CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG

It's Friday once again and we are mere hours away from another episode of FNL. It's going to be a long day of waiting in anticipation. Reminds me of when I used to have a game on a weekday in H.S. You had to sit through a whole day of classes before that opening whistle. I'd be sitting there in my game jersey, blatantly defying the dress code but showing my team spirit, knee bouncing up and down, eyes glued to the clock, each passing minute feeling like an eternity. As soon as the last class ended you bolted right for the locker room. Opening the door you were greeted by that familiar musty smell of sweat and dried mud. Someone would throw on some music and the atmosphere would begin to reach a fever pitch as we subbed out our dress shoes for cleats. That first whiff of fresh cut grass was like a drug when you breathed it in and when the ref blew that first whistle everything just faded away and instincts took over.

Tonight we will be treated to an array of emotions I feel as Eric continues to try to bring his team together and the Saracen family appears to get some sad news. Luke and Vince will continue their power struggle while Eric waits to see who will emerge to lead the Lions forward. It's about time we see Landry rock out. I've been dying to hear some new tunes. There's been talk of a new Crucifictorious album, but with all his other distractions right now, I think we have a better chance of a Milli Vanilla reunion tour than we do of a new album from everybody's favorite Christian Death Metal band.

Something To Cheer About

Julie is still around, but I know there are those of you out there who miss Lyla and Tyra like I do. Well a loyal reader just emailed me and absolutely made my day. She heard today that Friday Night Lights will start airing on ABC Family in Sept. They got the syndication rights for all seasons. Now its never going away!

YOU GOTTA EARN IT

Well a zero still remains in the win column for the East Dillon Lions but they did manage to put 7 on the board to close out a pretty good episode. Coach delivered yet another line to live by when he told Luke, "you want a slap on the back you earn it." He asked Luke to lead and hopefully he finds a way to do so. Calling out Vince for biting on a five yard out when it's 3rd and 10 was correct but poorly timed. The rift between those two is reminiscent of Tim and Smash back in season one.

We open up Friday's episode with Eric shaking down the principal of East Dillon for funds to buy the team new uniforms. What happened to the old uniforms? Oh that's right Eric burned them. The principal basically tells Eric "your karate's a joke Larusso," and tells him in so many words to put up or shut up and ship out. Sadly there was no Peanut Brittle to sell like in Wildcats, so Eric did the next best thing and went to Under Armour. Then he rallies the team and we find them surrounding an old car that they are going to push through town to raise funds for new uniforms. Sort of like a steak head version of one of those fire department coin tosses. Tink asks Eric why the hell they are doing this. "One you need to watch your language, two next time I see you I want whatever that is on your upper lip shaved off."


Love that Nipsey Russel..."Righhht"

Is there anything more depressing than watching Eric Taylor write that check for three grand? Reminds me of Walt writing the check's for his chemo therapy for those Breaking Bad fans out there. I like Coach looking out for the team like that but Tami has a very good reason to chew him out and remind him family always comes first and you first and foremost must "Protect THIS house."

Luke knocks on Eric's door and lets him know that he doesn't hold anything against him with what happened between him and his wife back at Dillon. Eric doesn't skip a beat in his response delivering in that piercing manner of his that takes the EZ Pass lane right to your soul saying "good I'm glad, I'm glad because I don't think you should be holding it against me and as far as my wife is concerned, my wife wasn't the one who caused the problems for you. You caused the problems for yourself isn't that about right? You were doing something knowingly wrong and you got caught. Yeah? That lands you straight on the plate of responsibility so why don't you take that responsibility. As far as trhe rest we'll see what you got out there." and then gives him a nod toward the door. What else can you say to that but "OK thanks coach." There was no back down by Luke though. It was more of an "OK I know where we both stand now" expression.

Tim is telling Luke to keep up the good work even if Coach isn't giving him the credit he thinks he deserves when Becky shows up and yells "Hi Tim, I'll see ya later!" Luke waves to her grinning ear to ear as Tim tells her he is renting a room from her mom. "You're what? Wish I was renting a room from her mom...just joking." Tim later tells Becky she should talk to Luke if she wants a boyfriend. She says "Yeah I'll talk to him," but you get the feeling she is only doing it to get closer to Tim.

The scene with the pageant dresses was fantastic. Upon being asked for his opinion, Tim says he is not qualified and that Becky should ask her mom. When she offers to try them on for him, he looks right at the floor and cowers. "What? I don't know, I don't think I, just, your good, pink for sure, get the pink, you'll win with that. Good luck." And he exits out the door carrying his tooth brush. The unshakable Tim Riggins just blushed I think ladies and gentleman. The Sultan of Smitty's tucked his tail and ran from a girl. Again I'm not sure where I stand on this whole situation. Like Tim, I'm gonna turn tail and run away from this one. Pink! go with the Pink.

The Tim/Luke mentorship is pretty great.

Luke goes starry eyes when he is around Tim, asking him how come he never wears his State Championship ring to which Tim replies "that's a good question, I guess I don't like Rings." These kids are only a few years apart age wise but Tim reached the pinnacle of high school in Luke's eyes and he is star struck. This whole "That's not what I do" attitude from Luke though has gotta go. You play football that's what you do. Coach asks you to hold the ball on kick offs when its windy, you do it son. The conversation he has with Eric at his house while throwing the hay around was great. I like the angle that his parent's don't care about his football, that it is his drive alone that pushes him. He is like the antithesis of J.D. I feel his frustration, because we all want the chance to get noticed.

Vince isn't going to get anywhere taking life advice from Corn Rows. "That's my spot, that's my team?" Since when Vince? And you got Corn Rows telling him the white man gonna take care of his own so that's what he and Vince have to do. Lot of good you're doing Vince by quitting the team fella. Then Vince makes another smart life decision and takes his helmet off during the game to yell at Eric. Man, that never works let me tell you from experience. You try to pick a fight with your coach and all you'll be picking are the splinters out of your behind from riding the bench. Man was Eric fired up. Probably his most intense scene ever, screaming in the ear of Vince like that. Vince has a good heart though, you can see it by how serious he is about taking care of his family and his mom. He'll come around soon enough, hopefully before he pulls up on anymore blocks for Luke.



Landry punting was fantastic. I know Landry considers himself more of a "hands man" but hang time and coffin corners could be his ticket. Just not sure how much I buy into Jess Merriweather,football coach angle, but I do think they make a cute couple. They could share each other's Proactiv. (I know, I know, FLAG DOWN 15 yards for unnecessary roughness.) Despite the amazing insight and coaching from Jess, it will be interesting to see if Landry can pull it off in front of the "thousands of screaming fans," like he says at "an away game or something." We didn't get to see him kick anything this week in the game, but we did watch him throw a shovel pass to Vince on the botched field goal attempt resulting in a touch down. Again, Landry handing the ball off to Vince could be a sign of things to come. Or... I just had this thought. What if, what if Eric is making Luke play defense to show him what the defense keys on when covering an offense, only to give him better perspective when he makes the move to QB1? Eh? We'll have to see.

In the meantime, Buddy grabs his boot straps and joins the fight for the Lions when he calls Joe McCoy a cancer and wipes his hands of the Panthers. Buddy is spot on because that's exactly what Joe is. A golf cart driving cancer. Buddy is going to help get the boosters get in line for sure.

I can't really spend too much time on this whole Saracen story line with the jerk off artist. I did like when he complains to Matt that "He asks too many damn questions...questions." Matt responds with a smirk "It was one "questions." I know one thing though, if he says anything else to Julie, I'm gonna climb into my TV and punch him myself if Matt doesn't. Nobody messes with Julie Taylor. I did like how Matt told her not to worry about what some crazy old man says about their relationship, and to eat her bean curd. That was a gem.

Well things are starting to look up for the Lions. Check in Friday morning for a scouting report for this week's episode.

Take us out Buddy!

"Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose!"

P.S. I deliberately did not go into the religion story line between Tami and Julie because in Dillon there needs to be separation between Church and "STATE."

Let's Get This Season In Gear

It's Friday Night y'all, well almost. There are still a few things I wanted to mention from last week though. I noticed them after watching the 2 minute Episode Recap a few times while gearing up for tonight's episode.

The way Buddy says "East Dillon" when he takes coach to Luke's false address is amazing. Followed up by the look in his eyes as he goes from Joe McCoy to Tami Taylor during their back and forth at the booster meeting. He is like a pupper master acting out his private agenda through the cahracters involved and loving it. Don't sleep on Buddy folks, the guy has got some game.
The way Eric keeps saying "man" when he visits the basketball court to try and convince Vince to come back to the team. I thought Eric had more game than that but I guess its appropriate to write him a little awkward as he tries to relate to these kids. At least the writers didn't have him calling the kid "son" over and over. Eric is a parent and therefore has to be somewhat of a dork. After all, he does love to rock the calf high socks and the 1980's razor sunglasses all while sporting a rough collection of sneakers and a hat propped up on his head.

As for tonight, I hope we get to finally see the emergence of coaches Riggins and Saracen. There's been a lot of rumor mill talk of Matt coaching up Landry to become QB1 for East. Not sure if a kid who swims in a tee shirt can really lead the Lions to victory though. I mean Landry...REALLY? I personally think a Wildcat formation would suit them better with Luke running from under center and having Vince as his pitch option. From the preview it seemed like this week could just be a lot of heated conversations between Eric and some school officials though. I hope we can focus a little more on the game coming up this week.

They keep showing "corn rows" in various scenes around school and hanging out with Vince. I feel like we have yet to see the last of him. He could very well still be carrying a grudge for the way Eric chewed him out in front of the team. Hopefully he doesn't take it out on Julie by making her new life at Dillon East a living hell.

Hopefully we can get back to basics tonight and see some good football. Time will on ly tell.
Till tonight- C.E.F.H.C.L

WHERE'S THE ME TIME?

Came across this deleted scene from last season. I know most of us can't ever get enough Riggins, and I for one am seriously missing Lyla. So here's a little something to help us get through the day. Most kids go to college to escape a curfew. College for Tim was a step down I'm sure in terms of his personal freedoms and good times. It's no wonder he left, I don't blame him. You gotta have your ME TIME.

THEY SHOWED UP

Well we start off another week at the Taylor household. One thing's for sure, Matt Saracen won't offer to get the paper for Eric ever again. What he can't help doing and won't stop doing though, is call Eric, "Coach." It's not on par with being your parent, but just like how you don't start calling your mom and dad by their first names simply because you move out of the house, you never stop calling your coaches, "Coach." It's a tip of the cap to a person who was instrumental in preparing you for the game of life through athletics. An aura of nostalgia surrounds coaches. They represent a time in our lives where things made sense and a routine existed to show us the way. It's why people in Dillon are so fixated on their Panthers. There is a sense of familiarity and ritual about them. No matter what's going on in their lives, the Panther faithful know each Friday night, they will have something to cheer for, something to stand up and praise God for if you will. It provides the the same comfort that church does for many people. That is why for many, football IS religion. In the name of the Father, the Son and the "Galloping Ghost." Amen.

There were certainly a lot of people asking for others to have faith in them this week wasn't there? Buddy asks Eric to get in the car and trust that what he has to show him is worth his time, which...we find out to be true. Buddy G. is straddling the fence between East and West Dillon but sooner or later he's going to have to come down one way or the other. For now though, we owe him one.
Thanks to Buddy's tip, East Dillon now has newcomer to their pride, Luke Cafferty. We first met Luke this season when JD introduced him to Julie Taylor at the party in the season opener. He wasn't really anything more than a toothy smile holding a solo cup of keg beer then. This week we got to see what makes this kid tick. I knew the second he took his helmet off and said hello to "Principal Taylor" I had seen him before. It took me about two minutes to realize the actor Matt Lauria, before he was Luke was Roy. Roy Merritt, Victory Ford's assistant from Lipstick Jungle. Yeah I watched the show, so what? Shut Up! Anyways, Matt(Luke) lost the accent and "changed teams" in more ways than one and I'm happy he did because I really like his new character. From the excitement he shows when he asked Tami if she saw his TD run, to the emotion he shows after being exposed for faking an address in West Dillon. The kid's life, like the Fresh Prince's just, "got flipped turned upside down," but he collected himself and even apologized to Tami for lying to her. The kid's got character. What I didn't like though was how he said "thank you" a few times during that scene. You got caught lying Luke. You were polite and apologized, but don't say thank you! That's like saying thank you to a cop as he walks back to his car after handing you a speeding ticket. (guilty of that one) Might as well have said, "Thank you sir may I have another."
Luke later puts his faith in the hands of Eric when he takes off the Dillon shirt and burns it along with the Lion uniforms. As a unifying gesture Eric scores an A here, but in hindsight he gets an F in common sense. He realized it and remarks to Tami at the end of the show that he just needs to find a way to buy new uniforms. East Dillon isn't exactly West Beverly when it comes to their budget I don't think.

There are two types of people. One who sees a house on fire and hears a cry for help, but just stands there and watches. Then there's the person who runs into the blaze to try and help rescue anyone they can without thinking twice about it. Tim Riggins is this man. He remarks that Coach is off to a "shaky start" and that he would like to help out in anyway he can, even if the hat is "pretty red." Granted there is less pressure in joining a losing team as opposed to the expectations that come with coaching a proven winner. We all know he isn't really one to think before he acts, but I think Tim genuinely is looking for something to fill his heart. Bottom line is he misses the game. We saw him take JD under his wing, and Matt before that in years past. The King of Good Times, the Memory Maker, is a leader whether he likes it or not. But first and foremost the kid is a riot.
Favorite scene of the week came at Riggins Rigs while Billy was complaining that because of the book she is reading, "now every time Mindy farts she is thinking her water is breaking." Tim delivers a gem... "Hey Billy can you pass me the violin please...YOU'RE HOGGIN IT!!!" I think I rewound that part 3 times easy.

Tami "Texas Hold Em" Taylor stuck to her guns (no pun intended) when she called the bluff of Smilin Joe McCoy. Joe threatened to have someone look into possible indiscretion's during Eric's tenure at Dillon, possibly resulting in "rings being lost." So what if she got booed at the pep rally. She stood up to Joe and his crew of good old boys. She said it best when she told Eric, "So I've got that going for me and wine." I like how when she started to tell Eric about her day he took off his red East hat. He was no longer Coach Taylor, he was Eric Taylor loving husband. Something small but I liked it. A seemingly insignificant gesture with a hat can speak volumes. Like Lincoln Hawk in Over The Top.
Speaking of the pep rally did anyone else think Joe McCoy's face looked like the high priest Mola Ram from "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom?" He had that same maniacal smirk as he glared at Tami. "COVER YOUR HEART TAMI!!!"

I'm not too into the side stories of Landry and the girl on the bike or Saracen and the artist just yet. I was, however, waiting for Billy Walsh from Entourage to appear and start calling Matt "Suit" when he showed up for his first day of his internship. You may have "pluck" Matt but that tie has got to go son.



Time to wrap it up I guess, but a few more notable scenes I liked from this week. I loved the illuminated wreath on the trailer Tim moves into...very Robert Earl Keen "Merry Christmas From the Family." Feliz Navidad Tim. Feliz Navidad.
I liked how Tigger touched his jersey to his heart before throwing it in the fire. There's something special about that kid I have a feeling. We have yet to see a story line about a big lovable lineman, so I feel like this will be FNL's opportunity to endear us to Tigger like the director's did Billy Bob in Varsity Blues.
And last but not least the amazing cameo by former Texas Tech, Red Raider head coach Mike Leach at the gas station telling Eric he's gotta find his inner pirate. "Have you ever heard swing your sword?"


Great stuff once again this week. The team is coming together and the season can get back on track finally. It still looks like rough seas ahead but we've got the right captain steering the ship. Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me.

Till next week C.E.F.H.C.L.

A HEAVY HEART

Tonight we will see the fallout of what had to be the hardest decision of Eric Taylor's coaching career. The decision to fore go the second half of last week's opener was no easy choice, but the right one I believe. Walking into that locker room at half time Coach Taylor was I'm sure going to give Herb Brooks a run for his money with how I'm sure he planned on ripping into his team. A quick scan though of the players rendered him speechless. You saw how big this man's heart is even if listening to it meant tearing it apart. Tonight the town line between East and West continues to shift about as apparently a key member of the Panthers is forced to transfer to East Dillon. Thing's I anticipate us seeing are Julie's first day at E.D. The fall out from coach's decision as players are ridiculed and parent's tempers flare. Grandma Saracen is due for some more air time and hopefully Tim gets his scenes as well. Can't wait for that familiar theme song to come through my TV speakers. Recap to follow next week. Till then...Clear Eyes, Full Hearts!

This Is My Dillon Now!!!

Oh JD you have fully become a Texas H.S. Football cliche haven't you. I'm not buying it. Pretty cocky considering it's been less than a year since you pulled a Mama Cass in the championship game. Your day of reckoning is coming daddy's boy.

So the new season kicked off and the Year of the Lion is under way, all be it with a forfeit. I haven't seen a beat down like that on screen since the TSU Fightin' Armadillos had to play that team of convicts in the scrimmage Dean Elias set up for them. Maybe East Dillon should also think about "putting a bloody Sheila on the team!" Did Julie ever play soccer in any old episodes? Not saying I'd back the decision,just putting it out there. She is after all going to transfer and open up a whole new venue for jokes and inappropriateness with her Dad's players. I.E. Tim: "Hey, how bout Matt Saracen sleeping with Coach's daughter!"

Coach Taylor takes off the sunglasses and lays down the gauntlet in the locker room following "Corn Rows" snapping Landry's figurative olive branch in two. Eric was channeling Norman Dale there and I loved it.

I also loved this new player, Vince. He was featured on the series preview, but the writers gave me something I wasn't expecting when after being dealt a crushing hit along the sidelines on the opening kick off the kid pops up like toast and heads back to the huddle. I gotta say I like the cut of this kid's jib. I hope he can find that dang "4 hole" by week 2.

I can't even get into the whole rezoning issue. It's obvious the boosters and coaches rigged the process to keep the Panthers talent pool intact. I think I even heard one of the coaching staff say, "we'll fix that like we fixed everything else." So there's no secrets or surprises there, or is there? Someone has to realize that it was no coincidence that Landry was the only Dillon player who fell behind the line.
What I didn't like was seeing my man Buddy Garrity being run around the field like some discarded lap dog. The only thing that made me stomach it was my hope that he defects from his Alma Mater and somehow helps Eric and the Lions out. Buddy though, is the man who in Season one said, "You know what, Eric? I'll always care about the Panthers. Pam can cut off my head n' stick it on a pike, but I'll always care about the Panthers!" Well Pam left him and married that vegetarian, but I still think ole Buddy has a come to Jesus moment ahead of him in some form. Either way I hope he takes a five iron to Wade and Smilin' Joe McCoy's golf cart. Play it as it lies Buddy. Everyone deserves a mulligan in life and Buddy you're due for a breakfast ball.

And then there's Coach Best Buy. This guy kills me, which is the point of course. They way he echos Eric reminds me of the two lacrosse coaches in American Pie. "1: I don't wanna see any of you thinking you're gonna score. You don't score, till you score. 2: TILL YOU score! 1: This game marks the culmination of the past four years! 2: CULMINATION!" Hope he heads back to the sales counter soon and makes way for Tim and even Saracen to come aboard and coach. Hopefully Tim got the hint from his brother that Riggins Rigs is a one man operation and he heads to the dust bowl in East Dillon ASAP. I'm not sure Saracen coaching up Landry in the drive way is foreshadowing in any way but it did offer the opportunity for Grandma Saracen to deliver one of the lines of the week when she told Landry to "Stop throwing that ball you look like a girl."
We all knew Tim's stint in college was going to be brief. One of my favorite gems was the fact that he was sitting in class with a pen behind his ear and an unsharpened pencil in his hand. Such a minute detail but so apropos. And how about the scene where he and Billy are paining the nursery the color of "puke?" Having just painted a nursery myself I laughed incredibly hard when Tim asked "what happened to blue/pink, boy/girl?"

Tim gets right back on his horse or in this case his bar stool at Smitty's and proceeds to take home the dirtysomething year old bartender. "So what's it like being the guy who used to be Tim Riggins?" asks that cougar's daughter and poor man's Tyra. "I'm Still Tim Riggins." Tim Riggins will never die sweetheart. Why doesn't he get a new truck? Why didn't the Fonz ever carry quarters for the juke box instead of having to bang on it with his fist all the time? Because it's what makes guys like Tim Riggins and Arthur Fonzarelli who they are. Keep singing yourself down the road daisy dukes, I hear the local Elks Cub needs someone to sing "America the Beautiful" at this week's meeting. You can go on right before their salute to gun racks and open beverage containers. The smirk on Tim's face when she asks if her mom is going to be in any condition to drive anytime soon was amazing by the way, way to go #33!

Well plenty of stuff to keep us going till this week's episode I think. Wanted to wish a very special Happy Mother's Day to you Tami Taylor. I do so love the interactions between you and Eric over morning coffee. Till Friday Night...Clear Eyes, Full Hearts.

Dillon Divided-FNL Preview 2010

Well here we go again team. A new season is upon us. Along with Coach Taylor we are venturing into the unknown. A new school, new team, same attitude. Never broken! With Eric Taylor at the helm we’re never out of the fight. So who’s it gonna be?
Not since Biggie and Tupac has there been a bigger battle between East and West.
Coach Taylor has a new set of troops and from the look of this picture one hell of an asst. coach.

It’s going to take some adjusting. We are going from this:










To this:
But they have potential I can tell. Some new uniforms and a little choreography and we might have a FNL version of Bring It On. “Where the hell are my spanky pants?”

The parallels to 1986’s “Wildcats” with Goldie Hawn are definitely there. If the cheerleaders start chanting “Your Momma says you’re UGLY.” I’m outta here.










It’s been a long wait. I’ve tried my best to stay away from the spoilers and trailers. I would run screaming in the opposite direction if I even heard someone mention Direct TV. But I did catch one scene with Coach Taylor and a new kid named “Vince.”
Let me tell you, it was like rain in the desert. I couldn’t drink it up fast enough.
If you are a Panther Junkie like me…
and need a little fix before tonight, to get you through the day... CLICK HERE FOR A PEEK








I can’t wait for tonight. Warm up the bus! Because some nights we fight. Some nights we dream. But there’s one night we can believe in.

Friday Night Lights returns to NBC TONIGHT!!! Friday May 7th.
-C.E.F.H.C.L.