We’ve been reporting that Friday Night Lights would be back for a shortened, 13 episode season in a deal between DirectTV and NBC. Well, NBC finally confirmed that deal and explained how it will work.
The series will unfold weekly for DirecTV subscribers beginning Oct. 1 on its entertainment channel, The 101. Then, early in 2009, the episodes will be shown on NBC.
The unusual deal was a creative way to keep the critically acclaimed show on the air even though the second season averaged just 6.2 million viewers, tying it for 117th place in network prime time, when it aired on NBC.
Premiering each episode for DirecTV’s subscriber base of 16.8 million shouldn’t hurt the series’ prospects among NBC’s much larger universe of viewers, said NBC entertainment chief Ben Silverman. NBC is also hoping that with DirecTV mounting an aggressive marketing campaign of its own, heightened public awareness of the series might carry over, drawing a larger audience for the show’s later run on the network.
Filmed in Austin, the series depicts a small Texas town unified by its high school football team, the Dillon Panthers. Kyle Chandler heads up the large ensemble cast as Coach Eric Taylor, whose never-say-die spirit seems to have served the series well since it premiered in September 2006 to ecstatic reviews but lackluster numbers. Despite its acclaim (including a Peabody award), an active fan community and continued expressions of support by NBC, the show seemed to live from week to week and seemed (before this deal was announced) destined to join other quality shows canceled before their time.
Katherine Pope, president of Universal Media Studios promises that Season 3 should be better now that the writers have a guaranteed season with which to work.
“We aren’t just trying to keep the patient on life support for another season,” she said. “This is about bringing the show to the next level, in quality and acceptance. This is about exploding the show! You think the show has been brilliant these past two seasons? This is going to be the best season yet! I think that will really energize our storytelling. I’m hoping to get the writers into a room within the next 48 hours.”
Production should resume in July.
Yes, some part are boring and I don’t like the camera work but I like the overall theme of the show. I’m not even a football follower. That’s saying a lot.
I’m Canadian so I will have to wait for 2009 on NBC to watch it.
Jason: That’s the kind of quality show that should get a better time slot/day. When they start in January on NBC, it may help them because the high school season will be over.
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I disagree with you about the camera work, which I really like, but I completely agree with you on the timeslot issue. I don’t know how much it will help the show by being on DirectTV first, but I think showing it in January, after football season, and in a better timeslot would go a LONG way towards making this show a hit.
I’m interested to see how this plays out. At first glance, it doesn’t seem to scream successful ratings booster, but who knows. This show is incredible. The acting is first rate – especially Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton – some of the best portrayals of effective parenting on TV! I would love for it to gain more of an audience. If you are looking for a show to watch on DVD, pick up this one. You will fall in love with it… maybe for Riggins alone!
[...] spectacular first season, started off a bit slow in season 2, but really got good again. There will definitely be a third season, so if you want to catch up on this totally underrated series, now is the time. [...]
this show is amazingly underated and it would be a shame for it to not come back up and be displayed at its full potential. I LOVE foootball and this show.
I think this show is terrific. I have no understanding whatsoever of american football (being an Australian female) yet this show, particularly with its documentary style camera work, is an inspiring cultural insight into how the sport interacts with the church and family life in this part of the world. Thoroughly intriguing and heartfelt. Mind you, after watching both seasons back to back, I still dont know anything about american football. Thats the beauty of it I suppose; this show is about so much more than football.
I just have to say that I just love Friday Night Lights. It’s my all time favorite tv show. I just got season 1 and 2 for christmas and since I missed season 1 I get to catch up on it and I think season 3 is really awesome. I can’t wait to watch each epsideo every week. I am sadden that it’ll be over in a few weeks but i look forward to buying season 3 and add it to my collection. I hope it’ll be on air for a long time. I wonder who they’ll bring in next? That’s just my comment that i had to say that I just love the show as I love the movie.
i think its an awesome series and i hope it comes out on dvd soon
This is the best tv series i’ve ever watched. I just bought season 1 and 2 a week ago and i’ve watched them all in 5 days, i couldn’t stop watching
I can’t wait to see season 3 but it’ll probably be a while for me for i’m in Australia.
I don’t know anything about American football but i’m kind of learning now.
I agree about the 2nd season starting a bit slow, but it made up for that.
I was so disappointed at the end for i knew even if there is a season 3 i wouldn’t see it for i while.
If the dvd comes out in USA sometime soon, could somebody post on here were i’d be able to order it from
I totally agree with you about Friday Night Lights. That sucks that you have to wait to see season 3 because it’s the best season so far. When i heard about the writer strike I was upset because I was afraid that they won’t bring it back and I was glad when they did. I do miss it since the season is over and I keep wondering what they’ll do for season 4 since most of the charaters have graduated but it’ll be intersting I just hope they won’t stop the show. I have so many ideas that they can do to keep it going. I can’t wait to get season 3 on dvd and I will post it as soon as I hear when it comes out. Anyone who’s interested in having a friend to talk about the show you can always email me I’m always looking for new friends to make especially ones who I have something in common with. my email if your interested is jesylynne@gmail.com.