Review

Turn on the Lights
by Bentley Claudon
December 2, 2006

“Mr. Street, is it true that you can throw a 400 yard touchdown pass to three different receivers at the same time?” asked Lyla Garrity of the new TV drama “Friday Night Lights.”

Football runs the town of Dillon, Texas, and the Panther football team has been rewarded with state championship rings year after year. As the new season begins, the Dillon High School football team, star quarterback Jason Street, and newly appointed Coach Taylor begin to feel the pressure of community counting on them to bring home another state ring. 
           
“Friday Night Lights” is a new TV drama aired weekly on NBC. Inspired by the book and the movie with the same title, the show is struggling in ratings.

I find myself waiting for Tuesday to come around so I can watch the next episode. I love the show! Watching the interaction between the high school kids takes me back to my own high school memories – drama between girlfriends and boyfriends, parties, issues between friends, the relationship among family, and Friday night football.

It’s entertaining for me to watch Lyla Garrity (Panther cheerleader and Jason Street’s girlfriend) flaunt her charming personality around the community and see Coach Taylor struggle with the pressure the entire community puts on him to win a game.

The drive that the football team has for success keeps me watching week after week. Each player embodies the same spirit that the rest of the town does – a love for football and a desire to win.  These ties bring the entire community together. The show proves to be an excellent TV drama series in my eyes.

NBC recently decided to pick up the show for a full season. The network is also trying to see what night is the best night for airing the show. FOX’s “American Idol” will start back up in January and will air at the same time on Tuesdays. “Friday Night Lights” will probably be moved to another day considering the competition.

Either way or either day, I will continue to be an avid watcher of “Friday Night Lights” for as long as the show continues to run. 

For more information, please visit “Friday Night Lights’” website: http://www.nbc.com/Friday_Night_Lights/index.shtml.