Inqlings: 'Lights' shines on city, thanks to connections

How did Philadelphia get to host filming of Friday Night Lights, the critically praised, Texas-shot, DirecTV/NBC series about a high school football coach?

Connections.

Producer Nan Bernstein said writers wanted to use an "industrial Pennsylvania city and thought Pittsburgh, but we had an aggressive shooting schedule."

Bernstein simply reached into her playbook. She coproduced the CBS series Hack, which was shot here from 2002 to 2004. Tuesday's work at Temple University and Frankford High was a trip home as she greeted some of her old crew.

The exteriors were part of FNL's series finale, to be shown next year. Tami Taylor (played by Connie Britton) job-interviews at a Philly college ("Braemore College - whose prop signs read "per angusta ad augusta," or "through hardship to triumph"), and coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) takes the field with the "Pemberton Pioneers."

Cameras caught Britton and guest star Kit Gwin crossing Broad Street - with the light, I may add. Buzz Bissinger, whose book inspired the series, stopped by, as did Sharon Pinkenson, head of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, and her deputy, Peter Leokum.

The company moved to Frankford for football scenes. Chandler met Frankford coach Mike Capriotti and ran drills with players.

The series, now in its fourth season, will be rerun on NBC. ABC Family has locked up rights for the entire series and will start its own reruns in September.

More photos: http://go.philly.com/FNL.

Honors

The National Association of Broadcasters' list of finalists for the Marconi Awards includes Pierre Robert of WMMR (93.3), for major-market personality; WMMR, for rock station; and WOGL (98.1), for oldies station. Winners will be named Sept. 30 at the NAB show in Washington.