The Devil Town

Like many of us, I spent a lot of time reading James Joyce in High School. It was not at all a treat but it did speak to me, this I suppose, counts for something.

Two years ago, a little show called "Friday Night Lights" started on NBC. It was loosely based on a movie from four years ago, which was loosely based on a book from about 20 years ago. It's still relevant because, apparently, it's still the same in all these little west Texas towns -there's Friday and that for football and its under the lights. Makes sense...

It's a great show. Well acted, and not at all encouraging. There is very little hope in this show. I mentioned Joyce earlier, because its tragic the same way Joyce is tragic. People suffer as their bodies and their history betray them. They find themselves struggling in the generational limitations imposed on them by their parents, the lack of opportunity in the immediate world around them and sometimes, most disappointingly, by their own parochialism. The only way things could get more depressing, is if you sat with xtian and le trois in a bar for several hours.

NBC was not going to renew the show, but there was a rabid following, so rather than produce the show themselves, they partnered with DirectTV. DirectTV gets to show the new episodes this year, with NBC re-airing them in January. Kind of a neat deal. The commercial above was also neat and hints at the story that is some word other than neat, but its all I have right now. I really enjoy it...everyone looks really lovely...Tyra and Riggins both facing upwards, as they sort of dare to transcend their white trashness...Matt and Julie facing off, wondering what is next with them...Coach and guidance councilor Tammi trying to get the car started, trying to help their charges find a way out of their tiny Texas town and into a much bigger world.

It's also ostensibly about football. which lends itself to great speeches. Much like the below, from the finale of Season 1.

Good stuff...