Friday Night Lights!

[teya]

Should I start this by saying that I hate football? That I know nothing about football? That my only experience with football was going to games in high school and cheering any time #5 did something, because, well, he was really really really cute?

I've never been to Texas (although I've got relatives there), so I can't vouch for the authenticity of the setting, characters, and storyline, but having grown up in a small town where high school sports were a source of community pride (maybe the *only* source of community pride... :p), it feels authentic to me.

I loved this show. Sure, the plot's a cliche. Star quarterback seriously injured in first game. Untried sophomore sub has to carry the team. He stumbles, he fumbles, and then he wins the game with a hail Mary pass. But cliche or not, it works. This is the first pilot this season that brought a genuine tear to my eye. Plus it's nice to see something set in the Bible Belt that isn't played for laughs.

Kyle Chandler (as the coach) isn't Billy Bob Thornton (who played the role in the film of the same name), but he's charming and easy on the eyes. I haven't sorted out all the kids yet, but I'll be watching. At least as long as NBC keeps it on the air.

Which might not be long, since it will be opposite House when baseball is over.

And a web search revealed that Chandler grew up in Loganville, GA, just a spit from where my mom lives. And some of the pilot was filmed in Pflugerville, TX, which is where my cousin lives. Small world.