Friday Night Lights

Buddy Garrity's son will look and act very differently when season five of Friday Night Lights premieres.

The role will be filled by newcomer Jeff Rosick, whose version of the character will be a lot more troubled than the Buddy Jr. viewers last saw in Dillon.

He's been away for two years in California and has developed quite the attitude there. When the fifth season of this drama returns to DirecTV in the fall, we'll see Buddy Jr. back in Dillon - and very unhappy about that fact.

This is Rosick's first TV gig. He'll play a role in the upcoming movie about the rise of Facebook, The Social Network.

Friday Night Lights, meanwhile, premieres season four on NBC this Friday.

Available for pre-order now, and on iTunes May 4, volume two of the soundtrack for Friday Night Lights is hitting stores on May 18.

While critically-beloved for its acting, characters and production, the drama has also received acclaim for its music since it debuted with an inspiring theme song written by Explosions in the Sky.

The latest CD features bands such as White Rabbits, Band of Skulls and Avett Brothers. We've listed all the tracks on it below:

1. "Percussion Gun" - White Rabbits
2. "Sway" - Heartless Bastards
3. "Killed Myself When I Was Young" - A.A. Bondy
4. "Fire" - Augustana
5. "Something Good This Way Comes" - Jakob Dylan
6. "I Know What I Am" - Band of Skulls
7. "The Meanest Man In The World" - John Doe
8. "If It's The Beaches" - The Avett Brothers
9. "What You Hide" - AM
10. "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" - Sufjan Stevens
11. "This Is The Thing" - Fink
12. "FNL Main Title" - W. G. Snuffy Walden

The new season of Friday Night Lights premieres on NBC on May 7. Check out this cool new promo for the series and turn to TV Fanatic each week for a detailed rundown of each episode.

Attention Friday Night Lights fans:

NBC has pushed back the premiere date of the show's fourth season from April 30 to May 7.

That's the bad news. The good news? The network has at least released the following new promotional video of Eric Taylor and his new life as the East Dillon football coach.

Even if you've already watched season four on DIRECTV, you'll find this video inspiring. You also might be interested in the various bits of casting information that have already leaked out about season five.

Watch below and enjoy.

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Emily Rios is the latest actress/actor to come aboard Friday Night Lights.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Lynn Blackburn would play Tami's new friend and co-worker on season five of the show. Before that, Grey Damon was revealed to be the next stud wide received for the Lions.

Now, say hello to Rios. She played the character of Maria on Men of a Certain Age this year, and appeared on a 2008 episode of House. She'll star on FNL for at least six episodes as Epyck, a rebellious, goth student.

The fifth season of the incredible drama begins production this month. Season four, after finishing its run on DIRECTV, premieres on NBC on May 7.

Lynn Blackburn has landed her first television role, and it's a biggie.

The actress will play a character named Laurel on season five of Friday Night Lights. According to Entertainment Weekly, she'll be an intelligent, tough teacher at East Dillon who befriends [FNL spoiler alert!] the school’s newest hire, Tami.

Earlier this week, Grey Damon was cast as the Lions’ new wide receiver.

Production on the show's fifth and final season is now taking place in Austin.

Might Friday Night Lights have found its next Tim Riggins?

Following the departures of series regulars Zach Gilford, Taylor Kitsch and Jesse Plemmons, the drama has added Grey Damon to its fifth season cast.

The actor - who has appeared on episodes of 90210 and Greek - will portray Hastings Ruckle, an East Dillon basketball player who joins the Lions as a wide receiver.

In casting for the role, producers sought a “super, super hot guy who must be over 6 feet tall with a strong athletic build," as the characters possesses a “dark, hippie, party-guy vibe. Look for Hastings to be one of the more popular kids at school.

Friday Night Lights debuts its fourth season on NBC on May 7.

When Friday Night Lights returns for its fifth (and almost definitely final) season, Jesse Plemons won't be a full-time cast member.

The character of Landry (SPOILER ALERT!) left for college on the season four finale (which recently aired on DirecTV) and executive producer Jason Katims says the actor's contract option wasn't picked up.

“With Jesse - as with previous cast members who have moved on - Pete Berg, myself and the producers of the show let the storytelling guide us,” Katims said, “and we feel we didn’t have substantial enough storylines to justify keeping such an immensely talented actor from pursuing what we know will continue to be a very successful career.

Plemons might appear as a guest star before the series calls it quits, Katims added. The producer has nothing but good things to say about his young star:

“Jesse has created one of Friday Night Lights finest and most beloved characters, and I can tell you this was not an easy decision.”

Friday Night Lights debuts its fourth season on NBC on April 30. As the show goes on, Taylor Kitsch will also been seen less regularly on it.

Conan O'Brien was the major loser in NBC programming debacle, which has resulted in the return of Jay Leno to 11:35 p.m.

The winners in this mess? Fans of Friday Night Lights, who will see that incredible drama return to NBC on April 30 (after it completes it current season four run on DIRECTV).

The network released its new mid-season schedule today, which will include new programming at 10 p.m. in place of Leno, starting March 1:

Mondays
8-9 p.m. Chuck
9-10 p.m. Trauma (beginning March 8 )
10-11 p.m. Law & Order (returns March 1 with two-hour episode, 9-11 p.m.; resumes in regular time slot March 8 )

Tuesdays
8-10 p.m. The Biggest Loser
10-11 p.m. Parenthood (premieres March 2)

Wednesdays
8-9 p.m. Mercy
9-10 p.m. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (encores beginning March 3)
10-11 p.m. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (originals beginning March 3)

Thursdays
8-8:30 p.m. Community
8:30-9 p.m. Parks and Recreation
9-9:30 p.m. The Office
9:30-10 p.m. 30 Rock
10-11 p.m.  The Marriage Ref (premieres March 4; sneak preview Feb. 28)

Fridays
8-9 p.m. Who Do You Think You Are? (premieres March 5; Friday Night Lights, pictured above, returns on April 30)
9-11 p.m. Dateline NBC (begins March 5)

Sundays  (beginning March 14)
7-8 p.m. Dateline NBC
8-9 p.m. Minute to Win It
9-11 p.m. The Celebrity Apprentice

There might be great news for Friday Night Lights fans in the short term: Due to the cancelation of The Jay Leno Show, NBC may bring back this tremendous drama in March.

In the longer run, though, producer Jason Katims has confirmed what we reported in November: Taylor Kitsch won't be returning as a series regular on season five.

"Taylor is shooting a movie [John Carter of Mars] and it doesn't work out with his schedule to have him on as a series regular for FNL next season," Katims said.

However, the producer comforted fans a bit by telling E! News that Tim Riggins won't be saying farewell forever:

"I'm sure you will see Taylor next season. We are planning to have him come back toward the end of the season, and possibly do a couple along the way if we can work it out with production."

Friday Night Lights said goodbye to Zach Gilford earlier this season (which is airing on DIRECTV before moving over the NBC), though Matt Saracen is also expected to return at some point.

As for Jesse Plemons (Landry) and Aimee Teegarden (Julie)? Both graduate this year, but "they're going to have significant arcs" on season five, Katims said.

Phew. There's only so much sad casting news we can take at once.

On this week's episode of Friday Night Lights, the first new installment after a break for the holidays...

• ... Eric grows increasingly aware that problems in East Dillon run deeper than issues on the football field;
• ... Jess tries to decide between Vince and Landry;
• ... Luke’s injury continues to plague him;
• ... Tim makes a life-altering decision.

As always, the hour airs on DIRECTV before coming to NBC this summer. Check out the official promo for "Toilet Bowl" below: