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[eilowyn]

I was reading this excellent article about how something as well-done as Friday Night Lights could be so completely trounced in the ratings by the thematically, if not presentationally, similar Glee. The gist of the author's point is that Glee feeds into our narcissism and need to be the winner, the center of the spotlight, while the more subdued

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[eowyn_315]

Heh, the funny thing is, I should probably feel like that, since I was a drama/music kid in high school and have little to no interest in sports. And yet... FNL utterly amazes me, while Glee was a huge disappointment. And that sense of gritty realism is a big part of why. I am so invested in the lives of these characters and especially the Taylors' marriage. Their joy is uplifting and their despair absolutely breaks my heart. Their after-school activities matter much less than their painfully realistic conflicts and emotional struggles.

I also think they've done a great job of showing the positive influence sports can have on underprivileged kids. Coach Taylor is a role model and father figure to so many of his players, and these kids' lives are turned around because football teaches them discipline, cooperation, and respect for authority and gets them away from drugs and crime.

Also, what Lauren said. The show is totally accessible even if you don't care about sports at all. I think that's actually the reason why it's done so poorly in the ratings. The people who would love it are put off by the idea of a show about sports, but it's way too much emotional drama for people who are only watching for the football.