Game of the Week (Friday Night Lights)

Last updated
"Game of the Week"
Friday Night Lights episode
Episode no.Season 3
Episode 9
Directed by Michael Waxman
Written by David Hudgins
Cinematography byTodd McMullen
Editing byRon Rosen
Original release datesDecember 3, 2008 (2008-12-03)(DirecTV)
March 13, 2009 (2009-03-13)(NBC)
Running time43 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"New York, New York"		Next →
"The Giving Tree"
Friday Night Lights (season 3)
List of episodes

"Game of the Week" is the ninth 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 46th overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer David Hudgins, and directed by co-producer Michael Waxman. It originally aired on DirecTV's 101 Network on December 3, 2008, before airing on NBC on March 13, 2009.

Contents

The series is set in the fictional town of Dillon, a small, close-knit community in rural West Texas. It follows a high school football team, the Dillon Panthers. It features a set of characters, primarily connected to Coach Eric Taylor, his wife Tami, and their daughter Julie. In the episode, Tim is given an offer while learning bad news about Billy. Meanwhile, Matt struggles with his grandmother, and Tyra has second thoughts on her life with Cash.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 4.40 million household viewers and gained a 1.5/5 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances and character development, although some criticized Tyra's subplot.

Plot

Tim (Taylor Kitsch) returns to Dillon, finding that Billy (Derek Phillips) crashed his truck. As Tim scolds him for his hangover, Billy reveals that his engagement with Mindy was called off. As the Panthers prepare for the regional playoffs against Arnett Mead, Buddy (Brad Leland) announces that their incoming game has been announced as the high school game of the week, which will be broadcast on national television.

Tyra (Adrianne Palicki) accompanies Cash (Zach Roerig) in his new rodeo in Dallas, where he is respected by the crowd. However, Cash actually owes money to another man and he promises that he will pay him with the first place finish. Cash ends up in second place, and is angry that his $2,000 prize is not enough to pay his debt. Tyra leaves her motel room after an argument and talks with Landry (Jesse Plemons), not having told him her real location. Landry asks her to return, as she must help with the incoming winter's formal as she must pick a theme as president of the student council. When Cash scolds her during a card game, Tyra decides to leave him.

Matt (Zach Gilford) gets into an argument with Lorraine (Louanne Stephens) as he states his plans in leaving for college. When Matt comes up with the idea that Shelby (Kim Dickens) can take care of her, Lorraine angrily dismisses it and insults Shelby, calling her the devil and prompting her to leave the house. Tim is contacted by a San Antonio State college representative for an interview, and he reluctantly agrees to go when Lyla (Minka Kelly) offers to take him. On the car ride, Tim downplays the importance of the interview, causing an upset Lyla to kick him out of the car before reaching his interview.

The Panthers struggle during the first half of the game, with Arnett Mead winning 7-3. Eric (Kyle Chandler) decides to put Matt into the game as a wide receiver, which causes Lorraine and Shelby to quickly attend the game. Thanks to Tim and Matt, the Panthers manage to win the game with 10-7 and moving forward in the playoffs. Eric then takes Tami (Connie Britton) to a hotel room for a romantic evening for her birthday. However, the evening is ruined when Tyra calls Tami, asking her to pick her up in Dallas. Tami leaves for Dallas, annoying Eric.

Lyla meets Mindy, finding that she dumped Billy after he asked her to quit her job at the strip club, even though he has not found a job. They decide to hang out at her house, where they talk badly about Tim and Billy. However, Billy arrives apologizing to Mindy and asks her to pardon him. To Lyla's disappointment, Mindy forgives him and they reconcile. Eric and Tami pick Tyra from Dallas, despite Cash's angry pleas. Tim visits Lyla, confirming that he met with the representative and he was enrolled in college, delighting her.

Production

Development

In November 2008, DirecTV announced that the ninth episode of the season would be titled "Game of the Week". [1] The episode was written by co-executive producer David Hudgins, and directed by co-producer Michael Waxman. This was Hudgins' eighth writing credit, and Waxman's third directing credit. [2]

Reception

Viewers

In its original American broadcast on NBC, "Game of the Week" was seen by an estimated 4.40 million household viewers with a 1.5/5 in the 18–49 demographics. This means that 1.5 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode, while 5 percent of all of those watching television at the time of the broadcast watched it. [3] This was a 15% increase in viewership from the previous episode, which was watched by an estimated 3.80 million household viewers with a 1.2/4 in the 18–49 demographics. [4]

Critical reviews

"Game of the Week" received positive reviews from critics. Eric Goldman of IGN gave the episode a "great" 8.5 out of 10 and wrote, "As much as I love both characters, and felt – in different ways – their exits were well handled, I'm kind of glad both Smash and Street are gone now from Friday Night Lights, only because the show had the burden of spending a specific amount of time wrapping up their storylines, and it seemed to be at the expense of some others. Specifically, it's hard not to notice that while this has been a very strong season, the ladies have been given the short end of the stick – Tyra's romance with Cash is probably the least engaging plotline, while Lyla has had almost nothing to do." [5]

Keith Phipps of The A.V. Club gave the episode a "B" grade and wrote, "It felt like another solid outing in a season that's been solid with outbursts of greatness. Now that the playoffs are here, it might be time to kick things into high gear." [6] Todd Martens of Los Angeles Times wrote, "If the episode started as one that was going to focus on more personal concerns, that's not how it ended. Episode No. 9 had the football game as its centerpiece, and, like earlier chapters this season, showed how the sporting life can break and mend hearts, wreck havoc and build a community - all within 44 or so minutes." [7]

Alan Sepinwall wrote, "Really, it felt like just another game, which would have been fine if they hadn't introduced the cameras in the first place, or if we weren't so deep into an abbreviated season where every episode needs to count for more than they did in the old NBC-premiere days." [8] Erin Fox of TV Guide wrote, "In a funny and sweet moment, Tim catches a whiff of Lyla's breath and asks her if she on a bender. Ha! He also says he almost got a buzz from the smell. Double ha!" [9]

Jonathan Pacheco of Slant Magazine wrote, "Once again, in this transitional episode, we see one story end and the seeds for another story being planted. Now that Tyra has left Cash, her interests will inevitably turn back to Landry, especially after that phone call. I think it’s only a matter of time." [10] Television Without Pity gave the episode a "B+" grade. [11]

Related Research Articles

<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.

Tyra Collette is a character in the NBC/DirecTV drama Friday Night Lights, portrayed by actress Adrianne Palicki.

"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.

"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.

"Mud Bowl" is the twentieth 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 co-executive producer Elizabeth Heldens and supervising producer David Hudgins, and directed by David Boyd. It originally aired on NBC on March 28, 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.

"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.

"Backfire" is the fourth 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 26th overall episode of the series and was written by supervising producer David Hudgins and directed by Jonas Pate. It originally aired on NBC on October 26, 2007.

"Let's Get It On" is the fifth 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 27th overall episode of the series and was written by consulting producers Patrick Massett and John Zinman and directed by David Boyd. It originally aired on NBC on November 2, 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.

"Tami Knows Best" is the second 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 39th overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Elizabeth Heldens, and directed by executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on DirecTV's 101 Network on October 8, 2008, before airing on NBC on January 23, 2009.

"Hello, Goodbye" is the fourth 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 41st overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer David Hudgins, and directed by co-producer Michael Waxman. It originally aired on DirecTV's 101 Network on October 22, 2008, before airing on NBC on February 6, 2009.

"Keeping Up Appearances" is the seventh 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 44th overall episode of the series and was written by Brent Fletcher, and directed by Chris Eyre. It originally aired on DirecTV's 101 Network on November 12, 2008, before airing on NBC on February 27, 2009.

"The Giving Tree" is the tenth 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 47th overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Elizabeth Heldens, and directed by David Boyd. It originally aired on DirecTV's 101 Network on December 10, 2008, before airing on NBC on March 20, 2009.

"A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" is the eleventh 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 48th overall episode of the series and was written by supervising producer Bridget Carpenter and co-executive producers Patrick Massett and John Zinman, and directed by co-producer Michael Waxman. It originally aired on DirecTV's 101 Network on December 17, 2008, before airing on NBC on March 27, 2009.

"Underdogs" is the twelfth 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 49th overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Elizabeth Heldens, and directed by executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on DirecTV's 101 Network on January 7, 2009, before airing on NBC on April 3, 2009.

"Tomorrow Blues" is the thirteenth episode and season finale 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 50th 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 January 14, 2009, before airing on NBC on April 10, 2009.

"Stay" is the sixth episode of the fourth season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. It is the 56th overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Bridget Carpenter, and directed by Patrick Norris. It originally aired on DirecTV's 101 Network on December 9, 2009, before airing on NBC on June 11, 2010.

"In the Bag" is the seventh episode of the fourth season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. It is the 57th overall episode of the series and was written by producer Ron Fitzgerald, and directed by Stephen Kay. It originally aired on DirecTV's 101 Network on December 16, 2009, before airing on NBC on June 18, 2010.

"Thanksgiving" is the thirteenth episode and season finale of the fourth season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. It is the 63rd overall episode of the series and was written by executive producer Jason Katims, and directed by producer Michael Waxman. It originally aired on DirecTV's 101 Network on February 10, 2010, before airing on NBC on August 6, 2010.

References

  1. ↑ "(#309) "Game of the Week"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Friday Night Lights – WGA Directory". Writers Guild of America West . Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  3. ↑ Seidman, Robert (March 14, 2009). "Updated Friday Ratings: Ghost Whisperer wins, TSCC and Dollhouse higher". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on March 16, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  4. ↑ Seidman, Robert (March 7, 2009). "Updated Friday Ratings: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles crashes down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 18, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  5. ↑ Goldman, Eric (March 16, 2009). "Friday Night Lights: "Game of the Week" Review". IGN . Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  6. ↑ Phipps, Keith (March 13, 2009). "Friday Night Lights: "Game Of The Week"". The A.V. Club . Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  7. ↑ Martens, Todd (December 3, 2008). "'Friday Night Lights': College and broken hearts, but first the playoffs". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  8. ↑ Sepinwall, Alan (March 13, 2009). "Friday Night Lights, "Game of the Week": Showdown at Beer-thirty". What's Alan Watching?. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  9. ↑ Fox, Erin (January 4, 2009). "Friday Night Lights Episode Recap: "Game of the Week"". TV Guide . Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  10. ↑ Pacheco, Jonathan (March 14, 2009). "Friday Night Lights Recap: Season 3, Episode 9, "Game of the Week"". Slant Magazine . Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Friday Night Lights: "Game of the Week" – Getting In". Television Without Pity . March 14, 2009. Archived from the original on May 22, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.