“Landman”, the oil dynasty drama, starring Bill Bob Thornton, Jon Hamm, and Demi Moore, is another Sheridanverse hit for Paramount Plus, to join the Yellowstone, Tulsa King, and Lioness franchises.

Buy a White Stetson like the one Billy Bob wears in the show on Amazon HERE

But you’re here because something caught your eye in the first episode that felt strangely familiar.

That something may be Thornton’s Tommy Norris coming as close to his Gary Gaines character from the Friday Night Lights film, as possible without playing both parts.

And yes, I’m talking about Friday Night Lights the movie. Not the equally terrific Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton NBC show.

In “Landman”, Tommy decides to take his daughter Ainsley, and her boyfriend Dakota Loving (that’s his actual name) to a Friday night football game.

Playing at that game are the Permian Panthers. The same team Thornton coaches in the 2004 movie.

And while I’ve got you here, Landman also has a tie in to another Texas High School football story from decades ago.

Ali Larter plays Tommy’s wife. Larter, of course was in Varsity Blues, another film that shined in the tradition of high school football lore.

Larter played a cheerleader, who tries to seduce James Van Der Beek by wearing a whipped cream bikini, in a scene that not only dominated the wild marketing from the 99′ classic, but may be the visual that many fans remember today.

None of this is by chance. There are times when Sherdian shows will look you straight in the eye with these kinds of connections and expect you to know them.

It’s just too bad we haven’t gotten any serious crossovers. That would be great television.

What do you think of the Friday Night Lights and Landman connection? Let me know in the comments.

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