Beautiful girls plus handsome guys plus a high school plus Texas plus football equals the new NBC drama Friday Night Lights. Multiply the last result with a talent-stacked cast, veteran director, genius producers and it results in The OC of the Wild West.
The fictional town of Dillon, Texas is the setting for the new NBC TV show "Friday Night Lights." Like most small towns in Texas, football is god-- the peoples focus centers on the young men of the local high school football team. The Dillon Panthers are coached by new head-coach Eric Taylor. The team is full of talent and ranked number one in Texas. Jason Street is the starting quarterback equipped with a canon arm and good looks. Universities see him as one of the best prep players ever and is highly recruited going into the season. His girlfriend Lyla Garrity is the beautiful head cheerleader with personality to match. Brian Williams, also known as "Smash", is the star running back overflowing with confidence and attitude. Tim Riggins gives Brain competition at running back. Unlike the flashy Smash, Tim is a hard-nose, "run them over" type of guy. Football and Texas are Tim's life. Whether drinking beer or in the huddle with the boys, Tim shows himself as a leader, and an intimidating person most respect. At backup quarterback is Matt Saracen. Matt comes across as a nice guy who receives little attention being in the shadow of Street. Landry Clarke is Matt's best friend. Landry doesn't play on the football team but remains connected through Matt. Bringing heat and drama is Tyra Collette, a sexy vixen with a history! Unlike most in Dillon, Tyra looks beyond the lights, beyond Texas, for her future. Two people not on the football team but feel the same community pressure are Tami and Julie Taylor, the wife and daughter of Coach Taylor. Tami supports Eric, attending every game and understanding of time for Eric's devotion to the team. Julie shows no interest in jocks, especially football players. She's a good student and also has a "snippy" attitude.
Supplied with weapons and infinite community support Coach Taylor must execute to near perfection. The lights are only on for a few hours on Friday Nights but when there off the drama continues.
The concept for the Friday Nights Lights TV show comes from the book by H G Bissinger and the successful movie that followed. Anyone who has experienced playing varsity high school football first hand can relate to the events which take place over a season; over a year. It's not just the double-day practices during summer, weight lifting year round, practice after school, and games on Friday nights; the community, faulty, student body that make a football season what it is. Friday Night Lights TV goes deeper, introducing the relationships, families, and everyday lives when these players are not under the lights.