The cast of Friday Night LightsIf not for the compelling story lines than for all the beautiful people. It actually has as many beautiful people as The O.C. but their lives are just all a wee bit sadder. In the first episode golden boy and star quarterback Jason Street (played by the gorgeous Scott Porter) gets paralyzed in a game leaving his tiny Texas football-obsessed town in shock. The coach is played so well by Kyle Chandler and his wife is played by the always magnificent Connie Britton (the redhead from Spin City) who was in the original film. Their dialogue is so natural and their daughter is played by the-could-be-annoying-but-pulls-it-off Aimee Teegarden (who is the only actual teenager that plays a teenager on the show. They are all great actors but they all look 26-years-old a la Dawson's Creek style.) And then there is Jason's girlfriend, Lyla Garrety played by the really pretty Minka Kelly who seems like the perfect goody goody cheerleader but then she starts sleeping with her now quadrapalegic boyfriend's best friend Tim Riggins. Tim Riggins played by the beautiful Taylor Kitsch is a man of few words and can be a jerk with women but when not playing footbal he is usually barely dressed so that is a plus. Then there is his ex-girlfriend Tyra, played by the also ridiculously hot Adrianne Palicki, who is a bit of a slut and bitch but you can't help but like her as well. Then the coach's daughter starts dating the reluctant and adorably nervous replacement quarterback Matt Saracen who is also hot but doesn't know it which is so appealing. So really it is just a lot of teenage hormones with some football thrown in but really it is so much more. Iraq, steroid use, quadrapalegic lifestyles, manic depression, adultery and family dynamics are just some of the issues covered on this wonderful show that was wrongfully looked-over by Emmy voters. The acting is great (even in their football gear you can feel the tension), the filming is beautiful and story lines are compelling. If you had ever told me I would love a show about high-school football I would have laughed out loud. Of course, I never thought a show about an office would be funny either so what do I really know? Except I do know for a fact that this show is really good and needs viewer support or it will be cancelled.
