There's nothing like Matt Saracen and Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) to wake my tired mug up on day 12 of Press Tour. Can't honestly complain about working on a Sunday when my job is to sit at a table and stare at the talented cast of Friday Night Lights and then grill executive producer Jason Katims about what's on tap for the third season -- which will debut on DirecTV on October 1st, btw -- And speaking of, I got scoop...

Rather than picking up where the strike left FNL, we're jumping forward eight months to the beginning of a new school year.

Jason Street and Smash Williams are not returning to the show as series regulars. Katims said the reason for that is simply storyline. They've both graduated, and have to move forward. But we haven't seen the last of Scott Porter and Gaius Charles. Both Street and Smash will have powerful three-to-four episode arcs in this 13-hour season, and the door will remain open for them to return.

Lyla has kicked Matt Czuchry and her born-again Christian ways to the curb, and is finally givin' it up to Mr. Timothy Riggins. Apparently she's trying to be a good influence on Riggs, encouraging him to apply to college and get a scholarship. The big question between them, however, will be whether or not they're headed in the same direction.

Tyra (Adrianne Palicki) and Landry? During the eight month gap, Ms. Collette's feelings for Mr. Clarke have kind of fizzled. Katims said that while she loves Landry, he's not really the guy for her, so the story will become about whether or not they can remain friends... especially when Tyra starts dating an old friend of Billy Riggins who is a local rodeo star. It's going to get pretty intense, especially since the couple's actual status is somewhat iffy: "Depends on whether you ask Tyra or you ask Landry," Katims laughed. "Tyra would say they broke up, Landry would say they're taking a break."

Matt and Julie? They're moving forward. Katims said they will very slowly start to be friends again. Whether or not the romance rekindles, we'll have to wait and see (but Zach Gilford who plays Saracen has a few strong feelings on that, which I'll tell you about tomorrow, so stay tuned).

Either way, Saracen will have drama in his life with the arrival of his mother who he hasn't seen since he was like seven-years-old. Also complicating things is the arrival of J.D. McCoy, a freshman who happens to be a phenomenal quarterback. There will be controversy over who's going to be starting, him or Saracen. Said Katims, "Both of [J.D. McCoy's] parents are in the storyline. His father is a very successful beer distributor. They've actually moved from Dallas, specifically so he could play for The Panthers, so it's also about the pressure this very successful father is trying to put on the coach. That's a story I've always wanted to tell."

Taking a bit of the edge off Saracen's story is the presence of his old pal, Landry. Now single -- and not wrapped up in a murder plot! -- Katims promised that their unique buddy/sidekick/advisor relationship that we missed so much last year will be revived. FYI, Landry is still on the football team, in case you were wondering.

A relationship that we will not revisit is the Santiago-Buddy Garrity pairing. Benny Ciaramello, who played Santiago, has moved on, but the writers have planned a lot of good story for Buddy: one will deal with the relationship between Lyla and Riggs, the other will be all about his relationship with Dillon High's new principal, Mrs. Tami Taylor (Connie Britton). Being the head of the boosters, Buddy will have quite a bit of interaction with her.

Yes, Mrs. T is the school's new leading lady, which may create some issues at home between her and Coach Eric Taylor. As for the Taylor's sometimes contentious relationship with their daughter Julie, Connie Britton said "there might be a tattoo situation."

Sigh. October seems so far away...

Comments

Very relieved after reading this. I didn't know how I would feel about not seeing Smash and Street every episode, but with all this new info about Season 3, it looks like FNL will have boatloads of good storylines ala Season 1. Can't wait!

Liz | Jul 21, 2008 5:58:55 AM | #

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Lyla won't be with "Chris Kennedy" next year...not Matt Czuchry. Matt Czuchry is starring in a movie. Good for him!

Sue | Jul 21, 2008 6:49:18 AM | #

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DirecTV? Does this mean it won't be on NBC? Waaaaaah!

Missing FNL | Jul 21, 2008 8:31:52 AM | #

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DirecTV? Does this mean it won't be on NBC? Waaaah! (I don't have DirecTV).

Missing FNL | Jul 21, 2008 8:32:31 AM | #

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"Friday Night Lights" season three will be on NBC, but not until February 2009.

Ginger | Jul 21, 2008 8:51:50 AM | #

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LOVE Friday Night Lights and sooooo glad I have direct tv. Bringing some new blood in is a great idea and realistic since some have graduated.... seems like Riggins should have graduated by now, but am glad he is still around to drool over. I like he & Lyla, she could be a stable influence on him.........liked the Buddy/ Santiago plotline, they were good for each other.

Tammi, Coach & Matt should have gotten emmy nominations, his breakdown in the bathtub was amazing.

Kathie | Jul 21, 2008 10:52:29 AM | #

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Does this mean it's not gonna be on cable??? This is my favorite show of all times. PLEASE say it'll be on cable.

Judy | Jul 21, 2008 12:03:50 PM | #

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OMG Tami Taylor is the new principal. That's awesome! I love it. Connie Britton is going to rock that role even more than she already has.

Billy | Jul 21, 2008 12:38:03 PM | #

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Personally, I think starting it in a following year is lame. So what happened to the season? Are they gonna wrap the rest of what "should've happened" in 5 minutes? Bleh

Stan Gable | Jul 21, 2008 12:38:03 PM | #

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yes, we will be filled in on what happened in the time that has passed... to clarify, the show will air on DirecTV, beginning Oct. 1. It will then air on NBC in Feb.

korbi_ghosh | Jul 21, 2008 1:45:17 PM | #

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Everyone complaining about DirecTV: Stop. If you have DirecTV, you'll see all the episodes FIRST, starting in October on "The 101" If not, you'll see every episode on its entirety on NBC come February. DirecTV helped finance the third season of the show, in exchange, it gets early broadcast rights. If not for DirecTV, FNL would be long gone. So, thanks, DirecTV! Good thing I switched over last year for NFL Sunday Ticket! :-)

Soul Reaper | Jul 21, 2008 2:57:27 PM | #

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October on DIRECT TV!!! Not NBC. So since the majority of the population does not have Direct TV, I am hoping the wonderful critics and online bloggers will be really cool and not reveal plot, episode summaries and spoilers until most of the nation gets to participate when NBC starts airing it. It's only 13 episodes folks. Cane we please get your cooperation on this. If I do see FNL columns and headlines blaring about a shocking twist, i will turn the cyber page so quickly and not go that blog or site until after it's initial run on the sattelite company. i know they helped to save the show, but I am distressed over this because i have a first-rate cable company that includes blazing internet broadband and telephone and a TIVO and a 42" 1080p HDTV and a Blue-Ray player, I have set myself up pretty for this fall. But, there are some shows I do not mind being spoiled but FNL, I want to be totally surprised and absorb the moments as they happen. Why can't NBC have gotten the right to show it a day or 2 later or even a week but nooo, we have to wait until 13 weeks or more have gone by. S**T!

Adam | Jul 21, 2008 3:14:37 PM | #

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This article answered some old questions and said a lot about the author. And it isn't good. Yuck.

Dee | Jul 21, 2008 5:40:29 PM | #

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Dee, please clarify. What do you mean?

P | Jul 22, 2008 7:19:07 AM | #

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There is no such thing as a first-rate cable company. Directv rocks!

Charlie | Jul 22, 2008 6:30:23 PM | #

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Since we don't get DirecTV up here in Canada, does anyone know if any of our local networks will pick FNL up (such as Global who had it last year)?

Tracey | Jul 31, 2008 2:26:39 PM | #

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very glad fnl will be back, and liked almost everything i've heard so far about season three.....however....most people are tired of tyra....i on the other hand am sooooo tired of lyla!!!! they can't ditch her from the show fast enough for me!!!!

tina | Sep 30, 2008 5:36:38 PM | #

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