Friday Night Lights (ABC Family, NBC)
common sense media says
Poignant football drama scores; OK for teens.
parents & educators say
- 33% say there are positive role models
- 33% say there are positive messages
What parents need to know
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.
Positive role models:
Coach Taylor is committed to the game, his players, and his family. Some players act inappropriately due to their "celebrity" status (for example, Smash has young women do his homework), while others struggle with serious family, health, and/or personal issues.
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.
Sex:
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.
Language:
Relatively mild: "Damn," "hell," etc. Occasional racial epithets, like "cracker."
Consumerism:
Restaurant logos, such as Applebee's, are distantly visible. Sports drink bottles are visible, but no logos.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Underage drinking (often with the intention of getting drunk); one player is hung over on several occasions.
More on Friday Night Lights
Review It
Based on 9 parent & educator reviews:
- 33% say there are positive role models
- 33% say there are positive messages
Most useful reviews by all members
morgancharles
parent of and 7 , 12 , 14 year old
parent of and 7 , 12 , 14 year old
I am an east coast liberal, and my first take on this show was negative--- too southern, too football, too Christian-phony. But somehow it was also compelling. So I watched another episode, then another. And the characters grew on me, and the show deepened (in my mind), and I fell in love with it, and I could not wait to see the next episode and the next episode. I watched all 20 of the first year episodes within a week. And I am going to try to have my wife and teenage daughter watch it too. Alas, because of the fact that some of these highschoolers are having sex, I do not want my 11 year old, let alone my 7 year old to watch it. But if there were not sex scenes, I would have them watch it-- there is other mature content, and some swearing, but nothing my 7 year old could not handle. But I am a bit prudish about the the sex. If you have teenagers (even 13 year olds), I would highly recommend that you watch this together, as a family, and all the way through. The role models are absolutely excellent.
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kummy14
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
GREAT SHOW FOR TEENS
this show is a really nice show with some good football action. there are some scenes that are not appropriate for kids 13 and under.
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HOLLISTERshortty
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
Nice work!
I love this show. Although I have to disagree with the standards. There are sex acts.
No doubt about it.
But otherwise it is a great show. [[:
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Emily Hunt
educator and parent of 9 , 13 , and 16 year old
educator and parent of 9 , 13 , and 16 year old
Conversation-starters for families abound
My husband summed it up best: "I don't like Texas, football, or teenagers, but I love this show." There's definitely sex, drinking, and lots of bad decision-making but the show goes to great lengths to show the consequences of the characters' choices. It's absolutely rife with conversation starters for families, and younger teens will need parents' help processing some of the heavier story lines.
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Spartyon
adult
adult
Friday Night Lights is Touchdown & a Winner
I have been a fan since the series began haven't miss a lot of EP's I own every season on DVD. I read the book & movie as well both pretty good as well worth reading and seeing the movie as well. FNL has a positive messages & good role models as well. As for sexual stuff it is no worse than any other show which I don't mind I'm not a prude like some are which there wrong and there isn't much swearing in the show either. Glad that NBC made a deal to keep FNL on for 5 seasons with the last three seasons making a deal with Direct TV to keep it on the air for that I'm thankful. FNL is a family show.
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j1ferris
parent of and 9 , 14 , 16 year old
parent of and 9 , 14 , 16 year old
I love the show but parents be warned
Our family as a whole eagerly anticipated this show. Initially, we found it to be a time when our family sat down to enjoy the show together, but that soon changed. The show began to push the edge a bit in terms of the sexual boundaries I feel are appropriate for a show aimed at families. Our 12 year old is so disappointed because we must now record and screen it before deciding whether he can watch it. This show would be fine for older teens(17 or so)and adults as it is a great show, but it is definitely not a "FAMILY" show.
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chamonix
adult
adult
Not as benign as it sounds
I watched part of an episode and was shocked to see "teenagers" getting undressed/dressed and into and out of bed. Some would say don't be such a prude, but I would be very uncomfortable watching this kind of material with my teenage son (14 yrs old now). The moral dilemma these characters spoke of during this episode was about how they were cheating on their best friend instead of the fact they had just had pre-marital sex. That's not the message I want to pass on to my kids, no matter how old they are.
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LJ09
educator
educator
Love it!
Great football action with hard hitting drama! Real life teen issues such as getting into college, relationships and the pressure to win that the players and coaches experience. Yes, it does contain sex and underage drinking but reality is that a large percentage of teens ARE having sex and drinking. I also like the way it also includes storylines about adults, the pressure they feel and how they deal with it. Due to content, I would advise an audience of high school age and up.
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hotcat
adult
adult
I Don't Like It!
I would rather watch ER!
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shesmagic16
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Football and Much More
I'm not a football fan, and I'm most definitley not a Texas girl. So, what is it about Friday Night Lights that's kept me watching for the past five years? The fact that this show has so much more to offer than just small town football. The show's cast is remarkable in that father and son, could truly be father and son. Coach Taylor and Tami have undeniable chemistry, and portray a marriage that is one of the best to ever exist on TV. Script wise, these Texas teens go through challenges such as rape, life altering injury, teen pregnancy, and alcohol addiction. Friday Night Lights unfolds these plots in the most honest and realistic ways I've ever seen TV do. If you think your child is not yet mature enough to understand these topics, they probably should not watch. Finally, this show is exeptional for its filming. This part is hard to describe because every element of a shot is so thought out and perfect. If this show sounds like something you'd enjoy, I highly encourage you to watch it. It's about much more than football, it's about a Coach trying to turn his team into worthy young men.
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