"How did you create such a compelling marriage, and why are there so few other television marriages to match it?
From the beginning, showrunner Jason Katims had a clear vision that Coach and Tami would always be FNL’s emotional anchors. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton shared in that feeling, and they were very protective of their characters’ relationship. There’s lots of ways to test a marriage, and the challenge was to try to avoid the overly obvious and melodramatic. It just seemed more fresh and interesting to dwell in the details. The everyday stuff that happens in a marriage that makes it real and relatable. It wasn’t always easy, but it did give us a center. And it felt different, in a good way.
A scene from Season 1 comes to mind. Coach comes to see Tami at Applebee’s, and when he sits, she tells him to take off his hat. It wasn’t scripted, but it felt so right for her character. So Coach takes off his hat, and Tami tells him she took a job as guidance counselor at the school, and Coach looks at her and says: “Wait, my school?” It was so great. Territory, surprise, insecurities, ambition. All in a moment. And you just knew … somehow they would figure it all out."