Friday Night Lights on RTE

TarfHead

So, there I am browsing www.radiotimes.com when I notice a new series on RTE1 - Friday Night Lights.

I check it out on www.metacritic.com and see it has a consistently high score and praise from leading newspapers.

"A fiercely controlled and inventive work of art" New York Times
"Extraordinary in just about every conceivable way" Washington Post

Hmmm, methinks, this could be agood one to start watching. RTE must have shelled out to get the Irish TV rights. So, when is it on ?

Friday 05 May at 01:30 AM

Every time I think RTE can't go lower in my expectations, they tunnel down further :rolleyes:

Basq

Last station i expected to see it on...

.. but with that time-slot, who else but RTÉ?

chalkitdown1

A drama about a High School American football team was never likely to get prime-time billing on RTE, but half past one in the morning is taking the piss.

ElNino

It's well worth recording. For my money it was the second best new show in the U.S. this year after Heroes.

chalkitdown1

*cough*Dexter*cough*.

Basq

chalkitdown1 wrote:

*cough*Dexter*cough*.

Dexter is probably my favourite new show of the year.. with Heroes being a close second.

But that's beside the point!

Vokes

1.30am...hah!

Well you could never accuse of RTE of inconsistency

Seriously though, why do they bother.

Mossy Monk

Do all of you not have a VCR or PVR?

corblimey

Mossy Monk wrote:

Do all of you not have a VCR or PVR?

Well, that's hardly the point. Why use our license fee money to purchase a top-rated show from the US and then stick it on at a time which will attract niether viewers nor advertising revenue.

Mossy Monk

I agree entirely with what you are saying but the option to see it is still there. I think RTÉ really need to start advertising these programmes.

ekevosu

I just finished the last episode of the first series last week of fnl and I must say I enjoyed the show. If you liked the film you'll like the show as it has the same style. You can also be guaranteed at least one full season unlike other shows like studio 60, a fantastic show that looks like it won't make it back, and a few other that have been shown on irish telly but have since been cancelled in the states. Is Dexter coming back or was it just a 12 episode season?

Rjd2

corblimey wrote:

Well, that's hardly the point. Why use our license fee money to purchase a top-rated show from the US and then stick it on at a time which will attract niether viewers nor advertising revenue.

I thought the show was struggling in the ratings? However thats besides the point RTE when importing US tvs shows have no imagination, CSI,Lost, Desperate Housewives no matter what you think of them all safe shows. TG4 line up of American television shows is more impressive! Howeve half 1? that is a joke surely after the 11 o clock rte 2 news?

Mossy Monk

ekevosu wrote:

Is Dexter coming back or was it just a 12 episode season?

Season 2 of Dexter will air later this year on Showtime.

S.M.B.

It's not as if FNL was a ratings success over in the US though? The big shows get treated very well on RTE (Lost, Desperate Housewives, The Soprano's etc) where the struggling shows (FNL, Veronica Mars), while often critically acclaimed, get treated poorly. Although I wish it wasn't the case, I certainly see the logic behind it.

dulpit

Now admittedly i've only seen the first 2 episodes so far, but its a good show, i'd watch it if at all possible... Its like someone else said, if you like the film you'll like this...

Shame about the scheduling of it, i'd never have heard of it if it hadn't been for boards...

Utopia Parkway

1.30 in the morning?

Jesus wept.

arcade1

ekevosu wrote:

I just finished the last episode of the first series last week of fnl and I must say I enjoyed the show. If you liked the film you'll like the show as it has the same style. You can also be guaranteed at least one full season unlike other shows like studio 60, a fantastic show that looks like it won't make it back, and a few other that have been shown on irish telly but have since been cancelled in the states. Is Dexter coming back or was it just a 12 episode season?

where did you see all these, i saw the first few ep but couldn't find anymore.
thouget it was a fantastic show, wish it was on earlyer that 1.30

AdMMM

I think that FNL is certainly one of the best shows out of the US this year. It's superbly well written and it's just a shame that it's return is doubtful. Even if you don't like American Football you will find it to be an interesting show as it highlights the extreme pressures put on relationships in the presence of high expectations and great responsibilities!

cashback

RTE probably just snapped it up to prevent TV3 getting their hands on it. They're not too worried about what timeslot to air it in.

Mossy Monk

cashback wrote:

RTE probably just snapped it up to prevent TV3 getting their hands on it. They're not too worried about what timeslot to air it in.

Any other conspiracies?

Reptileboy

cashback wrote:

RTE probably just snapped it up to prevent TV3 getting their hands on it. They're not too worried about what timeslot to air it in.

What a perfect use of License Fee paying viewers. Why does RTE snap up these US imports only to place them in the middle of the night. Even The West Wing was bordering on the extreme when it was aired. And now they barely even bother to show 24.

cashback

Mossy Monk wrote:

Any other conspiracies?

Nah, that's all I have for now.

desperatewife

have just finished watching this show and have to say it was worth watching not my usual thing but enjoyed if heres to season 2!

standbyme

You can see it on ITV4 during the week, as i saw it advertised along with the 1st series of Smallville about 7 in the evenings, but i dont know where in he series theyre at now?

Assuming you still have the old sky box, you can watch it in the Other Channels section

SoSueMe

This would have been a good show to put in their teen slot on Monday's at 7PM, except the quality of Friday Night Lights means deserves to be put on at 4AM. RTE stupidity. Even if it was on slightly earlier Imight watch it. They are putting Alias on before it and they have already shown that. Its a shame it isn't been given the slot it deserves.

Crumbs

Good news - FNL to be renewed for a second season.

Dodge

Reptileboy wrote:

What a perfect use of License Fee paying viewers. Why does RTE snap up these US imports only to place them in the middle of the night

Because they cost less than a home produced show. RTE now has competitin for US shows (in TV3 and channel 6) so it'll buy the really exciting stuff (in their mind) from concepts at first sale in LA. Then it'll buy shows in the second rund of sales after the pilot has aired in the US for practically nothing.

If a show based on American Football struggles for viewers in the US, how could RTE possibly think that they would do well in a primetime spot in Ireland?

Reptileboy

Great news to see that FNL will be getting a second season. Well deserved.

As for RTE buying the series, it seems a waste of license payers money to purchase a show with the intent of dumping it on late at night.

newbie2

As far as i know, when RTÉ purchase the rights to a programme from the US they also purchase rights to other shows made by the same network. It comes as a 'package'. Showing FNL at this late time is RTÉ's way of testing the show with the audience. If it gets rave reviews from the public then it may be rescheduled at a more pleasant hour.

Dodge

Reptileboy wrote:

As for RTE buying the series, it seems a waste of license payers money to purchase a show with the intent of dumping it on late at night.

Its probably the cheapest thing they could put on at that hour...

Reptileboy

Dodge wrote:

Its probably the cheapest thing they could put on at that hour...

What about Aertel? That always used to work. Maybe they could get some of that funky elevator style music the BBC play when they close down with Ceefax. Could actually prove more watchable than some of the crap that makes up most of late night television.

Besides, most people are drunk at that hour. Friday Night Lights probably confuses them and make their heads hurt.

White Knight

Aertel is usually on the other channel

If anyone can direct me via pm to being able to watch this class show online I would appreciate it. 'tis a great watch (inclusive of Hot American lassies!)

Rjd2

its got a prime time slot next friday 4.20 in the morning!!!:mad:

lostexpectation

newbie2 wrote:

As far as i know, when RTÉ purchase the rights to a programme from the US they also purchase rights to other shows made by the same network. It comes as a 'package'. Showing FNL at this late time is RTÉ's way of testing the show with the audience. If it gets rave reviews from the public then it may be rescheduled at a more pleasant hour.

that doens't explain third watch or alias, although maybe then had alreeady shown them earlier when they were first on.

ScruffySlayer

I don't get why channels can't buy shows individually and see what fits what time slots and where. it is amazing how many strong shows get dumped in slots that don't do them any favours when they could do well in other times. it's stupid.

Rjd2

ScruffySlayer wrote:

I don't get why channels can't buy shows individually and see what fits what time slots and where. it is amazing how many strong shows get dumped in slots that don't do them any favours when they could do well in other times. it's stupid.

C4-OZ
BBC -Family Guy, Arrested Development spring to mind.
I am not silly enough to expect this to get a prime time slot ahead of some monster hit such as Desperate Housewives but surely it deserves a place at 1 in the morning which is itself not great but better than bloody half 4? Look at the shows in the early hours and they are not exactly huge.

Reptileboy

Rjd2 wrote:

C4-OZ
BBC -Family Guy, Arrested Development spring to mind.
I am not silly enough to expect this to get a prime time slot ahead of some monster hit such as Desperate Housewives but surely it deserves a place at 1 in the morning which is itself not great but better than bloody half 4? Look at the shows in the early hours and they are not exactly huge.

I can't believe that they are planning on showing Friday Night Lights at 04:20 this Friday. Preceeded by 5 hours of repeats. 5 hours for godsake:mad: Who the hell is going to watch a repeat of Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives at that time of the night. It's crazy. There should be some kind of legislation brought in that prevents RTE from buying foreign series only to air them in the dead of night.

I also see that RTE have started to show the 2005 ABC drama series Eyes staring Tim Daly. It only lasted 12 episodes. So has RTE being sitting on the series for the past 2 years or something. I did it come in a bargain package. I recently watched a particularly bad show called LAX, staring that renowned actress Heather Locklear, which RTE aired in the early morning. I never even heard of the show until I caught it channel surfing. It seemed like a bad attempt at doing a Las Vegas type show with the casino replaced by an airport.

Either way, RTE's treatment of FNL has been shocking. I would have liked if TG4 had managed to get it. Could have worked with One Tree Hill and become an adequate replacement for The OC.

ScruffySlayer

Yeah TG4 have a better head for scheduling. I think FNL and Veronica Mars would have been really successful here if TG4 had got them.

Reptileboy

ScruffySlayer wrote:

Yeah TG4 have a better head for scheduling. I think FNL and Veronica Mars would have been really successful here if TG4 had got them.

Wow, I never thought of Veronica Mars. And now that I think of it, VM would have been perfect for TG4. It's got the cult audience factor, the hip teeness about it, and frankly a huge amount of buzz.

standbyme

Yeah if anyone remembers when the BEEB showed SEINFELD after 11pm on Tues. nights, also RTE did as well-no surprises there!

arcade1

White Knight wrote:

Aertel is usually on the other channel

If anyone can direct me via pm to being able to watch this class show online I would appreciate it. 'tis a great watch (inclusive of Hot American lassies!)

dido

Reptileboy

Okay, I'm really starting to get annoyed now with RTE. Last Friday's episode of FNL was simply brilliant. I'm really starting to see where all the buzz about this show is coming from.

The show is simply breathtaking. The acting is fantastic. For so many newcommers and young actors, they really are showing maturity and experience. And the football scenes are electric, simply stunning to watch.

I've seen dozens of movies and shows that have done the football game moment, but FNL really adds a whole new dimension to it. Stunning photography, and it know just how long to keep your attention with it.

And the camera work is trully amazing. It really gives the show a documentary feel. I know it is deployed in a number of other older shows, such as 24 and Battlestar Galactica, but I really feel its reached its peak with FNL. I don't even feel like throwing up from the dizziness. It simply isn't that noticable.

I'm starting to wonder if I should be getting a campaign together to have Friday Night Lights moved to a more audience friendly slot. It bloody deserves it, and I'm sure once some of the media and press get a look at it the buzz will just explode.

If you've got a VCR, DVR, Sky+ or an insomniac mate, get this recorded, sit down and watch it. You won't be dissappointed.

Best show of the past season in my opinion.

homerjk

ReptileBoy, i have been Sky+ing it but good oul RTE wont let you down! it started about 20 mintues early the other night so i missed the entire start of the show.
It started on my recording where streets girlfriend was touching him and his colostomy bag had burst. What all did i miss? they lost the game i take it!!

elurhs

Good old RTE. I gave it 10 extra mins at the start and 20 at the end to be on the safe side, and I only just caught the start!

They lost alright. Saracen nearly scored right at the end but as a whole they played badly. I think Riggins dumping his girlfriend (the blonde one) was also near the start. Excellent site for show recaps is www.televisionwithoutpity.com. Be highly wary of spoilers, very easy to accidentally spot what happens in a later episode.

homerjk

Cheers elurhs.

Reptileboy

Yeah, I missed the first few minutes of last weeks episodes and ultimately ended up downloading the episode the watch. At least, I downloaded the first 3 episodes and gave them to my sister and one of my mates who plays Americian Football. The both loved it, but for two completely different reasons. Obviously my mate liked the Football parts, and all the stuff relating to pitch activities. But my sister loved all the emotional drama.

This show simply deserves an audience. It at the least deserves a chance at a decent timeslot. If it doesn't work out, then stick it on at the dead of night. But at least give it a chance to develop an audience.

At least RTE has gotten a second series out of it, that is if they intend to buy that also. I bloody well hope so.

homerjk

Missed the start of it again! Jesus RTE get a grip!
gonna have to start manual recording the times myself.:(

homerjk

God Damn it RTE!
After the last few weeks being on at an earlier time they put it back to late slot on firday and sky plus missed the last 10 mintues of FNL because it started late! how can the schedule be so out of whack? there was no live events on earlier or anything.

And yes i have written to RTE.