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Friday Night Lights
November 19, 2009
Austin's Stephanie Hunt featured in L.A. Times
The Los Angeles Times has a nice feature on Austinite Stephanie Hunt, who plays Devin on “Friday Night Lights” and has a role in the upcoming series “Parenthood.”
A sampling:
In its three-plus years on the air, “Friday Night Lights” has tackled race, class and domestic issues, and now Devin has given the show a clear entryway into gay and gender concerns. What’s more, a relatively small part on “Friday Night Lights” may rocket the 20-year-old straight of Austin, as she’s been cast in NBC’s “Parenthood,” the mid-season replacement from “Friday Night Lights” executive producer Jason Katims.
“I love her, and I know Jason does, but you never quite know how these things will work out,” said Peter Berg, who directed the “Friday Night Lights” film and serves as executive producer on the DirecTV/NBC series. “You have a plan, but like any football game, things change. Suddenly players you didn’t even notice on the roster step up. She’s terrific. She has a unique presence, and I don’t think we were capitalizing on that. I think there’s probably a bigger role for her in ‘Parenthood.’”
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November 17, 2009
Connie Britton will speak at Reel Women event
Got questions for “Friday Nigh Lights” star Connie Britton? There’s a chance to ask them coming up.
Britton will appear at “Holiday Cheer & Conversation With Connie” from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 5. The event, presented by the local film group Reel Women, takes place at Picture Box Studio, 701 Tillery St., Suite A-7.
Sherry Mills, executive director of Reel Women, will interview Britton, who’ll then take questions from the audience.
Holiday refreshments will be served. Admission is $15, and donations for the Blue Santa toy drive and the Austin Area Capital Food Bank are encouraged.
For information, e-mail reelwomen@reelwomen.org, visit reelwomen.org or call 971-1663. As with most Reel Women events, men are welcome at the Britton interview.
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October 28, 2009
'Friday Night Lights' back tonight on DirecTV
“Friday Night Lights” returns tonight with a ticker tape parade. Okay, the flying paper is from former Panthers’ star fullback Tim Riggins’ (Taylor Kitsch) un-cracked college notebooks, but still …
The Austin-filmed critical hit, which has managed to elude ratings and mainstream awards success like a running back zipping down the field, returns tonight, but only if you’re one of those hoity-toity, West Dillon-esque DirecTV subscribers. Us East Dillon-ish scrubs will have to wait until summer 2010, when the series returns to NBC.
Regardless of when you start to watch, you’ll find yourself in a “Twilight Zone-y,” skewed version of the Dillon you know and love. For starters, some of your favorites will be gone. And redistricting (this is Texas, y’all are familiar with that concept, right?) has left Dillon a town divided. Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler), having guided the Panthers to a loss at State, is relegated to the rust-covered bleachers and neglected turf of East Dillon High. He practically has to break into his own locker room and, once he gets inside, he’s greeted by some furry critter (a badger?), which has taken up residence in one of the lockers (maybe they should have named the East Dillon team the Badgers instead of the Lions).
It’s quite a fall from his old school, where smarmy, new coach Wade Aikman (Drew Waters) and his cronies summon Taylor’s wife, principal Tami (Connie Britton), and inform her that she’ll be calling the coin toss to open the Panthers’ football season. They also tell her which side of the coin to call, but then break out into jerky, frat-boy spasms of laughter. Just kidding, Tami! Sheesh. These guys can’t fail fast enough, but it’s not gonna’ happen any time soon.
Off the field, it looks like Riggins’ college dreams — oh, let’s face it … they’re really his brother’s college dreams for him — are on hold again as he bails from San Antonio State in favor of Dillon and a one-night stand with a bar maid (is this “Friday Night Lights” or “Cougar Town?”) He wakes up to find the woman’s daughter, Becky (newcomer Madison Burge, from Hutto) looking for a ride to school. Becky is sassy, smart, pretty and kinda’ trashy. I like her, but that might be because she asks lover boy how it feels to be “the guy who used to be Tim Riggins.” Hee.
Over at East, Coach Taylor is trying to build a team out of a rag-tag group of misfits and screw-ups, including Vince (Michael B. Jordan), a misfit and screw-up who is delivered to Taylor via squad car. There’s gonna’ be some drama there. But first there’s some locker room drama as the East Dillon Lions squabble on and off the field. Taylor challenges his players to commit or leave, and most of them leave. Oops.
Principal Tami’s got the opposite problem: several of her students have been redistricted to East Dillon High, but refuse to go. Her daughter Julie (Aimee Teegarden) becomes upset as her friends are pulled out of classes and removed from the school. So upset that she just gets up and walks out into the hallway to watch them as they’re escorted away. Can you just get up and walk out of a high school class? I guess being the Principal’s daughter has its privileges.
Julie spends her out-of-school time with boyfriend Matt (Zach Gilford), the former Panther’s quarterback who postponed his education at the Art Institute of Chicago to stay in Dillon, take car of his grandmother and deliver pizzas with Julie riding shotgun. Looks like Coach Taylor’s not the only former golden boy who’s been knocked down a few pegs.
Speaking of Coach Taylor, game night finally arrives and we get to see just how stark the East-West contrast really is: full bleachers, cheers, smoke, flags and pageantry at Aikman’s stadium give way to the stark, empty East Dillon stands. This part of the premiere doesn’t exactly ring true. In the show’s world, Taylor is a football god. Wouldn’t more people show up just to see what would happen? Even just to watch him fail? Besides, it’s football and it’s Texas: I’ve seen bigger crowds show up for that finger field goal kicking game you play at your kitchen table with a buddy and a piece of notebook paper folded into a triangle. Tailgaters, too. Oh, well. Over at West, look for Principal Tami to put Aikman in his place, leaving no doubt as to where her allegiance lies.
I won’t tell you how the Lions’ first game ends, but it’s not pretty. It’s a great set up, though, for what should be a fun year. Thanks to DirecTV, “Friday Night Lights” already has a commitment for another season; Coach Taylor’s position is more tenuous. But he’s never been better than when he’s had something to prove.
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October 15, 2009
Caption this: New 'Friday Night Lights' Season 4 photos
Here are a few still photos from the Oct. 28 season premiere of “Friday Night Lights” on DirecTV. No captions were included, so make up your own and post ‘em below!
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October 9, 2009
Trailer: 'Friday Night Lights' via 'Carnivale'
The teaser trailer for season 4 of “Friday Night Lights” has hit YouTube, and it makes the show look more like the spooky HBO series “Carnivale” than the football drama we know and love (a big, magic tree was central to the imagery of that late, lamented series, too).
The L.A. Times pulls a lot of clues out of the 30-second clip. Frankly, I think they might be reaching but there’s not a whole lot to grasp onto here.
“Friday Night Lights” returns to DirecTV on Oct. 28 and NBC in summer, 2010. Here’s the teaser and, just for fun, I’ll slap a “Carnivale” trailer down below it:
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September 25, 2009
Another 'Friday Night Lights' casting call
On location casting is once again looking for paid extras to appear in “Friday Night Lights,” the locally-shot NBC/DirecTV show about central Texas football.
“We are currently filming all over the Austin, TX area and are looking for local residents to work as Extras on our show,” a casting agency spokesperson said.
If selected to work as an extra, all extras positions are paid at $7.25 per hour. All applicants must be US citizens and have valid photo ID and social security cards. No experience is necessary for these positions.
The agency is specifically seeking African American and Hispanic Extras of all ages to portray high school students, community neighbors, football fans and various other extras roles.
The casting call takes place Saturday, Sept. 26 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Millennium Youth Center, 1156 Hargrave St. in Austin. No preparation is necessary (except for the valid ID and social security card) — just show up prepared to have your picture taken.
If you are not able to attend this open casting call, the agency invites you to visit its Web site and fill out a free Talent Application (you’ll need to upload a couple of photos).
For further information email the agency at fnl_extras@yahoo.com.
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August 29, 2009
Be an extra on 'Friday Night Lights'
OnlocationCating.net has put out the call for “Friday Night Lights” extras from the Austin area. The company is seeking to fill its general extras and featured extras positions with new faces who have never worked on the show before.
Specifically sought are:
• African American men, women and children, all ages
• Hispanic men, women and children, all ages
• Football players: 18-23 years old, all ethnicities especially African American and Hispanic, young looking, athletic, football experience helpful but not required, must know how to put on pads and uniform
• Pop Warner/Pee Wee football players: 5-12 years old, African American, some football playing experience is helpful
• Cheerleaders & dance team: female, 18-23 years old, all ethnicities especially African American and Hispanic, cute
• African American and Hispanic coaches: 28-60, athletic, previous coaching experience helpful but not required
All positions are paid, the company says.
Also sought are general extras (fans, teachers, students, restaurant patrons, townspeople, etc.). These roles are open to all ages and ethnicities, especially African Americans and Hispanics. No experience is required.
More information and application information can be found on the company’s Web site.
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August 20, 2009
'Friday Night Lights' adds another cast member
More casting news from Austin-filmed “Friday Night Lights”: Jurnee Smollett (“The Great Debaters,” “Gridiron Gang”) is joining the show as Jess. According to zap2it.com, the character is “the daughter of a former NFL player who helps her dad raise her younger siblings.”
Related posts:
‘Friday Night Lights’ needs extras
‘Friday Night Lights’ adds 2 cast members
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August 18, 2009
'Friday Night Lights' needs extras
If you’re a “Friday Night Lights” fan, here’s your chance to be part of the show.
The Austin-shot series is seeking paid extras for its fourth season, which will be filmed between Sept. 2 and Dec. 21.
No acting experience is required, but all applicants must be U.S. citizens and have valid photo ID and Social Security cards, according to On Location Casting.
The casting agency says a variety of extras are needed. Here’s the section from the agency’s news release on specific types it’s seeking:
“— Football Players: ages 18-24, all ethnicities especially African American and Hispanic, male, athletic types preferably with some football experience
“— Cheerleaders: ages 18-24, all ethnicities especially African American and Hispanic, MUST have previous cheerleading experience
“— Football Sideline Trainers and Managers: ages 18-24, male and female, all ethnicities, athletic types
“— Pop Warner Football Players: ages 5-12, all ethnicities, with Pop Warner experience
“— Football Coaches: ages 35-65, male, all ethnicities especially African American and Hispanic, athletic types
“— High School Students: ages 16-23 and College Students: ages 18-28
“— Teachers, Boosters, Parents, Townspeople
“— Prisoners: ages 18-60, all ethnicities, tough criminal looking types”
Interested? Apply at the On Location Web site. For more information, e-mail fnl_extras@yahoo.com.
Earlier today:
‘Friday Night Lights’ adds 2 cast members
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'Friday Night Lights' adds 2 cast members
Take a look at the two guys in this link. You might be seeing them around town soon.
Matt Lauria and Michael B. Jordan have joined the cast of the Austin-filmed NBC series “Friday Night Lights.”
Lauria appeared on the defunct series “Lipstick Jungle,” while Jordan’s credits include “All My Children” and “The Wire.” The two will play football players at East Dillon High, where Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) is now working.
“Friday Night Lights” will start airing its new season on DirecTV in October and on NBC next summer.
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August 7, 2009
More Tyra on 'Friday Night Lights,' but not until season 5
Adrianne Palicki is taking a break from “Friday Night Lights.” Dean Hendler photo/NBC
Adrianne Palicki won’t be back on “Friday Night Lights” until season 5, the Chicago Tribune reports.
We’ll see the “goodbye arcs” for Minka Kelly’s and Zach Gilford’s characters Lyla and Matt when NBC airs season 4 in summer of 2010 (DirecTV subscribers will get to watch this October) but “Palicki has some work lined up for the next few months,” Maureen Ryan reports on the Tribune blog, The Watcher. “She’ll be in the remake of ‘Red Dawn’ and she’s also in the third episode of ‘Supernatural’s’ fourth season. As a result, we won’t get Tyra’s farewell arc until Season 5.”
Read the entire story here.
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August 5, 2009
NBC talks 'Friday Night Lights' and 'Chuck'
Gail Pennington reports on the St. Louis Dispatch’s Tube Talk blog that “Friday Night lights” just isn’t that important to NBC.
“It just doesn’t have the ratings that we need it to have to justify it being on our fall schedule,” Pennington quotes NBC Entertainment president Angela Bromstad saying. “Our plan is to use it as a premier summer program.”
We didn’t expect the Austin area-filmed “FNL” would be back ‘til next summer; now we know why.
There was some hope among the creators of the network’s “Chuck,” the blog post reads, that it would be moved up to a fall slot in the wake of new property “Parenthood’s” postponement. Bromstad says no.
Read the whole story — including Bromstad’s take on Austinite Ben Mackenzie’s “Southland,” here.
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July 16, 2009
An Emmy nod for 'Friday Night Lights'
While Austin-filmed “Friday Night Lights” missed out on the major Emmy categories, the show did pick up a nomination for its casting.
“FNL” is nominated for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series. It’s up against “Damages,” “Mad Men,” “True Blood” and “The Tudors.”
Nominated for their casting work on the show are Linda Lowy, John Brace and Beth Sepko, the location casting director in Texas.
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July 15, 2009
My Emmy Dream Ballot
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is set to announce nominations for the Emmy awards Thursday at 7:30 a.m. We’ll be here covering it live right here but, in the meantime, here’s what I’d like to see. I understand some of these are longshots (I’m looking at you, “BSG,” “FNL” and “FotC”) but, hey — that’s why it’s called a dream ballot (and also, I guess, why I don’t get a real vote):
Best Drama
“Battlestar Galactica” (SYFY)
“Breaking Bad” (AMC)
“Friday Night Lights” (NBC)
“Lost” (ABC)
“Mad Men” (AMC)
“The Shield” (FX)
Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Connie Britton, “Friday Night Lights” (NBC)
Glenn Close, “Damages” (FX)
January Jones, “Mad Men” (AMC)
Mary McDonnell, “Battlestar Galactica” (SYFY)
Elisabeth Moss, “Mad Men” (AMC)
Anna Paquin, “True Blood” (HBO)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Kyle Chandler, “Friday Night Lights” (NBC)
Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad” (AMC)
Michael C. Hall, “Dexter” (Showtime)
Jon Hamm, “Mad Men” (AMC)
Hugh Laurie, “House” (FOX)
Denis Leary, “Rescue Me” (FX)
Best Comedy
“Big Bang Theory” (CBS)
“Chuck” (NBC)
“The New Adventures of Old Christine” (CBS)
“The Office” (NBC)
“30 Rock” (NBC)
“United States of Tara” (Showtime)
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Christina Applegate, “Samantha Who” (ABC)
Toni Collette, “United States of Tara” (Showtime)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “The New Adventures of Old Christine” (CBS)
America Ferrera, “Ugly Betty” (ABC)
Tina Fey, “30 Rock” (NBC)
Mary Louise Parker, “Weeds” (Showtime)
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock” (NBC)
Steve Carell, “The Office” (NBC)
Neil Patrick Harris, “How I Met Your Mother” (CBS)
Zachary Levi, “Chuck” (NBC)
Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS)
Either Bret McKenzie or Jemaine Clement, “Flight of the Conchords” (HBO)
Okay, let me have it. Who’s on your dream ballot? Which actors, actresses and shows did I miss? Post your picks below.
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July 13, 2009
Casting begins for new 'Friday night Lights' regulars
Michael Ausiello over at EW.com has posted some casting tidbits for season 4 of “Friday Night Lights.” Producers are looking for four new series regulars.
They are: Vince, an African-American East Dillon junior; Luke, Vince’s rival and a reluctant Lion; Jess, a sophomore/junior who knows football like the back of her hand; and Becky, a beauty queen who competes with her own mother for Riggins’ affection. Sounds soapy!
Check out the whole article here.
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