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"Friday Night Lights"

Not everyone was behind H.G. "Buzz" Bissinger's best-selling novel about the high school football team in a small Texas town, "Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream," when it hit the shelves. In fact, the author had to cancel his first book signing in Odessa because he was receiving threats. However, the 2004 film adaptation, starring Billy Bob Thornton, was well received. Entertainment Weekly's Lisa Schwarzbaum... more 

"Friday Night Lights"

Not everyone was behind H.G. "Buzz" Bissinger's best-selling novel about the high school football team in a small Texas town, "Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream," when it hit the shelves. In fact, the author had to cancel his first book signing in Odessa because he was receiving threats. However, the 2004 film adaptation, starring Billy Bob Thornton, was well received. Entertainment Weekly's Lisa Schwarzbaum called the movie "a stringent, stirring real-life drama."

Although the 2006 TV version built a rabid fan base, the ratings weren't good enough for NBC. When devotees discovered that the network might cancel their beloved series before Season 3, they kicked into action. In a show of support, a group called Save FNL shipped more than 16,000 minifootballs to executives. NBC got the message and struck a deal with DirecTV to co-finance the Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton vehicle. Still, no Hail Mary pass could ultimately keep the show alive, and it scored its final touchdown in 2011. less