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Friday Night Lights creator Peter Bergwants the GOP presidential candidate to stop using the expression “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose” from his former NBC show. Berg’s letter comes just days after Buzz Bissinger, who wrote the book upon which the series is based, announced that he was going to vote for the Republican ticket. The request also comes just a couple of days after Sesame Street‘s production company asked President Obama’s campaign to take down its Big Bird-themed ad taking Mitt Romney to task for his plan to cut funding to PBS. Here’s Berg’s letter he sent to Romney today:
Governor Romney:
I created the TV show “Friday Night Lights” and came up with the phrase “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose.”
I was not thrilled when I saw that you have plagiarized this expression to support your campaign by using it on posters, your Facebook page and as part of your stump speeches. Your politics and campaign are clearly not aligned with the themes we portrayed in our series.
The only relevant comparison that I see between your campaign and “Friday Night Lights” is in the character of Buddy Garrity – who turned his back on American car manufacturers selling imported cars from Japan. Your use of the expression falsely and inappropriately associates “Friday Night Lights” with the Romney/Ryan campaign. Mitt, we all wish you and your family all the best. We are grateful for your support of our beloved show, but we are not in any way affiliated with you or your campaign. Please come up with your own campaign slogan
Sincerely
Peter Berg
Deadline's Dominic Patten - tip him here.
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Unless they trademarked the slogan, Burg can’t do a thank about it.
Um…actually, yes, I think he can, as it’s protected under WGA guidelines. It’s not in public domain. It’s no different than when Springsteen told Reagan told to stop using “Born In The U.S.A.” or any number of different political grabs at taglines. And the courts have always sided with the artist.
And if Burg had actually WRITTEN the line himself, instead of curbing it from a high school football program after thinking it sounded cool, you’d have a point. Considering it’s at the very least 50 years old, I’d say he’s up litigation creek without a paddle on this one.
It is of course IMPOSSIBLE to stop people from using a popular turn of phrase in public. What a silly complaint.
Go Pete!
One Punch Terry Conklin
MEMO TO BERG:
My High School coach in our DEM controlled North Jersey in the late 1960′s had :
“CLEAR EYES.
FULL HEARTS.
CAN’T LOSE!”
tacked on the lockeroom bulletin board.
Grow up.
Sounds like your coach should have written a teleplay.
But as it stands, when that slogan is used for marketing, people country-wide immediately associate it with FNL. And that sucks.
Yeah – all what? 4 million people countrywide who watched? And how many you think were Republicans. Since it was a show about a football town in Texas. I’m gonna guess the majority.
Unless they actually played an organized sport, and recognize that saying from their high school or college days like I do. We were saying it in ’91 on the other side of the country.
I think you’re severely overestimating FNL’s viewership numbers.
I’m from Tennessee, our gym wall had “CLEAR EYES. FULL HEARTS. CAN’T LOSE! up on it too, that was in the 80s. Seems like it had been up there since the 70s.
Does Berg really think he wrote it, or is he just trying to ‘stick it’ to Mitt. either way, makes him look bad, claiming he “wrote” it, too. Did he coin the term “huddle up” too?
I’m from tennessee, and “CLEAR EYES. FULL HEARTS. CAN’T LOSE!” mwas up on the wall of my high school gym, too. that was in the 80s.
does berg really think he wrote that line, or is he just “sticking it” to Mitt? either way — makes him look bad, claiming he wrote it.
Actually I think he’s more of a Joe McCoy. Out of town yuppie and all.
Another limo liberal trying to stay relevant. How about instead of falsely claiming ownership of old phrases you make something better than Battleship?
Wow, is Pete a little full of himself. Learn and know the facts!! Obama’s plan mirrored what Romney suggested to rescue the auto industry. Mr. Berg don’t be fooled by the Headline’s of that report, rather read the article and then review Obama’s plan. I know Pete is used to headlines, most of which don’t live up to the final product. I hope Americans don’t get fooled by the same media campaign they have with his movies.
This is a falsehood. It is you who should know your facts.
Pete file a lawsuit against the Romney campaign. Sue them for copyright infringement and demand $75,000 for every time Mittens said your words or used them in printed material as the Romney slogan. You would win all you need to show is video evidence that he’s using your original words.
Pete, You seriously think you came up with the phrase “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t lose?!?!?!” Hollywood pomposity knows no bounds!
If he’s the 1st one smart enough to copyright it, well…..
Come on. This stuff is ridiculous. We know the entertainment industry is full of 12 year olds wearing grown up clothes, but it’s absurd to think that you invented this phrase, Pete.
*Joe Biden laughs*
you are a complete idiot. Obama saved Detroit, go rewrite another chapter of history you sad buffoon.
Saved Detroit? Are you joking? Should have let GM go into bankruptcy and reorganize without the tax payer supporting their problems. Ford was able to make it on their own without taxpayer funding. Why would you not let them reorg and see if they can make it…on their own? It is now a welfare GM. They are bleeding tons of money. A guy asked them at a car show why their electric car is priced double what most are…the GM rep had no idea. You don’t keep throwing money down an infinite hole. You are not showing your intelligence by your post.
Excuse me, Ford made it on their own? Wrong; in 2009 Ford received $5.9 billion in government loans, with that they also received a $9 billion line of credit…those loans have yet to be repaid. Get your facts straight before you begin belittling others.
Bullshit. You’re confusing “tax credit” with “loan.” And that line of credit was a renegotiation of a 30 year old agreement to purchase police, fire, and other service vehicles.
Get YOUR facts straight before criticizing others.
I love the rich tradition in this country every four years when musicians and artists around this country unite in opposition of their work being used by Republicans.
Too true. Our beloved show has nothing to do with a campaign which has no decency and honesty at its heart.
I’m quite sure that Mitt Romney would also agree that his campaign has nothing to do with your beloved show. so stfu.
Get a life dude! He’s feelings are hurt that original author of the book now supports Romney. In similar fashion however, I ask that Mr. Berg Not plagiarize my childhood and remove that crap movie he calls Battleship from existence.
You know that Pete and Buzz are cousins, right? I’m sure they worked it out.
It’s not plagiarism to repeat a line of TV dialogue and it’s not copyright infringement to repeat a piece of dialogue either! This is just another Hollywood limo liberal trying to use his influence to smear a Republican candidate. Oh how dirty those liberal democrats play! Berg, this ONLY makes YOU look like a petty, pompous, ass! Please sit down and stick to writing.
Fair Use,is Fair Use!
Funny thing is, if the FNL characters were real, they’d probably all be voting Romney. Midland, TX? Not exactly a democratic stronghold.
But Coach and Mrs Taylor were actually smart, and thus the chances of them voting Obama/Biden would have been greatly increased.
..and FNL was filmed in Austin, Texas.. a DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLD.
haha. so true!
He came up with that phrase? Really? As for the criticism on the auto bailout, Romney pushed for a managed bankruptcy…which is what they ended up going through, anyway.
Just a petty, childish request.
Buzz Bissinger, who wrote the book Friday Night Lights, i.e., created it, has endorsed Romney for president. So he does have a legitimate reason for using the phrase.
When the show is copy rights reserved! He can!
And Peter Berg,you took this idea from a 1988 book by H G Bissinger called Friday Night Lights about Odessa Permian High School.BTW conservative politics have far more to do with small towns than liberal politics ever will.What a whiner.
Glad I never liked this show. Cause it’s rating will certainly tank now. Hollywood will never learn.
Friday Night Lights hasn’t been on the air since February of 2011.
Haha Romney got Owned!
Pete, thanks for making FNL. Still is the gold standard for TV Drama since it went off the air.
However, I disagree with your political analysis and your claim to have the Romney campaign stop using the slogan. You should take it as a compliment. Many of the characters from the show would be showing Obama the door on Election Day. The Buddy Garrity comparison is false. Obama actually shipped jobs overseas with his stimulus money going to Brazil, China, etc.
Really? You are an idiot. Smash’s mom worked at Planned Parenthood. Becky had an abortion. Tami had a job. Coach Stan was gay. And there were black people. That doesn’t sound very Republican to me.
“Tami had a job” … “Doesn’t sound very Republican.”
Wow… Just wow…
Are all your musings this uninformed?
Peter Burg – no one gives a shit about your political persuasions. You seem to think you’re Hitchcock putting yourself in your own movies. How narcissistic. You should go back to being “Dexter” from that crappy ski movie you made. That was your high point. Don’t assume that all of Hollywood is for Obama. He had his chance…and so did you. DONE.
Obama is a phony and Romney a pragmatist…Time to bring back a King..At least you know where you stand with a King.
I guess Peter wants as many second chances as Obama/Biden. You and Obama have so much in common but mainly that you are both DONE.