Oh, Tim

Of course he didn't get kicked out of Coach's house for drinking or illegally hooking up the cable box to porn or making out with Shelly (who I now kind of love being reduced to a shirt-buying dork by that fullback’s sly smile). No, in typically heartbreaking fashion, Tim Riggins had to get kicked out after protecting Julie from both tornadoes and hormonal teenage boys. He had to get turned away and disappointed by yet another father figure. I guess next stop is Buddy's halfway house for orphaned football players and super-sad divorced guys.

I know that some fans were turned off when this season flirted with sensationalism, but all that murder stuff’s over (I think) and the most dramatic stuff between Landry and Tyra this week was that she rejected him to accompany a 35 year-old rival player to the Fall Formal. The truth is Friday Night Lights still packs more sheer entertainment and emotion than any other show on TV. I laugh, sigh, cringe and get a little teary pretty much weekly. It even makes me kind of care about football. Kind of. The real reason I’m addicted is the characters. Buddy could have been a one-joke background player, but he's become the chewy center of his own compelling storyline. Former perfect mother Tami has stumbled, clinging too tightly to both Julie and Shelly and only managed to push them both away. And then there's Coach Taylor. Whether rendered wide-eyed and speechless by a chat with Buddy or enraged by the sight of his daughter is in the arms of a Riggins, he’s the dreamiest man on TV.

Speechless Without Writers

Here's one of the clever videos from speechlesswithoutwriters.com, which is affiliated with United Hollywood. Fear not, I am still watching non-strike related entertainment. 30 Rock is rocking my world, Jeremy Darling is my new TV boyfriend, Friday Night Lights keeps breaking my heart in the best possible ways (Buddy and Santiago under one roof? I can barely stand how much I love and fear the possibilities) and Grey's Anatomy has worked its way back into my good graces.

Speaking of Grey's... What's with all of ABC's amnesiacs? Karev's Ava, Samantha Who?, Patrick on Men in Trees, Alexis on Ugly Betty. And last season, Desperate Housewives' sexy plumber had a case of the who-the-hell-am-I's. If you jump networks, you've got Milo Ventimiglia doing his blank slate schtick on Heroes and Joss Whedon's upcoming Dollhouse with a perpetually mind-wiped Eliza Dushku. Massive brain traumas are hella prevalent, y'all.

The "Oh no he di'n't!" Award of the Week goes to...

Tim Riggins. For trying to use Jesus (the Son of man, not the linebacker whose Mom makes killer empanadas) to get into Lyla Garrity's pants. Though shameful, it was hilarious and almost as awkward as his speech at the football banquet.

Friday Night Lights returns October 5

Or watch it online until September 30 at http://tv.yahoo.com/falltv2007/friday-night-lights/show/38958/videos/4151897

It's times like this that you have to ask yourself, "WWRD?" And as someone who recently saw him at the airport, I'll tell you what Riggins would do. Look hot. Even while rockin' a do rag.

Moments in TV Awesome: Friday Night Lights

At least one of my favorite shows got renewed...

Tim Riggins ain't gonna choke Kevin Reilly!

Cause NBC renewed Friday Night Lights, bitches! Now everyone devote your TV-related prayers to Veronica. So say we all.

Devil Town

Last night's episode of Friday Night Lights was outstanding television. It wasn't the series best, but it was purt near close. In a perfect world, we'd have gotten two episodes at State and ended the first one right after the half. As it was, I felt like they tried to squeeze just a bit too much in. For example, I could have done without Lyla and Tyra's ending reconciliation. That, on top of Lyla dumping her cheerleading gear, felt forced. Sure, their earlier interaction with the car and the mutual understanding (and the look on Tyra’s face as she realized Street could cheat) was great, but I really don't need them to be BFF.

Speaking of the car, Landry and his ever-growing pack of cranky, singing, pre-menstrual ladies was wonderful. He didn’t even get to play the sweet Crucifictorious tunes with which he’d planned to woo Tyra…

Despite the intrusive media narration (something from the pilot that I didn't miss during the rest of the series), the show was on top of its game. Jason Street seeing his parents in the stands right after his team won state? What a perfect mix of joy for the present and heartache for the past. The Taylor's argument over whether or not Eric will take the job at TMU? I wouldn't have bought it from a lesser show. And poor Matt Saracen lugging around all that anger about Coach's perceived betrayal? Their hug on the field made up for the slightly lame slow clap later in the locker room. Also, I'm pretty sure he told Coach he loved him, which is maybe the sweetest damn thing ever to be recorded for posterity.

Of all the beautiful moments and tiny missteps, here’s the piece of the finale that has stayed with me all day: the Bright Eyes cover of Daniel Johnston's "Devil Town" over the parade. My first reaction was naked shock that they were following up Coach's declaration to remember the people (Billy and MamaSmash and Grandma Saracen) who will never give up on them with the implication that those people and the rest of Dillon are bloodsuckers. But then the song was so melancholy and beautiful that I decided the producers were trying to evoke the fleeting glory of the situation rather than render the citizens of Dillon as dusty, pathetic people clinging to a tradition made inappropriately large.

It's not like they just dropped in Foo Fighters' "My Hero;" it was a deliberate song choice that risked hurting a lot of the people who are hesitant about the show to begin with. Ultimately, I think that the song is a lot like the show: neither a celebration nor a condemnation, but something a lot trickier and a lot more true.

The Perfection of Lame

You know what's pitch perfect about Friday Night Lights? I know, pretty much everything, but today, let’s get specific. The show embraces foibles and unpolished speech patterns in a way that makes me feel like I’m sitting at the Taylor’s kitchen table and they’re not actors or characters, but honest-to-God citizens of Dillon, TX.

Don’t get me wrong: I still love Veronica Mars and her clever pitter patter, but there’s something so refreshing about those generally inarticulate Panther boys. Their jokes at the Roast ("When Matt Saracen started, he was so shy he had to email his plays," "How 'bout Saracen sleeping with Coach's daughter?") were the epitome of lame high school boy jokes. Even the usually snappy Tyra's angry insult to Landry (she actually called him smelly) was perfect in its inherent lameness. It was much more cutting and sad than if she’d actually been able to articulate why she was so hurt.

The lame jokes (remember Street’s Bill Clinton impression during the pilot?), the sentence fragments and sometimes-loose grammar… They’re a big part (aside from masterful storytelling) of Friday Night Lights’ perfectly imperfect world.

While we’re on the subject of perfect, how ‘bout that Landry?

Friday Night Lights: Mud Bowl

So while watching this episode I realized that somewhere along the way Lyla became completely freaking awesome. And then I was like, "Wait. Is there anyone on this show who isn't awesome?" Short answer: yes. Long answer: Waverly. But still, pretty good record, Friday Night Lights.

I submit to you, dear reader, Evidence of Awesome, Exhibit 1,000,0003:

Riggs bangs milfs and picks up surrogate kids from school and pizza for dinner. Can anyone say, "Tim Riggins is my new dad"?

Saracen turns over $200 in mysterious (and probably sorely needed) cash and works with his quadriplegic predecessor to be the best quarterback he can be.

Jason stands up to his parents’ sleazy lawyer, coaches his able-bodied successor to state and makes time to check in with Oprah.

Tyra continues to get her act together as far as school's concerned and when some slime ball tries to rape her, she fights like hell and leaves him with some marks that will hopefully help the police identify his body once Riggins murders him.

Landry woos Tyra with the fact that he taught Tim Riggins to read in about a day and a half and is a shaken, but unflinching shoulder for her to cry on.

Smash risks alienating Waverly is order to help her. Also, he expertly handles his trash talkin' opponents.

And Lyla continues to channel her rage (smashing cars one week, shooting cans the next!) and finally tells Jason to stop whining and do something about his crappy life. She also teaches him a nice lesson about saying please when asking for water. Ass.

Belated Aquaman Viewing

Um, Friday Night Lights' Adrianne Palicki as a murderous siren?

Veronica Mars' coked-out Dr. Griffith as a shifty fed?

That chick from Hang Time as little AC's totally dead mama?

Fox from Passions and Lem from the freaking Shield?!

Why didn't I watch this thing sooner?

Friday Night Lights: A Top 10 List

The amount of sheer joy this show gives me is ridiculous. I grin and squeel and get sucker-punched by situations that are all too real. Honestly, if you're not watching FNL, you're missing out. NBC.com has all the episodes on their sorta sub-par media player. They're also available on itunes. And for the last time, naysayers, this show is not about football. It features football, but it's about so much more.

Top 10 Awesome Moments of Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes:

10. The awkward grand gesture that was Tyra's mother dragging her into the Father Daughter Dance to prove that she's not a sabotaging harpy.

9. Buddy’s Dr. Phil-inspired scrapbook.

8. Riggins teaching 9 year-old Beau how to fight and reminding him that eye gouging and groin kicks are totally within the limits of a school yard brawl.

7. Buddy's spot-on local car commercial.

6. The Taylor family bantering over Eric's "award-winning"/"very mediocre" chili. Extra points for being able to see just how much Tyra wished her family could hold a candle to Julie's.

5. "Appreciate your service, Sergeant Riggins."

4. Riggins getting in a 10 year-old bully’s face and threatening to punch a hole in his chest and rip out his heart if he ever bothers Beau again.

3. Lyla smashing the shit out of several cars and the front window of her dad's dealership upon learning of his habitual infidelity.

2. Beau's mom giving into the lazy charm of Riggins. “Beau can never know.” I’ll say, the minute he finds out, he’ll start in with “I can’t believe Tim Riggins is gonna be my new dad!”

1. Smash, Riggs, Matt and Street on the field, having the boy-bonding session to end all boy-bonding sessions. And ending it with a Brokeback joke and a promise of renewed friendship between Tim and Jason. Sigh.

Friday Night Lights: Extended Families

The Subletter put it best when he said that Friday Night Lights is not only one of the best dramas on TV, it's also turning into one of the best comedies. Buddy Garrity crashing with the Taylor Clan? I felt like Jason Street laughing at drunk Lyla, only to realize her heart is breaking. And then Buddy has to get in the last word and leave us with the image of his head on a spike in his front yard like one of the town's ubiquitous letterman signs.

And Tim Riggins playing hungover male role model to a chatterbox kid? It's only a matter of time before Bo's bespectacled single mom makes Riggs her boy toy and fulfills the not-so-secret fantasies of nearly all my female friends.

Speaking of mugging down, Waverly's suddenly very sexually aggressive. Smash ain't complainin', but her dad's worried and asks Brian to notify him of any changes in her behavior. Like reciting poetry at full volume at the Alamo Freeze or sneaking into Smash's room to entice him to skinny dip? Nah, Smash says she's been normal. Right up until she calls him to come babysit while her dad's at church and instead of a sex bomb, he finds a scared little girl off her meds and crying on the kitchen floor.

Friday Night Lights: I Think We Should Have Sex

Before we get into the Greek tragedy that is Tim Riggins, let’s focus on the overboard of adorable that is Matt Saracen and Julie Taylor.

After a makeout/study session, in which the couple is hilariously interrupted by Matt’s tapioca-loving Grandma, Julie decides that it’s time to take the next step. Actually, from the look of things, she decides that it’s time for them to skip a couple of steps and make a run for the big one.

Landry and Smash help Matt come up with a game plan for doin’ the deed and another football player helps the cause by donating the least romantic lakehouse ever. A kink is thrown into the plan when Mrs. Coach sees Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Landry buying condoms. She gives her little girl an impassioned speech about why a 15 year old is too young to give up her V card and gives us a glimpse of a past a whole lot like Tyra’s present.

When it comes down to it, Julie clearly isn’t ready and Matt insists that they wait. Then they leg wrestle (seriously; I’m not being euphemistic) and innocently fall asleep. Unfortunately during all this, Coach has been alerted to the whole “condom” thing and the whole “Julie lying when she said was at a friend’s” thing. She rolls in past curfew and though they’re pissed, they’re happy she’s alive and relieved when she insists that she’s still in possession of her virginity.

In the land of not-so-adorable land of teenage alcoholism: Tim’s back to drinking and brawling. Bad Daddy Walt is at his side, insisting that Tim can handle his own. Knowing where this slippery slope leads, Tyra appeals to his big brother Billy to step in, but Billy insists that Tim has to learn that Walt’s bad news on his own. And learn he does. Tim defends his dad when Coach accuses the man of stealing a $3000 video camera from the team's AV room. Tim inevitably finds the camera and starts to kick his dear ol' dad out, but Walt beats him to the punch, making sure Tim sees how easy he is to walk out on again.

Aching for a fight, Tim gets loaded and goes to a bar where he and his dad hustled some pool players. He starts getting his ass handed to him when the bartender calls Tyra. She and Billy show up and pull a bloody and broken Tim out of the melee. What is it about Billy that makes him break my heart a little more every time he shows up to help his baby brother?

Next week: More on stuff I didn’t talk about, like the aftermath of Buddy’s infidelity admission (he’s hoping to stay on good buddy Eric’s couch) and Street in Austin, trying to make the quad rugby team and hanging out with a cute tattoo artist. It goes without saying that it will most likely rule.

Moments in TV Awesome: Friday Night Lights

Anything involving Coach, Saracen and Buddy Garrity in one awkward scene automatically qualifies as awesome.

Ladies and gentlemen, we've jumped the shark

I'm still really unclear about how Derek understood that the silent, brooding little girl (psst! I think she might be like a metaphor for Meredith!) well enough to pull his wispy lover out of the water. Seriously, y'all, if Mere ate a sandwich I really think she'd have had the energy to swim (even in those super heavy converse) over to the ramp that McDreamy used when he rescued her.

I was actually sad about the whole Meredith dying thing. The moment between McSteamy, McDreamy and Addison was great. Then Izzie started in with a really self-centered "I believe" speech, managing to chastize George for getting married too soon. "Glass houses," I say to the girl who got engaged to a patient she'd never seen outside the hospital. Also: "Your friend's dying in there so shut the hell up!"

And then there it was: Meredith's dead(ish) and she's hanging out with the ghosts of hotties past. Lame. And yes, I'll watch next week. But that's only because Kyle Chandler's so freaking pretty.

Friday Night Lights: Blinders

Race is dealt with quite frankly in the book Friday Night Lights. Over fifteen years since it was published, it would be nice if it was no longer an issue, but prejudice, segregation and deep hurt still exists in places a lot further north than Dillon, TX.

This episode underlines one of the things that makes Friday Night Lights remarkable. It deals with issues without turning into a lecture (see Studio 60) or trying too hard (see Degrassi). It also shies away from moral platitudes (see One Tree Hill) and forces the viewer to sort through the moral grey area. To put it simply, it’s thought provoking.

We opened with a win for the Panthers and Smash leading all his teammates in a raucous locker room chant. We ended with blacks and whites divided, and Smash leading one faction off the practice field in an act of protest. In a passing conversation we learn that the team Dillon will next face is dealing with a scandal involving black face. What the Panthers deal with is much more ambiguous.

Stories are so much more interesting when no one’s completely right and no one’s completely wrong. Also, when they involve Powder Puff football or Quad Rugby.

I do declare

I'm glad our little Lyla learned that blonder is not always better.

Top 10 Things that chap Coach Taylor's hide:

10. Buddy Garrity (AKA Tyra's sister's best customer at the stip club--when does this man have time to go to a strip club?)

9. The fact that daughter Julie has just made her first bad grrrl friend (technically he doesn't know yet, but trust me, this is gonna chap him but good)

8. Matt Saracen continuing to date his daughter (though breaking his daughter's heart is also gonna sting)

7. His wife working (at school and for lesbian politicans)

6. The current administration's foreign policies (what, you think he only cares about football?)

5. Getting sued by the Street family.

4. Mandatory appearances on local sports shows (see also Buddy Garrity and Matt Saracen)

3. People tellin' him how to do his damn job (see above and add one lesbian politician)

2. Smash Williams using steroids.

1. Okies.

Friday Night Lights: Little Girl I Wanna Marry You

Um, y’all? Can we talk about how I cannot wait for Buddy Garrity to find out that the Lady Mayor is also a lover of ladies? And even more scandalous, her partner is an old school democrat? It’s like she’s with Anne Richards if Anne Richards was 1) still alive and 2) totally into chicks.

In the land of Parenting Skills, we saw the good, the bad, and the well-intentioned:

Good: MamaSmash finds out her baby’s been doping and flips the hell out. She goes straight to the coach to accuse him and upon learning that Brian got his own juice, refocuses her wrath.

Bad: Tyra’s mom is still whining about the dude over whom she chose her daughter. Apparently being abusive was something she’d be willing to overlook if he was around to pay bills. Poor Tyra. That woman’s a wreck and it’s only a matter of time before that job at Garrity Motors turns into a slimy affair with Buddy.

Well-intentioned: Speaking of Buddy, he admitted to a very direct Jason that he would rather his daughter wasn’t a caregiver her entire life. Jason’s future is anything but certain and Buddy doesn't want that for Lyla. Y'all? I'm starting to kind of love Buddy. I don't agree with him, but I always see where he's coming from and it's usually not a bad place.

In other news, Jason thought about Buddy's concern and decided that by striving to be even better than he was before the accident, he will deserve Lyla. Then he popped the question and she accepted enthusiastically. Matt's dad went back to Iraq and his Grandma's still senile enough to think he can watch high school football from the base in the desert. Tami’s agreed to work for Lady Mayor on her upcoming campaign, despite Coach's worries that the whole "lesbian thing" is gonna come out and cause a stink. And Coach has decided to keep quiet and let Smash remain on the team. Something tells me it’s that last bit that’s going to get really ugly.

Alternative Viewing Update

Men in Trees in now available online at abc.com! So far it's just the pilot and the last episodes, but with shows like What About Brian? offering the full season, let's hope they'll add more soon. As the owner of a persnickety tivo, I've made it my business to know the following:


The-N.com offers new episodes of Degrassi and Instant Star.

NBC.com shows select series. Ratings challenged Friday Night Lights is available, but The Office is not.

CBS.com uses InnerTube to show comedies like How I Met Your Mother and The Class. The player doesn't work on my mac, but seems to be compatible with PCs.

ABC.com offers Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Knights of Prosperity and several other shows.

YouTube and Google Video are hit and miss when looking for entire episodes, but using them I watched the full first season of The IT Crowd and the series finale of Everwood (what? I had to make sure they'd get a happy ending).