FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
MAY THE BEST MAN WIN
02-08-08 9/8c

A DAY OF SURPRISES—Brian "Smash" Williams (Gaius Charles) is determined to get a football scholarship to college despite the recent events that have transpired. However, Brian is very shocked when the most unlikely place offers him what may be the opportunity of his life. Tami Taylor (Connie Britton) runs into her ex-boyfriend from high school, a big real estate mogul, and he decides to stay in Dillon for a few days. A few days proves to be too long as Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) begins to feel a bit jealous. Elsewhere, Jason Street (Scott Porter) hears the biggest news of his life since his accident and must decide if he is willing to change his life completely. Meanwhile, Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) continues his pursuit of Lyla (Minka Kelly) by getting his own radio show at the Christian radio station. Lyla seems to be enjoying her current relationship with her Christian boyfriend as she goes with him to meet his family.


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I'm dyin' to know what ya'll thought.

I am sick and going to bed now that Lyla just will not doi what I want her ti do. I can't stand the idea of having to wait for forever to find out what happens with Lyla. The coach and "Mo" ha, ha, ha! What a fight. It was so clear that the coach was gonna blow. That scene was so funny. This is why I just love this show. How can they not finish the season. It is so heart warming and just great. The clock is ticking and it is almost over and I don't know what I am going to do...this is my kind of show. There is nothing to match it on tv at all. Jason was so sweet and caring. He was not lying, he is so happy to have this baby coming. He is so much better with this girl than he was with Lyla. Oh, no, it is off...it is over...

Laughing, crying, loving every minute.
Highlights: Coach Dirkes/Dickies/ guy from the pilot as head coach at Whitmore

I'm laughing and crying as usual. Loved that they brought back Coach Dirkes/Dickies. Timmy Riggs bringin' it on the mike, at church (and everywhere else, and Lyla knows it!) Eric drunkenly defending his woman (and paying the price). Loved Julie's giggle/smirk at the whole scene. Finally, some Matt/Landry action. Still think Tyra's gonna bust him up. But, Jason/Erin/baby-maybe was...just...heartbreaking. This show wrecks me every week.
How can we keep FNL going and going and going?

Ooops, sorry for double...thing

ROFL

New poster here... I loved the episode.. but I am sooo disapointed that it is over!!! Coach was hilarious, and tim was great doing the radio show! I wish there would have been a bit more of matt, and maybe more of tim as well (there can never be enough). It was nice to see the taylors all getting along and not seeing tami and julie fighting.

I reallllly hope they bring this show back next season.. because I have become obsessed and it will suck if they don't bring it back!!

Man......this show makes you glad you're breathin'. Because they are sooo hopeful. Jason is happy about the chance to be a Dad. It's a miracle and its Jason's Miracle. I'am really happy for him. Something he thought he would never be a Dad.

I love the Riggins Boys at church. I wonder what Tim said to Billy to get him go to church. Love the fact that Lyla knows Tim is stalking her. And, is that man made for the radio....or what. Tim was so cool on the air. Fielding questions about Football and Dating. Well kinda dating. I see a future for that boy in radio..... what a voice.


I loved it when Coach told Tami and Julie, that "He Saved them from Mo". I loved Coach when he is jealous. He is such a Man's Man. And I love that.


Oh.....God......this can't be the end. I know tonight I will say a little prayer for the Good Folks of Dillon Texas. God Bless Texas Forever!!!!

Great episode tonight. Glad to see Street get a really big storyline going so I hope this show is able to continue so we get more of it. I will be so bummed if this show doesn't get another season because there are so many things left open.

And this is for sure the season finale even though the strike is now over?

It's not over yet but it doesn't look like there will be any more episodes this season regardless.

We can continue that discussion in a number of places.

Ah! I am so sad it's over. Wish there would have been more football scenes...didn't last week's episode end with the start of a game? Thought they were going to show it. Loved Tim as a radio DJ. Hilarious! And the fight between Mo and the Coach was classic....also loved the scene the next day with a pissed off Tammi. And as usual, the banter between Matt and Landry was beyond funny. I can't believe this is the last one for the season (or forever)! : (

Well, I laughed out loud so much watching Coach get into a fight to "protect" Tami! I love it when he's jealous it is so amusing to watch.

I thought that Lyla was contemplating Riggs when she was turned down by her radio partner at his ranch...and I just think Riggs is going the whole mile to win her back - it is so cute and hillarious at the same time

They HAVE to bring this show back again, otherwise the football season won't be finished....

This show was great, loved that Landry and Tyra holding hads at school, Tim in church and Lila just smiling thinking about Tim, the family time with the Taylors, Smash when he came to the realization that coach was on his side and looking out for him, oh and when I see Matt and Landry getting ready to play Guitar Hero!!! I wished they would of showed some of that, my son is playing that all the time with his buds and that is what it reminded me of.

Off I go to watch the show again.............

So is the season already over?
Is the show coming back?
omg im so mad if it is I have absolutely fell in love with this show!

Smash is an idiot. He gets his scholarship offer revoked during the early signing period and he immediately gives up his hopes of a big D-I program for a second-tier I-AA school? That's sure realistic.

First off, HS recruits in real life do way worse (drugs, rape, DUI) than what he did and don't get scholarship offers revoked, especially the very talented guys. And then for Smash to jump at the next offer to come along is even more retarded, especially since his HS season isn't even over. Just dumb. If Texas drops a recruit who is supposedly a top-5 RB, USC, Georgia, LSU and Florida would be eagerly waiting to get that guy. Schools keep a number of scholarships open through the spring semester in case other schools' recruits back out of their verbals. They don't just use them all up in the fall, like the Alabama coach said he had.

Second, if Street is told by his doctor than the odds of him having kids is slim to none, why did he not contact the doctor after the girl told him that she was pregnant? You would do that to at least verify it's your and to have the doctor determine there won't be any hangups or problems. At least allude to this in the show.

Season 2 has been highly unrealistic. And don't you think a big fuss would've been made by the press regarding the Coach Taylor/Moe fight? If Smash gets TV time for apology and rebuttal for his situation, you'd think the coach fighting in public would be 10x worse.

I am so down because this "season" is/ could be over . I loved Smash's Mama. She is the most real-like character on the show- Her and Matt's Grandma . Anyway, I thought the show was great with Tim being so funny and "aggravating" to Lyla... Matt & Landry talking about girls..Eric's being so jealous & tami eating it up.. It was a good episode.. Just wish there was MORE!!

I need more Tim and Lyla. I couldn't stand seeing her make out with that other guy. I was glad he stopped it, but was confused by her reaction.
But loved the interaction with Tim and Lyla. More!

I also loved Coach fighting for his girl! And Tyra and Landry. They are so cute!

Please don't let this be the end of this show!

Nobody mentioned that they let Landry get a touchdown...Tyra in the stands.
They gave up their shut out to the other team...classy!
"Everyone wave to your families...." Coach Taylor.

Herc is Awesome

The writers are genious! They wrapped up the series in the best of all possible scenarios. Lyla realizes that her life, to be complete, must have the sexual satisfaction that she observes Chris is suppressing. And Tim has resurfaced as that missing element. Plus, he's the New and Improved Tim whose love for her has transformed him into a caring and great guy. It was so out there that Tyra only reeled Landry back in in order to satisfy her need to take him away from Jean. The scene with Matt asking him about why he dumped Jean for Tyra leaves only the conclusion that eventually he will get back with Jean, as he should since they are such a good match. The outcome with Smash was perfect. He needed a reality check, and now he's on the path to a scholarship, and everything is good with his wonderful mama. He needs to dump the pushy girlfriend. As for Tim and Erin: It was very touching. Nineteen seems way too young to be parents, but they demonstrate a lot of maturity. The fans have to think they have a good shot at making it work. As for the rest of the cast, everyone seems to be on target for making their lives work. I have mixed feelings about continuing the series. It has been wonderful, and the only regular program I am faithful to. Much as I hate to see it end, I don't want to see it diminished in any way. Thank you NBC for bringing such quality TV into our homes!

This epp. was really great! Im especially happy for Landry and Tyra, Id love to see them go to prom and such..Im glad Smash excepted that offer it seems right for him..Jason having a baby would be a good story line especially with that new girl...I just love Tim. He seems so much better off now that hes trying to win Lila back..she's def in need of some lovin...I wish they had more on Matt...The coach getting drunk was sooo funny! I really pray they bring it back next season...Id hate to never find out what happened and when it does end it needs a proper ending not an incomplete one!!!

Yet another great episode.
I really hope they bring it back for season 3. Too many story arcs to be finished; Is the baby Streets? Does Landry stay with Tyra? Does Lyla go back to Riggins? Will Matt get offered a scholarship? What about Riggins?

They can't just finish it like that!!

I love this show so much! I hope NBC doesn't do anything foolish and take it off the air.

Tami and Eric are the VERY best couple ever. They are so real. I hope i have a mariage like that one day.

What is Lyla's boyfriend's name? They didn't say it once in this episode.

Does anyone know the name of the church where they film the "during service" scenes?

I believe his name is Chris.

It's called the Promiseland Church. It's in Austin located on 51st street.

Why was I still watching a show about Jason and his pregnant girlfriend and whether or not he should marry her and yadda yadda yadda...

What does that have to do with the football team?

I think the thing that offends me most is that I have the Season 1 DVD, and they made a whole thing in one of the early episodes that sex was out for him because of... well, look it up.

But now that this show is Dillon TX 90210, he can just run around having sex whenever and with whomever he wants?

And now Tyra is a villain again?

And Tim Riggins only cares about Lyla because she says no. Please.

At least Smash found a school that doesn't care about recruiting thugs. THAT was a very politically correct portrayal... NOT... which no one seemed to notice...

Who is the actor who played "Mo"?

WOW! at least this season had one decent episode. I didnt even know this was the last one until i got on the boards, and right as I first started watching this episode I was saying how I actually hoped the show would get cancelled. Just a question for everyone, how many football games did we see this season. I dont know the exact number, but then ask yourself how many vollyball games you saw this season. I am so mad, they didnt even show the game that they left off with last week when smash gave his big go-get um speech in the locker room, come on. I think the only good moments from this season were Landry scoring a touchdown, and Smash actually taking the scholorship. Hate to see it go but its better to do it now then drag out another season.

Coach is a hypocrite! How was his fight any better than Smash's? IMO it was way worse. Taken in context of the show, it was way out of character for him, someone that always preaches responsibility and gave Smash the an extremely hard time. Coach has some explaining to do. I hope the writers just don't "forget the fight ever happened." So Smash gets in a fight and loses a scholorship. Coach gets in a fight, in the middle of a restaurant, in a small town, and no one seems to notice? I hope not!

As usual this was a terrific show. I had several emotions.....laughing, crying, holding my breath. It was great to see Matt and Landry just being kids. Tim was very sweet and cute just always being there near Lyla. It was also great to see coach Taylor just being a regular guy and being jealous. I love this show! PLease bring it back!

Best line of the episode. Coach is in bed, near death (lol), and mom and Julie ready to go to Sunday church service. Before they leave, they want to check on 'near death' Dad:

Julie: "Bye Dad!"
Mom: "Say 'Bye Dad!' LOUDER!"
Julie: "BYE DAD!"

Couldn't agree more. How is Coach's fight any different...morally? Then two major issues came to mind. First, Coach didn't start the fight...thus he was defending himself when the guy jumped on him. Secondly, the millionaire guy is not pressing "assault" charges against coach forcing the hand of legal authorities. No doubt the writers will deal with this when show resumes, but circumstances are very different from Smash attacking that boy (who deserved 10 times more). It will be interesting to see how it gets handled by the wonderful writers when they get back.
--Don't mistake self-defense and assault. Technically (good writing) they are opposites in the legal arena.

The "actor" who played Mo is series creator Peter Berg. Don't know if he has much of an acting background (he's the director of "The Kingdom," the "Friday Night Lights" movie and the pilot episode of the show), but he did a good job as Mo.

He has quite an extensive acting background, most notably as Dr. Billy Kronk in "Chicago Hope."

Peter Berg

I thought this episode (and I've watched it a bunch of times now, on NBC.com - got to help keep our show at #1!) was a strong one. And really, the last few episodes were great, and to me had more of the feel of the first season. The balance was better between the various characters and storylines - a little of Jason, a little of Smash, a bit of Landry/Tyra, a bit of Lyla/Riggins, some time with the Taylors - and I thought all the actors did a great job.

I especially liked watching Jason beg Erin to consider keeping the baby. I know it would be such a stretch and a challenge for them to make it work - they are so young, they hardly know each other, he's still coming to terms with his handicap and trying to figure out how to make a life for himself and support himself - but I thought it was beautiful to see him so excited about the prospect of becoming a father. And he was smart enough to go to Eric - himself a great (though not perfect) husband and father - for advice, so that's a good sign.

I loved watching Smash try to come to terms with his changing future. Trying to accept his mother's certainty that God is opening a window for him, and that this will ultimately be a good thing.

I liked Tim's continued pursuit of Lyla. I do like them together, and I think they will get there. I think Lyla's been trying so hard to paint her new life in all black and white, but the truth is that most of life has some grays in it. And he's working hard to get to the middle, to meet her there.

And I'm a mom with a daughter growing up fast, so I of course loved watching the Taylors. Watching Tami trying to learn to let Julie go. Beautiful and heartbreaking.

As one episode in a season of 22 (or even 15), I thought it was great. It doesn't really hold up as a season finale (or heaven forbid, a series finale), but that's to be expected. Even though the writers knew a strike was looming, if they had written the script as a better "finale", it would have made it easier for NBC to cancel the show. So I don't blame them a bit for choosing not to wrap things up.

It's only been, what, a week and a half? I really miss these characters already.

I think the writers were aware when they wrote it that it might or might not be a season finale, and might or might not be a series finale; so they tried to let it be known where things were going enough that it wasn't leaving things horribly at loose ends, but leave more to write.

It looks like if there were more eps this season (which seems really unlikely; a 3rd season seems difficult, but within reach) they would have had Tim and Lyla get together.

I'm a little disappointed about that, as I see it as a pander to fans rather than a natural step for the characters. They've shown Tim this season to have a good heart and to have suffered much more than he deserves to, and women do get attracted to "bad boy" types; but Lyla's too "proper" of a character to let herself end up with one.

With no more to Season 2 and Lyla headed to college (and off the show?) next season, they may not ever get together, even assuming a Season 3.

I can't relate to the choices Jason makes, but he's consistent with that. If I want to guess what Jason will do, I should think of what I'd do and do the opposite. I'd have stayed with Lyla if I could have, I'd have kept coaching at Dillon, etc..

He's just barely getting his life together, stuck in a wheelchair, and desperately wants to come home from his long days of selling cars to help take care of a baby with a woman he doesn't know well enough to know that he could love. Not unrealistic, but hard for me to relate to.

This season really, really humanized Buddy. He went from the guy viewers couldn't possibly like to one who's trying so hard to improve himself and who, like Tim, has suffered plenty enough for his transgressions. I love the running bit where he goes to Coach Taylor for advice and Taylor just listens while Buddy talks and decides what he wants to do-- and then he thanks the Coach.

While this season had its weaknesses early, the character development was interesting for many characters. Julie's rebellious phase-- well, that's teens. Matt is slowly developing confidence from being QB1, as he would. Tim is becoming a better person, inspired by his desire for Lyla. Jason is voluntarily making choices that will make his life hard; but it's what he wants. Lyla would have, by the end of the season, I think decided she can't keep up the virginity and would have had to leave her affiliation with the ultra-strict church (and likely into Tim's arms). Landry bounced back-- maybe too easily-- from a plot that shouldn't have happened, gained some confidence, and is going after a girl in Tyra normally out of his league.

Not bad for a season that started weakly and ended prematurely.

We need more.

I loved this episode! But, it left 3 things hanging in the balance: Football championships, Prom, and Graduation. Let's hope we get to see them realized!

I really wanted to see the team's reaction when Coach showed up to practice with his black eye, etc.

Now that would be funny to see Smash and Riggins react to Coach's black eye. You don't see much interaction between Smash and Riggins but when you do, I think they make for some of FNL's best scenes. The diner scenes in the first season, second episode when Riggins tells Smash to get out of Street's seat, the fight on the football field, Riggins visited Smash at work during the racial tension episodes. Who can forget Smash calling Riggins "Dutch Boy" and Riggins asking Smash did he get a new hat? I would love to see the whole gang hangout during Prom and Graduation. Lyla and Tim (Tim in a tux) Tyra and Landry, Julie and Matt and Smash and ? (who knows if his girlfriend will stay with him when she finds out he is going to Whitmore). Hopefully all the questions in our heads will be answered in Season 3.

Tim in a tux = I don't remember Riggins asking Smash about the hat. Do you remember what episode? Tim is the only one who can make Smash shut up with a simple glance. It's pretty funny.

It was Episode 115 - "Binders", Chapter 4.

Let's try to keep this topic about this episode - 2:15

I just started watching this show a few days ago via Netflix. I must admit that I was not into the show before, because ofthe movie. However, I am hooked. It took me four days to get caught up from the first season until current.
I luhuuve this show. It is so heartwarming. In addition, I enjoy all the characters.
I must complain a tad. I know that Tim is after Lyla and I must say BORING!!!! Now,I know ya'll are rootin for Tyra and Landry (which I do belive is cute). However, I wanted Riggins and Tyra to get together, and for him to actually treat her like a lady should be treated. I do not think Riggins and Lyla are a good long term match, but it is cute to watch him try.
Tyra and Tami are my favorite characters. Thay are strong women, with whom I can relate to.
I am dissaponted that the season is over. I feel like I have been stranded. Do not get me wrong, I know that they are just charcters, but that just shows how great the cast is at porttraying those characters

I'm glad that you've fallen in love we the show like we all have. However, I would like to respectfully disagree about your opinion on Tim and Lyla. What some find BORING, a lot find heartwarming, touching and a lot of real life love stories equate to what they're going through.

*throws self back into thread* Hi! I don't believe we've met. I'm Kelly, one of the few Tim/Tyra shippers here. lol Welcome to the forum.

I love it when a boy chases after a girl. Just like Maya77 said. It is heartwarming and touching. He loves her and he is tryin' sooo hard to get her attention. And sometimes for him it goes so terribly different than what he hopes for. But he ain't though tryin' to get her attention. Nobody loves like a high school boy. It's deep, intense and honest. And sooo much fun to watch.

I'm with you on that! My parents watched FNL through Season 1 and on the episode where Matt posed for the calendar without telling Julie was the first one I watched. Ducking around homework assignments and studying for test I managed to catch up within a few days. When I had a foreign exchange student from France come to stay, I showed her an episode one night and she looked at me and said "one more please"

needless to say we watched the entire season 1 in 3 days... hehe
just wanted to tell you that I know where you're coming from!
i love FNL!

Sure, Kelly!! But we know what you really are: a closeted TYLA fan hehehe

My thoughts, exactly. Very well said. Thank you.

"When a man loves a woman, she can do no wrong...turn his back on his best friend if he puts her down!" Now, just go listen to that song and you will understand the love between Tim and Lyla. A man can't help himself when he truly loves a woman and Tim truly loves Lyla! Ah, the joy, the pain, the lust, the love, young love! (lol)!