Friday Night Lights (season 2)

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Friday Night Lights
Season 2
FNL S2 DVD.jpg
Season 2 DVD cover
No. of episodes15
Release
Original network NBC
Original releaseOctober 5, 2007 (2007-10-05) –
February 8, 2008 (2008-02-08)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 1
Next →
Season 3
List of episodes

The second season of the American serial drama television series Friday Night Lights commenced airing in the United States and Canada on October 5, 2007, and concluded its 15-episode season on February 8, 2008, on NBC. While initially renewed for a 22-episode full season, the show ended production for the season after filming the 15th episode, due to the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike. [1] The series' future was once again placed in doubt as it did not return to production once the strike ended, and it continued to suffer from low ratings in its new Friday at 9:00 pm time slot. However, NBC announced in April 2008 that the show would return for a third season, with first-run broadcasts airing on DirecTV's The 101 Network. [2] The second season was released on DVD in region 1 on April 22, 2008. [3]

Contents

Season 2 continues to focus on the Dillon Panthers, as the pressures and challenges on and off the field have reached new highs after the team won the 2006 Texas 5A State Championship and lost head coach Eric Taylor to a coaching job at Texas Methodist University.

Crew

The season was produced by NBC Universal Television, Imagine Television, and Film 44, and was aired on NBC in the United States. Peter Berg, Sarah Aubrey, David Nevins, Brian Grazer, and Jason Katims continued to serve as executive producers, with Jeffrey Reiner, and John Cameron serving as co-executive producers. Writers included Katims, producers David Hudgins and Bridget Carpenter, consulting producers Kerry Ehrin, Patrick Massett, and John Zinman, supervising producers Carter Harris and Elizabeth Heldens, and Aaron Rahsaan Thomas. Katims also served as showrunner. Regular directors throughout the season include Reiner, Jonas Pate, and David Boyd. Theme song music was composed by W. G. Snuffy Walden. Songs from Explosions in the Sky were also used throughout the season.

Cast

The second season saw all 10 star billing roles of season 1 return. Kyle Chandler portrayed Eric Taylor, head coach of the Dillon Panthers. Connie Britton played Tami Taylor, wife of Eric's and guidance counselor of Dillon High School. Gaius Charles played Brian "Smash" Williams, the cocky running back and star of the team. Zach Gilford played quarterback Matt Saracen. Minka Kelly played Lyla Garrity, former girlfriend of Panthers assistant coach Jason Street played by Scott Porter. Taylor Kitsch portrayed Tim Riggins, fullback, resident bad boy, and best friend of Street's. Adrianne Palicki played bad girl Tyra Collette. Jesse Plemons played Landry Clarke, Saracen's best friend. Aimee Teegarden played Julie Taylor, daughter of Eric and Tami's.

Supporting characters who also returned include: Brad Leland as Lyla's father and head of the Dillon Panther's Booster Club Buddy Garrity, Derek Phillips as Tim's brother Billy Riggins, Louanne Stephens as Saracen's grandmother Lorraine Saracen, Liz Mikel as Smash's mother Corrina Williams, Kevin Rankin as Herc, Blue Deckert as Panther coach Mac MacGill, and Dana Wheeler-Nicholson as Tyra's mother Angela Collette.

New guest stars this season included: Glenn Morshower as Landry's father and Dillon police officer Chad Clarke, Daniella Alonso as Lorraine Saracen's new live-in nurse Carlotta, Jessalyn Gilsig as Tami's sister Shelley Hayes, Benny Ciaramello as Santiago Herrera, Chris Mulkey as Coach Bill McGregor, and Matt Czuchry as Lyla's boyfriend Chris Kennedy.

Season synopsis

At the beginning of Season 2, Coach Taylor is living in Austin and coaching at Texas Methodist University as the new football season draws closer. With Taylor gone, coach McGregor is butting heads with players and boosters, Smash's increased cockiness is angering his teammates, and the pressure to get back to the State Championship is increasing, and the Panthers slowly begin falling apart. Things are not well at the Taylor home, either, following the birth of Eric and Tami's daughter Gracie. Tami becomes depressed as she takes care of Gracie alone. Julie refuses to help her mother, begins spending time with male co-worker "The Swede", and breaks up with Matt. Matt, upset over both the breakup and Coach Taylor's absence, faces even more challenges as a rift between himself and Smash emerges, and caring for his grandmother becomes a bigger struggle as her dementia slowly worsens.

Tensions reach a boiling point during the first game of the season. With Taylor watching, Coach McGregor angers the boosters by switching the final play, resulting in Smash and Matt's getting into a physical confrontation. Tami loses it with Julie and slaps her across the face during a late night argument. Street quits his position as assistant coach, fed up with the team and with learning that his condition will not improve, even after he regains full motor control in one of his hands. After losing the second game and seeing another physical confrontation between Smash and Matt, the boosters fire McGregor and offer Taylor the position if he'll leave TMU. Taylor, seeing how bad things are at home with his family and former team, leaves TMU and returns to coach the Panthers.

Fictional game results

OpponentResultScoreRecordEpisode #Episode
Regular season
South Milbank RattlersWin6–01–025"Are You Ready for Friday Night?"
Wescott WarriorsLossUnknown [a] 1–126"Backfire"
Westerby ChapsWin20–192–127"Let's Get It On"
McNulty MavericksLoss0–37 [b] 2–230"Seeing Other People"
Fort Hood CougarsWinUnknown [c] 3–231"The Confession"
Laribee LionsWin43-38 [d] 4–233"Jumping the Gun"
Royal Rock DragonsWinUnknown [e] 5–236"Leave No One Behind"
South Pines TigersWin45–66–237"May the Best Man Win"
Postseason
Arnett Mead TigersLossUnknown [f] 6–337Scene in Season 3 Episode 1
a Score was not revealed during episode.
b Score at the end of the third quarter. Final score wasn't revealed.
c Score 28–13 (Fort Hood) at the end of the second quarter. Final score wasn't revealed.
d Panthers' awarded the victory after opposing coach interfered with game play.
e Shown in a deleted scene where the Panthers are playing Royal Rock. Wasn't shown in actual episode.
f Shown in a scene during the beginning of Season 3 Episode 1.

Episodes

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
231"Last Days of Summer" Jeffrey Reiner Jason Katims October 5, 2007 (2007-10-05)6.37 [4]
In the second-season premiere, Coach Taylor returns to town when Tami goes into labor and realizes how much things have changed. Elsewhere, Julie flirts with a guy at the pool; and Tyra appoints Landry as her protector.
242"Bad Ideas"Jeffrey Reiner Elizabeth Heldens October 12, 2007 (2007-10-12)5.46 [5]
The start of the school year finds Tami struggling without Eric's parenting help. Elsewhere, Matt and Landry have difficulty adjusting to new lifestyles. Smash, on the other hand, basks in accolades from coaches, scouts and fans.
253"Are You Ready for Friday Night?" Seith Mann Kerry Ehrin October 19, 2007 (2007-10-19)5.37 [6]
Smash and Matt bring their animosity for one another to the field during the Panthers' first game of the season; Coach Taylor makes another trip home; Riggins finds himself looking for comfort in an odd place; and Street explores his options in dealing with his paralysis.
264"Backfire" Jonas Pate David Hudgins October 26, 2007 (2007-10-26)5.81 [7]
Coach Taylor makes a huge career move. Riggins and Street head to Mexico as Street hopes to explore experimental surgery. Riggins, who is concerned about Street, turns to Lyla who is busy trying to help newcomer Santiago Herrera to Dillon. A big development in a police search instills more trepidation in the lives of Tyra and Landry.
275"Let's Get It On" David Boyd Patrick Massett & John Zinman November 2, 2007 (2007-11-02)5.40 [8]
Coach Taylor deals with his disheveled team, led by the conflict between Matt and Smash. Meanwhile, Tim and Lyla try to change Jason's mind about the experimental surgery. Julie asks Matt to hang out. Landry plays his first game for the Panthers.
286"How Did I Get Here"Jonas PateCarter HarrisNovember 9, 2007 (2007-11-09)5.56 [9]
Building pressure forces Landry to tell his dad the truth about the killing; the arrival of Tami's sister prompts Tami to reexamine the life she's leading; and Riggins has something to prove after he's kicked off the team. Matt strikes up a relationship with the new girl named Lauren (Kim Smith), upsetting Julie.
297"Pantherama!"David Boyd Bridget Carpenter November 16, 2007 (2007-11-16)5.96 [10]
Smash's college options are revealed on the first official day of recruitment; Coach Taylor focuses on a new athlete; Matt is tempted by his grandma's nurse even though he has a new girlfriend; Julie befriends a new teacher; and Lyla and Tyra work on Pantherama together at Tami's bidding; Tim moves into Tyra's because of Billy and Jackie.
308"Seeing Other People"Jeffrey ReinerElizabeth HeldensNovember 30, 2007 (2007-11-30)5.47 [11]
Smash visits a college that's recruiting him; Matt considers an open relationship; Tami lashes out at Julie's teacher; Eric is jealous of Tami's relationship with her colleague; and Tyra's attacker's brother asks to meet with her.
319"The Confession" Allison Liddi-Brown Bridget CarpenterDecember 7, 2007 (2007-12-07)5.14 [12]
Landry continues to struggle with his conscience when he confesses to the murder of Tyra's attacker; Street contemplates his future as Herc sets him up with an online dating service; tension continues to build between Tami and Julie.
3210"There Goes the Neighborhood"Jeffrey ReinerDavid HudginsJanuary 4, 2008 (2008-01-04)5.53 [13]
The Panthers host a rival team whose school was hit by a tornado. Tami, Julie, and Riggins adjust to their new living situation. Lyla's mom plans to remarry, and Landry and Tyra attempt to put the murder behind them.
3311"Jumping the Gun" Dan Attias Patrick Massett & John ZinmanJanuary 11, 2008 (2008-01-11)5.80 [14]
Smash faces pressure from colleges who are looking for a verbal commitment. Tension continues to run high between Coach Taylor and Tim Riggins, with regard to Julie. The Panthers prepare to take on Laribee in the biggest game of the season. Tami and her sister continue to see things differently.
3412"Who Do You Think You Are?" Michael Waxman Kerry EhrinJanuary 18, 2008 (2008-01-18)5.33 [15]
Coach and Tami look into day care for Gracie, but find themselves having a tough time letting go. Lyla begins working as a DJ on a Christian radio station and, despite being ridiculed by Tim, she is able to strike a chord with him. Matt discovers that he is actually in love with Carlotta, and Smash learns that those close to him may not be ready for interracial dating.
3513"Humble Pie"Jeffrey ReinerCarter HarrisJanuary 25, 2008 (2008-01-25)5.37 [16]
Charges are pressed against Smash after a confrontation, Jason finds a new career, Tami is hired as the new volleyball coach and turns to Tyra for help, Tim faces a tough time trying to express his feelings for Lyla.
3614"Leave No One Behind" Dean White Aaron Rahsaan Thomas February 1, 2008 (2008-02-01)5.64 [17]
Matt reaches a tough point in his life where nothing seems to really matter to him anymore. Tami’s relationship continues to grow with Tyra, as Julie becomes more and more jealous. Landry's new friend may screw up his relationship with Tyra, and Smash begins his three-game suspension.
3715"May the Best Man Win" Patrick Norris David HudginsFebruary 8, 2008 (2008-02-08)5.22 [18]
Smash is determined to get a football scholarship, despite the recent events that have taken place, and is shocked when the most unlikely place gives him an offer that will change his life. Coach becomes jealous after Tami runs into her old high school boyfriend (Peter Berg). Jason receives the biggest news of his life since his accident. Tim continues his pursuit of Lyla.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has an approval rating of 92% with an average score of 8.1 out of 10 based on 24 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Despite an ill-advised story that threatens to puncture its aura of realism, Season Two of Friday Night Lights continues to deepen the show's winning portrayal of small-town America." [19]

Related Research Articles

<i>Friday Night Lights</i> (TV series) American sports drama television series

Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series developed by Peter Berg and inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger, which was adapted as the 2004 film of the same name by Berg. Executive producers were Brian Grazer, David Nevins, Sarah Aubrey and Jason Katims who also served as showrunner. The series follows a high school football team in the fictional town of Dillon, a small, close-knit community in rural West Texas. It features an ensemble cast led by Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, portraying high school football coach Eric Taylor and his wife Tami Taylor, a school faculty member. The primary cast includes characters associated with football and high school. The show uses its small-town backdrop to address many issues in contemporary American culture like family values, school funding, racism, substance use, abortion and lack of economic opportunities.

<i>Friday Night Lights</i> (season 1) Season of television series

The first season of the American serial drama television series Friday Night Lights commenced airing in the United States and Canada on October 3, 2006, and concluded its 22-episode season on April 11, 2007, on NBC. The series revolves around the Dillon Panthers and their new head coach Eric Taylor as they deal with the pressure of high school football in Texas and everything that comes with it, on and off the field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Taylor (Friday Night Lights)</span> Fictional character

Eric Taylor is a fictional character and the central protagonist in the NBC/DirecTV drama television series Friday Night Lights played by Kyle Chandler and is a die-hard Detroit Lions fan. He is introduced as the head coach of the Dillon High School football team, the Dillon Panthers. At the end of the first season, he accepts a position as the quarterback coach at the fictional Texas Methodist University (TMU), where he had served as an assistant coach. After the birth of his second daughter, he leaves TMU in the second season to return to Dillon and once again coach the Panthers. Following a conspiracy by Joe McCoy in season three, Taylor is replaced as Panthers' coach by Wade Aikmen, his assistant, and instead offered the chance to start a new football program at East Dillon High School after Dillon, Texas is redistricted. The character was positively received and was included on several best lists and earned Kyle Chandler a number of award nominations, notably winning an Emmy Award in 2011.

<i>Friday Night Lights</i> (season 3) Season of television series

The third season of the American serial drama television series Friday Night Lights began airing in the United States and Canada on October 1, 2008. It was the first season to be aired on DirecTV's The 101 Network. The 13-episode season concluded on The 101 Network on January 14, 2009, and then began its run on NBC two nights later, on January 16, 2009, and concluded its NBC run on April 10, 2009. The show was renewed for two more seasons in March 2009, with both seasons airing in the same format as season 3, containing 13 episodes each. The third season was released on DVD in region 1 on May 19, 2009.

"Eyes Wide Open" is the second episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by executive producer Jason Katims and directed by co-executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on NBC on October 10, 2006.

"Who's Your Daddy" is the fourth episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by consulting producer Kerry Ehrin and directed by Allison Liddi-Brown. It originally aired on NBC on October 24, 2006.

"Homecoming" is the seventh episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by producer David Hudgins and directed by Patrick Norris. It originally aired on NBC on November 14, 2006.

"Crossing the Line" is the eighth episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by producer Bridget Carpenter and directed by co-executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on NBC on November 28, 2006.

"Full Hearts" is the ninth episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by Aaron Rahsaan Thomas and directed by Josh Pate. It originally aired on NBC on December 5, 2006.

"Little Girl I Wanna Marry You" is the thirteenth episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by executive producer Jason Katims and directed by co-executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on NBC on January 24, 2007.

"Upping the Ante" is the fourteenth episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by producer David Hudgins and directed by Allison Liddi-Brown. It originally aired on NBC on January 31, 2007.

"Blinders" is the fifteenth episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by producer Bridget Carpenter and supervising producer Carter Harris, and directed by Stephen Kay. It originally aired on NBC on February 7, 2007.

"Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes" is the nineteenth episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by executive producer Jason Katims and directed by co-executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on NBC on March 21, 2007.

"Best Laid Plans" is the 21st episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by consulting producer Kerry Ehrin and supervising producer Carter Harris, and directed by co-executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on NBC on April 4, 2007.

"State" is the 22nd episode and season finale of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by executive producer Jason Katims and consulting producers Patrick Massett and John Zinman, and directed by co-executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on NBC on April 11, 2007.

"Last Days of Summer" is the first episode of the second season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. It is the 23rd overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Jason Katims and directed by executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on NBC on October 5, 2007, but the episode was released to stream on Yahoo! on September 19, 2007.

"Are You Ready for Friday Night?" is the third episode of the second season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. It is the 25th overall episode of the series and was written by consulting producer Kerry Ehrin and directed by Seith Mann. It originally aired on NBC on October 19, 2007.

"How Did I Get Here" is the sixth episode of the second season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. It is the 28th overall episode of the series and was written by supervising producer Carter Harris and directed by Jonas Pate. It originally aired on NBC on November 9, 2007.

"Pantherama!" is the seventh episode of the second season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. It is the 29th overall episode of the series and was written by supervising producer Bridget Carpenter and directed by David Boyd. It originally aired on NBC on November 16, 2007.

"I Knew You When" is the first episode of the third season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. It is the 38th overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Jason Katims, and directed by executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on DirecTV's 101 Network on October 1, 2008, before airing on NBC on January 16, 2009.

References

  1. ↑ Ryan, Maureen (February 8, 2008). "'Friday Night Lights' - is it game over, or will the Panthers play again?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  2. ↑ Stelter, Brian (April 7, 2008). "DirecTV Deal Will Subsidize 'Friday Night Lights'". The New York Times . Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Friday Night Lights: The Second Season (2008)". Amazon. April 22, 2008. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  4. ↑ "New series can't hold on to viewers - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times . October 10, 2007. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Weekly Program Rankings (Oct. 8-14)". ABC Medianet. October 16, 2007. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Weekly Program Rankings (Oct. 15-21)". ABC Medianet. October 23, 2007. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Weekly Program Rankings". ABC Medianet. October 30, 2007. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  8. ↑ "'NBC Sunday Night Football' Powers NBC's Week of OcT. 29-NoV. 4". The Futon Critic. November 6, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Weekly Program Rankings (Nov. 5-11)". ABC Medianet. November 13, 2007. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Weekly Program Rankings (Nov. 12-18)". ABC Medianet. November 20, 2007. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Weekly Program Rankings (Nov. 26-Dec. 2)". ABC Medianet. December 4, 2007. Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Weekly Program Rankings (Dec. 3-9)". ABC Medianet. December 11, 2007. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  13. ↑ Gorman, Bill (January 5, 2008). "Overnight Results for Friday, January 4". TV by the Numbers . Archived from the original on January 8, 2008. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Weekly Program Rankings (Jan. 7-13)". ABC Medianet. January 15, 2008. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Weekly Program Rankings (Jan. 14-20)". ABC Medianet. January 23, 2008. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  16. ↑ Seidman, Robert (January 26, 2008). "Overnight Results for Friday, January 25". TV by the Numbers . Archived from the original on January 29, 2008. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  17. ↑ Seidman, Robert (February 2, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings for Friday Feb 1, 2008". TV by the Numbers . Archived from the original on February 4, 2008. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  18. ↑ Seidman, Robert (February 9, 2008). "Nielsen Ratings Friday, Feb 8: House Leads Reruns". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on February 11, 2008. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Friday Night Lights: Season 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
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