Ready for Prime Time: Friday Night Lights

By Jeffrey Chao
Special to NFLHS.com

It's a sweltering Friday night, and in Kyle, a small Texas town located 20 minutes south of Austin, the only thing in sight is a long stretch of dusty gravel pavement staring out into an endless field of grass. Around these parts, Friday nights are synonymous with something special because in the Lone Star State, football is king.

Kyle Chandler as Coach Taylor

On this particular Friday night, cast and crew are gathered to film a heartbreaking scene between firecracker Kyra (played by Adrianne Palicki) and her boyfriend, football smash-mouth Tim (Taylor Kitsch), for the new television show, "Friday Night Lights." That's right, sports fans--John Madden isn't the only football star NBC has on its schedule this fall.

"Friday Night Lights," which debuts on Tuesday, October 3, is loosely based on the book and subsequent movie adaptation. In fact Peter Berg, who directed the movie version, serves as the creator and executive producer of the show.

The series centers on a small, fictitious Texas town and its crown jewel, the Dillon Panthers high school football team. Led by first-year head coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and All-American quarterback James Street (Scott Porter), the team is stocked with a ton of talent--and a full load of expectations. The roster also includes backup quarterback Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) and the explosive duo of Brian "Smash" Williams (Gaius Charles) and his hothead counterpart Tim Riggins in the backfield.

The football scenes are fast and fierce, and the story wastes no time in establishing the might of the Dillon Panthers. In the pilot episode, the Panthers are busy preparing for their first game of the season, busting their butts in practice and enjoying high school life at night.

Naturally, the entire town has high hopes for their team, and Coach Taylor certainly feels the heat. At a publicity function, Taylor is approached by a booster who is overly friendly with his advice, played by none other than Mack Brown. As head coach of the 2005 National Champion Texas Longhorns, Brown knows more than most what it feels like to have the weight of expectations bearing down on a coach's shoulders.

When one of his coaches asks Taylor if the Panthers are ready for the first game of the season, Taylor states with a weary smirk, "It's only football," but his eyes clearly tell the viewer that he doesn't believe what he says for a second. The episode ends with Dillon's season opener, a game that is tense, competitive and down to the wire. Only football, indeed.

Cast of "Friday Night Lights"

The show is definitely about more than what happens on Friday night; in fact, football merely serves as a catalyst to move the story forward. The show is very much "football meets 'The O.C.'...an adult O.C.," says NBC spokesperson Jamie French. That means there are plenty of teen troubles, emotional issues and beautiful people, which include the star quarterback's loyal girlfriend Lyla (Minka Kelly) and the coach's intellectual daughter Julie (Aimee Teegarden). And despite the pressure to perform on the gridiron, the Panthers are still in high school, meaning there's plenty of drama both on and off the field.

Another key driver of the show is the development of Coach Taylor, his wife Tami (Connie Britton) and his daughter. Though Taylor has just inherited one the best teams in the state, the pressure the town puts on him to win has the coach feeling like he is trying to complete an impossible mission. And after a devastating event rocks the foundation of the Panthers, Taylor has to go through the rest of the season learning how to coach his team all over again. Luckily through it all, Taylor has the unwavering support of his devoted wife and daughter.

There's nothing out of the ordinary about "Friday Night Lights." There is no murder to solve, bioterrorism threat, or secret "hatch." In fact, "Friday Night Lights" is almost the opposite type of
drama--genuine, heartfelt and a bit nostalgic. Of course, there's also plenty of action and excitement to watch. That's because on Friday nights in Dillon, Texas, anything is possible.

"Friday Night Lights" debuts Tuesday, October 3 on NBC at 8/7c.
For more information on "Friday Night Lights," visit their website, courtesy of NBC.com.