friday night lights series friday night lights american drama television series high school football team fictional town texas developed executive produced based book adapted film series primary setting small close community rural texas team coach family grace featured uses small town backdrop address issues facing contemporary american culture including family values school funding racism drugs abortion lack economic opportunities produced friday night lights premiered october aired seasons nbc garnered critical acclaim passionate fans series suffered low ratings danger cancellation second season save series nbc struck deal produce seasons subsequent season premiered nbc months later series ended run february seasons friday night lights garnered sizable audience critical success lauded realistic portrayal deep exploration central characters appeared number best lists awarded award technical primetime emmy awards nominated scored multiple nominations outstanding lead actor actress awards drama series executive producer nominated drama series won emmy production inspiration friday night lights inspired buzz non fiction book friday night lights town team dream film based book explores season high school football team texas factual work documentary journalism people featured renamed book film stars directed second cousin based characters residents conception filming movie completed began explore adapting story television later said regretted having topics book time constraints feature film creating series particularly based fictional characters allowed address elements depth decided set series fictional town texas characteristics football team given deliberately carried elements film series particularly pilot closely related film cast wife head coach major businessman football roles similar played film production filming pilot began february austin texas said required filming pilot eventually texas deal breaker order agree participate weekly project features texas heritage pilot featured football coach brown fictional compare coach brown pilot referred surrounding area scenes football scenes filmed complex football team coaches uniforms based uniforms scenes filmed observation local high school students preparing film movie inspired development characters example character promising football career ended spinal injury pilot inspired local event football player san_antonio madison high paralyzed november game game accident occurred profoundly affected edwards injury overturned life set similar incident pilot performances relying script week producers decided outset allow cast said decisions affect delivery lines blocking scene actors felt character mode delivery didn work free change provided hit vital plot points freedom complemented filming rehearsal extensive blocking camera operators trained follow actors having actors stand place cameras fixed actors knew filming work executive producer described method rehearsal blocking cameras shoot working fashion profoundly influenced involved series star said look life going wow executive producer changed life executive producer head writer echoed sentiment saying came set thought interesting imagined filmmaking saw filmmaking filming seasons friday night lights filmed austin yielding roughly million year revenue states courted production company state texas failed pay promised producers texas legislature authorized funding match offers states production company preferred stay near austin remained texas friday night lights unusual actual locations stage sets sound stage factors reliance filming hundreds locals extras gives series authentic feel look producers documentary style filming technique cameras shoot entire scenes shot contrast productions film scene angle typically repeat scene times lighting accommodate shot takes usually final cut filming scene producers tried create environment actors organic allowed best performances series borrowed uniforms fans stadium producers shot games game footage series football provided screen commentary football game sequences facilities colors texas setting creative inspiration fictional features fictional field named head coach scenes filmed outside texas june scenes filmed portray fictional episode senior year high school filmed boston area scenes fictional filmed austin marketing initially targeted youth market emphasized football element nbc teamed social networking site create site allowed students video photos create local football teams students participated eligible scholarships nbc negotiated network series promotion network youth oriented sites including complement promotion nbc sent school spirit kits high schools country kits included posters mini cameras bearing logo kits contained copies pilot episode dvd network repeated promotion second season promotion teamed send party kits contained advance copies season opener promotional material nbc paired toyota create hometown students earn cash grants school athletic program open high school students ages designed draw people official web site download aol icons students registered download free movie theater passes special early screenings pilot episode movie theater screenings took place cities nationwide ran week premiered nbc later season nbc chose switch course pursue female demographic network designed strategy based personal elements giving tagline life president stressed goal ensure viewers family relationships athletics network ran second spots movie theaters featured cast members fans interviewed cast characters community texas friday night lights ensemble cast features football coach balance work family status community personal ambitions family wife guidance counselor turned principal high teenage daughter central coach taylor characters appear episode outside taylor family explores lives high school football players pilot coach taylor star quarterback jason street suffers spinal injury ends football career faces life street struggles disabilities life gradually new reality kelly girlfriend undergoes changes making transition cheerleader christian youth leader street injury sophomore quiet reserved starting quarterback eventually dates coach daughter viewers learn father serving soldier iraq sole grandmother receives little help best friend clarke eventual live nurse love interest star running brian smash williams charles works college football scholarship struggles alcoholism complicated family problems brother legal guardian serves tim stars town wants leave better life involved eventually develops complicated relationship plot season season revolves main events coach beginning head coach injury star quarterback jason street game season coach taylor career depends ability state championship despite loss street team suffers losing streak knows family longer welcome wife begins work guidance counselor local high school course season support mentor students position plays pivotal role season finale struggle extremely difficult conditions street learn live disability town athletics face new challenges lead athlete street friendship rehab roommate wheelchair rugby teammate grows stronger independence quiet matt seldom plays football new role calls different cares grandmother father fighting iraq matt falls love coach taylor daughter texas small town life football falls matt relationship slowly season explored pressure driven brian smash williams easily promising player roster works hard achieve excellence sees future career instrumental gaining better life family father killed car accident mother taken multiple jobs family afloat smash decides performance enhancing drugs ensure gain college football scholarship struggling alcoholism parents prospects high school portrayed loyal friend good heart comes broken home mother suffers abusive relationships men begins season girlfriend thanks counselor clarke school math geek best friend starts hope break cycle women family undergoes significant changes faced jason injury begins seeing comfort jason begins growing closer woman learns father affairs begins establish independence season season begins coach taylor living working austin assistant coach fictional wife remains daughter newborn baby struggling demands new baby rebellious behavior new coach creates friction smash matt showing blatant smash drives tim hard passes practice hospitalized assistant coach jason street manner president barring team practices smash matt actually come blows field crucial game won smash buddy engineers firing new coach persuades taylor team family suffering absence taylor agrees return continues act ends romantic relationship matt sees turning replica father pursues older man works local pool finds interest relationship begins friendship young teacher mother feels inappropriate confronts teacher school students conversation spread rumors furious mother coach taylor attempts win games faces number issues tim kicked team missing week practice leaves spur moment jason street mexico look treatment jason returning tim finds neighbor woman brief affair seeing brother billy moved house tim moves trouble finding place live ultimately returns coach taylor allows rejoin team shows practice initiative apologizes team lack commitment increasingly involved organization young christians religious outreach program befriends young convict released juvenile detention shortly meet gets job father buddy car buddy encourages try football noticing superior speed coordination taylor expresses interest boy discovered legal guardian left town adult life buddy agrees legal responsibility smash courted number college makes clear priority quick route nfl leading tension mother insists priority getting education smash accepts scholarship prestigious smash punches white teenager sexually sister movies turns blown proportion racial incident smash deemed character issues scholarship revoked later commits smaller historically black college highly regarded academics athletic programs football coach strong relationship coach taylor scouting smash middle school matt begins relationship cheerleader leaving grandmother new live nurse additionally early season follows arc kills hides body man attempted rape leading romance eventually guilt builds confesses charges pressed tension remains woman supposed night stand end season jason pleads woman child promises care season ends cliffhanger writers strike head writer executive producer stated episode way viewed season finale leading end season normal circumstances likely brought story coach family strong football element said seven episodes nbc ordered season weren season season began coach taylor failing lead state championship year creating new pressure position threatened arrival freshman amazing natural talent comes rich family father joe matt moves wide receiver taylor names starting quarterback starts dating cowboy named cash leading complications relationship tim start dating principal fights allocation funds injured knee previous year playoffs love game billy tim jason decide flip house profit matt reconcile romance smash gets succeeds winning spot team helps tim pursue college football scholarship tim initially puts concerned trying turn encouraging pursue college sees looking best interests buddy loses money college fund bad business deal strip club wants attend buddy loses money considers going school gives tim scholarship moves tim father fight gets engaged older sister pregnant time engagement eventually finds job sports agency new_york_city visiting player playing professionally moves northeast close girlfriend newborn baby matt pushed football role playoffs making visit possible recruit moved town coach learns plot replaced head coach learn wants taylor replaced personal coach school administration meets decide gets coaching job offered job taylor offered job coaching recently reopened billy wedding ends season season season kicks struggling east high coach team field conditions complete change privileged sparkling conditions west coach begins putting new lion team realizes players try desirable coach gets lucky break couple new faces student gotten trouble law times given chance plays football prior football experience natural talent team star quarterback second break comes lions reveals address file new running lot luke faced struggle principal new character introduced trailer mother property love tim luke shopping convenience store allows luke drive home sex pregnant student seeks help situation discusses options decides abortion mother goes procedure parents find led luke mother seek taylor dismissal principal refuses apologize followed procedure leave decides return role guidance counselor football season focused growth sense lion pride culmination hard work tested game season play led amazing east lions defeat playoff chances season struggles staying living turned art school chicago instead studying art local technical college returning hunting trip finds father killed iraq episode son shows matt going stages grief comes accept death father man claims hate episode garnered buzz online resulted failed campaign emmy nomination guest actor category episode emmy nomination drama series emotionally charged episode matt abruptly moves chicago saying goodbye girlfriend best friend returns briefly finale makes ends flying chicago matt character developed time moody alcoholic young man character reflected ability wrong choices right reasons usually involve brother proven ability help correct choices unfortunately tim season irresponsible brother tim wrong choice convincing tim way money transforming newly opened garage shop finally end business tim payment large land dreaming police arrest garage police officers recognize tim number giving tim chance deny shop true character makes decision rap allows brother new wife child season ends tim walks jail season season final season opens summer wrapping joins special teams coach new guidance counselor faced challenge particularly difficult student named departing months jail experiences turmoil living situation moves billy develops family developing closer relationship luke leading lions new recruit rest team standing strong strong hopes team state past comes team deal struggles field troubles cause relationship hit college experience like imagined experiences difficulty situation involving history forced good look wants father developed problems california sent help father pleased son lions football player looks support parents old boyfriend living chicago attending art school drives spend time leaves confused future tim parole help coach taylor approved early release buddy gives job bar tim angry brother billy threatens alaska work pipeline comes visit tells needs repair relationship billy spend night asks tim land episode closes asking alaska tim tim guilty smile episode east wins state championship coach taylor share moment respect coach taylor moves wife philadelphia accepts job dean prestigious school ends showing living happily tim talk dreams potential future new home site engaged matt lives chicago quarterback east west joined hastings living dallas helping student coach team following dreams billy expecting twins seen bus depot departing army second scene tim billy taking break putting frame tim new house sit crack open beer billy responds series ends coaching new high school team philadelphia noticeably smaller stadium texas practice phrase clear eyes hearts getting normal response lose says deal later shows walk field lights turn reception critical response series high viewership met critical acclaim strong fan base review aggregator website metacritic season received score based reviews virginia wrote new_york_times season like pilot new drama high school football great television great great way poem painting washington_post similarly praised series extraordinary way columnist readers column september issue watch calling greatest sports related positive reviews came usa_today san_francisco_chronicle international sources guardian calling pilot beautifully shot metro awarding stars inaugural season online journalists praise guide dedicated columns calling episodes season entertaining zap2it asked readers promise watch episodes friday night lights pilot receive negative reviews philadelphia_inquirer review particularly harsh calling standard high school sports soap opera season reviews considerably positive murder plot particularly panned critics los_angeles_times said lost innocence boston_globe said event real life tone positive variety saying faith shown showrunner writer new_york_times said hold friday night lights measure realism miss essentially pleasures time magazine included series list best shows stating thought tribute values turn avant garde music random close ups said dialogue phenomenal football drama time magazine james_poniewozik named returning series ranking aol ranked friday night lights fifth best school time year placed entertainment_weekly new classics list alan_sepinwall placed best best dramas wrote shows willing directly confront emotions characters aided central performances realistic loving couples named 16th best series 2000s online ranked number list series past years friday night lights final season lauded critics based reviews season obtained score metacritic indicating universal acclaim included numerous best lists ranked list series saying final season drama came expect final dramatic game real action stands ranked final episode episodes list paste named best shows slant_magazine ranked friday night lights list concluding true concerns obsession class family articulated beautifully quiet familiar relationships town team coach wife list series ranked friday night lights explaining seasons friday night lights simplest complex felt like real life real life complicated guide named praising fact friday night lights left fans best portrait marriage included huffington_post online ranked friday night lights best written series time awards accolades friday night lights won award afi awards emmy award outstanding casting drama series ace eddie award editing image award outstanding directing earned multiple writers guild america nominations leading actors received emmy nominations performances executive producer won prize awards writing concluding run honored emmy nominations won award outstanding lead actor drama series won drama series fan base friday night lights enjoys nbc president called passionate vocal fanbase fan dedication shown expressing support news outlets getting massive amounts support mail running positive pieces statements nbc entertainment head future fact point friday night lights wouldn return writers strike fans campaigns raised money send contributions charity foundations related raised total charity worth dvds troops stationed overseas television ratings ratings critically acclaimed friday night lights enjoyed high ratings seasons averaged roughly million viewers ratings dropped subsequent seasons season averaging million viewers fourth season million fifth season million international ratings pilot aired february watched viewers attributed program aired opposite football game knockout round champions league ratings december nielsen_media_research reported results having time monitored viewers use recorder record shows later viewing ratings called live plus seven include viewers use record watch week initial airing according nielsen numbers viewers increased friday night lights ratings overall december nielsen monitored viewers april increase went week ending april affluent viewers march reported friday night lights popular shows affluent viewers little experience playing football determined report turn analysis nielsen_media_research study determined yearly income study friday night lights tied 11th watched affluent viewers according study viewers median household income year distribution online episodes streaming videos cast interviews episode previous week available series inception december nbc expanded selection include episode season offer episode select shows represents marketing push nbc addition free support offerings episode friday night lights available download itunes_store february episode special promotion pilot initially offered free download series available syndication acquired syndication rights seasons began airing september pulled october low ratings july announced espn classic acquired rights seasons started airing series beginning july attempt bolster series ratings nbc air sister network weeks leading season finale nbc episodes aired schedule hour friday hours saturday known audience largely female line new strategy nbc president fox selling questioned strategy admitted having regrets initially marketing incorrectly saying clear marketing ended confusing people terms public thought supposed said felt core women wish marketing reflected greater extent television season ended nbc planned air summer hopes gaining new viewers summer hiatus despite rising ratings nbc abruptly pulled network schedule june nbc resumed airing late august early september timed season dvd release acquired rights began airing series chronological order april week long event episodes aired nightly writers guild america strike decision release season dvd produced episodes comments nbc chief led speculation canceled march confirmed nbc picked series season cost sharing partnership nbc struck agreement run episodes airing exclusively episodes aired nbc later date season premiered exclusively channel episodes nbc beginning january march nbc announced renewed series seasons home media releases dvd season released dvd region august region october special features include deleted scenes episodes titled lights creating season friday night lights second season released dvd region april region february special features include deleted scenes episodes audio commentaries days summer ready friday night goes neighborhood titled friday night lights cast producers festival season released dvd region region march special features include deleted scenes episode audio commentary tomorrow blues fourth season released dvd region august region special features include deleted scenes episodes audio commentary east scenes fifth season released dvd region april region august special features include deleted scenes episodes audio commentaries don titled lights photo gallery complete series box set containing episodes material individual season sets released region october march announced acquired rights series region release seasons dvd september soundtracks soundtracks music featured released friday night lights released included music killers explosions sky produced score film second soundtrack friday night lights vol released included main friday night lights theme score film television background music instrumental music performed explosions sky potential film sequel july revealed creator executive producer interested continuing series feature film august said panel friday night lights film development quoted saying trying adding script currently written imagine television produce film set return executive producer confirmed continued development film december confirmed film moving forward
Friday Night Lights (TV series)