Against the Grain (TV series)

*Against the Grain*
Against the Grain
Genre	Drama
Created by	Michael Pavone ; Dave Alan Johnson;
Starring	John Terry ; Donna Bullock; Ben Affleck ; Vanessa Lee Evigan ; Stephen Tobolowsky ;
Composer	John Debney
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	8
Production
Executive producers	Lee Rich ; Bruce Sallan; Jeff Freilich;
Running time	60 minutes
Production companies	The Lee Rich Company; Magnum Productions; Warner Bros. Television ;
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	October 1, 1993 –; December 24, 1993

Last updated March 10, 2025

Against the Grain is an American drama television series that aired on NBC from October 1 until December 24, 1993. starring John Terry, Donna Bullock, Ben Affleck, Vanessa Lee Evigan and Stephen Tobolowsky. The show was inspired by Buzz Bissinger's book Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream .^[1]

Plot

Ed Clemons was an insurance company salesman and former high school football star who became coach of his former team, the Stumper Mustangs, located in Stumper, Texas. Episodes follow the challenges that Ed faces as he attempts to transform a losing team into the state champion.^[2]

Cast

John Terry as Ed Clemons
Donna Bullock as Maggie Clemons
Ben Affleck as Joe Willie Clemons
Vanessa Lee Evigan as Jenny Clemons
Stephen Tobolowsky as Niles Hardemann
Cheryl Rhoads as Winona Bruhns

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
1	"Pilot"	TBD	TBD	October 1, 1993 (1993-10-1)
2	"The Buck Stops...There"	TBD	TBD	October 8, 1993 (1993-10-8)
3	"Respect"	TBD	TBD	October 15, 1993 (1993-10-15)
4	"The Reunion"	TBD	TBD	October 29, 1993 (1993-10-29)
5	"Don't Be a Stranger"	TBD	TBD	November 5, 1993 (1993-11-5)
6	"Two-Minute Drill"	TBD	TBD	November 12, 1993 (1993-11-12)
7	"E Pluribus Unum"	TBD	TBD	December 17, 1993 (1993-12-17)
8	"A House is Not a Home"	TBD	TBD	December 24, 1993 (1993-12-24)

Reception

Writing in The New York Times , John O'Connor said that, "In some respects, the new NBC series Against the Grain does have the courage of its title. It's not just another half-hour sitcom running on wisecracks. It's an hourlong drama admirably aiming, according to one executive producer, Bruce Sallan, to present 'real-life problems and family issues.'"^[3]

References

↑ Mays, Robert (July 28, 2011). "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Couldn't Lose". Grantland . Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
↑ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle, eds. (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (9th ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4 . Retrieved May 6, 2023– via Internet Archive text collection.
↑ O'Connor, John (October 15, 1993). "'Against the Grain': Football and Family Values" . The New York Times . p. D-17. Retrieved February 24, 2008.

External links

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[1] Mays, Robert (July 28, 2011). "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Couldn't Lose". Grantland . Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.

[2] Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle, eds. (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (9th ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4 . Retrieved May 6, 2023– via Internet Archive text collection.

[3] O'Connor, John (October 15, 1993). "'Against the Grain': Football and Family Values" . The New York Times . p. D-17. Retrieved February 24, 2008.

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