The Greatest Show On Television Nobody Watches

I'll come right out and say it: I'm no tv aficionado. I don't watch countless hours of television programming nor is my DVR bursting at the seams with shows I'm actively following (although I do have a pile of Heroes season 4 episodes that I'm almost ready to give up on). I have a few shows that keep me engaged throughout the year (The Office, Modern Family, 30 Rock, Mad Men) as well as the never-ending cycle of professional and collegiate sports, but by no means am I a tv junkie. Heck, I have a hard enough time finding the right balance to get my fill of gaming, but that's another rant for another day. So to that end, my opinion probably doesn't matter all that much. And I know, I know – this isn't the first time someone has implored you to give a certain show he or she loves the chance it so richly deserves. Trust me, I get it. That's not my intention here. All I'm looking to do is sing the praises of a show that most people don't even know exists. Perhaps that will change.

Welcome to Friday Night Lights...

Dillon, Texas. Sounds like a place in middle America where nothing happens – where life truly does stand still. And to a certain extent, such an assumption would be entirely understandable. But once you accept the fact that life in this small, sleepy-eyed Texas town has almost nothing in common with its larger, more glamorous metropolis brethren, you'll begin to appreciate the scope of Friday Night Lights (FNL). What the show lacks in over-the-top, over-sentimentalized, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants moments it more than makes up for with heart, honesty, and gritty realism. I know what you're thinking – this sounds like a boring, flaming turd just waiting to be put out of its misery. But just stay with me here. Would I waste my time with a flaming turd, let alone a boring one? Don't answer that.

The fact that the show takes place in such a small town allows FNL to masterfully focus on the lives of normal, everyday people. People you and I can, in one way or another, relate to. Their struggles, their fears, their dreams; it's the accumulation of all these little pieces that gives FNL its vibrancy and heart-felt emotion. There are moments you'll swear you're watching real life unfold right before your eyes. The usage of the proverbial "shaky" hand-held cameras helps cement this notion even more. Yes, the show revolves around football and Dillon's high school team, the Panthers, but don't think of FNL as merely a drama set between two goal posts. Football is the one thing that unites this otherwise desolate town. It's their lifeblood. The Panthers are the summation of the Dillon's pride, the embodiment of the town's hopes that something – anything – better is possible if you believe. And it's those trials and tribulations, documented so exquisitely, that gives FNL such a pertinent, immediate feel.

And then there's the actors and actresses that assume the roles of Dillon's denizens. Part of what makes FNL's storytelling so plausible is the way in which each character comes off as a natural manifestation of the small town's trappings and triumphs. Each character is imbued with an essence of everyday folk that is both entirely recognizable and immediately believable. These people are not caricatures of the typical stereotypes we've come to all know and expect. Yes, you've got the cocky star running back, the popular cheerleader, and the father figure-type head coach that we've seen countless times before, but their failings and subsequent tales of redemption is what gives the show its raw human emotion. Life in Dillon is anything but a walk in the park, but it's the way in which each individual character deals with and overcomes adversity that truly makes you root for each and every one of them as you would your own family or friends. If I had to highlight one character from the magnificent cast it would undoubtedly be Kyle Chandler's masterful depiction of coach Eric Taylor. Regardless of whether you've played sports or not, coach Taylor has the uncanny ability to intertwine life and sport in a way that is both inspiring and character-building. Heck, I think he could even motivate a stick he's that good. Too bad he's not a real person otherwise I'd drive down to Dillon myself just to shake his hand. But Dillon doesn't exist so that won't work either. Anyway... here's a quick glimpse of Kyle Chandler in all of his glory in season four of FNL:                 

[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikwbuqRV4UQ&feature=related:610:0]

Now tell me you don't want to go strap on the pads right now. That's what I'm talking about!

But there's another more, how shall I say, superficial side to the cast as well. I don't mean the characters themselves are superficial (ok, maybe the venerable Tim Riggins is to a certain degree), but the cast is made up of generally very good looking people. I don't ever recall that being a bad thing. Don't believe me? Well let's take a gander at some of the past and present characters that have made up the three plus seasons of FNL. I'm willing to bet at least one or two of them will catch your eye for longer than, say, two seconds (for me it's like two hours, but who's counting?).

Eric Taylor: Your classic definition of the all-American dad. He's pretty darn handsome if I do say so myself.

Tami Taylor: MILF. Also known as coach Taylor's wife.

Jason Street: Star quarterback of the Dillon Panthers. I think of him as a miniature version of coach Taylor.

Lyla Garrity: I can't believe Derek Jeter is dating her. Ok, maybe I can. Lucky ***.

Tim Riggins: The ladies sure do swoon over this one. Too bad he's not the brightest bulb in the box. Perhaps that's part of the allure.

Tyra Collette: The town vixen with an attitude to boot. I'd love to be her boot.

Brian "Smash" Williams: The ego on this one runs as deep as Texas is wide. Say hello to the Panthers' star running back. Most of Dillon's female population already has.

Julie Taylor: She's supposed to be the Taylor's high school daughter. Sure.

Matt Saracen: The down-on-his-luck backup quarterback who gets thrust into the spotlight when he least expects it. You can't help but root for the kid. Girls seem to think he's cute too.

Random FNL Hottie: Ok, this girl isn't a regular character of the show. But she dated Saracen for a few episodes. I just put her in here because she's Kim Smith. Saracen would later dump her for his grandma's live-in maid. And no, I'm not kidding.

So as you can see, FNL has no shortage of eye candy. Not that the show necessarily needs it, but it definitely helps the attention span to say the least.

I'd also like to quickly touch on the music used throughout the series, namely the inclusion of the band Explosions In The Sky. One of my favorite acts, Explosions In The Sky is a post-modern rock band known for their grand, sweeping instrumental music. Born from the Lone Star state, Explosions' sound is a perfect fit for FNL's tales of tragedy and triumph. Their music helps, so effortlessly, punctuate the precise mood of a scene; be it a transitional shot of the Texas countryside or a poignant speech on the delicate nature of life. Pain and beauty all at the same time, it's a potent mix sure to leave even the most indifferent viewers a little emotional. Case in point, Explosions' "Remember Me As A Time Of Day" as it was used in the very first episode of FNL:

[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_2vWfLceuo&feature=related:610:0]
 
However, the music used beyond that of Explosions In The Sky is stellar as well. Composer W.G. Snuffy Walden plays upon the rich sonic template established by Explosions to provide a vibrant yet poignant soundtrack that, at certain times, will leave you breathless. You might think I'm speaking in hyperbole (and in certain ways perhaps I am), but the music used throughout FNL breathes a personality that is as organic as the citizens of Dillon themselves. And hey, any show that has the wherewithal to utilize the music of Explosions gets my unwavering support no matter what. (And on a somewhat side note, go check out "Your Hand in Mine" if you want to get a feel for what Explosions is like. It just might change the way you look at music.)

As for the show itself, it's amazing to think FNL has lasted as long as it has. It's never achieved great ratings despite consistently being one of the best reviewed shows year after year. Check out (gasp!) the Metacritic scores for three of the past four seasons here, here, and here. See? I'm not lying. I never lie. Ok, that was a lie. To say that FNL is a media darling would be an understatement. Yet the show has never really found a large following despite all of the critical acclaim its received. The show was on its death bed after the writer's strike shortened second season, but DirecTv stepped in and offered to split the production costs with NBC, thus giving FNL a new lease on life. A small but rabid fan base has also continued to ensure the lights of Dillon won't go off without a fight as well. When word spread in 2008 that the show might be cancelled, fans organized their efforts (and money) and sent the heads of NBC Entertainment almost 19,000 footballs in a show of support for FNL. Passionate indeed.

And here we are today. FNL is entering its fourth season with one more on the docket and I couldn't be happier. Yeah, the show took a bit of a dip in quality during season two when certain outlandish events were concocted in order to increase ratings. But even then it was and still is better than most of what's on the tube these days. To think that the show lasted as long as it has, considering the almost insurmountable odds stacked against, is fairly amazing. Other critically acclaimed shows like Jericho, Arrested Development, and Pushing Daisies met their demise well before their time. Yet FNL continues to defy the odds. How fitting. I guess it really is true what they say: Life does imitate art sometimes.

FNL is a show of immense heart and passion. A show that isn't afraid to peek behind the curtain at the sometimes ugly, morose side of life. For only then are the triumphs that subsequently unfold that much more beautiful. This is a show that, for the past four years, has resonated with me like no other. Yeah, I've been a big, big fan of shows in the past, but none of them have struck a chord in me the way FNL does. And this is coming from someone who never really played organized football growing up. FNL truly captures the spirit of what it's like to live in a town where your dreams and aspirations are everything and nothing at all. The struggle to realize those dreams, the fortitude to achieve those aspirations, and the willingness to venture into the unknown – that's what makes FNL shine like no other.  

So yeah, from the outset Dillon might seem like the most boring place on Earth. But dig a little deeper and you'll find a world as rich as it is compelling, brimming with life and emotion. And boy is it entertaining as ever.

It's a place I plan on visiting for as long as they'll have me. Perhaps you'll do the same one day yourself...

[View:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyjL_p1m3Pk&feature=related:610:0]