Sigh. There was a time when Friday night used to be really special. The end of the work week. Me and my overnight bag taking a trip up to my then-boyfriend now-husband's apartment to spend the weekend Living in Sin. A movie! Dinner at a fancy restaurant! I love my children desperately, but I have to admit a downside to being married with small children - the vast majority of our nights are spent at home in front of the TV. We still have excitement on Friday night, but it's somewhat tamer: Hot dogs! Chips! Smirnoff Ice! (Can you stand it? Do you need a moment??)
That is, our Friday Nights WERE tamer until a certain little acronym came into our lives: FNL.
Don't know what that stands for? You should, my friends. It is hands down the best kept secret on television today: Friday Night Lights.
I admit to being skeptical when the Husband brought home this new show on DVD that we simply had to watch. A show about football? Sounds dreadfully dull. No thanks. Not surprisingly, that is one of the main reasons that the show is not more popular today. NBC's early marketing strategy focused heavily on the youth and football elements, ignoring the fact that the real draw of this show is the character-driven, soap opera-esque storyline. In short, it is the perfect show - appealing to both men and women. Critics agree. A columnist for ESPN Magazine called it "...the greatest sports-related show ever made" and the New York Times thought it was "...not just television great, but great in the way of a poem or a painting."
What really stands out for me is the show's authenticity. That is owed, in great part, to the style of filming. Although the show is scripted like any other, the producers decided at the outset to allow the actors great freedom with the dialogue and the blocking. If they felt that their characters wouldn't say something like that or move in that way, the were free to change it. Add to that the fact that the show is filmed in one take, without rehearsal, and you have something truly unique on your hands. A real gem. This is the way that I thought film worked, till I went to theatre school and realized how truly controlled an actor is on set.
Not only that, this show features one of the most realistic marriages I think I've ever seen on television. The relationship between Head Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and wife Tami (Connie Britton) are the best written and portrayed relationship I have ever seen. I have a hard time believing the are actors.
If you don't watch the show for any of the reasons listed above, it's worth watching for the man-candy alone. Taylor Kitsch (shown above) plays Tim Riggins, the bad-boy-with-the-heart-of-gold, and hot damn is he some kind of good-lookin'. I discounted him at first, preferring the handsome - and more responsible - Coach Taylor. He has won me over. He's just too beautiful. And folks - HE'S CANADIAN. Yes! We grew him here.
Hold on, now I need a moment.
Okay, I'm good.
It kills me to say that this show may not be returning for another season due to marketing bumbles and programming snafus. Do not let this happen. Buy the past seasons on DVD. Program your PVRs. Show your support.
That's all I have to say. Mama Drama out.
Photo credit: TaylorKitsch.com
Holy crow, I need a cigarette after staring into that Taylor Kitsch's eyes (mmmm Canadian boys). I think I have a date with him this Friday night ;)
Posted by: katie ~ motherbumper | January 23, 2009 at 03:02 PM