Eyes Wide Open | It's Not Only Football: Friday Night Lights & Beyond Podcast

Mae Whitman, Scott Porter & Zach Gilford discuss Season 1, Episode 2 - "Eyes Wide Open"! The group talks about how various characters dealt with grief, Coach & Tami's relationship, Jason Street's hospital scenes, Tim Riggins not showing up to see Street, Zach's solo scene with Kyle Chandler, how the show created complex female characters, the improv brilliance of Jessie Plemons, Mama Smash's encounter with Tyra, Coach breaking the news to the team that Street is paralyzed, and so much more! Have a question or comment for the show? Leave us a Rating & Review on Apple Podcasts!
#fridaynightlights #podcast #fnl

[@machodgdon]

I’m counting down the days until we get to the episode The Son, also known as a master class in acting from Zach

[@1devoneydean1]

Same!

[@dbienapfl08]

Every person is 😂

[@bigbadmojothebulldog]

Absolutely the best episode. Zach’s performance gave me goosebumps and left me in tears! Such a talented actor.

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Such a great episode

[@jeffersonotoya141]

The last convo with coach and Matt... When the rumor was that he had his eyes closed when he made that last pass ... Priceless.

[@amanchabra8947]

I didn't watch the show as it aired live, but I did download the first full season on iTunes later that summer in 2007 and binge-watched it. As a sports movie buff, I LOVED the Pilot and how it followed the same format as the movie, but created a whole new universe that I was interested in. It was episode 2 that made me realize though that this show was about MORE than just the game of football because there isn't actually a game. It ends with them going out of the locker room, and then roll credits. At first, I remember being a little disappointed, but the more I thought about it, I then said to myself, "That was actually really genius to do a show about football, and not show the game!" It made me want to come back for Episode 3. Now, having watched it all the way through at least 3 times, I am ready to do it again!

[@ashleybaker1764]

Cheered in high school. From central california, we has “spirt buddies” each cheerleader picked two players and every week we had to write a note and give them a small treat bag. For the last game we did a big basket and a reveal of who we were. So the “rally girl” thing isn’t too far off.

[@zestd3722]

We had "guardian angels" which did the same.

[@juliahancock9072]

This is my dream podcast as Friday Night Lights will forever have a monumental impact on who I am as a human. HOWEVER, the fact that there was an entire convo on the brilliance of Louanne and Jesse without mentioning my favorite recurring joke of Landry being scared Grandma Saracen is a witch needs to be fixed ASAP. It goes on for multiple seasons and makes me laugh every time!

[@biancawhite5966]

@Mae !!!! Give yourself some credit !!! I know you!?! I feel like FNL fans are also parenthood fans?! Maybe just me haha love this podcast and love listening to my favorite people chat about my favorite show ♥️

[@1devoneydean1]

Huge crossover fan here, as well!

[@smurfsquatch007]

Katara Veal!

[@Casevillecountryboy]

I ❤❤❤❤❤ how humble zach is

[@2ndSucks0018]

The real question, are Scott and Zach going to wear the same outfit every episode? Tune in next week to find out...

[@itsnotonlyfootballpodcast]

We're wondering the same thing...

[@Subo23]

And along those lines, does Gilford own a razor? Was it broken when Coach threw him into the shower?

[@katiem.1420]

@@Subo23 He looks a-ok to me! Handsome man.

[@lucky20lw]

It might have been the Tony Lucca cover of Devil Town

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Love that song

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Fun fact Coach Taylor never calls Grandma Saracen anything but Mam

[@mehaileyb]

I’m glad you brought up Applebees 😅

[@dimitrisgreen2883]

Zac was great he did some amazing thing

[@Casevillecountryboy]

What was the name of the big lineman with red hair loved him same with tinker

[@michaelrenkes4463]

What is in the soggy bag between Zach and Mae? French fries from Five Guys?

[@itsnotonlyfootballpodcast]

No silly, that's Scott Porter.

[@ConstanceCrowley]

I'm so happy someone decided to put this together over 11 years after the series finale. Not a fan of Mae, though. I have no idea who she is and have never seen her act, but... How can she call herself the #1 fan of FNL if she hasn't watched the entire series? That makes no sense. If Scott and Zach need a 3rd wheel, why not choose someone who's actually seen the show? Mae sharing her (mostly irrelevant) experiences annoys me. I mean no disrespect to her as a person; I just don't appreciate her presence (or her voice) on this podcast.

[@dawnw22]

Lol, who is wearing the Mom's Spaghetti shirt 🤣

[@caitlinsici]

This podcast has been so fun to listen to. I love getting insight from Zach and Scott about what the process was like filming everything, and Mae is such a great representative for all us fans :)

[@dannysalamon5731]

I feel like every episode should end with you all saying Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can’t Lose. And everybody gets a part

[@_Voodoo_]

I've watched FNL maybe 4 times now, I love that this podcast is happening

[@dbienapfl08]

Been like 20 times for me

[@statman64]

It's so funny that she sent BJ Novak's book because I was watching his movie Vengeance a couple weeks ago, and I was so happy when she showed up. I was like "holy shit it's Grandma Saracen!!!"

[@ericpommier4197]

This is one of the best TV shows that I've seen.

[@jeffersonotoya141]

Loyal fan here... Best show ever.. hate the way it ended tho .. coulda definitely went for 2 more seasons at least.

[@mayapilar]

I’m so glad you called out the interaction between Momma Smash and Tyra. One of my favorite scenes of the whole show.

[@showtime1285]

I sure do know alot about parenthood for some reason:(

[@patsyjeanroberts]

Huge huge fan here. Loving the podcast. One request- some of us are not real familiar with all the actors’ names, so a quick mention of the character they played as you chat would help me. 🥰

[@jwrailve3615]

Sure hope this podcast gets a viral short so y’all get pumped subscribers. When I was in school I played just about every single team the “Dillon panthers” played. West lake recruits, and hasn’t loss in like 4 years. The Dallas and Houston schools normally dominate because of the size and depth of the teams and the other teams that come and go usually have recruited kids voodoo tatum style. The school I went to we were the last school to have football boot camp in the off-season. We sucked, but the schools San Antonio/atx area are usually pretty good mainly lake Travis, west lake, Smithson valley,

[@springflower241a]

FNL and Parenthood=two of my favorite shows! Thank you guys for this podcast.

[@Casevillecountryboy]

Sorry scott but knowing kittle to nothing about altar baoys sounds like the gayest playever 😂 love ya buddy

[@KarenPerez-ov6yi]

Yay for hyundai

[@KarenPerez-ov6yi]

Scott is so sweet and i love mae

[@turns2ashes]

Tony Lucca sang Devil Town on this episode not Bright Eyes

[@Casevillecountryboy]

Forgot tyra worked at applebees lol she was fire in season 1

[@KarenPerez-ov6yi]

Love this

[@Casevillecountryboy]

Love jesse and the rally girls lines

[@Casevillecountryboy]

Nerd chest 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@rogerclark4137]

Mae is yore possibly the worst host u could have picked. She just rambles and rambles and about complete nonsense. This would have been better with just two or a random local that appeared. Not sure I can take many more episodes

[@vanydakhiev3910]

Whenever I watched the show, I always craved burgers and fries 🍟 😋

[@Coyote-wm5op]

Lol same

[@mylesdias8453]

0:11 Mae Whitman former known as the voice of Katara!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Smalltowncutie2388]

I love watching you’re podcast!! I always loved it watching Friday Night Lights! I finished watching it on Netflix earlier today! I got the seasons on dvd!! This show is one of my favorite tv series to watch! I was sad that it ended at 5 seasons!

[@claymathewselevator8121]

I like how we don’t learn very much of Coach Taylor’s past before coming to Dillon really let’s the viewer create their own backstory for him

[@jeremiahunderwood2855]

So glad I found this podcast. Listened to all the episodes up to this one so far. Will be continuing to listen too. This is good stuff.

[@danpeters3258]

Love the show, just surprised a lot of the actors and acctresses involved weren't bigger stars after the show ended.

[@claymathewselevator8121]

Love Buddy and Coach Taylor’s relationship

[@KarenPerez-ov6yi]

I need to watch fridsy night lights but i loved all you guys in your other shows

[@KarenPerez-ov6yi]

Was jeff reiner related to tracy reiner garrys niece

[@KarenPerez-ov6yi]

I love maes answers

[@JohnScaer]

"We love a Planned Parenthood shoutout." Too bad.

[@BEEFSERPENT]

Not gonna watch til mae goes u guys don’t need her

[@katiem.1420]

Couldn't disagree more. She's funny, fun and represents the fan side so well, as well as having amazing insight into acting since she's been in the industry since she was a kid.

[@doylebbq4329]

she is awesome

[@cindymiles5696]

I love that she is a super fan! I think she is a wonderful addition as she is a fan and not an insider! This podcast is awesome! (As was the show!)

[@susancurtis5747]

She talks just to hear herself talk. Rambles on & on & on & on

[@doylebbq4329]

@@susancurtis5747 it's a podcast, they are supposed to talk lol