tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post7066508138389582125..comments2024-03-25T19:18:14.047-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: Friday Night Lights, "Game of the Week": Showdown at Beer-thirtyAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-39322234722102484752009-03-18T11:11:00.000-04:002009-03-18T11:11:00.000-04:00@SAL, it is. Just search iTunes for "Clear Eyes Fu...@SAL, it is. Just search iTunes for "Clear Eyes Full Hearts" or FNL Podcast or Friday Night Lights Podcast.<BR/><BR/>Let me know what you think. And I think it'd be great to have Alan be a part of it.Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14724614335068711869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-47040127488927551542009-03-18T10:24:00.000-04:002009-03-18T10:24:00.000-04:00@blake--can we find your podcast on iTunes? I will...@blake--can we find your podcast on iTunes? I will totally subscribe, if so. I have been searching for an FNL podcast, totally surprised to not find much of anything. <BR/>(Alan: you should totally have a podcast, btw. Not that you need more to do!)<BR/><BR/>fwiw I loved this episode...here's some particular things:<BR/>--Tyra was great, I loved that she called Landry, I thought actually that conversation was one that could have happened between people who shared what they shared (which they often forget about on this show)--so much love there for each other but strained as well. <BR/>--I loved how Tami reacted to Tyra in the car, like she managed to say "how are you" but only barely, she was so annoyed at having to go get her.<BR/>--Mindy & Lyla (Lila?) was hilarious. I think it's true that she's changed so much--quit the cheerleaders, etc.,--there's no way she'd have the same friends as she did before Jason's accident.<BR/>--coach not knowing Julie was in math class was great.<BR/>--Grandma Saracen is going to kill me. Maybe she'll move somewhere with Matt, like the Grams on Dawson's Creek did with Jen.<BR/>--I think that we don't know whether they will go to college--it does seem reasonable to me that they would all kind of want to, even if it doesn't actually happen for all of them.<BR/><BR/>I just have to say--one thing I consistently love about this show is the non-existence of angst about Tami being at work and having a baby at home. (there was the first day of daycare anxiety, but after that, I mean). I feel like if this show does nothing else, having a couple who are good parents and good people and good at their jobs...that's enough for me.SALhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16109344889115892715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-72792811444184239612009-03-17T10:26:00.000-04:002009-03-17T10:26:00.000-04:00Good points about the "everyone has to go to colle...Good points about the "everyone has to go to college" element. I am somewhat disappointed that it was so simple for Riggins to get in, as he's the shining example of a guy who would remain in Dillon forever and look at high school as the pinnacle of his life. I do have a feeling that something will keep him from going. Peter Berg said they would definitely find a way to keep Taylor Kitsch on the show if they do a fourth season.<BR/><BR/>Speaking of Riggins, he confirms that he was away for three days in New York and no one says anything of his absence when he returns. I would have liked one of the coaches to at least acknowledge that he was gone, seeing as how he's the core of the team's run offense and the playoffs are a week away. Wouldn't Buddy or someone at least question where the star running back was?<BR/><BR/>Overall, I felt like this episode was taking on at least one storyline too many and couldn't do justice to all of them. I agree with Alan that the national TV angle had no significance at all and could have been used as a great plot device, both for coach and the players.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-84080833227661312822009-03-17T02:36:00.000-04:002009-03-17T02:36:00.000-04:00Did the editing on the NBC episode feel a bit weir...Did the editing on the NBC episode feel a bit weird to anyone else? This was the first episode where I really felt like scenes must have been missing somewhere, cause stuff was awfully choppy.<BR/><BR/>Agree that there was nothing in particular to hang your hat on this week. The Brigadoon comment about Dillon made me laugh.<BR/><BR/>Finally -- I know the writers have said that they don't expect the kids to stick around after high school. But really, shouldn't SOME of these kids be staying in Dillon after high school? Taylor Kitch may become bigger than the show (assuming it continues past this year), but if there is any character that seems destined to spend his whole life in Dillon, it's Riggs.Beatuofahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03254385464898575140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-51443276166476548932009-03-16T15:55:00.000-04:002009-03-16T15:55:00.000-04:00SteveInTexas,I loved your explanation! :)I underst...<B>SteveInTexas</B>,<BR/>I loved your explanation! :)<BR/><BR/>I understand that we have to suspend some disbelief for this show, and I agree to it because I love FNL so much. But Tim going to college is a little but much for me.SaraKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08053908720926177402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-16644153187218670542009-03-16T15:36:00.000-04:002009-03-16T15:36:00.000-04:00better yet look here, for a county by county break...better yet look here, for a <A HREF="http://popvssoda.com:2998/countystats/total-county.html" REL="nofollow">county by county breakdown</A> brought to you from the folks at East Central Oklahoma U..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-48026962811897006632009-03-16T15:32:00.000-04:002009-03-16T15:32:00.000-04:00@alf aboveWell.. someone has indeed made the vali...@alf above<BR/><BR/>Well.. someone has indeed made the valiant attempt to plot out the <A HREF="http://popvssoda.com:2998/" REL="nofollow">Great American Pop / Soda / Coke Regional Usage Debate</A>... <BR/><BR/>(Disclaimer: makes no specific reference to Texan floating island towns)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-21061812164814982252009-03-16T00:15:00.000-04:002009-03-16T00:15:00.000-04:00was the San Antonio coach the infamous Major Apple...was the San Antonio coach the infamous Major Applewhite?<BR/>I know Mack Brown and Rick Barnes (both head coaches at Texas) have had guest spots on the series before.<BR/>That looked a lot like Major.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-71265259697095563022009-03-15T22:58:00.000-04:002009-03-15T22:58:00.000-04:00Coach said he had gotten a hotel room for "your mo...Coach said he had gotten a hotel room for "your mom and I." We know that he is aware of when to use "me" rather than "I," because he corrected Matt on it once. So that error really stood out to me. <BR/><BR/>Also, the San Antonio recruiter invited Tim out for a "pop." Even if the character can't say "coke" because of legal reasons, he should not say "pop." And, sure, you could fanwank that the recruiter could be from anywhere in the USA, but I still think he'd adopt the local lingo so as to fit in with the kids.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-51869270437665809302009-03-15T21:45:00.000-04:002009-03-15T21:45:00.000-04:00I'm gonna call Abilene about the vicenity of Dillo...I'm gonna call Abilene about the vicenity of Dillon. Close enough for a 2 hour drive to Dallas, but about a days drive from Austin. <BR/><BR/>Once again, the joy of panther football brings together a bad family dynamic (remember Buddy's kids?). That cracks me up. Only panther football can heal all old family wounds! ha!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-82776428515385068342009-03-15T19:34:00.000-04:002009-03-15T19:34:00.000-04:00Landry has a 4.6? I call Bulls**t. Yes, he's smart...<I>Landry has a 4.6? I call Bulls**t. Yes, he's smart (took Calc his sophmore year, apparently) but there's no way. No Way.</I><BR/><BR/>It is possible since some high schools are on a 5.0 GPA scale, not 4.0 like it was back in my day. (Ah the halycon days of 1993-1997!) :)<BR/><BR/>You're calling B.S. on Landry's GPA. I'm calling B.S. on Grandma and Shelby not going to the game at all. The scene of the two of them magically forgetting their feud because Matt was playing totally rang false to me.<BR/><BR/>I was hoping Coach would kick Cash's ass outside the motel. Too bad, as the Taylors were leaving, we see a 4 x 4 pickup truck full of seedy looking guys pulling in towards Cash's room.<BR/><BR/>I think that was the same graphic that was used in FNL: The Movie about the Texas High School Football Playoffs. I wonder what class Dillon is in? 4A? 5A?Zac F.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17347318281085922137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-76441561501552297872009-03-15T15:43:00.000-04:002009-03-15T15:43:00.000-04:00Lyla expects to go to Vanderbilt, but I wouldn't t...<I>Lyla expects to go to Vanderbilt, but I wouldn't think that Dillon High would have the resources to produce that level of applicant.</I><BR/><BR/>Well, remember from the book that Brian Chavez ended up at Harvard from Odessa (which is generally presented as much more pathetic academically than Dillon, I think).David Glasserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01927128078035245970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-76633493262456871932009-03-15T12:33:00.000-04:002009-03-15T12:33:00.000-04:00Matt's a good student and led his team to a state ...Matt's a good student and led his team to a state title - I think that earns him a small-school scholarship (at least a partial). And he'd be invited to walk on at a lot of bigger schools. This idea that no one would even be looking at him seems unlikely. <BR/><BR/>But if it requires a submarine to get to Dillon, you can understand why so few recruiters make it.AndyWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06968502757216587629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-33994992876434637672009-03-15T02:02:00.000-04:002009-03-15T02:02:00.000-04:00I was surprised that Coach Taylor didn't do more t...I was surprised that Coach Taylor didn't do more to Cash as Cash was trying to get to Tyra. But was also surprised that Cash didn't try to shove coach out of the way. Coach was just doing an impersonation of a flaf football offensive lineman. But when Cash slammed his palms onto Coach's hood as he drove away...I half expected him to get out and have some more words. But it made it all the better that he didn't.<BR/>Interesting that Lorraine and Shelby were watching the game at home. I think they did that instead of going because Matt had asked them not to come the games with him benched. But I still expected them to go, regardless.<BR/><BR/>Best line of the show: Coach Taylor in the hotel room: "Do we still have time for that shower?"<BR/><BR/>And just fyi: I just started up a podcast about FNL last week. Only one episode is up for it (covers New York, New York). But I'd love some feedback and input on it. I intend to make the recap shorter, but would absolutely love some listener feedback about the podcast and/or about the episodes of FNL. So please visit http://www.FNLpodcast.com. I hope that is okay to say. But I'd love your input on how to improve it.Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14724614335068711869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-58844796638725828232009-03-14T23:29:00.000-04:002009-03-14T23:29:00.000-04:00I have quite often tried to figure out where exact...I have quite often tried to figure out where exactly Dillon is supposed to be. I think that SteveInTexas's argument that Dillon moves around in time and space like the island in Lost is definitely the best explanation I've ever heard.<BR/><BR/>I will say this: that motel that Tyra and Cash used was definitely NOT off LBJ and Central in Dallas.Omagushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15348311761717355552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-37070356059572297422009-03-14T17:23:00.000-04:002009-03-14T17:23:00.000-04:00re: BrianBut aren't we supposed to think that Dill...re: Brian<BR/><BR/>But aren't we supposed to think that Dillon is so desolute a place that being a star ANYTHING can't get you out? This maybe is more emphasized in the book and movie, but I thought the point of Friday Night Lights was that being a Dillon Panther was the highlight of your life and that it didn't lead anywhere. That's where I see Buddy's character and Billy's character. The best you could hope for was to win State, because college was never realistic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-82703970349248400012009-03-14T17:15:00.000-04:002009-03-14T17:15:00.000-04:00I thought it was mentioned somewhere that Lyla is ...I thought it was mentioned somewhere that Lyla is almost at the top of her class? She can also probably write a pretty compelling essay with all that she's been through. Vanderbilt doesn't seem like that far a stretch given that. The school she mentioned in Season 2, Princeton, seemed like more a stretch.<BR/><BR/>I honestly don't think Tim is going to make it in school. I still am not convinced that school is really where he wants to be. If theres' a season 4, I think he might be back in Dillon, not least because Taylor Kitsch will have all that exposure from Wolverine, and the producers will want to keep him around in hopes of getting a ratings boost.elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09455158401057880193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-74882435719775141652009-03-14T17:11:00.000-04:002009-03-14T17:11:00.000-04:00I liked this episode, but I'm a sucker for Grandma...I liked this episode, but I'm a sucker for Grandma Saracen. It was interesting to see Matt's mom steer him to college, especially pointing out that she was looking at places with good fine arts programs for him. She already knows him better than his father.<BR/><BR/>As for the who-goes-to-college thing: Riggins has always been a star on state championship team. I'm not at all surprised that a third or fourth tier school would want him, and the point of him always being drunk and never going to class: He's that good. That's the point. It is an internal contradiction of the show that Taylor lets him get away with that stuff, but in a larger sense, that's the way we treat student athletes in this country, (especially in Texas, as FNL sees it).<BR/><BR/>Matt is a good student and a decent athlete, I can see him being recruited by a smaller school, too. Not the Big Ten or even a second tier school, but some surprisingly small colleges have football teams, and he'd probably bring up their GPA.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-23728865953052240502009-03-14T13:50:00.000-04:002009-03-14T13:50:00.000-04:00Also, all of these characters seem to have somewha...Also, all of these characters seem to have somewhat realistic college hopes:<BR/>Smash -- this guy was a top recruit, college is reasonable.<BR/>Riggins -- he's not as hyped as some of the other players, but he's always been presented as a baller. It may not be realistic that he IS a baller since he doesn't seem to go to practice or school. But, given his game performance, getting a partial scholarship to wherever he's going doesn't seem strange. He's "in" the school in the sense that he's admitted if he meets qualifications. He's not auto-admitted.<BR/>Matt -- he's supposed to be very smart and a good student. He seems like someone who would go to school. They're presenting his challenges in financing school.<BR/>Lyla -- I thought she was kind of a "golden" child. I don't think Vanderbilt rejects people just because they're from rural Texas. Also, she's rich. She's also not certain she's in. Vanderbilt's not her "safe" school, it's her target. This seems realistic.<BR/>Tyra --- ummm.brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15662992473192462996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-46563492599112319952009-03-14T13:41:00.000-04:002009-03-14T13:41:00.000-04:00I had the same reaction as Anonymous directly abov...I had the same reaction as Anonymous directly above. Why does everyone on this show have to go to college? I guess maybe it's realistic in the sense that the show focuses on the best football players or the brightest students. And, for these kids, college is a likely destination. It might be a little strange (but more realistic) if an episode suddenly focused on the second string linebacker who's sticking around Dillon after high school.brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15662992473192462996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-17674178168398912712009-03-14T12:57:00.000-04:002009-03-14T12:57:00.000-04:00Well, I generally liked it. I liked that the heino...Well, I generally liked it. I liked that the heinous Cash storyline ended. I liked that Tyra didn't call Landry to come rescue her when she found out he had the interview (man, Matt must have felt a little sick that Landry got one and he didn't). Matt got to play and his mom and grandma united over it. I enjoyed Lyla booting Tim out of her car. I enjoyed Lyla and Mindy bonding over men until Mindy took Billy back in 2.5 seconds. I enjoyed Tim actually doing something to earn Lyla back. Tim's insta-college admit made me roll my eyes, but given the limitations of show time I'll go with it. We all know he'll have flunked out by the end of the first semester anyway. <BR/><BR/>Little moment I liked: Coach's "Bitch, PLEASE" look on his face when Tami wanted to deny having a birthday. Also, him TMI'ing to Julie.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16906089927390662087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-15942803776030471222009-03-14T12:35:00.000-04:002009-03-14T12:35:00.000-04:00I'm rewatching this season on NBC now and keep not...I'm rewatching this season on NBC now and keep noticing the duality of Dillon. The book, movie, and occassional NBC storylines (think Tami vs. the Jumbotron) want us to believe that Dillon is some backwater town in the middle of nowhere with no hope of getting out. This message was a key point to the book and the backdrop of the movie. In this case, one would expect futures for these students to be more like how David Simon developed his students from Season 4 (the system is broken so good, decent kids get screwed over). But this show seems to go too far in providing happy endings for everyone. Riggins, Smash, and Matt will all probably go to college somewhere, even though their backgrounds suggest they typically wouldn't. Lyla expects to go to Vanderbilt, but I wouldn't think that Dillon High would have the resources to produce that level of applicant. And Tyra will probably be able to get out of Dillon, even though she screwed around for one or two years. How can the show keep depicting Dillon as a town with no hope and yet so easily give hope to everyone we see on the show?<BR/><BR/>Alan, how do you reconcile the show seeming to want to have its cake and eat it too?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-29145643095507441472009-03-14T12:21:00.000-04:002009-03-14T12:21:00.000-04:00@SteveInTexas your Brigadoon line made me quite li...@SteveInTexas your Brigadoon line made me quite literally laugh out loud. And since TheWife's still asleep in the other room, I felt a bit bad about that. Only a bit. Thanks!R.A. Porterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14851961356321735388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-43205218293266499992009-03-14T10:59:00.000-04:002009-03-14T10:59:00.000-04:00Loyalty to a TV show? While I find that concept a...Loyalty to a TV show? While I find that concept a bit odd, I thought we expressed loyalty by continuing to watch the show and maintain its ratings. It's a good show, this season often a very good show. But we saw in season 1 that it could be a great show, and we have every right to voice our displeasure when it does not achieve those heights. It's been immensely frustrating to see flashes of that greatness, illustrating that Katims and company can still do it when they put their minds to it. I'm glad Frank gets so much from the show, but it not reasonable to expect everyone to just shut up and be thankful that NBC hasn't cancelled the show yet.<BR/><BR/>I thought this was a decent episode. I've grown to resent Tyra and some of the other subplots because they take time away from characters I care a great deal about, e.g., the Taylors and the Sarecens, but I liked how this episode handled the end of her relationship with Cash. I may change my mind if Cash shows up again next week. <BR/><BR/>I didn't have as much trouble with the game as some did. I did wonder how Dillon could put so many points on the board a few weeks ago with the spread offense, but now the receivers have suddenly forgotten how to run routes. I thought Coaches' halftime remarks reflected the generally held belief that Dillon should have been crushing the visitors. While I didn't think much about it at the time, after reading Alan's review, I would have liked to see more done with the TV crew. But still a solid episode.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-78997674176091795852009-03-14T09:41:00.000-04:002009-03-14T09:41:00.000-04:00I've come to accept that the general laws of time ...I've come to accept that the general laws of time and space don't apply to this show. I'm willing to forgive it because of all the small and big things FNL gets right, but it does seem to have gotten a bit out of control this season, with scenes skipping between different days or times of day depending on the storyline.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com