Friday Night Lights

TheCentralScrutinizer · 07 Oct 07 :: 02:10

I think I'm the only one here who watches this show, so this will be a lonely thread:

CHEER FOR THE UNDERDOGS: 'Friday Night Lights' deserves a much bigger audience
October 5, 2007
BY MIKE DUFFY
FREE PRESS TV CRITIC
Sure, the Dillon High Panthers may be No. 1 in Texas high school football -- the reigning state champs.
But while playing their hearts out during "Friday Night Lights" -- which returns for a minor miracle second season at 9 tonight on NBC -- the Panthers have been perpetual tackling dummy underdogs. In the smash-mouth game of TV ratings, the Panthers are tame little tabbies living on the down low in Loserville.
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Snubbed by the Emmys, overlooked by the vast majority of Americans watching television, "Friday Night Lights" finished a disheartening 146th among all network programs in total viewers last season, averaging a meager weekly audience of 6 million.
That's a dirty rotten shame.
These are rich, layered stories of Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his wife, Tami (Connie Britton). They are set against the impassioned, nitty-gritty small town Texas tableau of high school football. It's about parents trying to figure out how to raise their kids, teenagers trying to figure out sexuality and everyone also grappling with issues of race and class.
"Friday Night Lights" almost always gets it right -- it captures touching, funny, sometimes heart-wrenching, yet always truthful snapshots of family, football, marital and high school life.
But this is not the first -- nor will it be the last -- great TV series to struggle for survival. And when it comes to high-quality, imaginative and emotionally honest stories of adolescence, the coming-of-age casualty list notably includes one-season cult classics like "Freaks and Geeks" and "My So Called Life."
"Friday Night Lights" is every bit as superlative as either of those. Plus the wise folks at NBC did a wildly unexpected thing last spring. They renewed the show for a second season, partially because it's filmed on the cheap near Austin, Texas.
But if viewers stay away again this season, well, game over.
So listen up. We're staging a little "Friday Night Lights" pep rally right here, right now. Get your viewing game faces on.
Coach Taylor and Dillon High Panthers need you!
Of course, when we're thrust back into the earthy, bittersweet world of "Friday Night Lights" tonight, everyone's a little stressed out in the dog days of late summer.
Tami Taylor's very pregnant and due any moment. Coach Taylor, who ruffled civic feathers by winning the state title for Dillon and then accepting a job as an assistant coach at Texas Methodist University in Dallas, is flying home to be there with Tami for the birth of their second child.
Meanwhile, their daughter Julie (Aimee Teagarden) has been flirting with another guy, misbehaving and leaving her earnest quarterback boyfriend Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) at loose emotional ends.
Plus, Matt, running back Brian (Smash) Williams (Gaius Charles) and the rest of the Panthers are enduring a very rough adjustment to the Panthers' hard-edged, authoritarian new coach, Bill McGregor (Chris Mulkey). How long before Coach Taylor has second thoughts about his new long-distance family life and the TMU job?
Oh, not too long. The chances of his return to the Dillon Panthers' sidelines are looking pretty good by the end of the third excellent episode of this second and hopefully not last season of "Friday Night Lights."
It's still the best network show you're not watching, America.
So view it or lose it. Go Panthers!

herrommance · 27 Oct 07 :: 03:06

hey I will check it out, and join you in a conversation haha

TheCentralScrutinizer · 27 Oct 07 :: 06:25

Cool.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 17 Jan 09 :: 03:10

Yeah, OK, I know I'm the only one who cares, but FNL is back tonight!!! Woohoo. :dancing:

TheCentralScrutinizer · 17 Feb 09 :: 06:26

OK, my favorite character on the show ---- besides Coach and Principal Mrs. Coach --- is definitely Seven, Saracen. As if he wasn't already hot enough on the show with the too-short hair...

Not to mention that he's the sweetest guy since Adam...

I found this pic of him during the off-season that dropped my jaw. In a good way...

Zach Gilford is hotter than hell all scruffy like that. :drool:

I have new respect...

irina · 17 Feb 09 :: 14:52

i don't know who the guy is but i understand the sentiment.

TheCentralScrutinizer · 13 Mar 09 :: 22:59

Great article about my favorite show...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/1 … 74076.html

TheCentralScrutinizer · 26 Mar 09 :: 23:00

The best show on TV just got renewed!!! It's a little weird how they're doing it, similar to what they did this year. It gets 2 13-episode seasons to air on DirecTV first. Not crazy about that, but at least it's coming back! Woohoo!

Unfortunately, some of the cast will be leaving or cutting back to semi-regular status. But hey, it is a show about a specific high school football team and some of the characters are graduating, so...

TheCentralScrutinizer · 01 Jun 09 :: 03:46

They have an Alamo Draft House in Dillon. Woohoo!

Warbee · 01 Jun 09 :: 04:40

Saw the movie and loved it, But until now hadnt even heard a whiff about this series. Is it just an extension of the movie??

TheCentralScrutinizer · 01 Jun 09 :: 05:10

Not an extension at all. It's kind of a re-imagining. New coach, new team, also called the Panthers, but from Dillon now. Connie Britton played the coach's wife in the movie and she plays the coach's wife in the series, but they're different characters. Also the actor who plays Buddy Garrity in the series was in the movie. That's only because the movie was based on a book that was based on a true story. And Peter Berg directed the movie and created the series. Even the music is similar, though Explosions In The Sky carries it to new heights in the series. The TV show is a fictionalized version with all new characters. The book, movie and show are all great. But I just absolutely adore the series. I think it appeals to the same audience as JoA, if only those fans would give it a chance. Great writing, quirky people. It's just truly one of the best shows on TV.

Warbee · 01 Jun 09 :: 05:26

I'm sold...pity Australia doesnt seem to know it exists. Might see if i can download it. But i cant see it ever being known in Oz. We dont follow American football. Especially in Victoria, its more or less just Aussie Rules footy. But the most of the movie wasnt centrally focused around the actual sport as such...well it was but the point i am trying to make is that the attitude can be similiar to Aussie Rules for Australians. I am not from a country town, but a fairly close knit suburb anyway. My dad was coach of the local footy team for probably over 15 years. Both my brothers played too. Its been a couple of years ago now, and while the pressure and tha star status was never really there the way it was in the movie i can see where it would come from. So it interests me. I will definitely have to look into whether i can download this series....no other way for me to access it sadly

TheCentralScrutinizer · 01 Jun 09 :: 05:38

You will totally get it then. I grew up a tomboy with a sports dad and somehow it made me love sports movies and shows. As a fan, baseball is the only sport that even matters. I'm not into football at all, but having the dad I did, I totally get the sport. Still, yeah, like the movie, FNL is really about the relationships. All great shows are. And it has a wonderfully delicious and chewy emotional center in Coach & Mrs. Coach. Plus they, and all the kids, are dead gorgeous.

Warbee · 01 Jun 09 :: 06:13

Hehehe yeah it does help with a stunning cast. And cos its a sport movie, the athletic bodies too....mmmmmm....:drool:
But i totally agree. I am definitely a fan of a good sport movie. I actually really wanna go see a baseball game, football game, and ice hockey game during my travels next year. May not be able to see them all at professional level (end up costing too much) but i love the atmosphere and experience you get. And these sports just arent highly appreciated in Oz

TheCentralScrutinizer · 01 Jun 09 :: 06:15

If you ever come to Atlanta, I'll take you to a game. I'd prefer it be a Braves baseball game, but I dig hockey a great deal too.

Warbee · 01 Jun 09 :: 06:39

Well so far the plan is to be in the area somewhere between August - October 2010. Still trying to work it out abit more, but thats the plan so far. I will definitely come visit you.....you know if you let me!

TheCentralScrutinizer · 01 Jun 09 :: 06:44

That's the perfect time of year to be here. The weather's temperate and baseball is entering the playoffs.

Warbee · 01 Jun 09 :: 07:02

Well at this point in time its mostly saving up money and day dreaming, but getting closer to May 2010 (when i plan to be getting on the plane) i will have better plans of what i am doing. Will have to let you know once i have made my choice

TheCentralScrutinizer · 01 Jun 09 :: 07:04

Yep, sounds good.

Warbee · 14 Jun 09 :: 03:31

I am so totally hooked on this show and so far i have only seen 4 episodes!

TheCentralScrutinizer · 14 Jun 09 :: 03:41

AWESOME. It only gets better and better. Enjoy!

TheCentralScrutinizer · 14 Jun 09 :: 03:44

Oh, and chat up the show, post pics. Whatever you wanna do. I've always wanted someone to talk to about it.

Warbee · 14 Jun 09 :: 03:50

Hehehe awesome Yeah well i totally agree with you...absolutely LOVING Matt Saracen

TheCentralScrutinizer · 14 Jun 09 :: 03:55

He just keeps getting more and more adorable too. Matt & Julie are almost as special as Adam & Joan.

Warbee · 14 Jun 09 :: 03:58

Im actually really loving the accent too :drool: its not quite as strong as in the movie but its just so damn sexy

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