| "Black Eyes and Broken Hearts" | |
|---|---|
| Friday Night Lights episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 16 |
| Directed by | Jeffrey Reiner |
| Written by | |
| Cinematography by | David Boyd |
| Editing by |
|
| Original release date | February 14, 2007 |
| Running time | 43 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Black Eyes and Broken Hearts" is the sixteenth episode of the first season of the American sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, inspired by the 1990 nonfiction book by H. G. Bissinger. The episode was written by consulting producer Patrick Massett and John Zinman, and directed by co-executive producer Jeffrey Reiner. It originally aired on NBC on February 14, 2007.
The series is set in the fictional town of Dillon, a small, close-knit community in rural West Texas. It follows a high school football team, the Dillon Panthers. It features a set of characters, primarily connected to Coach Eric Taylor, his wife Tami, and their daughter Julie. In the episode, Smash leads part of the players into a protest in order to get Mac fired, while Matt tries to repair his relationship with Julie.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 7.43 million household viewers and gained a 2.6 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received near critical acclaim, with critics praising the subject matter and performances, although some were divided over the resolution to Mac and Smash's storyline.