Friday Night Lights - TV-PG

Poignant football drama scores; OK for teens.

TV Rating: TV-PG Network: NBC Cast: Kyle Chandler, Zach Gilford, Connie Britton Genre: Drama
Available on: DVDDownload

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this sports drama -- like the movie it's based on -- centers on the coach and players of an elite high school football team in small-town Texas. There's constant tension between the community's desire to win games and the coach's goal of helping his players understand the inner strength they need to truly be winners. Racial tensions, underage drinking, and sexual tension are prevalent, and some of the football scenes can get pretty intense. Other mature issues include infidelity, abusive relationships, divorce, going to war, and more.

Families can talk the importance of sports in their community. Are high school games as big a deal in your town as they are on the show? What kind of pressures do the athletes (both the ones on TV and the ones in real life) face? What are some of the consequences of those pressures? How do parents and other adult role models help kids learn what success means? What defines success in your community? Are the teen characters on the show realistic? Why or why not?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Melissa Camacho

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS -- based on the hit film starring Billy Bob Thornton -- is a drama centered on the world of elite high school football and the people who live in it.

Kyle Chandler stars as Eric Taylor, the head coach of the Dillon Panthers, the number-one high school football team in Texas. When the team's star quarterback, Jason Street (Scott Porter), is sidelined in the first season, Coach Taylor is left with inexperienced second-string QB Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) and a team of young men all trying to cope with the pressures placed on them by a community that expects nothing less than a state championship.

Coach Taylor -- who at one point leaves Dillon for a job in Austin -- struggles with both the town's desire to win and the need for his players to understand that football isn't just a game, but also a journey of self-discovery. And the players -- including running backs Brian "Smash" Williams (Gaius Charles) and Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) -- must learn how to behave as a team both on and off the field.

The guys' romantic interests, including Jason's devoted cheerleader girlfriend Lyla (Minka Kelly) and the flirtatious Tyra (Adrianne Palicki), add to the drama. And Coach Taylor is both supported and pressured by his wife, Tami (Connie Britton, who also starred in the film).

Friday Night Lights is full of football lingo and pre- and post-game rituals that have become part of high school football culture. Even if you aren't a football fan, it isn't hard to get caught up in some of the show's dramatic storylines, which include teen romance, strong friendship, personal rivalry, and family unity.

The show also deals with some weightier, more controversial issues, including underage drinking, racial tensions, murder, abusive relationships, and the serious risks involved in playing contact sports -- all of which are relevant to (and will probably interest) a lot of older middle schoolers and high schoolers. As long as these heavier topics are taken in context -- ideally, with some parental explanation -- the show is a well-executed drama for teens and up.

Because, in the end, Friday Night Lights is about a whole lot more than just winning football games. Fans might also like Two-a-Days, a reality show take on the same topic.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Some hugging, kissing, and making out, as well as strong innuendo. Teens are seen in bed together. One high school kid sleeps with his 30-something neighbor and also his best friend's girlfriend. A girl cheats on her boyfriend. Some lingerie/underwear shots. Dating, relationships, and sex (including virginity) are discussed.
Violence The games are rough, and some of the injuries are very serious. Some arguing, pushing, and shoving between feuding teammates. One storyline deals with sexual assault, another with murder. Some abusive relationships.
Language Relatively mild: "Damn," "hell," etc. Occasional racial epithets, like "cracker."
Message
	Social Behavior There's a strong focus on playing from the heart as well as playing to win. But there's also clear evidence of racial tension between players and in the community. Prayers are both seen and heard throughout show. Some players act inappropriately due to their "celebrity" status (for example, "Smash" has young women do his homework).
	Commercialism Restaurant logos, such as Applebee's, are distantly visible. Sports drink bottles are visible, but no logos.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Underage drinking (often with the intention of getting drunk); one player is hung over on several occasions.