Friday Night Lights

A new television show, based loosely on Buzz Bissinger’s marvelous book, made its debut on NBC last night. I thought Friday Night Lights was pretty good, except for the clichéd outcome of the big game. I am calling it to your attention, though, because it featured some of the few instances in which I’ve heard people pray on a prime time television show. Players recited most of the Lord’s Prayer in one scene, and a star halfback offered an extemporaneous prayer for the healing of an injured teammate in another. Add to this mix the question that a Pop Warner player asks the team’s star quarterback–Do you think God likes football?–and you’ve got an episode that takes seriously the role of faith in people’s everyday lives. I am eager to see whether this theme is sustained.