Amy Schumer Slams Rape Culture With ‘Friday Night Lights’ Parody
Amy Schumer takes aim at rape culture in “Football Town Nights,” a bold sketch from the comedian’s Comedy Central series Inside Amy Schumer. A parody of Friday Night Lights, the sketch focuses on a small-town football coach who implements a “no raping” policy on his team. Following the template of an FNL episode, the team revolts, only reuniting after an inspirational – and ironic – locker room pep-talk. Schumer plays the Coach’s Tami Taylor-esque wife, whose ever-present wine glass grows larger throughout the piece.
The Bronconeers are dismayed when their coach first lays down the law. “My team, my rules,” Thompson says. “You don’t like it? Don’t let the door rape you on the way out.” The players object, asking if they can “rape at away games” or on Halloween. “What if my mom is the DA and won’t prosecute?” one asks. “What if the girl said yes but then she changes her mind out of nowhere, like a crazy person?” another inquires.
After a player gets hurt during a game, his father is shattered to learn his boy will never “rape again.” And Coach Thompson uses the moment to inspire his flailing team. “How do I get through to you boys that football isn’t about rape?” he asks. “It’s about violently dominating anyone who stands between you and what you want. . . That other team – they ain’t just gonna lay down and it give it to you. You gotta go out there and take it!”
Inspired by these words, the team huddles for a chant of “Clear eyes, full hearts – don’t rape!”
“You can maybe look at that scene and think we’re making light of something serious, but we really are trying to educate,” Schumer said of the sketch during a panel at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this week, Vulture reports. “We know what message we want to send, and then we also think the premise is funny, and then we go to town.”