Friday Night Lights

This year's Super Bowl was particularly anticlimactic, or rather the hype leading up to it, but perhaps I think that because any sporting event is just another yawn-worthy affair that cannot hold my attention. 

I would rather 

1) Take the 2 train in all its duration while it's running local for whatever inexplicable reason without a book or iPod,

2) Reread The Awakening by Kate Chopin, or

3) Watch Friday Night Lights on Hulu

than watch anything related to sports. Honestly. 

#3 is actually a source of entertainment rather than boredom or apathetic disinterest, surprisingly enough. The show centers on Dillon, TX, a tiny town that lives, breathes, dies, and sweats high-school football. The game translates into the conflicts with or without the pigskin within the lives of Coach Taylor and his family and the various players and their friends and family.

The show has been met with a lot of critical acclaim for its adept writing and cast of competent actors. (It helps that most of the cast is well past the twitchy, teenage years of dealing with the latest cystic acne breakout or other hormone induced fiasco; a lot of the "high schoolers" are nearing 30). It's a sympathetic, non-judgmental look at small town life. 

FNL has neared cancellation several times only to have been brought back very recently by NBC for what is presumably the final shot. I' m just now joining this bandwagon, but better late than never. I'm riveted, and you should be too.  And trust me, that's saying a LOT...