Reruns start May 27
Season 1 DVD due in late summer
By William Keck, USA TODAY
BEVERLY HILLS — Now that it appears NBC is going to give the struggling Friday Night Lights a second chance, its tight-knit cast can shift from trying to save the show to getting people to watch it.
Before an event at the Museum of Television & Radio this spring, star Kyle Chandler, 41, and many of his cast members were confident they'd return for a second year — which is not to say each didn't find ways to support the show.
Scott Porter, who plays paraplegic quarterback Jason Street, posted Lights videos and behind-the-scenes clips on his MySpace page. Porter, 27, now encourages people to watch episodes at nbc.com or itunes, tune into summer reruns (starting May 27) or check out the Season 1 DVD (due in late summer). "Anyone who didn't watch because they were scared they couldn't catch up, there are now so many ways."
Minka Kelly, whose character, Lyla, is at the center of a love triangle, is proud of Season 1. "But we have so much more to do."
Peter Berg, who created the 2004 film on which the series was based and serves as an executive producer, wants a new time slot for the show, which NBC tried at different times. "It really comes down to that," Berg says. "After Heroes (on Mondays) would be good. Or Sundays at 9 p.m." He'll find out today, when the network announces its fall schedule.
Executive producer Jason Katims says he wrote the season finale with a second year in mind. The team won the state championship, and Coach Taylor (Chandler) accepted a new coaching gig at Texas Methodist University.
The fall story line will advance several months to late summer, with Coach Taylor coaching at that university, while his wife, Tami, and their daughter, Julie, remain in their small town. Tami (Connie Britton), who learned she was pregnant at season's end, will be close to giving birth.
Britton, 39, is looking forward to having the baby next season and likely (says Katims) tackling the topic of postpartum depression.
As for other possible stories, the cast is intrigued by Julie's sex life. Says Zach Gilford, 25, who plays boyfriend Matt: "I think she should lose her virginity to someone else." Aimee Teegarden, who plays the teen, shyly asks, "Why does Julie have to lose her virginity at all?"
Chandler, sounding like Teegarden's real-life dad, wants nothing to do with the topic. "I don't want to even think about my daughter losing her virginity," says Chandler, teasing Gilford: "But if it's not to Matt, that's a benefit."
Snidget rocks! Friday Night Lights Rules!
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn... that was fun!"