Callie Thorne stars in “Necessary Roughness” (debuting tonight at 10 on USA) as a Long

Callie Thorne stars in “Necessary Roughness” (debuting tonight at 10 on USA) as a Long Island woman who becomes a football team’s therapist. Here are five other series that have used football as its backdrop:

v “Semi-Tough” (ABC, 1980): TV version of the Burt Reynolds movie featured David Hasselhoff and Bruce McGill as members of the sad-sack New York Bulls.

v “1st and Ten” (HBO, 1984-91): Comedy about the fictitious California Bulls. Its cast included O.J. Simpson as a veteran running back forced to make the transition from player to coach.

v “Playmakers” (ESPN, 2003): ESPN’s first original scripted drama pulled few punches in its depiction of the off-field shenanigans of a fictional team called the Cougars.

v “Friday Night Lights” (NBC, DirecTV, 2006-11): Critically acclaimed but little-watched drama (based on the book and movie) set in the highly charged world of Texas high school football.

v “The Game” (CW, 2006-09; BET 2011-): In this spinoff of “Girlfriends,” Tia Mowry stars as a young woman whose husband (Pooch Hall) plays for the fictitious San Diego Sabers.

ENTERTAINMENT news

Singing competition at Quaker Steak

AUSTINTOWN

Quaker Steak & Lube’s inaugural “Lube Idol” singing Competition will begin at 9 p.m. Friday and run 10 consecutive weeks. Each contestant will sing 30 seconds of his favorite tune in the preliminary round. The first-place winner will receive $1,000, with the second- and third-place winners receiving prizes. A panel of judges will issue scores based on quality, originality, stage presence and audience applause.

For more information or to register, call or visit Quaker Steak & Lube on Interstate Boulevard, just off state Route 46 near the Interstate 80 exit.

Block-watch events

Austintown

The Wickliffe Block Watch will have a hot dog eating contest at its annual block party from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 9 at Wickliffe Christian Church, 3939 Potomac Ave. There will be three age categories: 18 and older, 13-17 and 8-12, with 10 participants per category.

The block watch includes the area bounded by Raccoon Road, New Road, Meridian Road, Crum Road and Four Mile Run Road.

For information or to get a registration form for the hot dog eating contest, call June Galbraith at 234-855-7412 or Shawne Wilfong at 330-774-1803. Volunteers also are needed.