US AT LUNCH TODAY? / YEAH, YEAH. / THANK GOD.
Bill Sam Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Secret Service agent · Mr. Rosso: SIR, ARE YOU NOW OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A MEMBER OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE TAFT STUDENTS ALLIANCE FOR A NEW AMERICA? / I MEAN, I MIGHT BE ON THEIR MAILING LIST SOMEWHERE FROM WAY BACK...
Harold: SEE, I TOLD YOU THAT GUY WAS A KOOK. [Harold, smugly, as Rosso is escorted away by Secret Service]
Harold Character Comedy Reaction Beat Mr. Rosso: SOMETIMES I HAVE TO JUST STAND IN ONE PLACE FOR 12 HOURS AND STARE AT A WALL. YOU START TO SEE THINGS. YOUR FEET-- THE PAIN.
Mr. Rosso Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Mr. Rosso: SOMETIMES I HAVE TO JUST STAND IN ONE PLACE FOR 12 HOURS AND STARE AT A WALL. YOU START TO SEE THINGS. YOUR FEET-- THE PAIN.
Mr. Rosso Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Mr. Rosso · Secret Service agent: WELL, IT'S AN IMPORTANT JOB. / YOU EVER HEARD OF THE VICE PRESIDENT GETTING ASSASSINATED? / NO. YOU KNOW WHY? IT'S NEVER HAPPENED. WILL IT EVER HAPPEN? NO WAY. BECAUSE WHO CARES? KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
Enthusiastic student: YEAH, HAIL TO THE CHIEF! / THIS SONG ROCKS!
George Bush (VP): YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES--I MEAN, THIS SOUNDS CRAZY--BUT SOMETIMES I THINK I JUST WANT TO RIP OFF MY VEST AND JACKET AND JUST PUT ON A T-SHIRT AND GO AND, LIKE, MAKE PANCAKES SOMEWHERE OR SOMETHING. BUT, I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE CRAZY, RIGHT?
George Bush (VP): SOMETIMES-- I MEAN, THIS SOUNDS CRAZY-- BUT SOMETIMES I THINK I JUST WANT TO RIP OFF MY VEST AND JACKET AND JUST PUT ON A T-SHIRT AND GO AND, LIKE, MAKE PANCAKES SOMEWHERE OR SOMETHING. BUT, I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE CRAZY, RIGHT?
Mr. Rosso: HEY, I'VE GOT A TEST WHICH REVEALS WHAT TYPE OF JOB YOU'RE BEST SUITED FOR. YOU WANT TO TAKE IT?
Mr. Rosso Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Lindsay: MR. VICE PRESIDENT, MY NAME IS LINDSAY WEIR. MY DAD OWNS A1 SPORTING GOODS ON 16 MILE ROAD. MY QUESTION IS... WHY DID YOUR STAFF REJECT MY QUESTION? ARE YOU AFRAID OF AN OPEN DISCOURSE WITH THE STUDENTS?
Lindsay Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback George Bush (VP) · Mr. Rosso: FUNNY KID. ONE OF McKINLEY'S FINEST. / 'DO YOU LIKE WORKING WITH MAJOR APPLIANCES?' / THAT'D BE A YES.
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