FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: MUD BOWL (TV)
Summary
One in this 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. In this episode, two days away from the state semifinals against the Brant Vikings, Eric sees the wheelchair-bound Jason working with Matt on a practice field. Once at school, Eric is disgusted to find all sorts of tacky decorations and preparations already in place for the big game. Later, as Matt reveals to Eric that someone left an envelope full of cash in his locker, an outside explosion occurs and smoke fills the air; a train derailment has caused a chemical spill near the school. Meanwhile, Waverly and Lyla shoot at cans to release their anger at their boyfriends. Also, Landry succeeds in scoring a tutoring date with Tyra. At an ad hoc practice at the elementary school, Eric wonders whether any other players have received illicit cash before Mayor Rodell informs him that the semifinal game will have to be moved from their home stadium due to the spill. Eric is forced to search the state for a new stadium, refusing to use any facility that's closer to the Vikings' hometown than his own. Then, Eric gets an idea -- the Panthers and Vikings will play in a cow pasture, which will allow everyone to simply focus on the game. Next, Eric takes his players to a hardware store to stock up on materials to make the pasture into a football field. Smash tracks down Lyla and tells her that he's worried about Waverly being bipolar since she's off her medication. At the hearing, Jason decides on the settlement amount he needs and everyone agrees on the figure. Meanwhile, the Vikings' head coach is less than pleased with the cow pasture football field but eventually agrees to use it. Having a drink with a buddy, Tim starts to worry that his affair with Jackie may end badly. Once the game gets under way, the Vikings score a touchdown and two-point conversion right out of the gate. Then, rain begins to fall, turning the field into a muddy mess. Nevertheless, Smash scores a touchdown and with the two-point conversion, the game is tied at halftime. Meanwhile, due to car trouble, Landry is late for his date with Tyra at a diner. As she studies there, an older patron follows her into the parking lot and tries to rape her. With seconds to go in the game and the score still tied, Matt makes one last effort to win and scores the gamewinner as fans rush the field to celebrate the Panthers' title game berth. Eric then asks Jason a question which could change his life. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: March 28, 2007 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:43:12
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:90762
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; High school; Football
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 2006-2011
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Sarah Aubrey … Executive Producer
- Jason Katims … Executive Producer
- Brian Grazer … Executive Producer
- David Nevins … Executive Producer
- Peter Berg … Executive Producer, Developed by
- John Cameron … Co-Executive Producer
- Jeffrey Reiner … Co-Executive Producer
- Elizabeth Heldens … Co-Executive Producer, Writer
- Carter Harris … Supervising Producer
- David Hudgins … Supervising Producer, Writer
- Bridget Carpenter … Producer
- Nan Bernstein Freed … Producer
- Jeff Henry … Co-Producer
- Mike Lewis … Co-Producer
- Katie O'Hara … Associate Producer
- Patrick Massett … Consulting Producer
- John Zinman … Consulting Producer
- Kerry Ehrin … Consulting Producer
- David Boyd … Director
- H.G. Bissinger … Based on the book by
- W.G. Snuffy Walden … Music by
- Bennett Salvay … Music by
- Kyle Chandler … Cast, Eric Taylor
- Connie Britton … Cast, Tami Taylor
- Gaius Charles … Cast, Brian "Smash" Williams
- Zach Gilford … Cast, Matt Saracen
- Minka Kelly … Cast, Lyla Garrity
- Taylor Kitsch … Cast, Tim Riggins
- Adrianne Palicki … Cast, Tyra Collette
- Jesse Plemons … Cast, Landry Clarke
- Scott Porter … Cast, Jason Street
- Aimee Teegarden … Cast, Julie Taylor
- Brooke Langton … Cast, Jackie Miller
- Kevin Rankin … Cast, Herc
- Aasha Davis … Cast, Waverly
- Brad Leland … Cast, Buddy Garrity
- Jae Head … Cast, Bo Miller
- Blue Deckert … Cast, Mac McGill
- Derek Phillips … Cast, Billy Riggins
- Louanne Stephens … Cast, Mrs. Saracen
- Katherine Willis … Cast, Joanne Street
- Mark Nutter … Cast, Mitchell Street
- Matt McTighe … Cast, Mike
- David Cowgill … Cast, Slammin' Sammy
- Liz Mikel … Cast, Corrina Williams
- Libby Villari … Cast, Mayor Rodell
- Brian Thorton … Cast, Coach Gainey
- James Powers … Cast, Bradley Cole
- Michael Robert Tudyk … Cast, TV Announcer
- Todd Whitthorne … Cast, Disaster Reporter
- Peter Malof … Cast, Principal Brecker
- Tom Procida … Cast, UIL Suit
- Mark Walters … Cast, Jeff Sable
- Richard Jackson … Cast, School Lawyer
- Charles Sanders … Cast, Mediator
- Seth Spiker … Cast, Brant Player
- Odell Grant … Cast, Dillon Fan
- Ed Clements … Cast, Lannie Albright
- Brian Ernest … Cast, Referee
- Phillip Ontiveros … Cast, Barber
- Amber Middlebrook … Cast, Parent Club Lady
- John William Athas … Cast, Male Teller