October 03, 09:59 PM

Thanks for all your questions and comments

I want to thank you all for watching the show and coming online and talking with me. Friday Night Lights and the whole notion of how sports and culture are related is an endlessly fascinating subject for me, something that I'm really excited about being able to explore in the television format. If you keep watching, I promise you twists, turns, and honest exploration of American culture and a really good time. Thank you for watching.

COMMENTS

My husband is a videographer/ film maker in the Dallas area. We love your show and are highly impressed with the way you cast, direct, shoot, and edit. Great job! Check out our website and let us know if you ever need any help with anything. We'd love the opportunity. One request and no offense, just honest feedback....keep the boobs tucked away better. They are beautiful girls and will still be attractive to viewers without having to show so much. Thanks for listening and we'd love to meet you if you are interested in our work for anything.

sorry. wanted to give my email as well. mykael2@hotmail.com
thanks, april

I want to know if there is any way for me to drop a line (email/mail)to Minka. We were like best friends in junior high (LMS) and I just wanted to say hi. Thanks.

Dear Mr. Berg, I am a agent for several retired former NFL stars who have let me know they would be intested in doing a guest spot on your show. Please let me know.
Thank you Bruce Donaldson

hi, i was just wondering if i could play a role on your show. i`m also a ex- highschool footbal player and i wish that i could still play. Peter i`ve been trying to get a hold of you, but i can`t find out how. i checked all over the internet and can`t find your e-mail. so let me know if you`ll let me be a guest star or if i could have a role.

The music is fabulous. I am looking for the songwriter/group that sang the song at the end of the "Crossing the line" episode. It played into Tim and his brother's relationship.

I LOVE this SHow...!! Being an ex high school football player...I love it..I wish I could go back to those days..if you need A role to be played let me know

You have a real quality show here. Don't blow it!! By the way I'm 83 years old.

You cannot cancel this show!

I LOVE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS! Please what ever you do don't cancel this one. My son races home from practice on Tuesday nights to watch. We get to enjoy good family time together. Family time is something that is hard to come by with a 17 year old that plays two sports. I just love this show. Also what ever you do keep Sarensen And Coach Taylors daughters relationship innocent. Please lets at least keep that one within the confines of what we know as normal and innocent teenage behavior. Thanks keep up the good work.

please don't cancel this show. I'm hooked on it. it's one of the best new show's on the tube today.

I want to enjoy the story and hope the show is a big success, but I have trouble watching due to the hand held camera work and overlapping dialog. Could you please use a stationary camera for all but action sequences and clear up the dialog?

Your show is the best on TV---I run home from football practice every tuesday nite to watch FNL---it is awesome

My entire family watches FNL and love the show. I have a 14, 12, and 7 yr old and feel that it offers them and my wife and I all something..! Great show!!

I just watched to show for the first time tonight, and I must say, I think it's pathetic. I stopped watching it after 30 minutes. I don't think that it's realistic at all. And who would even think of getting in a car with a stranger and going out to an oil field. How stupid. And why is it all of a sudden okay to be that sexually active in high school. Do any of them work? Why portray 17 & 18 year olds as knowing so much when they haven't even begun their lives yet?

I loved the show, as many of you have too. Keep it going and thank you for this show!! Everyone I know loves the show also and hopes it will keep going on.

Very good show. Keep up the good work!

I loved last night's show. One thing I do need to point out. The folks kept referring to Voodoo as a Katrina VICTIM. He's NOT a victim. Those of us who lived through katrina are SURVIVORS. The victims are those who were lost in the storm, God bless them.
Thanks,
Loriann

Love the show. I think you need to advertise it more. It is up against three good shows, maybe it should be moved to another night if it doesn't fair well in this time spot.

I sat down to watch this show and almost got sick because of the camera work. It was shaky and it seems that that's all the show was about, dramatic footbal plays (way too much fx.)That's it - that's all there was, on the field plays.
I have to say I'm disappointed in the show. I graduated Odessa Permian 1985 MOJO and it's nothing like the real thing. Seems funny to me H.G. Bissinger and NBC both can't get it right? You guys have no clue how it was. Times have changed, so has MOJO.

This is a great show. Kyle Chandler is so good. The show seems very realistic due to the camera angles. Keep the show in TX, and don't listen to detractors concerning religion --- this gives the show authenticity --- along with the country music.

This may seems a little out of blue.Just want to say "thank you" for bring us this amazing program.I am deeply moved by the series. Listen to the open theme always gives me the shiver from head to toe.Keep up the good work.Please.

Great show! I wish you all the success in the world. It is nice to see a show that explores the human condition and is not just about getting ratings.

I love the show. I hope to see it on the air for many years. There is way too many lawyer/cop and medical related shows on the air right now. This is a very family friendly show. How refreshing!

I checked out Friday night Lights when I heard a friend of mine, Chad Brannon, was going to have a guest appearance on the show later on in November. I'm not a football fan, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised, especially as I had mainly decided to check out "FNL" because of Chad's upcoming guest appearance. It's wonderful to see how faith is woven into the show, as it is something that is woven into every day of my life.

Hi, I just want to say that I'm really praying hard that this show makes it. I'm a Born Again Texan and this show really hits a nerve for me. It's all so familiar.
Kyle Chandler was an EXCELLENT choice for coach Taylor. We're big fans of his and this role just makes him shine. I love how faith and religion are portrayed as commonplace.
I'm telling all my friends to watch this show. It's truly one of the best on TV right now.
God bless, and keep up the good work,
Loriann
http://www.caringbridge.org/tx/benji

Hey Miguel, they have only shown 2 episodes, so chill out. If you watch the premier again you WILL SEE hispanics in it. How do I know(?)...I was 1 of quite a few hispanics in the pilot.

Hasta~

P.S.
Thanks Mr Berg for the defense of wearing a long sleeve shirt during filming at 3:00am and the temperatures were in the 30's.

Who is the girl in episode that gives a cake to the new qb? Can we see more episodes with her? I liked what she brought to the cast - a fresh, lively, and genuine character.

Seeing the overnight ratings, it looks like you're headed for cancellation fairly quickly.

The numbers are down much more than you'd expect given the number of people who watched the premiere when you include the two repeats. Barely beating Gilmore Girls in key demos isn't going to make NBC very happy.

I'm sorry to see it. The show was a great concept - at least from the first 15-20 minutes of the premiere, which is all I could make it through.

Maybe this will act as a lesson to any ambitious director who thinks vomit-cam is anything more than a trite Film School gimmick. I think you would have made it if you had just let the scripts and the actors stand on their own.

I hope it doesn't mean the end of high-school football as the focus of a weekly show. If that's the case, then you would have done all of us who love the Lights a great disservice, Pete.

Thank you so much for one of the best shows since Joan of Arcadia went off the air. We so badly need a show that reflects what so many people live on a daily basis.
Keep up the good work!

I was REALLY happy to see the players kneeling when a player was down/injured. It is true to form down here, and I am glad that it faithfully reinacted, rather than going for the "kill em all" mentalitity that others might.

We really dont include Texas in all of our conversations, or doing things in a "Texas" way, we're doing that be default:)

Question: Which district will "Dillon" be in, and will we teams from those districts?

Going from 5A to 4A would be a great plot line as well.

Maybe even get some of the REAL school teams some camera time to add to the authenticity?

Thanks for a great show, and we really DO appreciate the efforts to keep it real, NOT Hollywood-ized:)

Mr. Berg,

Superb show! Really well done, thank you! Great story line well acted by all of the players. I can't believe no profanity, no smut, no negative view of religion. I really felt the power of the prayer to the characters in the final scene.

Thanks again. To mix metaphors, you all have hit a home run.

Best wishes,

Mickey Campagna
Alexandria, VA

STORY LINE IDEA:

I would love to see a story line involving the passing of a School Bond Election for a New Football Stadium and the politics involved. Just ask the locals of Round Rock, TX! You could really touch home on that!

To those of you upset about religion and the partying scenes. This is a show reflecting Texan football. It is meant to be true to all aspects of life and face it those are it. A mature teen knows that it isn't ok to party but it goes on. I think the show was great and I am from Indiana. I wish our Friday Nights was more like those in Texas. So get over your religious spout and watch for the sake of being a great show!!!!

I laughed, I cried, I cheered! Thank you so much and keep up the good work. Big props from a li'l Texan in SoCal!

Peter,
You are missing the essence of the story line - the thread is a "town" that will forego all of the moral fiber of their struggles in the oil field to "make a livin" so they can say they win. So they can brag about being the "State Champs." I was born in Odessa Texas - 1954. Played football in that conference from 1967-1972. Irony - the high school I graduated from in 1972 (Ross S. Sterling) lost "State" to Permian in 1973: 47-7 (worst score in state championship in history). The book created a sense of the pressure put on the coach by the locals to WIN. You missed it! Permian colors are Black and White - not blue and gold - looks like a cub scout blue and gold banquest - bring out the the real deal............don't commericalize this opportunity to create a great story.....P.S. Racialism was rampant - make it a point........good luck.
Get rid of the vomit cam....focus on the characters - you didn't establish that in your initial pilot.

Appreicate your indulgence.

Rick

Thanks,
Rick

Dear Pete,

As a parent of #9 of the Panthers, I want to thank you for giving me back my Friday Night Football. My son has moved on to college and I was having withdrawls this year. I particulary appreciated the religion and the compassion of the players and coaches portrayed in the show. Of course, football is a religion in Texas.

Great show. I just lost everything to Katrina last Aug. I have been a certified athletic trainer for 32 years now and I have to tell you one of my greatest losses was that of the comradship that a team and its staff share, especially when something tragic has happened. The end of the show touched me greatly and made me remember how great it was to be part of a team/family. Look forward to future epesodes. P.S. Good job on showing parents how serious injury is handles on the field and how the officials brought the team together and warned them of the proper way to hit safely. I produced one of the first videos teaching that (1994)for the Louisiana Sports/safety Council.

Great show. Keep it up. Loved Kyle Chandler.

Cherie,

Yes, I just read that. I don't agree with him. I think he's throwing away 10% of his audience on a bad film school gimmick.

I thought what I heard of the script was very good. I just won't be able to watch the show.

That was an excellent show tonight! The only commnet I want to make is about how you made it seem ok for under age student atheletes to drink. This is a growing problem in many of our schools. Don't get me worng, I love the show and will continue to watch it. My only concern was the party atmosphere.
Thanks for a great production!

This is one of the best shows ever and I watch a lot of TV!! Unfortunately, this likely means NBC will cancel the show which would be terrible. This is the appointment show they've been missing.

Excellent show. Thank you. Kyle chandler is wonderful and thank you for not being afraid to show prayer in the name of Jesus. Love it.

Jim, if you're still around, check out the thread titled "Camerawork on the show" where Peter addresses that concern.

:)

My son's high school has won state 5 years in a row. The only HS in Illinois to do this tremendous feat. They have many traditions and inspirations that would make a great part to your show. Feel free to email me for references.

Why the vomit-cam, Peter?

I loved the book, it was inspirational. I was really looking forward to the show.

But I'm one of the 10% of people who get severely motion sick from vomit-cam. I lasted 15 minutes before I had to turn it off.

Why vomit-cam? It's amateur hour. Film school stuff to distract the viewer when the script stinks and everyone in production knows it. It's not cute. It doesn't make anyone think it's a "documentary." It's just a gimmick.

Thanks for ruining something that could have been really good.

I just thought I'd point out, since this is a new message board... the name of the post-er in this board is at the bottom of the post, not the top. Therefore, poor Scott has received several replies that were intended for Mindy.

I don't know who you are, Scott, but I couldn't agree more with your rave review! :)

You are to be commended for a very good family show. I live in Pflugerville and watched as you and your crew filmed in Pflugerville. We take pride in our town and our beliefs. I appreciate your bringing God into the show. Our Panthers believe in the power of prayer. Thanks for a job well done.

Football and Religion kinda go hand in hand, we always had a Priest AND a Minister in the Locker Room to pray before each game and at Half Time. We didn't pray for Victories, we prayed that nobody would get hurt too bad and we'd all be given the ability to do our best. What's wrong with that? It is Texas....Bible Belt...'ya know? Besides, I know people that go to Church every Sunday, until Football Season starts, then they take the season off. I'm think God understands. I'm not religious, myself, but I belive in God and I think he/she/it likes Football, otherwise we wouldn't have it...right?
Great show and I hope it lasts a long time.
I'll be watchin' every week.

Loved the authenticity you incorporated into the making of this show. The ref I recognized as one who has ref'd central TX HS football games and does a great job as he did for you in your show. Being from the town you are using to "pfilm" - I can appreciate you using the local sites to include showing the football field of the team who went to State last year. In summary - Loved it!

What's the deal with the Hispanic's? It's not Tx with out Hispanics. Also the camera work made me sick. I will not watch the show again. You have lost a viewer and I WILL spread the word.

Being a Texas High School coaches wife, I have to say that this show was great! So much of it is so true. Also, thanks for not showing it on Friday Nights. All of us Texas would be missing out on a great show!

I really enjoyed the show. I do not watch many shows, other than sports, but I could be hooked. I sort of like the " wholesome " flavor; I used to actually love Everwood. Be well.

I loved the show. This was a surprise to me as a 40 plus homemaker, but the show really moved me. Of course my husband made me watch it. I liked it more than the movie because the show seems to be spending more time on character development. Kudos to Peter Berg! I will be recommending the show and hope it will be a huge hit for NBC. By far the best new show of the season!

Debra

I loved the show and LOVED how God was implemented. Im a football freak so anything dealing with football I'll watch. I hope this is not a short lived show. Please keep this one going.

ok scott...your comment jsut shows that you are ignorant, closeminded, and judgemental. Interesting...isn't that what you people usually say about the christian folks? Religion is HUGE in texas, it's right in the Bible belt. Even those who dont have a personal relationship with Christ, go to church etc. are praying at the football games and whatnot. Why do you have a problem with the show being realistic. I guarantee you...it's going to show some other storylines that are realistic as well and you're not going to like the outcome, but that's reality.

I really wanted to love this show...
so lets just say it was pretty good.

You have a lot of things right; the feel of high school football, the large coaching staff, the rabid fans, the new coach aspect and some pretty good shots of Texas.

the announcers were pretty good too, ironically the best thing about Varsity Blues was the depiction of the play by play team--you have done a good job here.

I should know, I have been a high school play by play guy for 11 years for our local radio station.

But as some have pointed out, the technical aspect has me asking more questions then anticipating the rest of the series.

The clock stops on out of bounds plays, and Sarazin had to scramble a little too much on the final touchdown.

A little too dramatic. and you could see Street's injury coming a mile away.

Why not have him set up a game tying field goal, then have Dillon win it in overtime?

Just work on the 'realistic' aspects of the show--like the brilliant sequence with the refs continuing the game, intercut with Streets injury.

Another thing, that one player (hard to hear the dialogue at times) his hair is way too long for West Texas.

But you didnt insult Texans, you understand that the game is a metaphor for life.

Good luck Mr Berg..

I'll be watching.
BN

honestly i thought this was incredibly unrealistic. for anyone who knows anything about football, you cant just put in your backup and score twice in one minute. especially when he screws up the first two plays

Why did you choose to have Street get injured in the first episode? I'm worried that it doens't give the audience enough time to get attached to him as a character, and having him off the field on the first show doensn't allow to the viewers to see how much he contributes to the success of the team, causing us not to fully understand what a set back it is for the team to have him out. What were your thoughts about having him injured right off the bat? thanks

The show takes place in West Texas. They are religious there. So we now have to PC an entire region to make a few people comfortable? How about exposing yourself to something you might not get exposed to and learn something.

Thanks for giving my kids and I a wonderful show to watch together. We lack wholesome television. We lack tv without wanton, lack of discretion sex. This will give us something that we can all be comfortable watching. Our tv is on for very limited viewing because of the abrasive, immoral programs out there, and quite frankly, I like to watch a show here and there. I will be praying for a prosperous and long run for you all.

hey scott! screw YOU! religion can be kept wherever the filmmakers want it to be. so... take your bhudda somewhere else k?

Cudos to you and your team!! You have brought out the true spirit of football in Texas. Your premier episode was extremely well done, and I look forward to many more fantastic episodes!!

love football, however, religion needs to be kept out. Your audience is of diverse beliefs.

What about academics? Today, our star running back is sitting the bench because of grades. No pass, no play. No matter what!

I really appreciated how you put in the prayer at the end. We always prayed after our H.S.football games. It really put more realism into the show. Great show. I will watch it every week. I've never been much of an NBC watcher but this will change that. Keep up the great work.

Like the show, esp Kyle.

Easy to get into it. Do it again.

Hate the Squiggle Vision!!!! Too close and gives me a headache. Really detracts. Looks like a high schooler was filming it and I wish he wasn't.

How coyly vague. LOL!

Will we get to see you in any of those future episodes?

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