Friday Night Lights

Despite the embarrassing defeat suffered by his beloved USC Trojans at the hands of Stanford Saturday, TV Guide gossip guru Michael Ausiello managed to crawl out from under the covers long enough to provide us with some Friday Night Lights news and spoilers in his weekly weekly column. Appreciated, Mike!

We don't give away any Friday Night Lights spoilers on our home page for those of you who want to remain in the dark and out of the "lights" until Friday night, follow the jump to learn more about what two characters who were quite underused in the premiere - Smash and Jason - are up to this week...

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The murder / corpse-disposal plot twist, and what it does to Tyra and Landry - is clearly the focal point of this young Friday Night Lights season.

Below, Friday Night Lights producer Jason Katims discusses the plot twist and its fallout in an interview with blogger Alan Sepinwall.

Alan Sepinwall: While I loved a lot of "Last Days of Summer," especially scenes like Eric and Tami arguing on the couch about when he had to go back to TMU, I was really concerned about the developments in the Tyra and Landry storyline. Can you talk about how that story developed, and what you're trying to do?

Jason Katims: First of all, I've heard some people say it's Ben Silverman trying to change the show or something. The first thing is it's a [plot twist] that we were talking about doing last year in the first season. It's not something that we're doing because the network asked us to change the show. This is a storyline that the writers and producers of the show came up with separate and apart from any network dictate. Now, have you seen the second episode?

Alan Sepinwall: NBC only sent out the premiere.

Jason Katims: We should get you that episode, because honestly, a lot of questions you might have about why we're doing this... Here's our idea behind this storyline. What we want to do is not turning into a murder mystery or CSI, but it's basically these two teenagers in a position where it leads to this incredibly intimate storyline between these two characters that would never - their relationship would never become as intimate as it does if not for this event.

Like all Friday Night Lights stories, it's about character, two people trying to deal with it, what they've done, all the guilt and everything would happen to them, and that the two of them get more connected than they ever would have.

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We know you don't need any reasons to check out Friday Night Lights if you're visiting this site. You've discovered it already. But for the purpose of converting your oblivious friends, Yahoo TV came up with the top five reasons to watch it. Do not be hesitant to bust this list out and convert a new fan!

1. The plot is simple. Friday Night Lights is all about real life and its awkward, messy glory. No time-traveling or mysteries, just good old-fashioned real life drama and life lessons that go way beyond the football field.

2. The cast is really good looking. Hey, there's no harm in admitting it! Lyla Garrity (Minka Kelly) and Tyra Collette (Adrianne Palicki) are stunners, to say the least, while the guys on this show aren't half-bad either. Just sayin'.

3. The characters are down to earth. You'll swear you grew up next door to them, in some cases. They marry good stories with subtle humor that's current and relatable and makes the characters seem very realistic.

4. The relationships are the real thing. There is nothing as fickle and thorny as human contact - especially regarding teen relationships - and Friday Night Lights lets you eavesdrop on all those deliciously awkward real-life moments between friends, lovers and family members.

5. Football is good. The roller coaster ride that is the Dillon Panthers' quest for state championship glory is interwoven with character-driven storylines that grip your heart. The show is relentless (and successful) in grabbing you and taking you on a wild ride every week. Not bad for Friday night TV!

  The whole family: Tami, baby Grace, Julie and Eric Taylor.

In this heartbreaking clip from the season premeire, "Last Days of Summer," Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) tells Tami Taylor (Connie Britton) that he has to return to coaching in Austin this Friday, earlier than expected - even though their newborn daughter has just arrived. It almost makes you cry, and definitely makes you realize how exceptional these two actors are.

For more great Friday Night Lights videos, check out our growing video section. Send us an email or leave a comment to recommend more!

Kristin Veitch of E! Online isn't going to suggest that you start watching Friday Night Lights if you don't already. She's flat-out ordering you to.

The TV reporter just returned from visiting the Friday Night Lights set in Austin, Tex., where she learned what a unique television series Friday Night Lights is, and that the actors who bring it to life are some of the sweetest, most grounded people you could ever hope to meet. She writes:

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I spent the day in Austin at the Taylor home, which is actually a real house in a Dillon-esque suburb, and it didn't feel like work at all but rather like hanging out with a very cool family who legitimately like one another.

These guys are clearly having a good time, from Kyle Chandler (Eric Taylor) and Taylor Kitsch (Tim Riggins) cracking each other up between takes, to Aimee Teagarden (Julie Taylor) joining in giggly fun when the crew began sucking air from helium balloon props to Scott Porter (Jason Street) and Kevin Rankin (Herc) razzing each other while talking about — what else — football.

And, oh yeah, how could I forget about Kyle Chandler taking orders and cooking up bacon and eggs for the whole crew while shooting the day's breakfast scene!

But that's not to say these guys aren't busting their backsides. Friday Night Lights is produced in an entirely different way than any other show on TV, because there are no rehearsals.

Very often, the entire script can be thrown out the window.

So, there is no room for slacking. The actors have to be on their toes — and ready to improv — at a moment's notice. Even while on set, surrounded by cameras and lights, there were moments I honestly forgot the situation wasn't real and the people were actors — a true testament to their talent.

Actress Jessalyn Gilsig (Nip/Tuck) was on set — guest-starring for six episodes as the sister of Connie Britton's character, Tami Taylor — and told me with huge, excited eyes that the production process is "insane!"

Her scene in the Taylor casa was supposed to revolve around yoga, but once they started shooting, the director chucked the yoga angle, and the actors improvised the entire scene. "This is the reason I'm such a huge fan of the show," Gilsig told me. "They are doing what no one else is doing."

You can see that very fact for yourself when you tune in to the second episode of Season Two of Friday Night Lights on Friday at 9 p.m. on NBC.

There are trying times, as Landry Clarke so aptly pointed out last Friday, where a man has to ask himself WWRD - "What Would (Tim) Riggins Do?"

Landry made his point in advising Matt Saracen regarding Julie as the was flirting with the Swede at the pool. Now all Friday Night Lights fans can promote and adorn themselves with this philosophy - with WWRD t-shirts!

In addition to voicing this question for the ages on t-shirts, you can ask what Tim Riggins would do in a tough situation on sweatshirts, boxers, tank tops and a lot more. Follow this link for a catalog of WWRD merchandise.

Of course, the glory that is Tim Riggins extends well beyond brooding behavior. He's leader on the field for the Dillon Panthers as they look to defend their state title. That's why NBC is offering a Tim Riggins jersey, a Panthers practice t-shirt and other Friday Night Lights merchandise (including a Dillon Panthers hat and, yes, even a Crucifictorious shirt) at its official store!

Check out the NBC Universal store and search for Friday Night Lights for a full list of items available for purchase. Support your favorite show!

The amazing Connie Britton appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien last week to promote the season premiere of Friday Night Lights. She's so smart and funny. Here's the interview with Connie, the actress who plays Tami Taylor on Friday Night Lights, as she talks about the show and her humble beginnings.

As fans gather in our forum to discuss each character and story line, the Friday Night Lights Insider staff has come together to share our thoughts on the first episode of the best show on television in a round table format.

The Round Table discussion topics for "Last Days of Summer" include Julie and Matt, the new coach's future, and the recalcitrant Tim Riggins ...

1. Will Riggins join Christ Teen Messengers?

pantherpride4lyfe: If only to try to redeem himself in the eyes of Lyla Garrity ... and possibly get in her pants again. Note: This plan may backfire horribly, but thinking things through is not exactly Tim Riggins' forte.

Saracen7: Not a chance. This is a guy who likes threesomes and beer. While he's a good friend, he's not about to let Jesus in. At least not until his third DUI.

ClearEyes: No. He likes drinking and having sex out of wedlock too much.

2. Julie and Matt: Built to last, or in the past?

Saracen7: I just love Julie and Matt. They're two the cutest, most realistic teen characters on TV. There's great chemistry between the actors, you find yourself falling in love right along with them. Julie's fears are warranted, but she'll come around and see that QB-1 is a pretty darn good catch.

ClearEyes: Built to last. Don't get me wrong, they may break up before I finish writing this answer. But Julie will eventually realize that there are far worse things in life than becoming like her parents. And, familiar with audibles, number-seven will be there with open shoulder pads when she does.

pantherpride4lyfe: Much as I'd love to make a "How Swede it is" pun here, Julie's conversations with Coach should tell her Matt is worth the effort.

3. How long until Coach Bill MacGregor gets the ax?

ClearEyes: Sorry, I've read a few Friday Night Lights spoilers. I abstain.

pantherpride4lyfe: I say the Panthers begin their title defense 0-2, with the Tennessee Tyrant's coaching methods to blame, and heads start to roll. Then Jason Street becomes interim coach and rights the ship!

Saracen7: Despite what he would surely tell you, Smash can't carry this team all by himself. This new coach clearly isn't a good fit. Oh no. Buddy Garrity and his fellow boosters aren't gonna stand for such heavy-handedness ... or losses.

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Welcome to Friday Night Lights Insider and the site's first ever Caption Contest, in which we invite fans to test their creative mettle and have some fun doing it. The Season Two premiere, "Last Days of Summer," kicked off this new Insider feature. Let's take a look at our first-ever winner.

We only received five entries, all of which were good (and not a bad showing for our first feature). We went with Jake 2.0, whose winning caption appears beneath the photo. Scroll down for the full list of replies - and good luck again this week. Submit as many as you like and help make this a popular feature!

This week's Caption Contest image:

Invisible Man in Sandals: "Should I touch Tyra's boobs? She'll never know it was me!"

The second season of Friday Night Lights is underway, and Kyle Chandler, who plays Coach Eric Taylor, and Connie Britton, who plays Tami Taylor, stopped by the Today show on Friday to discuss. The pair sat also down with MSNBC to talk about their on-camera marriage, their off-camera relationship and their favorite characters on the acclaimed show. Here's the interview.

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MSNBC: One of the strengths of Friday Night Lights that everyone points to is your marriage... critics have called it the most realistic portrayal of marriage on television. So what's your relationship like off camera... and how do you reach the point where you can present this realistic portrait of marriage?

Connie Britton: [looking at Kyle] Be careful.

Kyle Chandler: This is one of the first roles I've had of being married and having children since I've been married and had children. So that's 12 years now. So I have a wealth of information to bring into this as a husband and father. One of my responsibilities I have is telling my wife what to do, so with Connie, I tell her what to do and everything works fine.

Connie Britton: [sarcastically] Yeah... you can believe that for sure. I, on the other hand, am not married and have never had children. So I'm obviously just an exceptional actress! [laughs]

Kyle Chandler: That was great! Oh my God! [high-fives Connie]

Connie Britton: I think we also got really lucky, because we wanted to play this marriage the same way. We both have the same ideas that we wanted a foundation, a partnership, a trust, and then the sky's the limit from there. We both agreed on that and have been very stalwart about that. And we just end up really having a good time together. So it works out.

MSNBC: What kind of things do you talk about off camera?

Connie Britton: You know, he complains about being away from his family. I never complain, I just listen.

Kyle Chandler: Connie almost always has her nose in a book. [laughs] If not, she's always jogging or going to the gym.

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