"Jumping the Gun"
Folks, I'm really sorry, but I had a problem with my TV around minute 47 of this episode. For some reason, the screen abruptly jumped to an episode of some ridiculous soap opera. I mean, I just know that someone on my beloved
Friday Night Lights didn't actually say, "My wife has three months to live," followed by a plot about two brothers who looked an awful lot like the Riggins stealing mortgage money from a Meth dealer. Tell me it was just a cable problem, and everything will be ok.
Well, if indeed
FNL really did stoop to this (though I'm still in denial), let me be the first to pardon Coach Dickie of Laribee for his completely unprofessional on-field behavior. If my husband were given three months to live, I'd probably knock out Tim Riggins too. Then again, if one is getting paid a boatload of money to coach, one has probably learned to compartmentalize (just do a Google search about Andy Reid and his kids and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about). The bright side is that the Laribee Lions are out of our hair.
Meanwhile, Tim has made up with his brother Billy, made up with their mutual ex, Jackie (sort of), and moved back into his own house - a house that is apparently about to be foreclosed because Billy couldn't keep everything together after getting fired. Thank god Tim went back to Meth man's house to get his stuff, knocked over a gun and in the process found $3,000 taped to the bottom of a table. That's all perfectly plausible. I especially liked that Tim insisted on putting the gun back because Meth man would "know" otherwise. Because he's not crazy enough to come after Tim regarding a measly $3,000 or anything. Lame.
Chez Taylor, Julie confessed her wrongdoing to her father and Shelly was unceremoniously ousted after taping
The Office over game footage (that crazy Michael Scott is now ruining lives in Texas! And in the middle of a writers strike too!). What a sad way for Jessalyn Gilsig to exit the show. She deserved better.
In the midst of all of this was one shining beacon of reality: Smash's recruitment. Ok, reality might take it a little too far - not that I'm an expert myself, as my entire exposure to college football recruitment comes courtesy of
Two-A-Days - considering the TMU coach showed up and solicited Smash in the school lunchroom, but this I was willing to take at face value. You could feel the relief in Corinne "Mama" Williams, when Smash announced he was committing to TMU, and I also couldn't help but be glad that he'll still be somewhat local. I'm no fan of Noelle, and can't help wonder whether she'll still be such an influence on Smash now that he's made his verbal commitment. In fact, it was his moments that somewhat redeemed an otherwise lackluster episode, especially the final scene between him and his mother, and the sheer exuberance with which he pronounced, "Hey ya'll, Smash is gonna play for the U, baby!"
Next week you'll be back in the very capable hands of my colleague Casey Marsella while I'm up in Taylor Kitsch-land (that's Canada, for anyone who's unsure). I'm looking forward to hearing from all of you, especially those who disagree with me about this week's episode, and perhaps I'll have reevaluated my position by the time I get back. Hey, if season 2 can have an episode completely devoid of TyLandry (LanTyra?), anything can happen.
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