As a blues guitarist, singer-songwriter, recording artist and football fan, Chris Mulkey couldn’t be happier than to be working in the live-music hub of Austin, Texas, on season two of “Friday Night Lights,” NBC’s drama about Texas high-school football.
Dedicated fans cheered when NBC renewed the low-rated but critically acclaimed series (it was nearly the parting act of former NBC entertainment chief Kevin Reilly, who is now doing the same job at Fox).
“Friday Night Lights” returns to NBC on Friday, Oct. 5 (when, ironically, much of Texas is at a football game).
Season one ended with a cliffhanger, as coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler), who guided the Dillon Panthers to the state championships, moved on to coach college football in Austin.
That’s where Mulkey comes in, as new coach Jack MacGregor.
“Three times in a row,” he says, “he won the Tennessee high-school state championship as a coach.
“He went to Ohio State University as a player. He’s one of those guys that’s really, really good.
As for MacGregor’s plans for the Panthers, Mulkey says, “He’s got a great quarterback. Smash Williams is a great running back, as is Riggins. So it’s all in place. His job is just to create a dynasty.”
But it won’t be easy.
“Last year was all about the injury,” Mulkey says, referring to the on-field mishap in the show’s pilot that left Panther quarterback Jason Street (Scott Porter) a quadriplegic.
“I think it was a title won on emotion,” Mulkey continues. “This year, people are going to be gunning for the team, so unless they have more than emotion this year, they’re going to have real problem.”
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Birthplace: Viroqua, Wis., on May 3.
Family cred: Married to actress Karen Landry, two daughters.
TV cred: Mulkey’s lengthy list of small-screen credits includes “Baretta,” “The Dukes of Hazzard,” “Twin Peaks,” “Bakersfield P.D.,” “Any Day Now,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Lost,” “Cold Case” and a recurring role on “Saving Grace.” He also was in the hit Western miniseries “Broken Trail.”
Film cred: Another long list, including “The Long Riders” (1980), “Runaway” (1984), “Bulworth” (1998), “Gas, Food, Lodging” (1992), “Radio” (2003), “North Country” (2005) and “Little Chenier” (2006).
