One of the more pleasant surprises about the fall schedule that NBC announced last week was that they had renewed the little-watched but critically-acclaimed show, Friday Night Lights. I will ignore the fact that they moved it to 9:00PM on Friday nights, which is when the people whom the show might appeal the most to — lovers of high school football — are at actual high school football games.
I’ve never seen Friday Night Lights, but I’d like to. We were totally overwhelmed with all of the new and returning shows last season, and the pilot didn’t grab us, so we didn’t follow through. That also happened with Ugly Betty, The Nine, The Knights of Prosperity, and er, um Heroes.
Obviously, that last was a huge mistake, and was rectified by a well-timed DVD lent to me by a co-worker that allowed catch-up during the Christmas break, but I didn’t have that luxury with Friday Night Lights.
But I’d like to check it out — but only if I’m fully caught up by the time the next season premieres. So I’m asking NBC to please release the DVD in August. Give those of us curious about this show a chance to see what it’s all about. Because, right now, I’m checking TV Shows on DVD, and they’ve got nothing whatsoever about a DVD release for Friday Night Lights. But the Heroes DVD comes out in late August, which is perfect for the people who want to mainline the first season just prior to starting the second.
Honestly, I do not understand why this isn’t standard operating procedure for every single show: make sure that the DVD of the previous season is already out there a few weeks prior to the next season’s premiere. Especially with the serialized shows where continuity and ongoing plots are what bring people back each and every week.
So get on it already, NBC!! Get some more viewers for Friday Night Lights!