Detroit Connections: Paul Feig, Seth Rogen and Jason Segel

Vanity Fair is publishing a series of photos depicting Comedy’s New Legends in its April 2009 issue. The first in a slideshow on its website is called The Pretty Young Things and was taken by notable photographer Annie Leibovitz. Both erotic and comically disturbing, the photo is of a smoldering Paul Rudd sidling up to Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen and Jason Segel as they roll around on the floor in provocative poses and flesh-colored leotards.

All the faces are recognizable from Judd Apatow classics, including The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up; but a Detroit-area connection should makes Seth Rogen and Jason Segel even more familiar. Rogen and Segel started their meteoric rise in the 1999 show Freaks & Geeks, a show produced by Apatow and created by Clinton Township native Paul Feig. It is set in the Detroit area and based on Feig’s experiences at Chippewa Valley High School in 1980. Other notable alumni of the show include James Franco (Spiderman) and Linda Cardellini (ER). These days Paul Feig directs episodes of NBC's hit The Office, for which he’s been nominated for an Emmy and a Directors Guild of America award.

More Information:

• A Conversation with Freaks & Geeks Creator Paul Feig by Brian Jacks / Ugo.com