Kudos To Peter Berg and ‘Friday Night Lights’
by Chris Burgard“Friday Night Lights” has won a Peabody Award, a Television Critics Association Award and an Emmy. We have been watching the show for all four seasons, but last week it really won a distinguished place in the hearts of my family.
That probably doesn’t mean a hill of beans to a whole lot of people, but when you work in Hollywood, in a culture that tends to treat flyover country like the red headed stepchild, and compares your religious beliefs to those of Al Quaeda, it rocks when you can sit down as a family and watch a show that reminds you of how you grew up: A show that honors the core values that you try to raise your kids with.
Peter Berg
My Dad used to say, “Once the kids stop saying “Yes, sir” and “Yes, ma’am”, it all starts to go to hell.” When I was a kid, I just thought he was hard on us. When my kids use “Yes, sir” and “Yes, ma’am” at the mall, the stares that we receive from the other parents lead me to believe that they may feel the same way.
The kids in “Friday Night Lights” speak in the same fashion. Yeah it is a Texas thing, but those kids show a respect for their elders that one doesn’t always find in Southern California, or many other places outside of small town USA.
Likewise, in crafting Dillon’s military family for the show, Peter Berg did not make quarterback Matt Saracen’s constantly deployed Army father an excuse to bash the previous administration or comment about the war effort. Instead he focused on the emotional conflict that wrestled inside of this young man and how his family, coach and friends rallied to aid and strengthen him. When his father is killed in action, Matt must confront his deepest inner conflicts, but by facing them, and his father’s shattered body, he is able to painfully, but eloquently, deliver his eulogy. Matt now faces the world as a man.
Coach Taylor asked his players to do him a favor and take a knee. “You might have heard that Matt Saracen’s father passed away….I thought it might be nice if we said a word for him and his family.” Coach Taylor looks to one of his less talented players who also happens to be Matt’s best friend: “Lance?” Lance looks to his teammates, “You all wanna bow your heads?” He then leads them in The Lord’s Prayer.
The next few screen moments are filled with team unity, kindness, compassion and sadness for their buddy. I was pretty blown away to see open prayer on television. Even though the moment was true to the story, prayer in school isn’t big in Hollywood.
This episode was still on my mind, and in my TiVo queue, as I traveled out of town to cover a State High School Football Championship.
We had open access to the team on the field and in the locker rooms. So I was surprised when the coach asked us if we could take the cameras into the hallway for a bit while they said a prayer.
At first I thought the request stemmed from a desire for privacy. We obliged.
But I later found out it was about the law. I had forgotten that it is illegal for a public school to pray together. This coach was looking out for his school and his kids. “We may be a small farm town, but the ACLU reaches us too.” He advised me.
How did we come to this?
I was raised believing that we were a nation founded on the principles of religious freedom, yet our current reality is that US citizens need to pray behind closed doors or risk arrest?
I went to a Catholic high school, so praying before a game was standard fare for us but even my buddies in the public high school said a Hail Mary before every game.
Heck, games have been won on Hail Marys. Brett Favre does it all the time.
“Friday Night Lights” works because it has a great cast and tells great stories, but if today’s public high school football players can’t pray in the locker room, at least they can see it on TV thanks to a guy with the talent and cajones of Peter Berg.
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
| 
Follow Us on Twitter
Subscribe via RSS
Got a Tip?
55 Comments
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Big Hollywood, Michael Chavez and DNC DUDES, Mr. Pink. Mr. Pink said: Kudos To Peter Berg and ‘Friday Night Lights’ http://tinyurl.com/yz5cnw7 [...]
The best dam' program on ANY channel.
"Coach Taylor looks to one of his less talented players who also happens to be Matt’s best friend: 'Lance?' Lance looks to his teammates, 'You all wanna bow your heads?' He then leads them in The Lord’s Prayer."
Actually, I think the character's name is "Landry," presumably after Tom Landry. Coach mistakenly calls him "Lance". I always like that sort of joke, for some reason. The way it demeans both the person who makes the mistake and the one who the mistake's about. It's equitible that way.
This show is quite dramatic, but I must say, almost every character in the show (based on the 2 seasons I've watched so far) is morally repulsive. Characters often plead for forgiveness saying "I made a mistake! Haven't you ever made a mistake?" These characters don't do anything BUT make mistakes, in all kinds of ways. Characters constantly betray each other. These 15, 16, and 17 year olds are sleeping with each other all the time, even as, in some cases, they pray in front of a Christian altar. In the first season there's a subplot of a HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE having a brief (sexual) affair with a businessman from out of town. Very infrequently do the characters have the personal strength to live up to their convictions. Ok, the show is well made, but it's really hard to watch.
damn! i havent been watching the show. i gotta jump on that.
there's a family comedy show called 'the middle' i like but yah, everyone in it has no religious convictions, notions or awareness it seems.
Really? Risk Arrest? Please cite for me a single case where a "Christian" was arrested for praying outdoors that didn't involve blocking an abortion clinic.
As for keeping religion out of public schools, if you let one "God" in, you have to let ALL of them in. That means that Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Animists, Shintos, etc. would have to get equal prayer time. Of course, some of you interpret "Freedom of Religion" as meaning only "Freedom of Christian Religion"
Those of us smart and moral folks in Austin, TX couldn't be prouder that FNL is taped right here in and around River City… I love my homegrown show… It 'tis one of the few great ones.
It's not the risk of arrest anyone's worried about. It's the risk of some hypersensitive asshole — you know, the kind who puts "Christian" or "God" in scare quotes — bringing a lawsuit.
Yeah, Coach Taylor has always called him Lance. Kind of a running gag, and so true to the character of a high school football coach.
Read the article a little more closely – it says the coach asked the camera crew to wait in the hallway while they said a prayer. They weren't outdoors. They were in the locker room.
And since you asked, there was a case this year in Florida (Pace High School) where the principal and Athletic Director both faced criminal charges and jail time because one of them asked the other to "bless the food" at a school booster club luncheon. So, the coach mentioned in the story above had a reason to be a little worried.
It may be hard for some people to believe, but there are entire communities all across the U.S. where people pray on a regular basis, and nobody is offended by it. As a matter of fact, at a recent city council meeting I attended here, the meeting began with a prayer to protect our troops overseas, followed by the pledge to the U.S. flag, followed by the pledge to the Texas flag. I couldn't help but think that that whole scenario would drive some people crazy.
Chris – This show has consistently been the best show on television since it's inception and I salute DirectTV for helping keep it alive. This is a season of change and challenge, but it was special the way they did the loss of Matt's dad. Thanks for recognizing the episode and the show.
If I remember correctly the real Tom Landry was infamous for getting his players name wrong.
Muslims don't pray to God, they pray to Satan.
Fantastic show! Which I'm sure is why it's not on NBC anymore. They just can't handle the rightness of it.
It will air on NBC in 2010. That's the financial deal that was struck to save the show for this and next season. Not ideal, but I am ecstatic this fine, fine show was saved.
Here, here! I totally agree. Best show on television today, bar none.
For this particular episode, it wasn't done as the regular running gag. And it worked.
By calling Landry "Lance" (for the first time this season), it made Coach appear to the audience (and probably to Landry) to be a little more "back to normal," "back to his old self" than he has been since the end of Season 3.
We love, love, love it in the Great Northwest, too. Our small towns are not really all that different from yours.
It's not just a "Texas thing", it's a Southern thing. I love this show and have watched it from the beginning. At the time, my son was a high school junior and playing left tackle for our Panthers. We played (and continue to play) at least one private high school every season, and the refreshing thing is that these private schools always ask the players from both teams to take a knee for prayer when the game has ended. Unfortunately, our children cannot remember when we all bowed our heads to pray together before every game.
My wife and I just started watching the show when the had the marathon on over Thanksgiving and it's on tonight and we're going to watch it.
I continue to be a huge fan of Friday Night Lights, even after the awful 2nd season. Thank goodness it got back to it's greatness. I love how real all the characters are, including the portrayal of the Taylor's marriage, and the relationship between Julie Taylor and her mom. An added bonus was the Emmy worthy writing from last Wed.'s episode.
Great stuff, Chris, about a show I've loved from day one, season one, reveling in how it respectfully treats God and community. However, for those of us without DirecTV who are waiting for the NBC run to start in January, howsabout a "SPOILER ALERT" next time, pretty please?
That's what people do in real world you religious tool. You are too dumb to watch this excellent show. go read your favorite work of fiction, the bible.
Titov excellent post and you sir are a scholar and a gentlemen. To bad all fools hopped on religious dogma will get their overly sensitive but "church" approved undies in a twist over it. the Fundies on the 'god' squad only want to see their comic book version of an alleged "super being or god" being paramount and forget any other person's delusions about fictional beings living in the clouds
I am so happy to see the love for FNL. Its been the best show on TV the last 4 seasons
Wow, Dude!
Really harsh, not to mention the bigotry!
You might consider increasing your meds or decreasing your abusive comments.
The putrid stench passed off as "Law Enforcement" enables the swill known as ACLU. They bow and scrape before their Masters Holder, Napoilitano, and Moonbat, and then do whatever they're told. Just like the fine German police under the Nazis.
After all the pre-first season hype I watched the first few episodes and felt it was BH 90210 transferred to TX with the added fillip of high school football (the 2nd religion in most of TX).
However, after reading 3+ years of acclaim and now this tongue bath of the series, I'm forced to rent the 1st season to ensure I didn't make a too hasty decision way back then.
Of course, if wrong decision, will be sure to rent ensuing seasons
This is one of the greatest shows I've ever seen. Along with being emotionally gripping, and overall well-executed in its craftsmanship, it's respectful to Christians real Americans.
Plus, having played for a nationally recognized football Ohio high school program, I can appreciate the gridiron aspects of the show.
In fact, I'd love to see an Ohio/Western PA spinoff of the show.
I love this show. But It has taken a strange turn this season. Because I read the book a long time ago, am a huge football fan and grew up in the northeast the show has been a fascinating window into a markedly different culture which rang true at least to someone from the outside. But it is beginning to feel like the storylines are spawned by Hollywood/New York beta males projecting their own vision onto it. Between this cake eater Landry and his cute lesbian bandmate, art boy matt with his looney toons mentor, Buddy having this contrived crisis of conscience, the Dillon kids suddenly being villains, the coaches daughter being a dippy leftist and finding out that her father's assistant coach is gay and this whole contrived socioeconomic battle between the two schools the show is just very far afield from what it was. It is still well-written and enjoyable, but it feels like it was hijacked by pansies.
It's not just a Texas OR a Southern thing, actually. It's pretty common here in Utah too, and in Idaho as well.
Yeah, I gotta agree. I'm managing to watch the season now, but I wouldn't be too pleased if I was waiting for the rebroadcast.
"Fools hopped on religious dogma." It pains me to read that phrase. Religion is a deep seeded, personal conviction, one not reached easily and always being tested by the harshest forces mankind can throw at it. Words like "alleged" when referring to Our Lord is deeply offensive and is a sign of an intolerance that breeds hatred. And not on the Christian side. If you, sir, and Titov read that "work of fiction" you would see that the teachings of Jesus Christ are about love, not hatred, and that we only crave the same respect demanded by non-believers. Why must you demean us so?
The Liberty Counsel (a Christian law firm) took this case and won thank the Lord:
http://lc.org/index.cfm?PID=14100&PRID=856
Yeah it seemed really soap opera-y. That's why I quit watching.
Great show, great writing coming from a Texas girl who lived Friday Night Lights many years ago.
The Lord's prayer is non denominational. It is prayed by Protestants, Catholics, Jews. I think that the majority culture should be allowed to express itself here in the United States. I am Catholic. If I lived in Israel I would be happy if my kid prayed after a ballgame with his Jewish Teammates. Our majority culture is Judeo-Christian. The left wants to suck religion out of school and society so they implant Marxism or it's current incarnation — Enviromentalism.
@Trimegistus
Titov and Ricardo Cabeza clearly need to be added to the following prayer list.
"Adopt a Liberal":
http://lc.org/media/9980/adopt_a_liberal.htm
Peter Berg is one of the coolest, most down-to-earth guys working in Hollywood. And if you've seen The Kingdom you know he's got his political head screwed on straight — which makes him a rare flower indeed.
Even though I am not a fan of American sports (football, basketball & baseball) I really like American sports movies. And I really loved the movie the show was spun off from and I had high hopes for the show, hopes that were happily met.
I'm getting out of here now before anybody gives anything else away. I didn't know NBC was bringing it back, I was just going to hope I could get the new season on DVD. It's a great show, although I'm surprised that NBC would allow portrayal of characters who engage in such plebian behaviors as attending football games, going to church, and eating at Applebees. Horrors!
I'm also shocked that they didn't use Saracen's father serving in Iraq as a platform for repeated anti-war, anti-Bush rhetoric.
Did you play at Masillon, Jedi?
You'd be surprised at how many below-the-line and behind-the-scenes types are very down-to-earth people in Hollywood … Directors and Producers included.
Ricardo. You are probably the type to jump on others who you perceive are being intolerant of gays, or blacks or whatever you say you believe in or support, but you show no tolerance for things you don't believe in.
This is still America, where Freedom OF Religion is NOT Freedom FROM Religion. Believe what you choose, but don't keep others from their beliefs.
The hatred in your comment is evident. You are nothing but a name calling bully.
Hahahahahaha, great post. In these modern times, I don't know if your statements are too close to the bone to be funny to contemporary parents, though.
Perhaps it's more of a non-Big-City thing.
Nonsense- not equal prayer time, but proportionate prayer time. In most Texas high schools, that would mean Christian 99.9% of the time.
(This rule of course would not apply to cults like Scientology, Heaven's Gate, and Islam).
"ACK!! Not everybody has access to Sattelite TV, and are waiting anxiously for when it's repeated on NBC. A "spoiler alert" tag should have been posted !! "
If ou're waiting, then wait. I have absolutely no sympathy for crybabies who go out of their way to read about a show whose season is currently in progress and not expect to be "spoiled". What do they think the article's about?
Oh, and by the way, nothing major was spoiled above that couldn't have been learned by watching the episode's previews.
I don't think Jewish people pray the Lord's Prayer. It was given to us by Jesus, and, unless they're Messianic Jews, Jewish people don't follow Jesus.
ACK!! Not everybody has access to Sattelite TV, and are waiting anxiously for when it's repeated on NBC. A "spoiler alert" tag should have been posted !!
It is a great show, even with the problems inherent in Season 2. Season 3 was a fantastic, gut-wrenching return to form, and I can't wait for Season 4.
Single case where a Christian was arrested for praying outdoors that didn't involve blocking an abortion clinic? Easy. Bishop Austin Vaughn (NY) – now deceased – was arrested in the late 1980s. Why? He was sitting on a bench – outside an abortion clinic (but NOT on the property, and no where near the entrance). He was praying the rosary. Silently.
He was arrested – at the request of the abortionist and his aides – for "inciting a riot"…which was quite laughable, because he was alone.
He spent 5 years in jail for said offense. He turned 80 yrs old shortly after his release.
I'm a liberal who is bummed he can't watch his Friday Night Lights.
dude, in no way, shape or form are these kids banging each other left and right they way you're making it sound. it's not gossip girl. true, the first season partially focused on an affair — and yes, there are couples on the show — but just like your whole "mistake" bit; it's a show about fucking teenagers, that's what they do! that's all they do, and to be honest, it's what all us adults do too. if you don't have a least one fuck-up a day (little or big) then you're lying to yourself. And very few of us at 15 have the strength to live up to our convictions; at least this show shows them trying, wrestling with that fight. i'm trying to be nice here and explain to you why this is the best show on TV right now, but for you to say what you said means you're an idiot. so what i really want to say is:
kill yourself.
AMEN,
THERES A FEW COLLEGE COACHES OUT THERE, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, WHO DO IT BEFORE EVERY GAME– AS ONE OF THEM IT WAS ONE OF THE TINGS I MOST ENJOYED ABOUT MY JOB– KNOWING THAT IT WAS BEING DONE AT A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY MADE IT ALL THE BETTER, IF EVERY YOUNG MAN IN THIS COUNTRY WAS MADE TO PLAY FOOTBALL IN TEXAS FOR FOUR YEARS, IN TEN YEARS YOU'D SEE MANY OF OUR SOCIAL PROBLEMS START TO DISSOLVE AWAY…
THANKS TO THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THIS SHOW AND THANKS TO YOU FOR WRITING ABOUT THIS REAL AMERICAN SHOW!!!
Awesome show. This is the only TV show I have seen for years that you keeping thinking about for the next few days or in which you get that knot in your stomach worried about what will happen next. The characters make choices and those choices have consequences just like life. How refreshing. Thanks Mr. Berg!
You must be logged in to post a comment.