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“Friday Night Lights” — new season hints
The second season of “Friday Night Lights” arrives Oct. 5 with Coach Taylor racing home to Dillon from his new job coaching college football in Austin to be with his wife, Tami, as she gives birth to their new offspring.
In the next few episodes, the Taylors, played by Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, will wonder whether they’ve made the biggest mistakes of their lives living apart and, if so, what they can and should do about it.
Other developments coming to the NBC series based on the H.G. “Buzz” Bissinger book and Peter Berg movie about high-school football in small-town Texas: Tyra and Landry will become “more intimate,” according to producer Jason Katims; one of the teens will “find God”; and paralyzed former quarterback Jason will regain movement in one hand and new hope, perhaps misplaced, for his future.
The story line, TV critics were told at a Los Angeles news conference Tuesday, jumps eight months into the future, and everyone connected with this acclaimed, Austin-based TV series is pulling for a brighter tomorrow.
With the Emmy nominations coming Thursday — the same day most of the principal cast returns to Austin for filming — the prospect for more awards (to join the show’s prestigious Peabody) seems likely.
“I’m the most superstitious person in the world,” said Austin-born executive producer Sarah Aubrey. “Talking about it seems profoundly jinxing. But of course I hope it happens. I want it for the show, to raise its profile and maybe get more viewers to come.”
Smart money is on Chandler and Britton to earn best acting nods and maybe a best-drama nomination for the show.
NBC renewed “Lights” for a full 22-episode season in spite of lackluster ratings, but the road remains bumpy. After running a couple of repeats on Sunday nights this summer, the network pulled them. But a release of the first season on DVD in August could spark interest.
The network is gearing up for the show’s move to Friday nights, a time usually reserved for losers. But NBC plans a heavy promotion in the fall, and the show’s creative team is hopeful that the move could actually help.
“The idea that a show called ‘Friday Night Lights’ was on a night other than Friday was a challenge, too, so we’ll see,” Katims said.
NBC plans to highlight the family and relationship aspect of the show, but promises have been made that “Lights” will not lose its small-town luster — or its football.
“Our Texas location is one of the biggest characters in the program,” Kyle Chandler said. “It’s a huge benefit for us to be there.”
And although the Taylors will be separated at the start of the season, their bond will not be broken.
“I like the obstacles they have,” Chandler said. “They can’t get any closer, and that’s a great relationship to play.”
The younger cast members are excited about returning to Austin. Several of them never left. The whole group is expected to attend NBC’s all-star party later Tuesday, so we’ll serve up more “Lights” in Wednesday’s TV blog.
And stay tuned for Thursday’s Emmy nominations — announced here at 5 a.m.!
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Entertainment
Comments
By amanda
July 19, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this
Actually, you can be an extra on the show. I did it for several episodes last year and it was fun. they are always looking for extras. I had several conversations with Kyle Chandler and the other actors. And Kyle is as nice as he is on TV.
If you want info, check out the Friday Night Lights EXTRAS myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/fnl_extras
Also, sometimes you will see ads on the Austin Craig's List under Employment Television/Film where they are seeking extras.
By Maria
July 18, 2007 12:16 AM | Link to this
My husband and I are huge fans of Friday Night Lights, it seems like we were the only ones watching it in Silicon Valley last season, even though we would TRY and persuade our friends and family to tune in.
Now that we have moved to Austin, does anybody know the location and schedule of shooting so we can maybe sneak a peak at some of the action? Or is this top secret information to disuade fans like us from trying to sneak a peek at Kyle Chandler?
By ken
July 17, 2007 8:26 PM | Link to this
Friday Night Lights = Zzzzzzzzzzzz