Just wanted to mention that Friday Night Lights was excellent again last night… even better than the first episode. You might be able to watch it here… but as of the time of this post, it was still showing the first episode. I dunno when or if that’ll change.
I hate to tell you too much about the episode, because you may still want to see it for yourself at some point, but… the scene with the coach and Saracen on the football field… that’s as good as scenes get on network television shows.
Anyway… I never do this. I’ve been asked from time to time to pimp different TV shows or whatever, and I’m usually hesitant to do so, because I’m probably not going to watch them myself. But NBC should put me on the payroll for this, because I’m a big believer. Unfortunately… the ratings aren’t so great (which should probably convince you even further that it’s a quality show), and way more people are watching Dancing with the fucking Stars.
So I’m just going to gently nudge you in that direction one more time. I’m not going to do a weekly review of it or anything, because… that’s just not what I do. But if you’re into TV, and you’re looking for something on Tuesday nights… it’s there, and it’s good.
point23 Says:
October 11th, 2006 at 2:39 am
Peter Berg. He’s got a great John Housman name, doesn’t he? Peter Beeerg. Peter Beeeeeeeeeeeeerg.
C’mon..someone - anyone - get this reference. Please.
twoeightnine Says:
October 11th, 2006 at 2:52 am
the face painter.
AwfulAnnouncing Says:
October 11th, 2006 at 9:22 am
I kind of hated the episode…no football. But with that said…I’m watching next week.
The RzA Says:
October 11th, 2006 at 9:33 am
No ratings?!? Maybe because this show sucks??? This isn’t a show about high school football. It’s Dawson’s Creek II.
Unsilent Majority Says:
October 11th, 2006 at 10:07 am
That would be Alec Berg.
Show’s been pretty good so far as long as you suspend disbelief (the qb was in surgery roughly two plays after the injury). I just wish they stayed closer to the original story. In the book none of the players are superstars, preacher and boobie appear to be the only ones garnering any attention from recruiters. Maybe they should have called it Varsity Blues.
the mighty mjd Says:
October 11th, 2006 at 11:35 am
I don’t get the comparisons to Varsity Blues and/or Dawson’s Creek… what do you want, a one hour show about the coach deciding when to use his weak side blitz? Compared to this, those things were like cartoons… characters without any real depth or emotions… I just don’t understand what you’re seeing.
point23 Says:
October 11th, 2006 at 1:36 pm
My day has been made. That’s all it took.
flex Says:
October 11th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
mjd, I am with you. The scene w/ Street and the coach in the hospital was great, too. It’s sort of annoying that seemingly every other adult in the town is an insufferable douche bag, but something tells me that part is less exaggerated than I think.
Well conceived, well shot, well edited, well acted —- the varsity/Dawson’s thing is just retarded.
Blocking Back Says:
October 11th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
If you tell me she gets them out next week then I’m sold!
Hell, after seeing her picture I’m sold anyway!
lopey Says:
October 11th, 2006 at 2:19 pm
I need to marry Minka Kelly.
I do wish they would have shown the game at the end of the episode, instead of just the kickoff, i was interested in seeing a little bit of football.
drrew Says:
October 11th, 2006 at 6:11 pm
I really like it as well but agree with Flex that they have to do something about the other adult characters in town. Every single one, including the assitant coaches are completely unlikable.
I question how you do more than one season without repeating the same things over and over but I’ll keep watching until that happens.
The show so far is really well done.
Mr. Bojangles Says:
October 11th, 2006 at 6:23 pm
I’ve watched the first two. Well done in a lot of ways, but writing cliches abound:
Coach and wife have some tension about his work.
Boosters pressure coach.
Black RB has huge ego, talks a lot. Inkling of racism among the coaches/boosters.
New QB has issues with loser friend once he becomes popular.
Football skank causes problems between players.
Fullback is an alcoholic loser.
That said, I’ve seen bits here and there that impressed me, and could take this above and beyond the standard bullshit serial, including a couple of very quiet character scenes where characters show unexpected range and depth, and some good honesty where I didn’t expect it. The coach/wife conversation in the second episode and introducing Smash’s mom were good stuff.
We’ll see how it goes, could turn into something. More locker room, town politics, and team dynamic. Less melodrama.
lopey Says:
October 12th, 2006 at 1:38 am
honestly, lets just bring back Playmakers…
am i the only one who loved that shit?
matthew Says:
October 13th, 2006 at 3:35 pm
I had this recorded and watched it only because the girl in this picture was so cute. I kinds thought it blew. I guess I don’t watch too much TV, and maybe the first episode was good, but yeah, I thought it was a little over the top and still managed to be boring. AND (because the mouse-over on the picture says something about seeing this girls’ tits in the next episode) — we’ll never get to see her with her shirt off if her boyfriend can’t work it from the waist down! she should leave him.
bizzle Says:
October 16th, 2006 at 5:04 pm
This show is extremely well shot and produced. It looks a little bit too much like the movie, but that has more to do with using the same director etc. I don’t get the varsity blues comparison. All of those characters were about as contrived as you can get. However, this show presents the kids as real high school students.
They say this is the number one h.s. team in the nation so it goes without saying that a more than a few of them would be highly recruited.
Cliches, yes. But with that said the fullback when I was playing was definitely an alcoholic loser. Coincidence?