Connie Britton Almost Walked Away from Her Role on 'Friday Night Lights 'After Having 'Very Little' to Do in the Film Version
The actress, 58, reflected on her time starring on the original drama series during an interview with Parade for its March cover story. Now synonymous with her character Tami Taylor, Britton revealed that she nearly walked away from the character after her small role in the 2004 Friday Night Lights movie.
'In the film there was very little for me to do, even less so by the time it came out,' Britton shared. 'Whatever I had done was mostly on the cutting room floor. When the TV show came around I said, 'No thank you.' "
The drama ran for five seasons and came to an end in 2011. The original Friday Night Lights followed football players and their coach — starring the likes of Taylor Kitsch, Minka Kelly, Jesse Plemons, Michael B. Jordan, Zach Gilford, Aimee Teegarden, Kyle Chandler and Britton — in a rural town in Texas as they navigated their lives on and off the field.
The NBC program was inspired by H. G. Bissinger's 1990 novel of the same name, which was also adapted into a 2004 film, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Jay Hernandez, Garrett Hedlund and Tim McGraw and Britton, among others.
Related: Friday Night Lights Reboot in the Works 13 Years After the Hit Show's Finale Aired
After starring in the 2004 film, Britton shared that she wanted more than 'playing the fly-on-the-wall wife character in a football show.'
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Ultimately Peter Berg, writer and creator of the show, was very persuasive toward the The White Lotus alumna.
As she recalled, Berg told her, ' 'Women are important in these communities and we didn't get a chance to show that in the film and this is our opportunity to show it in the TV show.' "
Britton acknowledged that it was a big risk for her to take, but it ultimately paid off. She also shared that her work with Chandler, 59, who played her husband and the beloved Coach Taylor, was "lightning in a bottle."
Related: Kyle Chandler Gets Emotional Hearing Friday Night Lights Motto 'Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose' on the Today Show
'I could have never imagined that I would find this acting partner who had the same aspirations for the kind of couple that we wanted to portray and was willing to commit to that so deeply,' Britton shared.
While there has been talk of a Friday Night Lights reboot, Britton has previously shared she won't be included. She told Parade that it is 'barely on her radar.' However, she said she hopes the new cast will find a 'sense of discovery there in terms of what they're committing to and trying to accomplish.'
Read the original article on People
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Savannah Bananas' Robert Anthony Cruz Faceplants During Failed Backflip on Live TV, Ends Up with Stitches and 'Damaged Pride'
Robert Anthony Cruz isn't letting a live TV mishap keep him down! The Savannah Bananas star, 26, attempted to perform his signature backflip during an appearance on CNN's News Central on Thursday, July 24. However, after he launched himself into the air, the stunt went horribly wrong and left him face-planting the studio floor live on TV. Co-host Kate Bolduan could be heard gasping, 'Oh, Jesus,' just moments before Cruz, also known as Coach RAC, slammed to the floor. 'That never happens,' Cruz said as he slowly got up. Co-host John Berman poked fun at the situation, saying, 'That ... what you just saw there is a brand new twist on America's favorite pastime.' Cruz took the mishap in his stride as he shared the clip on his Instagram alongside an update. 'The sound makes it 10x funnier. Yes, you have my permission to laugh. Yes, I'm all good 😂😭,' he captioned the post. 'Some stitches, slightly damaged pride, and some unparalleled dad lore.' Commenters wished him a speedy recovery but confessed they found his failed backflip amusing. 'Glad you're okay. Sorry I'm laughing,' one person wrote, while another joked, 'The faceplant heard round the world.' In a video on his Instagram Stories, the outfielder can be seen with a busted lip while resting in bed. 'Hey guys, for the record, you have my full permission to laugh,' he said. 'I can't laugh every time I watch it, too. The sound, it's crazy.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Cruz explained further how the stunt went wrong in an Instagram Reel. The baseball star said he was running on four hours of sleep after arriving in New York at around 2 a.m. following a few days at a camp for kids in Houston. Having been asked if he had any tricks to perform, Cruz decided on his signature backflip to amaze the CNN audience. He said it's a stunt that he performs 'all the time' and sometimes does even while catching a ball. 'I had zero reason to doubt my abilities,' he said in his Instagram Reel. 'Anyways, I'm standing on the stage. I get the countdown and I'm like, okay, it's time. 'I send the flip and next thing I know I am on the floor and I am rattled,' he continued. 'I was pretty confused, my mic pack fell out of my pocket, my shoe flew off my foot. I don't even know how that happened.' Cruz confessed that he felt bad for the news anchors as they had to continue the show without laughing at his accidental fall. He initially felt fine and wanted to go ahead with being interviewed before noticing that he was now covered in blood. The Savannah Bananas star had to get "several stitches" in his lip and chin but didn't suffer any serious injuries. 'In hindsight, when you do a flip, you are looking for the ground while you're rotating,' he said. 'I remember jumping back and seeing a bright light in my face and the floor itself was very light. 'I kind of just lost where I was in the air and wound up under-rotating, also my feet slipped,' he concluded. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
New Parents of Quadruplets, 3 Boys and 1 Girl, Share Sweet Inspiration Behind Their Names
A doctor at the hospital where Aja Kennon delivered four healthy babies said the odds of naturally conceiving quadruplets is about one in 700,000 Aja Kennon's ultrasound technician couldn't believe what she was seeing during their appointment. "She brings in another doctor, and I hear her counting like one, two, three, and then she says four," Kennon, 33, tells PEOPLE. After learning she expecting quadruplets, Aja says she couldn't help but hope that at least one would be a girl — and sure enough, she soon learned she was pregnant with one girl and three boys. Of course, learning their family of three — the couple also shares an 8-year-old son — was about to become a family of seven was quite a surprise. In fact, Aja's fiancé says he "thought it was all a joke" at first. "I was just in shock, I couldn't believe it," says Emmanuel Volmar, 37. To be fair, the news did come around April Fool's Day. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Dr. Joanne Bishara, Director of Neonatology at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J., where the babies were delivered, says the odds of naturally conceiving quadruplets are about 1 in 700,000. Kennon was 34 weeks pregnant when it was time to welcome her babies into the world on Tuesday, July 1. Although walking into the hospital room for her C-section was "nerve-wracking," everything went well. Three of the babies were born weighing more than 4 lbs, while the fourth weighed over 5 lbs. "They all came out spontaneously breathing and doing well," Dr. Bishara says. "I do think this is all God's work, for sure." As for their names, the proud parents found a way to share the love, naming the boys Ean, Evan and Eamon — all names that start with the letter E, just like their dad's name — while they chose Alayha for their baby girl, a nod to the first letter of her mom's name. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Although there's no shortage of love at home, the parents say there is one thing that's been in short supply lately: sleep. "You close your eyes and got to open them right back up," Volmar says. Still, the quadruplets are fitting right in at home alongside their big brother Emmanuel Jr., 8, who is already attuned to their needs. "He's like, 'Oh, is it time for them to eat? Or is it time to change their diaper?" Kennon says. "So he definitely wants to be involved." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. As for the future, the couple is just happy to have each other. "I feel like I can take on whatever comes my way, and I'm also a big believer in God not giving you more than you can handle," Kennon says. Adds Volmar, "I love my babies." Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hulk Hogan's Friend Jimmy Hart Denied Reports the WWE Star Was Sick Just 2 Days Before His Death
Hogan's close friend and longtime on-screen manager said he was in "phenomenal" health just two days before his death Hulk Hogan's death on Thursday comes just two days after the professional wrestling icon's close friend tried to cool off rumors that he was ill. Hogan died Thursday, July 24 at the age of 71, WWE confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE. The Clearwater Police Department said in a statement that officers responded to a 911 call for a cardiac arrest before Hogan was taken to a local hospital where he later was pronounced spread last month that the WWE Hall of Famer had been hospitalized and was dangerously ill, leading media representatives to tell E! News there was 'no reasons to panic' over Hogan's death, despite reports he was 'on his deathbed.' And just two days ago, Hogan's former on-screen manager and close friend Jimmy Hart took to social media to assure fans that Hogan was doing 'great' in light of the reports. 'Hulk is doing great, doing phenomenal!' Hart wrote about Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea. 'Last night at karaoke with Nick was absolutely fantastic, baby!!!' The controversial WWE and WCW star also spoke out about his health during an appearance on Logan Paul's 'IMPAULSIVE' podcast last September, explaining that he's had roughly 25 surgeries over the last 10 years. 'I've had like 25 surgeries in the last ten years — 10 of them were back surgeries,' the 12-time world champion explained. 'I've had 10 back surgeries, both knees and both hips replaced, shoulders—everything.' Hogan is arguably the most popular pro wrestler in the history of the business. A flawed hero, Hogan's reputation as wrestling ultimate "good guy" took a hit multiple times throughout his career, first lying about steroid use, then later being involved in a notorious sex-tape scandal and then having been exposed as using racist language. Upon his return to WWE earlier this year, Hogan was loudly booed by the audience - marking his last appearance on television with the company where he was long the top star. Hogan is survived by his wife Sky Daily and his ex-wives Linda Hogan and Jennifer McDaniel, as well as children Brooke and Nick Hogan.'WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away,' the pro wrestling company told PEOPLE. 'One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans.' Read the original article on People