“It’s time to leave it all on the field.” That’s the message Friday Night Lights series stars Connie Britton, Jesse Plemons and Adrianne Palicki are pitching to Texans in the final push for U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico in an ad the Democrat dropped over the weekend.
Repurposing the fictional Dillon High School football team’s battle cry of “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose” from NBC’s hit 2005-2011 drama series starring Britton and Kyle Chandler, the spot kicks off Talarico’s Lone Star state tour heading towards Election Day on November 3.
Along with the FNL crew (blandly called “Friday Night Leftists” on Laura Ingraham’s Fox News show Monday) in attendance, don’t blink at the 0:56 mark or you may miss Kacey Musgraves giving the candidate a front-row greeting.
Tied in the polls with GOP Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who has been the subject of legal and ethical scandals over the years, Talarico has attracted a galaxy of star power in his bid to become the first Democrat to hold state office in usually red Texas since 1994.
Watch on Deadline
In addition to controversies over sit-downs with late-night hosts Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel and earning the wrath of Elon Musk, Talarico, a four-term member of the Texas House of Representatives, has been in Los Angeles repeatedly for a series of big-money fundraisers. The soirées have been hosted by seasoned Dem donors like Damon Lindelof and ex-HBO exec and Obama-era Ambassador to Spain James Costos.
In addition, Willie Nelson and Bill Nye the Science Guy have joined the Talarico hayride, and The Chicks welcomed the candidate on stage with them October 17 in San Antonio.
Still, for all the hopes, dreams and big names Talarico is bringing to the final weeks before the midterms, his MAGA rival Paxton has received backing from Donald Trump and the well-watched Fox News. Even more important than Trump, Paxton is the beneficiary of more than $190 million from Musk in the race.
With control of the Senate in reach for the Dems and Trump’s polls in the toilet, the race between Paxton and Talarico is not only the most star-studded on the midterms but also the most expensive, with more than $500 million in ad buys alone.
Talarico is in Fort Worth tonight and Tyler, TX on Tuesday as both campaigns head to the finish line next month.
