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‘Lights’ ends season, Oprah takes on Imus, ‘Legs’ Scarnato booted off ‘Idol’
About five minutes into last night’s “Friday Night Lights” season finale, I shed my first tears. A few minutes later it happened again, followed by a hearty chuckle and then back to the tissue box. And so it goes …
Such is the emotional wrenching instigated by the Austin-filmed “Lights,” my favorite drama of the TV season. Every single character is so richly drawn that he/she can pull sly comedy or gut-punching drama out of a scene in any given episode.
If you haven’t seen the “Lights” finale yet, THIS IS YOUR SPOILER ALERT!
It was no surprise that Coach Taylor’s wife Tami revealed she is pregnant — apparently after thinking for 16 years that she was destined to have only one offspring, Julie. The pregnancy revelation was in last week’s preview, so we knew it was coming.
And we should have known that Tami’s delivery of the news to husband Eric would be a heart-tugger. Which it was. But even for a show as steeped in emotional realism as “Lights,” the husband-wife scene was amazing. If Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton aren’t Emmy nominees this year, it will be a travesty.
Loved Landry getting stuck with a car full of wacky women — after thinking he would spend four hours alone with Tyra on a road trip to the State Championship game in Dallas. Landry always looks surprised or bemused by life, but this was vintage put-upon Landry. Always the best friend and good guy … always hoping to catch a break. But getting stuck having to do the right thing.
The writers walked a tightrope on this finale, necessitated by wondering whether NBC will bring the show back for a sophomore season. The finale story will play equally well as a conclusion, if the worst happens and “Lights” gets axed, and as a cliffhanger, if the show is brought back.
As I’ve said before, renewal is likely. Not only is “Lights” the most-praised show of the current TV season, it recently won a prestigious Peabody Award. Plus, NBC has ordered six new scripts, which presumes another season — or at least part of a season. The final decision is expected in May but could come sooner.
PS: Help may be on the way for area filmmakers, including “Lights.” Wednesday, the Texas House of Representatives voted to increase incentives for film and movie production in the state. The House budget allocates $20 million for post-production underwriting if producers demonstrate they have used majority Texas crews and have made a significant impact on local economies. The Senate considers the incentives next.
C’mon, Oprah! Slap Imus!
Today’s edition of “Oprah” (4 p.m. on KVUE Channel 24) will feature the Rutgers University women’s basketball team, the recent targets of ignorant radio host Don Imus’ nasty sexist-racist remarks.
MSNBC announced Wednesday that it will no longer simulcast “Imus in the Morning,” but CBS, which owns the syndicated radio show, is only suspending Imus for two weeks — with plans to bring him back smack-dab in the middle of the May sweeps.
If anybody can issue a fatally stinging rebuke of icky Imus, it’s Oprah Winfrey. Hate radio might be protected by free speech, but that doesn’t make it right.
‘Idol’ loses its legs
Yep, the best pair of gams ever to grace the “American Idol” stage got the boot Wednesday night when San Antonio native Haley Scarnato was voted off.
Not a huge surprise because she’s been in the Bottom 3 several times. And if she was really offended by all the comments on her legs, she shouldn’t have chosen to wear short-shorts so many times. Haley clearly was flirting with viewers and judges.
But Haley certainly wasn’t the worst of the finalists. As always, that dubious distinction went to Mr. Hair, Sanjaya, followed closely by Mr. No-Hair Phil Stacey and Mr. Stubble-Hair Chris Richardson.
To say that voting has been a little odd this “Idol” season is like South Congress Avenue on a First Thursday is a little weird.
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Comments
By Jim Casey
April 12, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this
I still find it offensive that CBS radio thinks if they sit IMUS for 2 weeks then IMUS is going to be ACCEPTABLE again.
This punishment is CBS' way to protect an investment, an Investment,IMUS, that CBS wants to keep, and this is without regard to what IMUS says or NOW Represents and is PERCEIVED as...CBS radio's Sexist Racist Morning Personality.
CBS radio executives need to be made to step up and take responsibility for the content of what is on CBS' station. Print pictures of the CBS executives, so they can be recognized on the street, so their family, children and friends know what they stand for!!
Why has no one posted the FULL LIST of execs and Sponsors for this show. The execs and the sponsors are behind the 2 week "wait it out" scenario, the sponsors are not being made to "step up" into the greasy, slimy light of the IMUS SHOW!!
The Media is being APATHETIC, this is being reported, but where is the real pressure of the media, the PUBLIC deserves to know who the Accountable are, CBS executives, Pictures and their names, and THE SPONSORS, big and small, show us their LOGOS.
Drag CBS execs and The SPONSORS, into the SLIMY GREASY LIGHT of RACISM and Sexism and let these PROUD SPONSORS and CBS execs stand by their IMUS!! Oh they must be SO PROUD!!
The PUBLIC WANTS THEIR NAMES!!!!
By austinights
April 12, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this
Okay, for FNL what NBC MUST do is run repeats like they do other shows after the sweeps are done. Give people who had otherwise been watching Idol or other reality boring stuff a chance to really see this phenom show. Didn't you just love seeing the Austin skyline in the background? And yay to the Lege for stepping up to the plate finally. Hopefully this will keep the show around (should it get a whole 'nother season). Best line in the show was Grandma Saracen when Landry picked her up....she said something like, "did you bring the liquor, Tyra?" My proverbial hat is off to the entire cast, crew and production staff of FNL...and to NBC for giving it a chance.