June 2008 News Archive

Talented Friday Night Lights star Jesse Plemons will soon be dealing the chronic ... to Kevin Spacey in the indie comedy Shrink.

Shrink centers on Hollywood A-list psychiatrist Henry Carter (Kevin Spacey), who, following a personal tragedy, is unable to cope and turns into a pothead with little concern for his appearance and inability to help patients.

Among the troubled doctor's clients are a once-famous actress, an insecure young writer and a comically obsessive compulsive uber-agent.

Jesse Plemons will play a pot dealer named Jesus, joining a cast that also includes Robin Williams and Saffron Burrows.

Jonas Pate, who actually filmed several episodes of Friday Night Lights, is directing, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

In an unprecedented move, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences posted online the top 10 finalists for nominations for the 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards in the outstanding comedy series and drama series categories.

Among the top shows still being considered: Friday Night Lights.

The 10 drama contenders are Boston Legal, Damages, Dexter, Friday Night Lights, Grey's Anatomy, House, Lost, Mad Men, The Tudors and The Wire.

The final five nominees in each category - which will be voted on and a winner announced at the Emmy Awards - will be released on July 17.

All we have to add is Go Panthers!

Friday Night Lights is returning for a third season this fall, but under very unique circumstances, as the series will now debut episodes on DirecTV, before rebroadcasting them later in the season on NBC.

IGN recently spoke to star Kyle Chandler (Coach Eric Taylor) to find out his reaction to the new situation for the series.

IGN: You have a pretty unusual new deal with the show. What did you think when you heard about it?

Kyle Chandler: That it was very unusual. [Laughs]

IGN: Yes, it is!

Kyle Chandler: I'm just learning more about it. Anything to get us back on the air I'm excited about. I'm especially excited because it's a new situation for us and for both NBC and DirecTV. And of course, we're one of the first shows to venture into what they're doing. So it could represent all kinds of possible creative opportunities. So nothing is bad about it - it's all positive. I got the chance to meet the owner [of DirecTV] and the people running it, and they seem like young, creative and excited people. I don't think we could really do wrong.

Kyle Chandler is excited for the return of Friday Night Lights.

Zach Gilford, who plays Matt Saracen on Friday Night Lights, has signed on to star in two new big-screen roles:

1. Opposite Emmy Rossum in the indie drama Dare.
2. A movie adaptation of the 1983 Sierra Club novel The River Why.

Dare is being directed by Adam Salky, who also directed the 2005 short film on which the feature is being based.

Zach Gilford plays one of three bad boy high school seniors who break their own rules and take the biggest risks of their lives.

He joins a cast including Ashley Springer (Teeth), Ana Gasteyer (Saturday Night Live), and Sandra Bernhard. Shooting is already underway.

Friday Night Lights' Zach Gilford: Coming to the big screen.

For River, Zach Gilford is set to play Gus Overton in the story of a young fisherman who leaves his big-city home and goes on a journey of self-discovery along the Oregon river.

Matt Leutwyler (Unearthed) is directing from a script by Thomas A. Cohen and John Jay Osborn Jr. Shooting is scheduled to start later this summer.

Not to worry, Zach will be back on Friday Night Lights, which is set to begin Season 3 in October on DirecTV and early next year on NBC.

In case you missed it, Friday Night Lights is returning for a third season this fall - albeit under very unique circumstances.

The acclaimed, but low-rated series will now debut episodes on DirecTV, before rebroadcasting them later in the season on NBC.

In addition, Season 3 will be comprised of a shorter 13 episodes, all of which will air exclusively on DirecTV beginning in the fall.

With DirecTV shouldering some of the production costs, NBC then will begin airing the same slate of Friday Night Lights episodes in mid-season.

Season 1 of Friday Night Lights had a full 22 episodes, while Season 2 was originally slated for 22 until the writers' strike cut it to 15.

The second season of Friday Night Lights ended before most of its key storylines could. We can't wait for it to return.