November 2007 News Archive (Page 4)

Welcome to the Insider's Friday Night Lights Caption Contest. Let's take a look at who won this edition before moving on to an all-new contest this week.

We received a number of good responses this week, but we have to go with Lisa as the winner. Congratulations! The winning reply now appears under the photo below. Scroll down the page to read the full list of captions we were sent.

Thank you for playing and for making Friday Night Lights Insider the #1 Friday Night Lights fan site online. We hope that you enjoy and visit often!

This week's Friday Night Lights Caption Contest image:

"Honestly Coach, it wasn't a skunk! I can shower again, but it's my natural odor."

Near the end of "Let's Get It On," Lyla, Tim and Jason sway slowly to music in Mexico, and it's clear there are powerful feelings lingering between all three. One of the strangest, hottest Friday Night Lights scenes of all time. So much mystery. The song playing in the background is "If I Could" by Blue Merle.

What an episode! The Friday Night Lights Insider staff has compiled its guide to this past Friday's "Let's Get It On," giving you the rundown on all the action. Be sure to take a look at our photo gallery from the episode and share your thoughts on the characters and stories with fellow Friday Night Lights fans in our forum!

We're working on lists of Friday Night Lights quotes and music from "Let's Get It On," and will have our staff's Round Table discussion as well as a new Caption Contest posted early in the week. Thanks for visiting our site, and enjoy!

Scott Porter portrays the former star quarterback of the Dillon Panthers on the hit show Friday Night Lights. Scott Porter recently spoke to our friends at BuddyTV about what it's like to play the partially paralyzed star ...

Question: So first, why don't you start by describing your character?
Scott Porter: Jason Street was the local hero. He was a good quarterback. A good student. He came from a great family. He was gonna go to college at Notre Dame and eventually become pro. Then tragedy struck at the end of the pilot and he broke his neck and is now in a wheelchair. In the first season, he kind of deals with everybody coming to grips with his injury before he deals with it himself. He's a strong kid. He's been through more than any kid I know and he always comes out with his head up high. At the end of last season, he went back to the team as a coach and in the first episodes of this season you kind of see that deteriorate, and he starts to deal with the issue of whether or not he wants to walk again, and if it's even possible.

Question: Right. He's going through a lot of really big stuff like in the last episode ("Backfire") when he decided to go to Mexico ...
Scott Porter: He heard about stem cell research. You know, there are these surgeries where they actually inject stem-cells of other animals or human embryos into your back to hopefully get it to re-attach to your spine and heal you. And he kind of sees that as maybe a pipe dream. So he decides to quit the team and do this trip. And Tim Riggins, his loyal, irresponsible friend Riggins, decides he wants to come along for the ride and Jason can't really say no.

Question: Do you identify with your character?
Scott Porter: I do, in different ways than I think people expect. First of all, you don't see Jason's parents as much as I would like you to. That being said, he did come from a very strong family and so did I. I have an amazing family. And to come from there and to kind of have that background really played into who Jason Street was. I'd like to say I'm as strong-willed as Jason, but he's been through so much ... he's definitely head and shoulders above me.

Question: Is there any chance that Jason and Lyla Garrity are going to get back together? Or will there be a new love interest?
Scott Porter: I think Jason and Lyla have a love for each other that extends beyond just a relationship. I think they have a really true affection for each other and right now it's just a friendship. I don't know if we'll see them back together. There's always that opportunity. They're always going to be there for each other. But you will see Jason kind of moving on later in the season.

Follow the link to continue reading BuddyTV's Scott Porter interview ...

This week's episode of Friday Night Lights - picking up where "Backfire" left off - is shaping up to be a good one. Eric is back in Dillon and ready to straighten the team out. Can Lyla do the same for Tim and Jason in Mexico? We'll have to see.

You can discuss "Let's Get It On" with Friday Night Lights fans before and after the show in our FORUM. It's easy and free. Share your thoughts on the Dillon Panthers players, love stories and whatever strikes you. Be heard and enjoy!

After the show, Friday Night Lights Insider will post its official episode recap of the night's drama. We'll also compile a photo gallery, list of quotes and more. Help us out if you can! Thanks for making us the #1 Friday Night Lights fan site online.

It's common knowledge that branded entertainment is becoming popular on TV as marketers — worried about how easy it is to avoid commercials -­ arrange for their products to be woven into the plots of shows, reports the New York Times.

Allstate Insurance tried a different angle last Friday, as you might have noticed if you watched Friday Night Lights. You may call it cause-related entertainment, integrating an issue into an episode of a scripted television series.

A plot line in "Backfire," last week's episode of Friday Night Lights, was focused on encouraging teens to drive safely. Allstate has been promoting the cause for months, in traditional advertising efforts like TV commercials and PSAs.

Last Friday, Friday Night Lights viewers did not see a poster about safe driving bearing an Allstate logo on a wall, or an actor playing a local Allstate agent reassuring teenagers that they're "in good hands."

Instead, the issue was brought up through "Backfire" scenes in which a principal cast member, Julie Taylor (Aimee Teegarden) is being taught to drive by her dad, coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and her mother Tami (Connie Britton).

After the episode, there was a special Allstate commercial, created by Leo Burnett in Chicago, part of the Publicis Groupe, devoted to teenagers and safe driving. The spot introduced a section of the Allstate Web site about the issue, encouraging both teenagers and parents to sign a safe-driving "contract."

"What we are getting is real," said Lisa Cochrane, vice president for marketing at Allstate in Northbrook, Ill.

Although Allstate has had its agents appear on "It Takes a Thief" on the Discovery Channel, discussing how to thwart identity theft, "this is new" with a scripted show on a big broadcast network, Cochrane said.

Chuck Blomberg, V.P. for central sales at NBC Universal, who lists Allstate among his clients, said the issue "fits really well with the sensibility of Friday Night Lights," a drama in its second season about a Texas high school football team.

The writers of the acclaimed NBC series were asked "not to include Allstate as a brand," Mr. Blomberg said, "but to look at the topic of safe teen driving as something to focus on" and then "weave it into the episode."

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