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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As fans gather in our forum to discuss each character and story line, the Friday Night Lights Insider staff has come together to share its thoughts on the latest episode of Season 2 of the best show on TV in a Round Table format.

The Round Table discussion topics for "Backfire" include the misadventures of Six and Three-Three in Mexico, Coach MacGregor's future and Julie's attitude ...

1. Following his ouster, where will Coach Bill MacGregor end up?

pantherpride4lyfe: Back in the Volunteer State. He's the Tennessee Tyrant.

ClearEyes: Brandon, Texas. He'll become coach of Dillon's major rival, leading to a state championship game for the ages.

Saracen7: One can't help but think a gridiron battle with Coach Taylor is in the works at some point this season or next. Glad as I am that Eric's back in Dillon, it was rather fast and a little too easy, no? I didn't expect his exit from TMU to be so prompt, nor did I find it that realistic. Whatever, all's well that ends well.

2. How long until Landry blurts out that he did it?

Saracen7: Being a reader of this site, I've read some Friday Night Lights spoilers and will just say that there's an episode title coming up that sort of hints at it. But for those who want to be surprised, let me just say ... it's not this week!

ClearEyes: I'm amazed he's lasted this long without telling the world. We are talking about having sex with Tyra, right?

pantherpride4lyfe: Yesterday? The guilt is already taking over Landry's psyche. What a great scene in the restaurant. Sooner or later Clarke is going to cave and come clean, like the good kid inside him has wanted to all along (which kind of makes the whole murder plot line seem a little far-fetched, if you ask me).

3. More unreasonably high: Street's hopes for surgery, or Riggins' blood alcohol content?

ClearEyes: Street's hopes for surgery. It won't work out, Six.

pantherpride4lyfe: Tim Riggins. The guy can drink. His tolerance is at a level that would sicken a normal man. It's a wonder how he stays conscious so long.

Saracen7: Gotta take Tim, although both are well over the legal limit.

4. Unselfish play of the night: Lyla taking the released prisoner under her (sexy) wing, or Tami's surprising patience with her rebellious daughter?

pantherpride4lyfe: Call this one a draw. Neither is perfect, but both have good intentions and are trying their best to be good Christians mothers, respectively.

Saracen7: Lyla. Whatever her true motivations may be, or how lost she is inside, she did a good thing in getting the kid a job at the dealership.

ClearEyes: Tami Taylor did hit Julie with a right cross two weeks ago, but I'll still take her over Lyla any time. Little Ms. Garrity seems to be acting more out of guilt than unselfishness here. She may not even know the released prisoner's name, she just wants to look like a true Christian.

5. So Julie Taylor's dad is finally back in Dillon. Will she stop being a brat and welcome Matt Saracen back into her life next?

pantherpride4lyfe: She might... but would Matt even go for it? That's the real question. He could be too upset to take her back, not to mention busy - fighting Smash, caring for Grandma and flirting with her in-home care provider.

Saracen7: I hope so! Matt is a good guy and he and Julie were perfect together. I respect why the writers had them break up but enough already!

ClearEyes: Yes and no. Julie may cease her rebellious ways, but her and Matt need a break. Julie needs to find out who she is on her own, and Saracen needs to bask in the warmth of some Latino heat, if you know what we mean.

Here's a brief preview of the all-new episode of Friday Night Lights, scheduled for this Friday, November 2, "Let's Get It On." With Coach back at the helm, Landry stepping up in the locker room (!), Tim and Jason still in Mexico, and much more going on, it looks like another good one. Check out NBC's promo below.

On Friday Night Lights spoiler patrol, Kristin Veitch of E! Online has some new scoop on Riggins and Lyla, as well as some other gossip about the show.

Follow the jump to learn more about what's in store for Tim Riggins ...

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As we all know, Friday Night Lights launched its second season with a true shocker: Smart, funny, geeky teen Landry Clarke killed a man threatening to attack Tyra Collette, Landry's crush. Then the pair dumped the body.

There was just one problem, according to the Los Angeles Times. The show's relatively small, extremely intense fan base didn't buy it.

"I hated, hated, hated the murder scene," wrote a poster named Tom on the website of Alan Sepinwall, critic for the Newark Star-Ledger.

"Friday Night Lights has always struck me as a production that shows the drama in a real town... The murder scene felt, well, desperate."

Critics who have championed Friday Night Lights were equally upset.

"Absurdly melodramatic and unbelievable," wrote The New Yorker's Nancy Franklin. "The plot thread could easily overwhelm the show and kill it."

Set in a small Texas town and shot in a documentary style, Friday Night Lights has earned a cult following and need-to-improve ratings.

Most fans were drawn less by football than by the nature of the characters: Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler), his high school counselor wife, their daughter, the paralyzed QB, his two-timing girlfriend, the new quarterback, and so on.

Although viewers might relate to characters who cheated, drank way too much or fought, they didn't know any 16-year-olds who had killed someone.

Some suspected the plot was a ratings ploy, a notion buoyed by releasing of the first episode to Yahoo and the appearance of actors (really) in Allstate ads.

Producer Jason Katims said the Web release and the commercials - some of which contained upcoming air dates of the premiere - were attempts to attract viewers.

"It would be good to have new viewers; I won't deny that," he said.

But he contended the controversial murder plot twist was organic and based on Landry's and Tyra's characters - particularly how the actors portrayed them in a Season 1 episode when the same attacker tried to rape Tyra.

"The way Jesse Plemons played those scenes, he was bringing so much to the table," Katims said. "We realized we had this actor capable of doing much more."

"It wasn't like we thought this would be the thing to draw more audience. On the other hand, we did want to come out in the first episode with a story line that would be surprising and have urgency to it," he said.

This story line will play out over the course of nine episodes and will allow a new focus on the relationship between Landry and his father, a policeman.

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Welcome to the Friday Night Lights Caption Contest, a Monday tradition. Before you move on to this week's edition, let's take a look at who won this fourth contest. We received eight replies (we can do better), all of which were good!

It as a difficult decision, but we chose Kelly as the winner. Congratulations! The winning reply appears beneath the photo, and you can scroll down to read the whole list of Friday Night Lights captions sent into us this week.

Good luck again this week, and thanks for making Friday Night Lights Insider the #1 Friday Night Lights fan site online. We hope you enjoy and visit us often!

This week's Caption Contest image:

Jason [to himself]: "No more bean burritos for us…"

In the closing moments from last Friday's episode, "Backfire," Coach Eric Taylor makes his way to the Panthers' locker room. Newly-installed at his old job, Coach takes a short, sweet, back-to-business approach. The team responds. Look for a different Dillon squad on the field in the next game.

In Season One of Friday Night Lights, Jesse Plemons played second fiddle as Landry Clarke, sidekick to star quarterback Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford).

Now into its second season, the Friday Night Lights clown has been promoted to the football team - and bigger storylines. Landry Clarke got the girl of his dreams in Tyra Collette (Adrianne Palicki), albeit at a heavy price. Jesse Plemons spoke to BuddyTV about the new developments with his character. Excerpts below ...

Q: Let's just jump right into this, with the second season of Friday Night Lights. What is it like playing the town stud all of a sudden?

Jesse Plemons: Town stud? I didn't realize I was the town stud now, but if you think so. Yeah, this season is just so different. There's so much going on with the huge accidental murder in the first episode, and the repercussions. It's just really intense and great as an actor to do something like that.

Q: Got it. So do you ever miss just being... last season you were more the comic relief. Just adding in a little pepper here and there.

Jesse Plemons: Right. I had a blast last season. That's pretty much the only way I can explain that. It was just fun. I got to come in, work a few days out of the week, and just have some really ridiculous lines and just go. And then this season, is kind of the opposite. I have a really intense storyline and it's taking a lot out of me. But it's something I've really invested in and it's something I'm passionate about. It's an honor to be able to do something like this.

Q: In addition to all of that, the murder / cover-up and romance with Tyra, Landry also joined the football team this season.

Jesse Plemons: That's right. Yeah, and that's a lot of fun. I played football growing up so I was really happy to hear that.

Q: So were you kind of disappointed last season? Were you begging the producers to let you get in on that?

Jesse Plemons: Not really. It kind of started out as a joke. I'd be in the stands and then in-between takes I'd try to run down on the field and play catch. Then I'd be playing catch and someone said I had a good arm and joked about Landry coming on to the field and taking Matt's position. Last year I never would have thought it'd work, but I think it's not too far fetched in a town like this that kid will attempt to get on the team. You pretty much have the kids that play football, and the ones that don't. Even though Landry was so against it - he had his own thing with Crucifictorious - it's still something that was interesting to him.

Q: So does that mean we've seen the end of Crucifictorious?

Jesse Plemons: I hope not man. I hope not.

Q: As if there already isn't enough for you in Season Two, your father, played by Glenn Morshower, joined the cast. Were you a fan of his before he joined up?

Jesse Plemons: I had only seen some of his stuff on 24, but he's a great actor. And it's really weird how much we actually look alike. He probably looks more like me than my real dad does. It's kinda freaky. I was very happy to see they picked him. He's been working forever and has a million credits. He's from Texas as well, so I think it was definitely a good choice.

Follow the link to continue reading Plemons' interview with BuddyTV ...