AUSTIN, Texas — With sweat stains on their backs and the soft glow of the setting Texas sun over their smiling faces, the cast of Friday Night Lights took to Panther field (appropriately) Friday night for a reunion that likely won’t be seen again for a long time. 

The FNL tailgate party has been a signature event of the ATX Television Festival since its start five years ago, but all good things must come to an end. Or, as the festival’s co-creator Emily Gipson joked, they couldn’t keep asking the cast to come every year. 

So they aimed to make this year bigger than ever, with almost two dozen returning cast members, including Connie Britton, who was nominated for an Emmy for her role on the show, and executive producer Jason Katims. They also staged the big screening and bash right on Panther Field, which sits just about 10 miles southeast of downtown Austin.  Read more…