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NBC’s Season Finale Of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
I am – Hercules!!
NBC’s small-town Texas soap “Friday Night Lights” shoots in Austin, this site’s HQ, and one of its major recurring characters is a guy in a wheelchair named “Herc.”
Hey now.
I’ve watched each of the first 21 episodes. It’s plenty diverting. Its title theme is amazing. The series’ showrunner, writer-producer Jason Katims, is a big talent who worked on one of my all-time favorites, “My So-Called Life,” before he graduated to create two more of my all-time favorites: “Relativity” and the TV version of “Roswell.”
If you haven’t seen the show, it’s a serial about a small-town Texas football team, the Dillon Panthers, which took the state pennant last year and may again this year. The state championship game is what drives tonight’s season finale. Entertainment Weekly gives the episode an “A.”
Could be the series finale, or not. A major player high up at NBC is said to be in love with the show, even if the low-rated hour is concluding before the commencement of May sweeps.
Is the show perhaps too predictable? Is “yes” the answer to all of the following questions?
* Will starting quarterback Matt Saracen see his confidence suffer now that he’s learned coach Eric Taylor has accepted the head coaching position at Austin’s esteemed Texas Methodist University?
* Will the Panthers’ performance cause Taylor to renege at the last minute on his acceptance of the TMU position?
* Will handsome longhair star fullback Tim Riggens make a play for Tyra Collette, his superhot ex?
* Will Tyra plant a big wet one on ubernerd mathlete Landry Clarke?
* Will cheaty cheerleader Lyla Garrity reconcile with cheaty quadriplegic assistant coach Jason Street?
* Will the Panthers come from behind to win the state championship in the game’s final minute?
* Will narcissistic star running back Smash Williams discover his bipolar girlfriend dead or dying by her own hand?
* Will no one wake to the fact that beast-ish dealership king Buddy Garrity’s chromosomes couldn’t possibly sire a creature as dreamy as daughter Lyla?
8 p.m. Wednesday. NBC.
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Just give the Brits a Life on Mars TB?
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Hello?
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This show is so freaking good and now you talk about it. I sent an email to the head geek to write about this show. If you all haven't seen this. Do yourself a favor and watch it right now. It is cliche as hell but down right mesmerizing.
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as in, I won't be able to enjoy it if I don't know shit about american football? Everyone keeps saying this show is great, but after reading this article all I can say is "wtf is a quarterback?"
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currently in production (?). I hope it gets renewed, but if it doesn't, this has been a perfect season. Connie Briton is indeed great, and when Kyle Chandler made a return appearance as a dead guy on Grey's Anatomy a few weeks back I noticed he was stuck in his rapid-fire twangy delivery he uses so well as Coach Taylor on FNL. And yes, Lila Garrity is waaaay hot!
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As a coach, I love this show. My wife hates sports and she loves this show. HOWEVER, if a solid storyline is not constructed for the 2nd season, please let the show die gracefully now.
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Thanks for covering this show. If you think it's predictable, it may surprise you. The movie set up a completely predictable ending, only to blindside you at the end. I wouldn't be surprised if they take the same tact here. This show is EXTREMELY well written and acted. They would be insane to cancel it.
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This show is fantastic! I have two ways of watching tv--either I watch it as it airs during the season or I wait until the dvd comes out and buy that. This is one of the few shows that I plan to do both on. I want to lend it to all my friends who refuse to believe that this is a good show and instead just classify it as a football show. And, yes, the opening music is awesome! It's a Texas band called Explosions in the Sky and a lot of their music is used in the show--I think it's integral to the tone of the show. Can't say enough good things about FNL! Also, Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton are so good together, they alone are worth watching the show.
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But it seems like there is a huge Army of fans. AD got by on word of mouth until it was axed by FOX...I see a similar fate here with FNL. This show is one of the best dramas on TV.
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http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/04/11/television.lights.reut/index.html
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I am with everyone else who praises this show. I watch a lot of tv including Lost, Heroes, 24, BSG(obviously), Smallville, The Shield, etc.. and Friday Night Lights is just amazing. Usually when watching any other show, a subpar episode comes along every couple of weeks. Not with Friday Night Lights. Every episode of FNL is great. I can honestly say that EVERY episode delivered, and then some. I can also honestly say that I don't recall any other show ever doing that for a whole season. I'm very happy it got renewed, and if you don't watch it, this is the show I recommend to people the most. Watch it tonight!!!
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While I firmly believe NBC will renew this show based on all the speculation that's been heard about their plans for next fall, a script order for six additional episodes does not equal a new season.
My So-Called Life got a similar 6-episode script order, those episodes were never ordered.
It's likely that they are ordering the six scripts to see the direction season 2 would take, and also to take action in case the writer's strike happens this fall.
It DOES show faith, but it doesn't necessarily mean the show has been renewed. -
Is that they can't win the state championship, or play for the state championship every year. Plus, you're going to have to have turnover in the cast from the "graduating seniors" on the team leaving the town each season. Sure, you can have one or two stick around, but many leave.
The real drama comes from NOT winning or playing for state every year. Even in Texas, even with the "great" school football programs, they can't win every year, or play for the championship every year or it will become absolutely ridiculous. -
One of the major themes of the show is that even when the kids graduate, their not GOING anywhere. They're stuck in this town, getting dead end jobs and living off their past glory. granted new faces will have to show up. I just hope they plant the seeds early and let those characters grow into the roles, rather than doing what they did on Lost with those two newbies who just got buried alive. I doubt they will play for State every year (even if some teams do go years without missing a championship game. The real Permian Panthers have multiple championship titles.)
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FNL is the best show on regular television. The Shield is the best show period. But thanks for a FNL talkback. Growing up in Texas and playing Texas HS football, I can definitely relate to this show.
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I also love Studio 60 but I admit that it has it's flaws and has been very unevenly written thus far. Sorkin will have one great episode surrounded by 2-3 very mediocre ones. With Friday Night Lights on the other hand, while no episode lives up to the very best Studio 60 eps, the writing has very good throughout the season. The characters are very well developed and while the stories seemed rushed sometimes the characters typically stick to their definitions well. It's often more difficult to write shows where the storylines are virtually pre-determined by the type of show and FNL does it extremely well.
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FNL has been picked up for another season.
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...is not even in the same ballpark (no pun intended) as FNL. Five years from now Studio 60 will only be remembered as a Sorkin vanity project (as if there's any other kind). Friday Night Lights won a Peabody Award in it's first season. Even the best Studio 60 shows (if there is such a thing) don't even come close. It's just a matter of quality, and FNL has it in spades. Not to mention NOTHING about Studio 60 rings true.
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I disagree with the argument that turning the kids over will eventually kill the show, though I completely understand this dilema. FNL is a show based around the coach, first and formost, so that when the kids graduate, the coach will always be a bridging/constant factor for the audience to follow. This will only pave the way for new faces/drama/storylines, etc...from lower classman or transfers. In addition, just b/c each kid eventually graduates doesn't mean that they leave the show. Some could obviously return from college with guest roles, but others may never go on to college and remain around town getting into trouble and dealing with his issues of being a has been. Bottom line, a fucking fantastic show that I hope is remembered for emmy time.
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Anyone who really has watched all the episodes up to this point would agree. Stupid NBC.
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...firstly, that you're championing this amazing, amazing show: it's another of the roughly 12,000 things we have in common. And this coming from a guy who couldn't give the proverbial rat's ass about football in general.
Secondly, I'm glad you mentioned the theme--the first twelve seconds or so runs up my spine and gives me goosebumps every time.
And lastly (and randomly), to everyone: is it just my mild OCD talking or do you, too, want to wash, bleach and antibacterialize the lucky "P" the players touch in the opening? It's NASTY and WRONG. I'm just saying. -
I think Street was, but I think its implied he's staying for future years. And if Street's a senior, then Lyla and Riggins are seniors. But I think Saracen, Julie, and Smash are all underclassmen. And if Lyla and Riggins don't go to college (which hasn't really been discussed) there won't be much turnover to next season other than Riggins not playing and Lyla not cheering.
Thats if there is a next season. -
FNL is great, really great, but they have to give it another time slot. They gave it one shot post Heroes and FNl had the best ratings of it's young life. Please give this show a lead in - a quasi strong one if possible because trust me, if people watch it once, the majority will come back for more. great show.
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Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler. Their moments together are wonderful.
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Still.
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As someone who DVR's everything, there are only a few shows that I actually watch the opening credits for. Rescue Me and Friday Night Lights for the opening music, Entourage for the Continental, and BSG for the body count.
Jason Street was a senior at the beginning of the series, but who knows how many classes he missed post-injury. (Besides, he's got a job at the school now anyway). I'm pretty sure Riggins is a senior as well. Not sure about Miss Garrity, but she'd be a junior or senior. Matt Saracen's a sophomore, and Smash is a junior or sophomore. Julie's 15, so probably a soph as well. I think Tyra's a senior, but could likely fail a year, although like Riggins, she's probably not headed out of town anyway. Let's just hope they don't pull Dillon Community College (or UT-Dillon)out of the blue as a way to keep everyone around. (What do you mean, UC-Sunnydale was always around, even in BTVS season 1?).
On a side note, Connie Britton is MILFy! (At least her character is, I don't know if she's ever had children of her own). -
renewitrenewitrenewitrenewitrenewit
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Friday Night Lights is more a show about high school than anything. Football just happens to be the oil that keeps the engine running.
The best season of any drama in the history of television is "The Wire: Season 4." Don't take my word for it - look at the cumulative rating on metacritic.com. Since Deadwood is about over, there's some room for a new prince on the throne.
My top dramas with new episodes to (likely) come:
1) The Wire (easily blows The Shield out of the water)
2) BSG (best sci-fi series ever?)
3) Friday Night Lights
4) Heroes
5) Rome
6) Entourage (best "popcorn show")
7) 24 (current season is kinda dull)
8) Lost -
30 Rock hanging on?? Black Donnellys dismissed?- Jimmy would take a Louisville to these MFer's!
Friday Night Lights is BRILLIANT. It shouldn't even be a question. I'm a decent write but I honestly couldn't sum up the story so far without boring y'all as the very Milfy Mrs. T would say. There is morality, passion, defeat and triumph. Not to mention, no shortage of fine Texas women. Clear Eyes Full Hearts Can't Lose!!! -
It just so happens that everyone in the city is obsessed with football (and having lived in Texas, it is VERY big). Think about how much you actually see in the school itself. Almost nothing. You never see the kids in classes. They really made the show all about the characters living in this town, which is why it's such a strong show. And I wouldn't be too heartbroken if Lyla left after this year. Other than being EXTREMELY attractive, her story is sort of bland. The back and forth with Jason Street was getting repeatitive. I won't go so far as to say Lost repetitive, but I felt like I kept seeing the same confrontation over and over. I think Street's story was growing stale, until he started coaching Matt. That scene with Street, Riggins, and Matt drinking beers on the field was fantastic. In any other show it would have been just another bunch of kids goofing off, but in FNL it's character gold.
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Even if it didn't really feel like a typical finale with shocking revelations and stuff, it was still awesome. I expected them to win, so it wasn't a total shock, but the characterization was superb in this episode. Every character had their moments. I think coach Taylor will stay in Dillon. It just sucks because it's going to be about 5-6 months before new episodes. Oh well, as long as there actually is a second season, I don't care when it airs. I'll watch it!!
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is easily the best one so far.
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Great finale. I hope it's renewed, but if not, it ended perfectly. It shocks me that this show would even be considered for non-renewal, but after ABC killed Invasion 2 years ago and My So Called Life before that, I don't have my hopes up for networks caring about quality shows.
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Thanks for the talkback, Herc. I haven't loved a show this much since Arrested Development. It's going to crush me when it's cancelled.
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So he will be around for two more seasons if the show gets that far.
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What it is, I think, is true to life. All the infidelity, drinking, fighting, whatever. That shit is what happens in high school, and it's easy to forget when you are used to shows like Dawson's Creek. True, all those things also happen on the Creek, but only in the most outlandish, made-for-tv manner. And, as someone said above, Connie Britton and Kyle Chandler MAKE the show. Their scene in this ep where they're on the balcony and she tells him she's (spoiler for anyone reading this from another planet) pregnant, was amazing. And little things, like showing her standing on his shoes to kiss him. It's gonna be a long break without this show.
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and true to life since Party of Five and that's the highest compliment I can give a show. As perfect a television season as i've seen a long time.
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was interesting because they were supposed to be in Dallas (or more accurately, Irving), the night before the big game at Texas Stadium but the skyline behind them in that balcony scene was quite obviously Austin all the way.
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I read somewhere else that Riggins is supposed to be a Junior. Sure he acts like an adult but that's situational, due to his life so far. Nice subtle development in the relationship between him and Smash as the season unfolded. Any other show it would have been this 180 degree unbelievable turnaround. Not here. There's growing respect, but they still give each other crap. I liked the episode where the African American players walked out and Riggins was stuck mentoring a handful of the scrubs who had to follow him everywhere. Remember the way he treated them in the lunch line? Hilarious. What a great show.
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In a season that had shows like Lost and 24 drop precipitously in quality, FNL was like a breath of fresh air. This really is a prime example of what American network TV can do when it's firing on all cylinders. I just hope NBC does the right thing and renews it.
...and please, let's stop comparing the embarrassment that was The Black Donnelly's to FNL. The less said about that overblown soap opera the better. -
Though they use a lot of their music in the show, the theme is just a soundalike song that was done by W.G. Snuffy Walden. And yeah, it was by far the best new drama this year.
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