A plea for support of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

JakeLipson · 09-10-2007, 12:03 AM

I know we have a thread for discussion of this show's first season, but it's relatively old, and I'm directing this toward (mostly) people who have not yet discovered this amazing gem. So I thought it needed its own thread.

Anyway, I watch a lot of TV; some people would "too much," but I disagree. I find TV to be a storytelling medium of equal value and importance as books and film and I'm always thrilled when a show excites and moves me with creativity and emotional honesty. There are a lot of shows airing right now that do that for me, but today I want to focus on just one. Because of all the shows that I watch, none stand out moreso than my newest discovery, NBC's Friday Night Lights.

I did not watch it during the last broadcast season, but recently picked up the DVD and was completely blown away. It inspires me by its example of fine drama, and if you watch just one show this season, FNL needs to be it. I don’t know if my words can fully describe how fantastic this show is; it may be something you have to discover for yourself. Loosely based on the bestselling book and hit 2004 movie, it revolves around the small town of Dillon, Texas. There, high school football isn’t just a pastime; it’s a near-religious way of life, and everyone pins their hopes and dreams on the team. Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler, who you may remember as the head of the bomb squad from the bomb-in-the-body-cavity Super Bowl episode of Grey’s Anatomy) begins his first year as head coach. He must unite the team through an extremely difficult season and is expected to take them to the state championship.

I don’t like sports, so it’s a big deal for me to be this enthusiastic about a show which features football. But that’s exactly the thing – while it features football, it is really about the town and the people who live there. We get to know Coach Taylor, his wife and daughter, and his players to the point where they are so vivid and real that you forget these are actors. Very quickly they feel like your friends, and you want to love them and hate them at the same time for the choices that they make. They live and breathe in front of you, and their relationships are among the most dynamic you'll see on TV. No show currently airing is more emotionally honest and true to life than this. It has so much heart and yet it never feels sappy or preachy like so many shows of its nature often do. It’s not afraid to address touchy topics, but when it does it does so with class because it has something to say, rather than just sensationalism stunts for big ratings.

In fact, it doesn’t have big ratings at all. It was bounced around NBC’s schedule a few times last year in an attempt to find the right timeslot for it, but has yet to really catch on no matter where they put it. It has a small and devoted following but has yet to click with the mainstream as NBC’s other hits like last year’s breakout Heroes or the Law & Order shows. While it was lucky enough to be renewed for a second season, it’s no secret that it was close to cancellation and really needs more viewers in order to survive.

To that end, Universal released the DVD at an insanely cheap price in the hopes of getting people to take a chance on the show -- just $29.99 SRP, and cheaper in-store. I bought mine on release date for just $19.99 -- around the same price level for a single movie. That’s a full season of 22 episodes compared to two hours or so for a movie. And if you don’t like it, the studio will refund you the purchase price (see all the details on that at http://www.fnlguarantee.com/.) But you won’t want to send it back – I’m sure you will love this show just like I do.

As for the new season, it will actually be airing on Friday nights at 9pm this year, premiering October 5th. Not the best timeslot in the world, but due to lower expectations on that night it may well be able to endure there.

So I encourage you to watch. Get the DVD, tell your friends and then support the show on its new night. Please. If you do, you will be rewarded for your time with the most intelligent, compassionate, real show on TV today.

mighty mint · 09-10-2007, 01:01 AM

I concur with Jake...this show is fantastic! My wife is completely hooked and we spent alot of time the other night trying to figure out just why this show is so compelling. What makes it so addictive? Great script writing and very interesting characters aside - for myself, I believe that what makes this show great is watching people struggle with trying to be good and do what is right...people from all different backgrounds. The interactions, conflicts and struggles that each character faces just make sense and when they experience a victory you can't but help feel good for them. My favorite relationships are the coach and Mrs. coach...BEST married couple on television ever, and second, their daughter's relationship with QB Matt Seresan. This show doesn't lay back from issues and is gracious enough to give the watcher a break by inserting scenes of practices and games. This show really isn't about football - it's about life. And what is most interesting is that you get hooked watching normal people live their life. People are most fascinating and entertaining to watch and FNL puts the town of Dillon right in your living room...I just can't say enough good about this show.

ganthc · 09-10-2007, 02:12 PM

I caught on to this show midway through the season, and got hooked immediately. Essentially, I was able to watch it when I got my Tivo. I also agree that it is one of the top shows out there. The situations and reality of this show blows reality tv out of the water. Coming from Texas, there is also a lot of stuff that brings back memories about high school and how football is in a small town. I definitely recommend this show, and I bought the DVD set at a steal of a price.

chiprocks1 · 09-11-2007, 03:47 AM

I started from episode 1 during its initial broadcast run and totally loved the show. I taped each and every episode and would give it to my mom to watch. Now my mom hates football. Cant stand it. So it was very difficult for her to "get into it". She didnt watch the last 8-9 episodes that I taped. So...fastforward to the release of the DVD. Bought it and dropped it off over at Mom's for her to watch again, given that she really wouldnt remember much from the tapes. It was new and fresh. Now she absolutley loves the show. She was burning thru 2-3 episodes a day.

Its funny that she cant wait till Season 2 starts. She now feels about the show the way Ive always felt about it, which is kinda gratifying, to see another fan of the show. She actually wants to rewatch the entire Season 1 again before the Season 2 premiere.

I cant wait for season 2 to start myself.

09-10-2007, 12:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
JakeLipson All Hail Peter Jackson! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry	A plea for support of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS I know we have a thread for discussion of this show's first season, but it's relatively old, and I'm directing this toward (mostly) people who have not yet discovered this amazing gem. So I thought it needed its own thread. Anyway, I watch a lot of TV; some people would "too much," but I disagree. I find TV to be a storytelling medium of equal value and importance as books and film and I'm always thrilled when a show excites and moves me with creativity and emotional honesty. There are a lot of shows airing right now that do that for me, but today I want to focus on just one. Because of all the shows that I watch, none stand out moreso than my newest discovery, NBC's Friday Night Lights. I did not watch it during the last broadcast season, but recently picked up the DVD and was completely blown away. It inspires me by its example of fine drama, and if you watch just one show this season, FNL needs to be it. I don’t know if my words can fully describe how fantastic this show is; it may be something you have to discover for yourself. Loosely based on the bestselling book and hit 2004 movie, it revolves around the small town of Dillon, Texas. There, high school football isn’t just a pastime; it’s a near-religious way of life, and everyone pins their hopes and dreams on the team. Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler, who you may remember as the head of the bomb squad from the bomb-in-the-body-cavity Super Bowl episode of Grey’s Anatomy) begins his first year as head coach. He must unite the team through an extremely difficult season and is expected to take them to the state championship. I don’t like sports, so it’s a big deal for me to be this enthusiastic about a show which features football. But that’s exactly the thing – while it features football, it is really about the town and the people who live there. We get to know Coach Taylor, his wife and daughter, and his players to the point where they are so vivid and real that you forget these are actors. Very quickly they feel like your friends, and you want to love them and hate them at the same time for the choices that they make. They live and breathe in front of you, and their relationships are among the most dynamic you'll see on TV. No show currently airing is more emotionally honest and true to life than this. It has so much heart and yet it never feels sappy or preachy like so many shows of its nature often do. It’s not afraid to address touchy topics, but when it does it does so with class because it has something to say, rather than just sensationalism stunts for big ratings. In fact, it doesn’t have big ratings at all. It was bounced around NBC’s schedule a few times last year in an attempt to find the right timeslot for it, but has yet to really catch on no matter where they put it. It has a small and devoted following but has yet to click with the mainstream as NBC’s other hits like last year’s breakout Heroes or the Law & Order shows. While it was lucky enough to be renewed for a second season, it’s no secret that it was close to cancellation and really needs more viewers in order to survive. To that end, Universal released the DVD at an insanely cheap price in the hopes of getting people to take a chance on the show -- just $29.99 SRP, and cheaper in-store. I bought mine on release date for just $19.99 -- around the same price level for a single movie. That’s a full season of 22 episodes compared to two hours or so for a movie. And if you don’t like it, the studio will refund you the purchase price (see all the details on that at http://www.fnlguarantee.com/.) But you won’t want to send it back – I’m sure you will love this show just like I do. As for the new season, it will actually be airing on Friday nights at 9pm this year, premiering October 5th. Not the best timeslot in the world, but due to lower expectations on that night it may well be able to endure there. So I encourage you to watch. Get the DVD, tell your friends and then support the show on its new night. Please. If you do, you will be rewarded for your time with the most intelligent, compassionate, real show on TV today. __________________ Proud Supporter of Blu-ray Disc! My modest collection of little silver movie discs

09-10-2007, 01:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
mighty mint The Freshmaker! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In the Land of the Ice and Snow, eh!	I concur with Jake...this show is fantastic! My wife is completely hooked and we spent alot of time the other night trying to figure out just why this show is so compelling. What makes it so addictive? Great script writing and very interesting characters aside - for myself, I believe that what makes this show great is watching people struggle with trying to be good and do what is right...people from all different backgrounds. The interactions, conflicts and struggles that each character faces just make sense and when they experience a victory you can't but help feel good for them. My favorite relationships are the coach and Mrs. coach...BEST married couple on television ever, and second, their daughter's relationship with QB Matt Seresan. This show doesn't lay back from issues and is gracious enough to give the watcher a break by inserting scenes of practices and games. This show really isn't about football - it's about life. And what is most interesting is that you get hooked watching normal people live their life. People are most fascinating and entertaining to watch and FNL puts the town of Dillon right in your living room...I just can't say enough good about this show. __________________ MM wishes he had a new tv to go with his new BD player. IMAX ~ another great Canadian invention!

09-10-2007, 02:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
ganthc Actor Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: "Vyenna", VA	I caught on to this show midway through the season, and got hooked immediately. Essentially, I was able to watch it when I got my Tivo. I also agree that it is one of the top shows out there. The situations and reality of this show blows reality tv out of the water. Coming from Texas, there is also a lot of stuff that brings back memories about high school and how football is in a small town. I definitely recommend this show, and I bought the DVD set at a steal of a price. __________________ HOOK'EM!!! UT LONGHORNS - National Champs 2005-2006!!! http://ganthc.youaremighty.com

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09-11-2007, 03:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
chiprocks1 Actor Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: San Diego, CA	I started from episode 1 during its initial broadcast run and totally loved the show. I taped each and every episode and would give it to my mom to watch. Now my mom hates football. Cant stand it. So it was very difficult for her to "get into it". She didnt watch the last 8-9 episodes that I taped. So...fastforward to the release of the DVD. Bought it and dropped it off over at Mom's for her to watch again, given that she really wouldnt remember much from the tapes. It was new and fresh. Now she absolutley loves the show. She was burning thru 2-3 episodes a day. Its funny that she cant wait till Season 2 starts. She now feels about the show the way Ive always felt about it, which is kinda gratifying, to see another fan of the show. She actually wants to rewatch the entire Season 1 again before the Season 2 premiere. I cant wait for season 2 to start myself.