Who’s Up For Applebee’s?
Friday Night Light’s is, pardon the cliche: the best new show of the fall. And, in the interest of full disclosure, doesn’t mean much as most of the new shows are shamelessly uninteresting. But this is actually really, really watchable. I went in a skeptic and after two episodes and intrigued. The writing, acting and production is all top notch (I wouldn’t expect any less from Peter Berg, who also directed the film in 2004, you may also recognize him as Terry “Irish” Conklin from the underrated The Great White Hype), and there is a budding star in Taylor Kitsch who plays the layered Tim Riggins. It is somewhat formulaic, there is only so much potential drama that can surround a town obsessed with a high school football team. But its not so much what they are reaching as how they reach it. In the pilot, the star Quarterback Jason Street, suffered a neck injury, the second episode was how everyone coped with it. As dull as it sounds, the show is extremely compelling. Many of us aren’t familiar with it but football is the anything and everything in many of these smaller towns, I am sure on some level it is exaggerated for dramatic effect, but at the very least it is symbolic of a very traditional, very prominent culture.
Some other thoughts…
-If this is indicative of what high school girls in Texas look like, then when/if I have a son, we are moving him down there. It’s for his own good.
-Can anyone explain the phenomena of baked goods between the men and women in these towns? I assume it’s just a token of mutual appreciation but… jesus. Is it supposed to make the recipient feel masculine? Because I know nothing makes me feel more like a man than wolfing down some moist cupcakes topped with fluffy pink icing. Personally, after I eat one of those it is usually a precursor to dismembering someone.
-As for the title, every significant meeting takes place at the neighborhood Applebee’s. It reminds me of the commercial where the local high school football coach is retiring after an uncelebrated final season. But the local Applebee’s honors him with a team picture on their wall. So, if that’s their base, and it is realistic, I don’t mind the product placement.
On another note, I just wanted too mention that you do not have to like football to enjoy this series. There is a slew of human interest stories, the best of which take place between the injured quarterback with his girlfriend and coach.
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