PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: PALEYFEST 2008: 25TH ANNUAL WILLIAM S. PALEY TELEVISION FESTIVAL: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media’s 25th William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles. Held this year at the Cinerama Dome at the Arclight, the festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television and is dedicated to television’s creative community. This evening honors "Friday Night Lights," the drama series -- based on the 1990 H.G. "Buzz" Bissinger book and 2004 film of the same name -- which follows the Dillon Panthers, a high school football team in small-town Texas. Michael Ausiello, senior writer for TV Guide, moderates. The evening opens with Pat Mitchell, President and CEO of the Paley Center, discussing why the Paley Center wished to honor "Friday Night Lights." Then, Ausiello briefly talks about his love of the show before introducing executive producer and writer Jason Katims. Katims discusses the show’s ratings-challenged history before introducting the episode "Leave No One Behind," which is screened in its entirety. After the screening, Ausiello introduces the panelists: Katims and executive producer, and director Jeffrey Reiner as well as cast members Adrianne Palicki (Tyra Collette), Zach Gilford (Matt Saracen), Aimee Teegarden (Julie Taylor), Minka Kelly (Lyla Garrity), Scott Porter (Jason Street), and Connie Britton (Tami Taylor.) Panelists touch on such topics as: a plan for DirecTV to share airings of the series’ third season with NBC; how the cast deals with news of the show’s possible cancellation; the effect of the writers’ strike on the second season’s conclusion; why the Tyra-Landry murder plot proved to be an unpopular storyline with viewers; if Britton and her on-screen husband Kyle Chandler act in a parental fashion toward the younger members of the cast; why Chandler was unable to join his co-stars as a Paley fest panelist; the relationship between Chandler and Britton, both on- and off-screen; the cast members’ level of trust in Katims; the show having been virtually ignored for Emmy consideration; the benefits of filming in Austin; the techniques adopted to give the show its unique look; and if the actors are allowed to ad-lib. Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics: if the actors are frustrated by the show’s low ratings; whether there was a conscious decision to downplay football action in season two; how Taylor Kitsch’s character of Tim Riggins became such an audience favorite; Briton’s memories of acting next to the show’s creator/executive producer Peter Berg; the eclectic choices for music on the show; if younger characters will be introduced after the current “students” graduate from high school on the show; how the scripts have evolved in addressing race relations, and the loyalty of fans in trying to keep the show on the air.
(This tape includes the "Friday Night Lights" episode "Leave No One Behind" (T:92451), which is part of the Museum's collection and may be viewed separately.)
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: March 19, 2008 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:50:31
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:92171
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Pat Mitchell … Host
- Michael Ausiello … Moderator
- Jason Katims … Panelist
- Jeffrey Reiner … Panelist
- Adrianne Palicki … Panelist
- Zach Gilford … Panelist
- Aimee Teegarden … Panelist
- Minka Kelly … Panelist
- Scott Porter … Panelist
- Connie Britton … Panelist
- Peter Berg
- Kyle Chandler
- Taylor Kitsch