Tami Taylor

Last updated
Tami Taylor
Friday Night Lights character
First appearance"Pilot"
Last appearance"Always"
Created by Peter Berg
Portrayed by Connie Britton
In-universe information
OccupationDillon High School Guidance Counselor (Seasons 1–2)
Dillon High School Principal (Seasons 3–4)
East Dillon High School Guidance Couselor (Season 5)
Current Braemore College Dean of Admissions
FamilyShelley Hayes (sister)
Matt Saracen (son-in-law)
Spouse Eric Taylor
Children Julie Taylor (daughter)
Gracie Taylor (daughter)

Tami Taylor is a fictional character on the NBC/DirecTV (The 101 Network) drama Friday Night Lights ; played by Connie Britton. She is the wife of the show's main character, high school football coach Eric Taylor.

Contents

Characterization and background

Tami is the wife of Eric Taylor, mother of Julie and Gracie Taylor, and a guidance counselor at Dillon High, who often acts as the voice of reason to her husband. As "Mrs. Coach" and the school guidance counselor, she is a maternal figure who is often sought out by the main characters (high school students) for advice. Tami, by her own admission, was a "bit of a wild child back in the day" and nearly dropped out of high school before meeting her future husband. [1] Little is known about her side of the family, except that she has a sister named Shelley.

Storylines

Tami does not initially approve of Julie's friendship with Tyra Collette, due to Tyra's bad record at school and her older sister being a stripper, but changes her mind when she sees Tyra taking care of her drunk mother. She also becomes a mentor to Tyra, giving Tyra the confidence she needs to help her succeed in life and go on to college. When Coach Taylor receives a coaching job offer at the fictional Texas Methodist University (T.M.U.), Tami is indecisive about whether the family should go to Austin. She later tells Coach Taylor that he should move to Austin, while the rest of the family stays behind in Dillon. Season 2 sees Tami become a mother again to Gracie. In Season 3, Tami becomes the Principal of Dillon High. During season 4, she is sought out by Becky Sproles for advice about her unexpected pregnancy, but later receives negative backlash when Becky has an abortion. Instead of issuing a public apology like the school board suggests, Tami decides to leave her position to become the Guidance Counselor at East Dillon High. Tami makes a career breakthrough in season 5 when she accepts the Dean of Admissions position at fictional Braemore College in Philadelphia.

Reception

Connie Britton's portrayal of Tami Taylor has earned her critical acclaim, two Television Critics Association Award nominations for Individual Achievement in Drama in 2007 and 2008, and two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2010 and 2011.

The critical response to the character of Tami has been strong, with many critics citing Britton's performance and chemistry with co-star Kyle Chandler who portrays her husband Eric Taylor as one of the main reasons for the show's success. Tami's relationship with Eric was included in AOL TV's list of the "Best TV Couples of All Time" and in the same list by TV Guide . [2] [3] Judy Berman of Flavorwire put the couple in her list of the best TV characters of 2011, explaining: "Friday Night Lights's Eric and Tami Taylor have often been called the most realistic depiction of a strong marriage on television, and we agree with that assessment. Deeply good people who are imperfect enough to never seem saccharine, they have major disagreements and relationship-changing conflicts but value each other and their marriage enough to work them out." [4] Slate magazine also named the character as one of the reasons they were looking forward to the return of the show in the 2007–2008 TV Season. [5] AOL TV named her the 17th Most Memorable Female TV Character. [6]

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.

<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. 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 2 Season of television series

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. 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. The second season was released on DVD in region 1 on April 22, 2008.

<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.

"What to Do While You're Waiting" is the twelfth 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 David Boyd. It originally aired on NBC on January 10, 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.

"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.

"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.

"Seeing Other People" is the eighth 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 30th 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 NBC on November 30, 2007.

"The Confession" is the ninth 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 31st overall episode of the series and was written by supervising producer Bridget Carpenter and directed by Allison Liddi-Brown. It originally aired on NBC on December 7, 2007.

"There Goes the Neighborhood" is the tenth 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 32nd overall episode of the series and was written by supervising producer David Hudgins and directed by executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on NBC on January 4, 2008.

"Leave No One Behind" is the fourteenth 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 36th overall episode of the series and was written by Aaron Rahsaan Thomas, and directed by Dean White. It originally aired on NBC on February 1, 2008.

"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.

"Every Rose Has Its Thorn" is the fifth 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 42nd overall episode of the series and was written by consulting producer Kerry Ehrin, and directed by executive producer Jason Katims. It originally aired on DirecTV's 101 Network on October 29, 2008, before airing on NBC on February 13, 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.

References

  1. ↑ "Every Rose Has Its Thorn". Friday Night Lights. Season 3. Episode 5. October 29, 2008. NBC.
  2. ↑ Potts, Kimberly (February 11, 2008). "Best TV Couples of All Time". AOL TV . Aol, Inc. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Couples Pictures, Friday Night Lights Photos – Photo Gallery: The Best TV Couples of All Time". TV Guide . Retrieved June 20, 2012.
  4. ↑ Berman, Judy (December 22, 2011). "The Best TV Characters of 2011". Flavorwire. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  5. ↑ Swansburg, Josh (September 21, 2007). "Oh, How We've Missed You!". Slate magazine . Retrieved 2007-09-23.
  6. ↑ Potts, Kim (March 2, 2011). "100 Most Memorable Female TV Characters". AOL TV. Aol, Inc. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
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.