TV Tonight: Friday Night Satellites

Besides the do-over of the ABC Wednesday night lineup, tonight Friday Night Lights returns on DirecTV's 101 Network. I've seen the first episode, and to the extent that season 2 got away from the show's first season roots—with the Landry killing subplot especially, but more soap drama in general—the premiere gets back to them, focusing on the central characters without histrionics. I don't know if this is a result of the security of the DirecTV deal (a lot of the heightened drama last year probably came from the show's shaky status at NBC), but it's welcome.

I've also made a decision about how to cover the new season, which is—not to make a decision. Essentially, I will probably write about the new season this fall (and definitely when it airs on NBC in the winter), but it won't be a top priority. I don't have DirectTV, and while the network has sent the first two episodes, it may not send them all out. Many FNL fans, of course, will not be watching the season for months. Combine that with the fact that I'll continue to have election media to deal with for another month (at least) and the rest of fall TV—and call me crazy, I have a thing about my kids still remembering my name and face—and I'll probably blog FNL only occasionally, as time permits.

If you're dying for weekly reviews in the meantime, Alan Sepinwall has wrestled with the same dilemma and decided that he will blog every episode, bumming DirecTV from friends if need be, God love him.