New pilots for Friday Night Lights alumni

Friday Night Lights is one of my favorite shows, thanks in no small part to the skill of its actors. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton give two of the best performances on television as Eric and Tami Taylor, even if the major awards shows don't recognize it.

But as good as the two adult leads are, for a show that centers around high school football the younger actors have to be just as good -- and by and large, they are.

Zach Gilford was one of the best as quarterback Matt Saracen. He sold every scene 100%, and this season's "The Son" was one of the best episodes ever thanks to his performance.

Since Gilford [spoiler alert for those waiting to watch season four on NBC] recently completed his send-off arc on FNL, he was available for the upcoming pilot season, and has since been cast in the ABC pilot Matadors, a Romeo-and-Juliet style drama that "revolves around two rival Chicago-based families, one in the DA’s office and another in a high-powered law firm." The cast also includes David Strathairn (Good Night and Good Luck, The Bourne Ultimatum). I'll definitely be watching this one if it goes to series.

Minka Kelly, otherwise known as Lyla Garrity in the FNL universe, has also landed a pilot role as a lead on CBS' True Love, about four friends looking for... yep, love. She will play Kate, "a pretty, clean-scrubbed Midwestern who is a sweet but strong-willed romantic. Kate falls in love with Henry at the top of the Empire State Building and often tackles her cousin and best friend, Connie, to the ground in order to get her way." The premise doesn't sound all that original, and I thought Kelly was always one of the weaker links in the FNL cast, but hey, it's Minka Kelly. I'll probably check it out for an episode of two.

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