After two years, a lot of viewers still haven’t become season-ticket holders for Friday Night Lights, NBC’s terrific drama about family, community, the transition from adolescence to adulthood, and (oh, yeah) football. Now’s your chance to catch up on the program that we ranked at No. 71 on our list of the Top 100 TV Series of the last 25 years in the new EW 1000 issue. You can start with the show’s pilot episode, embedded below; if you’re already an FNL fan, call this a highlight reel.
This is the sixth installment in EW.com’s selection of 10 great episodes of programs on our top 100 list. We’re streaming an episode from a different show every day, or you can watch the entire slate in one sitting at Hulu. The first half of the list is here; Part 2 is here.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I LOVE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. Last August, my roommate bought it on DVD, and we watched the pilot late one weeknight while eating Quarter Pounders and drinking coffee. Once Coach gave a pep talk to Saracen after Street’s tragic injury, we were hooked.
Kyle Chandler–one of the most woefully underrated actors of the small screen. He’s brilliant.
Best show on television.
Season one of Friday Night Lights is one of the most powerful, well acted and moving seasons in recent television memory. To me season one of Veronica Mars and season two of The West Wing are the only other recent shows that have uniformly outstanding episodes over a season like FNL.
S2 is another story, unfortunately.
Friday Night Lights should be higher on the list and where is Sports Night on the top 100?
YAY FNL!!!
FNL needs all the love it can get. I heart #7.
This show is so good – if you’re thinking of trying it out, you won’t regret giving it a watch!
“Clear eyes, full hearts can’t lose!”
I get chills everytime I hear that. You’re not likely to find a more perfect example of television that FNL’s first, earnest, heart-rending season.
FNL 4eva.
Love this show. Nothing makes me happier than hearing someone has just become a new fan. Yeahh!!!!
File this gem under “Criminally Underwatched”.
Thank you, thank you, thank you EW/Gary for highlighting this most fantastic show in Popwatch!! I was so hoping someone would, as it is so deserving. Please, if you have never seen this show, Hulu or Netflix it now – you will not regret it!
The pilot episode was amazing and each episode after did not disappoint. I just watched it again because I almost forgot how good it was. Wow.