"Friday Night Lights": Reason to celebrate
POSTED BY STUART LEVINE
Before the entire "Friday Night Lights" production moves to Austin in the dead of summer — yeah, it shouldn't be too hot that time of year over there — the cast, crew and execs gathered at a watering hole in Santa Monica last night to celebrate the third season pickup.
It almost wasn't meant to be, but DirecTV decided "FNL" could be a watershed moment for its entertainment division and decided to pay for part of the production tab for the show, somewhere around 40%, with NBC picking up the rest. For its commitment, the satellite provider will have the exclusive window for 13 episodes that are scheduled to begin Oct. 1.
Then in midseason 2009 (probably February or March), NBC will start airing those same episode for folks who don't have access to DirecTV. Hopefully, diehard viewers who will have to wait and see the episodes on NBC will be able to keep themselves in a media blackout from reviews, blogs, plot developments, etc.
Cast members attending the bash Thursday were Aimee Teegarden, who just bought her first car and, much more impressive by our standards, threw out the first ball at the Dodgers-Mets game Wednesday afternoon; Kyle Chandler, who just might be the nicest and most down-to-earth leading man on TV; and Minka Kelly and Connie Britton, who both mingled among the masses.
Showrunner Jason Katims said season three would focus more on on-the-field action than in season two, and that issues will be raised about all the seniors on this year's team. Katims reiterated that senior year can be great fun for those about to graduate, but the Dillon High School gang will face situations that will, once again, test their mettle against trying scenarios.
Also there to relish all things "FNL" were in-house director Jeff Reiner, exec producer David Nevins and creator Peter Berg, who directed the Billy Bob Thornton movie.







Variety's Team TV -- Cynthia Littleton, Stu Levine, Jon Weisman, Andrew Wallenstein and A.J. Marechal -- provides a roundup of stories big and small, as well as opinions and analysis from across the TV dial.
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Postscript: Re-reading about the shoot in Austin ...where is Riggins? Gotta have Riggins back in the mix!
Posted by: merry kelly | August 31, 2008 at 10:49 AM
CAN'T TELL YOU HOW THRILLED I AM AT THE PROSPECT OF SEASON 3...THIS IS THE BEST NEWS FOR VIEWERS (LIKE ME) WHO APPRECIATE GREAT WRITING, CASTING, ACTING, CINEMATOGRAPHRY...YOU NAME IT. JUST WATCHED THE FIRST TWO SERIES ON NETFLIX DVDS AND THE CUMULATIVE PLEASURE OF SEVERAL EPISODES A WEEK WAS TREMENDOUS. PLEASE PROMOTE THE HELL OUT OF TO GARNER MORE SUPPORT IN 2009.....i WILL RALLY THE TROOPS FOR THE TELECASTS.
Posted by: Merry Kelly | August 31, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Holy SH*T!
I had no idea they got picked up! Awesome.
BTW, I just ran across the most hilarious thing yet, the Crucifictorious Shirt!
http://www.cafepress.com/geeklife/5544312
(Remember, Landry's Band from Season 1???)
Posted by: Dickard | May 11, 2008 at 11:53 PM