“It’s not final, but it’s close.”

That’s the latest I’m hearing on NBC’s on-the-bubble, fan-favorite series Friday Night Lights—that the deal for season three is “nearly done” (a deal that would bring FNL to both NBC and DirecTV in the fall).

I’m also hearing that castmembers’ agents and managers are being told it’s looking “likely” that the show will come back this fall for…13 episodes.

Yes, it seems FNL may be on a probationary period for season three (awaiting pickup of the back nine episodes), but fear not! With the new eyeballs coming to the series via DirecTV, and the new attention to the show via the kickass fanpaigns to save it, surely the ratings will improve and FNL will get a full season. So if you ask me, this is all good news! Or rather, it will be good news…If they’d only finalize everything and announce it.

Perhaps it’s just my wishful thinking, but what the hey, I’m gonna toss this out to the universe (ahem, Ben Silverman). It certainly would be a very good thing for an announcement on Friday Night Lights’ pickup to come out today or tomorrow, since the cast will be hitting the Paley Television Festival tomorrow night, and that’s the perfect opportunity to get some nice, happy, NBC-loving press and to celebrate with the fans.

(Speaking of, if you have any Q’s for the FNL cast or producer Jason Katims, please email them to tvdiva@eonline.com! If you have a special message for Taylor Kitsch, get in line.) (source)