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Friday Night Lights Goes South

Sprrrrrring Breeeeeeeak!!!!

Well, not really. But a Friday Night Lights film production unit was in Brownsville and popular party spot (and natural wonder) South Padre Island, Texas, last week to shoot scenes for the series, according to news reports.

Cast and crew spent a fews days filming in Cameron County parks on the Island, said assistant county parks director Joe Vega, who took in some of the action.

"We're glad they are going to feature our beautiful beaches on their show, even though (this episode) is supposed to be set in Mexico," he said.

This is for the episode in which Tim Riggins, Lyla Garrity and Jason Street decide to take a road trip south of the border. While South Padre is still in Texas, it's remote and about as close (geographically) to Mexico as one can get.

Austinite John Patterson, locations manager for the series, said his group includes more than 80 people. Three of the show's stars - the three who take the trip - came with the crew: Taylor Kitch, Scott Porter and Minka Kelly.

Texas

"Ninety-five percent of our crew are Texans," said Patterson, a graduate of the University of Texas in Austin, where the show films the majority of its footage. "It's possible we may shoot more sequences here in Texas."

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Kyle Chandler, Katherine Heigl Present at Emmys

Despite being snubbed in the Best Actor category, Friday Night Lights star Kyle Chandler joined Katherine Heigl Sunday to present at the Emmy Awards.

Kyle Chandler, Katherine Heigl

Kyle Chandler, of course, had a memorable guest starring turn as Dylan Young, an ill-fated bomb squad member, on Grey's Anatomy, the show which Katherine Heigl stars on - and won Best Supporting Actress for later in the evening!

Friday Night Spotlight: Scott Porter

In anticipation of Season Two of Friday Night Lights, we're taking a deeper look at each of the primary stars, most of whom you probably don't know all that much about - and should! They're awesome!

Yesterday, we profiled the amazing Connie Britton, one half of one of the most realistic TV marriages in history. Today we're profiling Scott Porter, who has garnered much praise in the dynamic role of Jason Street.

Matthew Scott Porter was born on July 14, 1979, in Omaha, Nebraska. He went to Lake Howell High School in Winter Park, Florida, where he was a standout football player and named All-Central Florida at wide receiver.

Scott Porter: Man of Many Talents

His talents extended well beyond the athletic arena, however. Porter made a living as a professional beat-boxer - a unique musical style popularized by American Idol runner-up Blake Lewis - while trying to break into acting.

After moving to New York City in 2005, Porter played Matthew in the cast of the Off-Broadway hit "Altar Boyz." He can be heard on the cast recording. He also plays the role of Colin Thompson, the more visible part of the duo that fronts the fictional band PoP! in the movie Music and Lyrics.

Scott Porter is scheduled to play Bobby in the remake of Prom Night and Rex Racer in Speed Racer (2008). Other TV credits of his include The Bedford Diaries, All My Children and As the World Turns.

On Friday Night Lights, Scott Porter has won wide acclaim for his portrayal of the star quarterback, Jason, who feels the weight of the world on his shoulders at the beginning of the first season, but then suffers a severe injury.

By the end of the year, all he wants is a life that makes some sense. We all feel for Jason and appreciate the incredible job Scott does. Can't wait for more!

Classic Friday Night Lights: Neighbors

Here's a collection of clips from Episode 19 ("Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes") of Season One of Friday Night Lights featuring Tim Riggins and his new, enthusiastic young neighbor, Bo. There's also Bo's mother, who takes to a liking to Tim, even if in her mind, she knows it's probably not a good idea.

Friday Night Lights' Heartwarming Realism

You'd think the most original depiction of the modern American family since The Sopranos would reel in countless viewers and a big sack full of Emmys.

Not so for Friday Night Lights.

Despite developing into the most dynamic, heartwearming drama on the small screen and garnering glowing praise from swooning critics and passionate fans alike, this gem still hasn't attracted the ratings or awards it deserves.

However, for what it's worth, Friday Night Lights has won Salon.com's Buffy Award, the fourth annual, given to the most underrated show out there (past winners are The Wire, Veronica Mars and Battlestar Galactica).

But don't take their word for it - or ours. Ask anyone who watches Friday Night Lights and you'll see it in their eyes how madly in love they are.

While so many programs mutate into the realm of perky, overstyled, bantering professionals - a shiny, idealized picture that either feels too giddily happy or too heavy, Friday Night Lights shows real Americans living real lives.

Week after week, they endure the indignities of frustrating jobs, grapple with narrow minded co-workers or neighbors, usher up laughter in spite of family arguments, and do the best with what they have.

Three Stars

While the Dillon High School Panthers football team wins or loses, the true heart of the story lingers, like life so often does, somewhere in between.

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Friday Night Spotlight: Connie Britton

In anticipation of Season Two of Friday Night Lights, we're taking a closer look at each of the primary cast members, most of whom you probably do not know all that much about (and might like to).

Yesterday, we profiled the young talent that is Gaius Charles (Smash). It's time to go a little older today as we profile Connie Britton, who has received widespread acclaim for her portrayal of Tami Taylor.

Connie Britton (birth name Constance Womack) was born on March 6, 1968, in Boston, Massachusetts. When she was a child, her family (mom Linda, father Allen, and sister Cynthia) moved to Lynchburg, Virginia.

She majored in Asian Studies and spent a semester living in China while at Dartmouth College, where she graduated in 1989. Upon graduation she moved to N.Y. City, where she spent two years at the Neighborhood Playhouse studying with Sanford Meisner and two more years at off-Broadway theatres.

She moved to Los Angeles after the success of "The Brothers McMullen." She eventually got the role of Nikki Faber on ABC's Spin City, the Michael J. Fox comedy that won many awards from 1996-2000.

Connie Britton Photo

Connie Britton also starred in Lost at Home (2003), while her other TV credits include The Fighting Fitzgeralds with Brian Dennehy, a recurring role on The West Wing and a recurring role on 24, during its fifth season, as Diane Huxley, the landlady of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland).

Interestingly, Connie played the wife of the head coach in the movie adaptation of Friday Night Lights before being cast in the TV series of the same name. Britton's character has a different name, Sharon Gaines, in the film.

Perhaps most amazingly, despite being known for her tremendous acting as the mother of teenager Julie (Aimee Teegarden), Britton, 39, has no children.

Connie is divorced, but still uses her married surname, Britton, as her stage name. Residing in New York and L.A., she likes hiking, yoga, and volunteering.

Classic Friday Night Lights: Mother-Daughter Love

From the video archives comes this great, emotional scene from the 17th episode of Season One of Friday Night Lights, "I Think We Should Have Sex."

Tami (Connie Britton) confronts Julie (Aimee Teegarden) about that subject, and the teenager is none too happy. However, through pure strength and will, a worried mother pleads her case. What a good show. Check it out:

At Friday Night Lights Insider, we're just starting starting to put together our video section. If you have a suggestion for a clip we should post, or want your own fan video added to our library, use our Contact Us form and let us know!

Friday Night Lights Spoilers: Season Two Synopsis

There isn't much here that we don't already know, just an official synopsis from NBC regarding the Season Two premiere of Friday Night Lights.

Called "Seasons of Change," the episode begins with the summer coming to an end and the defending state champion Dillon Panthers looking to continue their gridiron success despite a great deal of change in the air.

Connie Britton

Most notably, Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) has begun his career as the head coach at Texas Methodist University and is faced with mounting adversity and hardship not only on the field, but in being separated from his family.

Accentuating this theme is the fact that Tami Taylor (Connie Britton, pictured) is on the verge of going into labor with their second child.

Meanwhile, Tyra Collette (Adrianne Palicki) receives a visit from someone in her past that will alter her life - an event hinted at in the network's first official Season Two promo.

Best friends Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) and Landry Clarke (Jesse Plemons) both confront new lifestyles that neither seem ready for.

All this and plenty more will unfold just three weeks from tomorrow. We are counting the days until the return of Friday Night Lights.

Friday Night Spotlight: Gaius Charles

In anticipation of Season Two of Friday Night Lights, we're taking a closer look at each of the principal cast members, most of whom you might not know too much about. And you should, because they rule.

Yesterday, we profiled the adorable Aimee Teegarden. Today, we'll tell you a little bit about 24-year-old Gaius Charles, who plays the brash, star tailback Brian "Smash" Williams on Friday Night Lights.

A 2005 graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, Gaius received his B.F.A. in drama, graduating magna cum laude. He performed in productions such "The Wild Party," "Candide," and "Spunk," the first all-black production in the conservatory's 100-year history, while at Carnegie Mellon.

Gaius Charles also appeared in the Princeton Shakespeare Festival productions of "Romeo and Juliet," as Mercutio, and "A Comedy of Errors." He also wrote, performed and produced a one-man show, "Meet Me in Iraq." In television, Charles guest starred in the short-lived NBC drama Book of Daniel.

Smash

 

Despite playing a star running back on TV, Gaius Charles gave up the track team in real life to devote more time to the school theater in high school.

He sprained his foot getting in shape for his Friday Night Lights audition and wound up in the ER, which, ironically, gave him extra time to prepare and he nailed the audition a week later, landing the role of Smash Williams.

Off the field (and TV set) Charles has a passion for aviation and hopes to become a licensed private pilot one day. He is also heavily involved with Youth Ministry, and has been for the past decade.

Gaius Charles was born May 2, 1983 in New York City, and raised in Queens, New York and Northern New Jersey. He currently resides in Teaneck, N.J.

Season Two Promo Clip: Landry & Tyra

In this shocking preview for Season Two - which isn't really a preview, but part of an actual Friday Night Lights scene - Tyra Collete is confronted by someone familiar who she would just as soon not have ever encountered again. Landry Clarke is there this time, however, and things get ugly. See below ...

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    Wednesday, October 8 (DirecTV)

    "Tami Knows Best"

    Coach supports Smash's struggle to get a college tryout. Tyra disappoints Tami. Matt goes to crazy lengths to protect Grandma. Tensions escalate with Lyla and Tim.

    NOTE: All 13 episodes of Friday Night Lights Season 3 will air starting on DirecTV, then re-air in early 2009 on NBC!

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