FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

Growing up with a rabid football fan is hard. They jump around and scream and cry and get really bummed out and basically have there entire mood on Monday determined by whether or not there team wins on Sunday. Coming from this background, the last thing I want to do is watch a show about football. But then, about a year ago, my mom started to rant and rave about Friday Night Lights. Then, various friends started telling me "you have to watch it, it's amazing." Unmoved by their pleas, I continued my non-FNL life until one day in a moment of divine inspiration I added it on my Netflix queue and my life was forever changed. It's my favorite show ever. Even more than the X-Files (which if you knew me from 1994-1999 then you know that's a pretty strong statement.)

My top six reasons Friday Night Lights is the best show ever.

1. Because it has Tim Riggins.
Caroline said it best, "It's hard to have a crush on a fictional character."

This phenomenon is unlike any other. It's not a typical actor crush. Let me break it down: I would go see anything that Gael Garcia Bernal is in because I have a crush on HIM. Most of the boys I know would go see anything that Scarlett Johansson is in because it's HER. With Tim Riggins, that's not the case. I don't even know the actors name because I could care less about him. It's the 17 year old football player who lives with his brother in Dillon, Texas I love. And Caroline loves. And my mom loves (This summer my mom actually confessed to having a dream about Tim Riggins where he drove up in his truck to my parent's house and kissed her. Gross.)

2. Because at least once an episode I cry and I laugh and I smile and I go "Aww."
Every. Single. Episode. It touches on what it is to care about something and someone and how it can consume you while you're simply working away at Applebee's or on a used car lot.

Goosebumps: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-MbgIgPQcY&feature=related

Last week it was during a scene between Matt Saracen and Coach Taylor where in his perfectly 17 year old way, Matt said ""I'll sit on your bench. I'll come to practice and do whatever you want me to do, but I'm gonna hate it, and you're gonna hate it."

3. Because of the music.
When you're opening credits have Explosions in the Sky and you had your State Champs riding on a float down Main Street while "Devil Town" was playing, you're off to a good start.

4. Because I think that if I watch it, that will be enough to keep it on the air forever.

5. Because in the way of Arrested Development and Family Guy (the first time), it will probably end before it's ready and that makes every episode a sweet, delicious treat.

6. Because deep down, I think everyone wonders what it would be like to live in a small town in Texas where football is life.