NBC Tackles Abortion in This Week's Friday Night Lights

Ted Miller is the director of communications and online advocacy strategies at NARAL Pro-Choice America.

This Friday (July 9) at 8 p.m. EST/ 7 p.m. CST, NBC plans to air an episode of Friday Night Lights that will be sure to start some conversations.

Yep, the issue of abortion comes up in a big way.

***SPOILER ALERT: If you're a fan of this show (like I am), please know that this message includes details about upcoming episodes.***

Let's start from square one. Have you ever heard of this show? If not, that breaks my heart because it is so good. I have been known to ramble on to friends about how they should TiVo/DVR it.

If you are a fan, you get why every high school student should have a principal like Tami Taylor. You were disappointed to see Tim Riggins throw away his full ride to college. And you choked up during the episode in which Matt Saracen learned his father had been killed while at war.

While FNL gets rave reviews from critics, it has struggled in the ratings race. So, for the uninitiated, here is a quick primer to get you up to speed. The series is based on a movie that starred Billy Bob Thornton. The setting is fictional Dillon, Texas, home to a state-championship football program and a whole lot of drama. The coach, his wife (the school principal), students, and parents make up the ensemble.

Everything about FNL reminds me of my hometown in Kansas, except that our football team never won a state championship--we didn't come close.

The issues FNL tackles (yeah, it's an overt pun) are universal. You don't have to come from a football-obsessed small town to appreciate the way the show's writers address thorny topics in thoughtful, compelling ways.

That said, I had mixed feelings when I heard that the show would include a storyline about abortion. Even the best TV programs (i.e. Law & Order) sometimes miss when it comes to choice-related topics. Either they try to do too much or end up sensationalizing the topic.

So far, though, I am impressed with how FNL is handling the story about a 16-year-old character named Becky, who discovers she's pregnant and openly discusses her decision to choose abortion, a decision that's rarely portrayed on network television.

Becky's situation was first introduced in last week's episode, which you can catch up on via Hulu.

If you're a DirecTV subscriber, you know these episodes aired earlier this year and generated some buzz among some in the blogging world.

DirecTV is a smaller audience, however. Once this show airs tonight on NBC, more people will see it, and I bet there's a reaction.

Tonight, expect to see Becky reach out to Tami Taylor for advice--and don't be surprised if Texas' parental-consent law comes up. Check out our fact sheet to find out what it would be like for a young woman in Becky's situation if she lived in your state.

While there may be some faults with certain aspects of this storyline, it presents an opportunity for us to have a conversation about the pressures young women facing an unintended pregnancy experience.

We urge you to watch the episode (or set your DVR to record this episode) and share your reactions with us via Facebook and Twitter.

Also, head over to Friday Night Light's Facebook page and tell them what you think!