If you never saw Friday Night Lights, you missed a real gem of a show. Set in fictional Dillon, Texas, where the high school football team (the Panthers) reigned supreme, it followed the fortunes and exploits of the coach, his wife, and several players and students. Somehow, encapsulating this thoughtful series like that does not do it justice. Exceptionally acted and written, Friday Night Lights starred Kyle Chandler as Coach Eric Taylor and Connie Britton as Tami Taylor. Week after week, there was never anything hokey or formulaic about this drama. Each character was intelligently explored and allowed to evolve in a way that tugged on your heartstrings, but not too hard.
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It aired on NBC from 2006 to 2011. Not nearly long enough, in my opinion. It was outstanding television as it was meant to be. Some of the other actors included Minka Kelly, Jesse Plemons, and Taylor Kitsch. There were no weak links in the cast.
Kyle Chandler Looked Back at the Beloved Series at Its 20th Reunion
Per People, Kyle Chandler mused about the show during its 20th reunion in the Lone Star State. He mentioned that it's "hard to describe" what being part of the remarkable series was like. The actor added, "It was so magical, it really truly was, and not just for what the show you see, what the audience sees, but for the actors; going into a show like this is like going to a master class in acting."
He Lavished Praise on One of the Show's Executives for Giving the Actors So Much Latitude
Kyle Chandler has tremendous regard for Peter Berg. He was the show's executive producer and creator. "Pete cannot be given enough respect; he changed my whole life. When he sat with us at a dinner one night, he said, 'I want everyone to know their lines 100%, and I want you to know your characters 110%, and I want you to be willing to throw it all out the door, come to work, and act,' and that was the most incredible thing, because he meant it, and it gave us all this freedom."
The show's classic motto was, "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose." I guess it applied to the actors as well as the characters."
