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Will 'Friday Night Lights' Be Rescued From Television Purgatory?
Posted by Defamer Hollywood at 10:33 AM on February 22, 2008
The plight of Friday Night Lights is a familiar one. Everybody likes it, but its ratings have been as handicapped as Jason Street. So, what's a network to do? First NBC tried moving it to Friday, then they tried injecting an off-putting murder subplot, but still no Nielsen love. Then the nice folks at bestweekever.tv got in on the act with their "Save Friday Night Lights Campaign" involving light bulbs and a petition, but even that was kiboshed by the Vh1 brass. Just when things were looking like the show would go the way of the dodo and Arrested Development, a new hope has arisen.
According to today's Variety, NBC is looking to share the drama with another network. They've reached out to E!, TNT, and even Direct TV. The idea here being that one of those places would share in the production costs, then both networks could broadcast it, and the show would live happily ever after. Not since Bonnie Hunt have TV execs wanted to give something so many chances. Well, here's hoping it works out this time. At the end of the day, who cares what channel it's on, so long as it's actually on?
- 'Lights' may shine on other networks [Variety]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
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Johnny_Clueless
Posted 1:52 PM 22/2/08
Those are some really, really weird networks for NBC to be attempting to cut a deal with. ESPN seems a far more logical choice...but the network I'm really surprised they didn't mention is USA, since I'm pretty sure FNL is owned by NBC Universal...
Johnny_Clueless
busterbluth
Posted 1:52 PM 22/2/08
FNL needs more Bo. His love of Tim Riggins was a manifestation of how we all feel.
busterbluth
Glass_Family
Posted 3:13 PM 22/2/08
@Johnny_Clueless: Wouldn't they then be sharing the production costs with themself?
Glass_Family
knightracer
Posted 7:11 PM 22/2/08
It's all a lie. This is just Ben Silverman's way of excusing the cancellation of FNL. He's going to say that they tried everything they could to save the show by shopping it to other networks when they could just save the show by renewing it on NBC.
knightracer
gwendolyn
Posted 3:32 AM 23/2/08
"Not since Bonnie Hunt have TV execs wanted to give something so many chances."
Several years ago, I printed out an 'The Onion' mock weeklong TV schedule and one of the NBC prime time shows was called 'Tracy Morgan's Last Chance'.
I found that immensely amusing...
gwendolyn
Crazy Broad
Posted 4:33 AM 23/2/08
Please, just let the show die already. Critical acclaim notwithstanding, FNL is a major snoozefest. I wish NBC would have made such an effort with Freaks and Geeks. (Yes, I am still bitter.)
Crazy Broad