It's not the first time an Internet campaign has saved a show. This time, Friday Night Lights, on the brink of cancellation due to poor ratings, might be returning.NBC is in talks with a number of other networks including the CW and TNT to discuss the possibility of having FNL appear on more than one network in the same week. Naturally, it would be broadcast on NBC first and then would be re-broadcast elsewhere.This has been done before. The biggest example I can think of is when the first season of Heroes (which was re-broadcast on the Sci Fi Channel in the same week of its initial broadcast). The situation is slightly different as NBC Universal owned both of those networks.
Also in this case, it's not a freshman drama. It's a good show that hasn't been able to snag a big enough audience for network TV. If this works, it could mean possible a prolonged life for other shows in similar situations. I just hope those other shows aren't the crappy ones.
Giveaway Monday: That '70s Show The Complete Series Stash box set
Giveaway Monday: Back to You season one DVD
Six shows that I am watching pretty regularly this season
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-21-2008 @ 8:42PM
Oreo said...
I think a better example would be Law and Order: CI. It was shown on TNT or TNN and then NBC. I think that might work.
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2-21-2008 @ 8:46PM
amy3717 said...
I love this idea.. Friday Night Lights is the best show on television right now..
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2-21-2008 @ 11:27PM
R said...
I agree!!! It's the best show on TV other than Boston Legal
2-21-2008 @ 10:15PM
Rich C said...
I agree. I don't care how or when I get my FNL. Just as long as I get it!
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2-21-2008 @ 10:22PM
tIFFANY said...
This would be great. I look forward to this show every week. Repeats... bring it on. I hope they keep the one show that makes sense!!!!!
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2-21-2008 @ 10:46PM
Cody said...
Didn't all of the Landrys and Saracens and Riggins and Williamses and Streets and Garritys and Colettes start off as juniors last year? The cast is going to have to switch up soon even if they do renew it.
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2-21-2008 @ 10:58PM
Jason said...
Landry and Saracen are currently juniors. Smash, Riggins and Garrity are seniors. Not sure about Tyra but I think she's a senior too.
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2-21-2008 @ 11:23PM
R said...
Great show and NBC should do everything it can to bring it back. You can't have all reality crap shows on...
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2-22-2008 @ 12:45AM
Jeff N. said...
FNL is such a great show. I sure hope these rumors are correct and it's back on the air.
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2-22-2008 @ 1:16AM
karenlu said...
I agree to I don't care how it's aired as long as it gets aired. I'd even be ok with them showing several years of the "senior year" to keep all the current actors in place.
KEEP THE LIGHTS ON!
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2-22-2008 @ 4:21AM
stjohnob said...
I always thought Bionic Woman belonged on Sci-Fi rather than NBC.
I hope FNL is here to stay!
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2-22-2008 @ 6:29AM
Bash said...
I love people who say "last year they were this" and "this year that means they will be that"...
Yeah. As long as there's a final game in a season this is right. But at the moment they haven't even entered the playoffs yet. So as long as they don't show the final playoff game the "year" doesn't end.
Remember: A "Lost" season is 30 real-life days.
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2-22-2008 @ 7:39AM
segsig said...
Nbc has gone off the rails! They didn't want to have upfronts, but noone followed them down that path, so they're back. Now they'll see if the other companies will help save their show. Other companies buy shows when they've been on long enough; other companies are doing their own shows. If none of these desperate measures works out for them, will it keep getting wackier?
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2-22-2008 @ 8:57AM
Meb said...
I agree with others that have said just keep it on. Don't care how. I just hope that they keep the show as it has been and stop going down the 90210 path.
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2-22-2008 @ 1:45PM
BDUB said...
This is the best news I have heard in a long time. I can't wait to see what happens.
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2-22-2008 @ 3:44PM
AlwaysRight said...
Friday Night Lights is a poorly written and weakly executed TV show. I am shocked at the following of this series, and stunned that NBC would waste their time on this feeble attempt at drama.
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2-23-2008 @ 3:46PM
IloveFNL said...
Alwaysright, obviously you are misnamed because in this situation, you are not correct. FNL is a great show. And if it is not your cup of tea, change the channel. But don't be so rude as to write a post like that on a website for its fans. Post on a website for a show you enjoy.
2-22-2008 @ 5:04PM
Christopher said...
Best show on TV.
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2-23-2008 @ 2:18PM
Steve said...
Great Show, Life Like
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2-24-2008 @ 9:52AM
Bard said...
I'm a 40 year-old father of two from Norway (Scandinavia, not the state of Maine :-), who download every episode of FNL because it is (or used to be) an extremely well-written TV-drama. I checked out the FNL-pilot when I was downloading Studio 60 in the fall of 2006, and was instantly hooked. The freshman season of Lights is one of the best TV-dramas ever - far better than the mentioned Studio 60 (even though I love Sorkin's work).
BUT: Season two has not been up to the standard of season one. It's hard to put the finger on what exactly has been wrong, because it's still such a great show. But I think the writers haven't managed the delicate mix between happy and sad, play and hardship. The first season handled this mix to perfection, but it has been off in season two - in my opinion tilting toward the darker aspects. The murder-plot is one thing - but not only that. The Mexico-adventure and the meth-factory were also out of character I think, and all the tension in the Taylor-family became too much after a while.
I think it says a lot that the best episode of the season in many viewers opinion seems to be episode #7 "Pantherama" - where Tami Taylor finally is back at work at school and instructs Tyra and Lyla to take charge of the Pantherama-show. Finally a feel good-episode midst all the murder-drama, and all of a sudden the show felt back on track.
But it didn't last. The next one up was just as dark and gloomy as the previous ones in season two.
Dear NBC: I beg you to keep this show on - it still is one of the best shows on TV. But it needs a tad bit of adjustment. We love Friday Night Lights because of the realism of it. But we still want to be entertained - that's why we watch it. So adjust back to that fine-tuned balance between light and dark.
If u manages that you'll have a winner on your hands once again.
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