Why, you ask? Why would Cowboy Pete even be including such a clearly non-genre, non-loopy series as “Friday Night Lights” in the round-up at all?
Two words: Scott Porter.
No, I haven’t gone all Matt Foley on you. It’s simple: Scott Porter, who plays the quarterback of a high school football team (the Panthers) in a football-obsessed midwestern town, is–as the movie intoning goes–One. Of. Us. Specifically, guys, he’s a comics fans. I know this because I met him at Dragon*Con. He wasn’t set up at a table selling autographed photos for $20 a pop; he was simply there because he’s as much of a comic book fan as the rest of us. And he was also very nice to Ariel, who was really taken with the future teen idol. We promised we’d watch his upcoming series, and we’ve made good on that promise.
And you know what? Ðámņëd good show. Well written, well acted, and does an excellent job of capturing the “high expectations” placed on the team in such a rural environment, and some heart-stopping developments in the last act that manage to make the game come across as spontaneous rather than scripted. It’s the first show in a long time to remind me of the late, lamented “Breaking Away,” which was likewise based on a film (which was, in turn, based on a book.)
Problem is, the competition for the time slot is brutal, plus TV series with a sports theme tend to have a short shelf life. And we’re not a Nielsen family, so whether we support the show or not realistically doesn’t mean a dámņëd thing. I don’t know whether the show is going to play at all in New York, Chicago or LA (which seems to be the only markets that networks seem to care about) but I’m hoping it picks up a massive following in the heartlands. Anyone within the sound of my cybervoice: Give “Friday Night Lights” a look. If nothing else, we want to keep Scott Porter employed so he can buy more of my comics.
PAD
• 
Wait a minute… Breaking Away was a TV show?
I was almost tempted to watch Friday Night Lights based on the positive buzz, but held off due to my intense hatred of football and all matters arising from it. A show about a football-obsessed town doesn’t sound like it would sit too well with me.
For what it’s worth, I’m not a football fan either. So it’s not as if I come into the series as a rabid football enthusiast. I’m one of those who watches the Superbowl for the commercials and reads during the game parts. But I liked it. So you may want to give it a look when they rebroadcast it this evening. You may be surprised.
PAD
I am in no way a football fan. I watch one game a year, the SuperBowl and that is only for the commericals. When the game is on, that’s when you socialize or get something to eat or go to the bathroom so you don’t miss the commericals.
That said, I loved this show. I watched it last night purely because Kyle Chandler was in it. I loved him in Homefront and Early Edition so I’ll give any show he makes a chance. Needless to say, I’m in it for the long haul. And, all the eye candy in the cast doesn’t hurt either, heh.
I thought the movie was okay but not great. What I saw of the show last night seemed to be as good as the movie. Since Peter Berg wrote and directed it, that makes sense.
Why didn’t I watch the whole show? …. Yankee, game one!!
Peter, now that I’ve shown that I’m all manly, what about Veronica Mars?
As much as I want to see this show, it’s going against both NCIS and House. I already Tivo House. Granted, House isn’t being shown until the baseball play-offs are done, but I’m not going get involved in another show and then not be able to watch it when the show I really like comes back. NBC would probably have better ratings if this show was an hour later, plus I would be able to watch it then!
Sorry to change the subject, (slightly), but I’ve been wondering why PAD hasn’t written anything about “Heroes” or “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.”
Incidentally, there is an episode of House on tonight though it is a rerun.
“I’ve been wondering why PAD hasn’t written anything about “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.”
September 19, 2006
COWBOY PETE’S TV ROUND-UP: STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP
Wait a minute… Breaking Away was a TV show?
Yeah, a spinoff from the movie. Lasted one season (and I’m not sure it was a full season, even…) I remember really liking the movie as a kid (though I can’t quote it verbatim, I remember loving the talk Barbara Barrie as the mom gives about her passport…) but never got into the TV series…
Incidentally, there is an episode of House on tonight though it is a rerun.
I imagine there may be a degree of regionality with Fox’s programming while the baseball playoffs continue. Some places and time zones without a relevant baseball broadcast may see a rerun of regular programming, but let’s not count on new episodes until the Yankees win the thing.
Or the Mets, of course… 😉
I was able to watch the show a couple of weeks ago thanks to digital cable and OnDemand, and I really enjoyed it. Anyone who’s seen “Varsity Blues” or the movie version of the show shouldn’t be too surprised by the story, but as PAD said, it is well written and acted, and as someone who grew up in a similar town, I think it captures the tone excellently.
“As much as I want to see this show, it’s going against both NCIS and House.”
I dunno about NCIS, but it’s not opposite “House.” “House” was only at 8 PM Tuesday for three weeks; it’ll be moving back to 9 PM Tuesday starting next week, I think.
Unfortunately “House” is going to be opposite “Vernoica Mars.” Then again, “House” is rebroadcast a week and a half later at ll PM Friday on TNT, so…
PAD
I’m a football fan who grew up in San Francisco during the glory days of Joe Montana and Bill Walsh’s 49ers. As obsessed as we got over the Niners during the 80s it doesnt’ seem to compare with the fanaticism small towns in areas like Texas feel about their high school football. There’s a nice anthropological angle to this show, like tribes training their young men to be warriors.
“I’ve been wondering why PAD hasn’t written anything about “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.”
September 19, 2006
COWBOY PETE’S TV ROUND-UP: STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP”
D’oh!! Sorry. But what about Heroes?
That’s not a midwestern town; it’s a west Texas town (in fact, I recall reading they’re actually filming the show on location somewhere in west Texas).
NBC’s definitely pushing it; the pilot ep’s on at least three times this week.
I saw the first part of it, and it seems well enough written and all that, but having grown up in a small not quite as high school football obsessed but close Western NC town (example; there are 6,000 seats in the HS football “stadium”. There are 6,000 people in the freakin’ town, 20,000 in the whole county), well, let’s just say that the phrase “Living well is the best revenge” sums up my attitude towards HS football jocks and their fanatic supporters. Probably not a show I’ll be able to get into.
Wait a minute… Breaking Away was a TV show?
Yeah, a spinoff from the movie. Lasted one season (and I’m not sure it was a full season, even…) I remember really liking the movie as a kid (though I can’t quote it verbatim, I remember loving the talk Barbara Barrie as the mom gives about her passport…) but never got into the TV series…
Less than a season. Jackie Earle Haley also reprised his role, and Shaun Cassidy (yes, the teen idol and “American Gothic” creator) stepped in for Dennis Christopher. It was also a prequel, taking place before the movie.
And thanks for the tip on FNL and House on TNT, PAD. We’ll see about checking them out.
Not a football fan, either.
In addition, I’m a survivor of the Texas “football is the be-all, end-all of existence” school system that the show centers around.
Hear a lot of good buzz about the show, and find that my tastes & PAD’s are pretty similar, but I just can’t bring myself to watch this show. Too many negatives for me…not enough plusses.
While after PAD’s rave review of “Studio 60” I made a point of catching the pilot rerun on Bravo and haven’t missed an episode since, I will be passing on Friday Night Lights. I have no tolerance for football whatsoever and can’t even sit throught the Super Bowl for the commercials anymore. Superbowl Sunday is when I know I can catch up on my DVD’s since no one programs against it. 🙂
(I’m sure if I had went to a school with a football team and lived in a town with a real Pro team when I was growing up I’d feel differently)
If this was about Baseball I’d give it a shot.
BTW, the Cardinals won the central division champtionship, so here’s to them getting the NLCS.
Not a football fan either, but I kinda liked the show too. The camera work is a bit pretentious (think early NYPD Blue) but, yeah I liked the show.
Totally dug the Coach’s daughter, of course, I think she needs to hook up with the QB. HEE!
“Can’t Lose!”
So hang on… you have a series called Friday Night Lights and it plays on a Wednesday?
So when does Saturday Night Live go out? Tuesday morning?
I’m a big fan of the NFL – and I feel sorry for all these people showing up and claiming not to like football, by the way – but not so much so for college or high school football. And, many of the ads for this show made it seem too much like the pretentiously silly Varsity Blues. But, maybe I will try to catch it – support another comics fan (who also sounds like a nice guy).
Why the need to start so many post with “I don’t like football”? You guys make it sound like some secret club is going to kick you out if they think you like that.
Hey SECRET ORDER, I like football, fake wrestling and monster truck pulls! Come and get me!
But I don’t like this show. 🙂
I didn’t watch FNL because I am an idiot.
I was reminded several times this last week that it would be on and I still forgot. IDIOT.
I am friends with Ms. Palicki’s brother. We buy comics at the same comics shop.
Next week for sure.
Why are shows that are supposed to be set on a friday (like, I dunno, Friday Night Lights and Studio 60) being played on any other day but Friday. Granted, the Friday night slot has been the death slot for years, but it doesn’t have to continue this way. Wasn’t X Files in a death slot to begin with but made it one of the most coveted slots in programming?
Then again, if they started playing great shows on Friday nights, BSG might just have some competition… Nah. BSG is just too good.
Now here’s a good question for all: If you were on a desert island and could only watch Lost or BSG, which would it be?
Sorry. Can’t watch Friday Night Lights. It’s on Tuesday nights. No, I don’t watch anything else on that night. It’s just that I can’t get past the fact that a show with Friday in the title is shown on a night other than Fridays. For that reason, I refuse to watch it. May sound silly, but there you go.
Randy said: “It’s just that I can’t get past the fact that a show with Friday in the title is shown on a night other than Fridays. For that reason, I refuse to watch it. May sound silly, but there you go.”
It actually covers a full week up to and including the Friday night game. At least it did in the first episode. Maybe a third or so was set on Friday. Does that make it less silly?
Given the captions calling out the days of the week, I’d guess the show’s going to go through the football season week by week. Toss in a couple of extra episodes here and there, and that should pretty much give you a full TV season. (Assuming they get to stay on the air that long.)
It was actually pretty good. Good writing, lots of nice moments (loved the “It’s only football” exchange), and a solid ending that kinda sets up the rest of the season. Plus, there was no annoying pop ballad montage near the end of the episode to tell us what the each of the characters was feeling. How cool is that?
I’ll probably give it a go for the next few weeks. Thanks for the tip, PAD.
Almost forgot – great voiceover at the end:
“Give all of us gathered here tonight the strength to realize that life is so very fragile. We are all vulnerable, and we will all at some point in our lives… fall. We will all fall. We must carry this in our hearts. That what we have is special. That it can be taken from us. And that when it is taken from us, we will be tested. We will be tested to our very souls.”
Doesn’t matter if it’s from a show about high school football, or a Tuesday show with “Friday” in the title – that’s some fine writing. Hope there’s more on that level.
Boston Globe review:
http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2006/10/03/hard_hitting_lights_gives_110_percent/?page=1
Why the need to start so many post with “I don’t like football”?
Because it helps to establish the mindset of the poster in relation to a show about football. A person saying they don’t like football but still enjoy the show is a better endorsement of the show.
-Rex Hondo-
PAD – When doing the round-up that includes the new season of LOST, just remember that us guys over the pond won’t get to see it for another few weeks – make it spoiler proof please.
I hope by spoiler proof you only mean the subject and front page blurb. Inside, it should be full of spoilers and discussion.
“Sorry. Can’t watch Friday Night Lights. It’s on Tuesday nights. No, I don’t watch anything else on that night. It’s just that I can’t get past the fact that a show with Friday in the title is shown on a night other than Fridays. For that reason, I refuse to watch it. May sound silly, but there you go.”
Well, you can always record it on Tuesday and watch it on Friday.
It was repeated last night and I believe there is a repeat tonight on USA Network at 11 PM EDT.
Meanwhile, it did not get good ratings Tuesday night. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings.aspx?id=tuesday
and neither did Veronica Mars.
Neil
Then again, “House” is rebroadcast a week and a half later at ll PM Friday on TNT, so…
PAD
I think you mean on USA, PAD.
-Joe
Just a matter of curiosity, is Smallville going to be included in the Roundup this season?
Even if you don’t see the series–and I won’t–the original book is marvelous. Though the posters who’ve been through that milieu probably won’t find it such an interesting look as I did, since they were there, so to speak.
Posted by: Lawrence
I’m a football fan who grew up in San Francisco during the glory days of Joe Montana and Bill Walsh’s 49ers. As obsessed as we got over the Niners during the 80s it doesnt’ seem to compare with the fanaticism small towns in areas like Texas feel about their high school football.
You think the way they feel down there about football is intense – remember, Texas is the state where two different women have tried to hire hit men to kill people so their daughters could be cheerleaders…
Posted by: Nick Eden
So hang on… you have a series called Friday Night Lights and it plays on a Wednesday?
So when does Saturday Night Live go out? Tuesday morning?
That’s when the Saturday Evening Post came out, as i recall…
So hang on… you have a series called Friday Night Lights and it plays on a Wednesday?
So when does Saturday Night Live go out? Tuesday morning?
Maybe because a good chunk of the desired demographic will be at high school football games on Friday night?
I can understand geek/nerd types not being interested in the show, but it’s a well-made program about regl’r folks in a small town setting. Not everyone lives on Manhattan.
Second ep was pretty good, other than overdoing the shaky-cam a little bit. (And only the last 10 minutes took place on Friday 🙂
The scenes between the coach and his wife, and the scene where the coach visits the home of the new quarterback were spot on. Great performance by Kyle Chandler.
A good line (from a disapproving mother to the girl hanging around her son): “I work at planned parenthood. You probably haven’t seen the last of me.”