User Reviews

The short-lived (45 episodes) "Sports Night" is available in a six-disc DVD box set. If you're a fan of the show, you know what you're getting. Otherwise, read on...

The two biggest questions about "Sports Night" have always been "Will non-sports fans like it?" and "Will sports fans like it?" The answer to both questions is a qualified "Yes."

To answer the first query, the comparison I like to make is to "ER". "Sports Night" is about sports (and television) like "ER" is about emergency rooms. You probably liked ER if you appreciated good television drama with interesting characters, whether or not you cared for medical shows at all. Similarly, if you appreciate brilliant television writing and human drama mixed in with witty dialogue, you will enjoy "Sports Night". At least a casual knowledge of sports and/or television will aid the viewing process, but neither is necessary.

As for the latter question, the target audience for "Sports Night" is not congruent to the viewers of, say, ESPN's "Sportscenter". If you watch "Sports Night" for the sports element, you will likely be disappointed. Most of the athletes referenced are fictitious, and celebrity cameos are non-existent. The sports banter is enjoyable for a big sports nut like me, but the average sports fan probably won't care for this show, much like the average doctor or nurse I know doesn't care for "ER".

So why is this show both unique and of high quality? Let me count the ways...

The writing is the core reason for the quality of "Sports Night". Sharp and snappy dialogue largely defines the show, but the fast pace would be worthless without the intelligence of the words. The Aaron Sorkin-led writing team has created a sextet of lead characters, two anchors and four producers of varying responsibility, who are all well-educated and quick-thinking. Their mouths keep pace with their minds, as the dialogue is as fast or faster than real life, and much more intelligent. There are few pregnant pauses for laughter, as a laugh track was used early on but later wisely discarded. The words form a smart, sexy, and funny world, a world that makes one actually long for such a place. Sorkin later gained prominence with "The West Wing", which employed the same verbal style that Sorkin perfected during his time on "Sports Night." If you liked "West Wing" for its writing, you'll eat up this show as well.

Similar to their characters on the show, the actors (at least at the time) were largely unknown by the general public. This enhanced the team atmosphere of both the show itself and the show within the show. Everyone seemed to rely on everyone else in both worlds, and as with many ensemble casts, the anonymity also let the actors become their characters to viewers. Another reason the characters are appealing is that they each have evident flaws and idiosyncrasies. Many of these imperfections are understandable, recognizable, or easy to relate with, further endearing the characters to viewers.

Rarely is the editing of a television show noteworthy, but keeping up with the back-and-forth dialogue of "Sports Night" is quite a chore. The quick cutting meshes well with the writing. Additionally, the reverse camera angles are a breath of fresh air in a world flooded with three-camera sitcoms. Of course, the question arises as to whether this is a sitcom or a drama or a dramedy. But that's for another place and another time.

Unfortunately, outside of the 45 episodes, there is no bonus material on this 6-disc set. The only pleasant touch is the "Play All Episodes" option, which allows you to just that with each disc's shows. Since each program is only 22 minutes, you can enjoy a handful at a time without getting off the couch. This is also a dangerous feature, as the addictive nature of the show combined with the absence of commercials entices you to watch hours at a time.

It is strange watching a television show without commercials, but this program fades in and out of black where each break would be. That gives enough of a pause in the show for the feel of a commercial, and after the first break or two, not having to watch ads is a blessing.

The reason I so highly recommend that you buy the DVD set is that "Sports Night" is not broadcast regularly in syndication. You can find it sporadically on Comedy Central, but not at any sane hour. So get the box set because of the show's rewatchability. It doesn't quite contain the memorability (I'm inventing words everywhere) or pop culture labels of "Seinfeld", but it does have a similar ability to entertain time and time again.

Bottom Line: If you appreciate a truly well-done TV show, particularly in the writing department, get and watch the box set. You won't regret it.

You were wrong. It's 20 years later. And it's still wrong.

Please quit the TV business, because you're awful at it.

Dickhead...

I'm glad I didn't watch this series until first catching "Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip", which is basically just a re-tread and re-imagining of "SN". The comparisons don't end with script structure and "witty" dialogue - they both have similar actors, characters, and well... everything. Since "SN" was canceled, I suppose "Studio 60" is now as close as you can get. For some, that's a good thing. Not for me.

It is undeniable that this is an entertaining series. The characters are all fun (if way too nice to be believed), each beautifully performed by a very talented cast. The stories are engagingly manipulative. And it's just a cool idea - a series about a Sports show that isn't about Sports.

Unfortunately, Sorkin is absolutely enamored with his own voice, and as such all of his characters adopt this voice. It is not them. It is not what Danny or Dana or Casey would do or say - it's what Sorkin would say if he *were* any of these characters, complete with very self-conscious, clipped, repetitious quips. He writes like a playwright writing as a playwright is supposed to write. Not only does his style not work, it's grating, obnoxious, fairly unoriginal, and - worst of all - totally takes us out of the moments he struggles so hard to create.

Would that were my only complaint.

In addition to some seriously poor production values and editing (probably the result of being forced in front of a studio audience - not Sorkin's choice), not to mention a dopey theme song that continues to rear it's ugly notes, this series (and "Studio 60" to an even greater degree) suffers further from being produced by someone way too close to the subject material. Both shows practically scream "I'm a TV producer! I should make a TV show about making a TV show! That way I can show off all my knowledge of the subject, as well as inject the show with as much obscure information as possible to make me seem even smarter than I already am! Did I mention I'm a hard-working TV writer who won a Writer's Guild award? I'll have my main character be a hard-working TV writer who won a Writer's Guild award! Did I mention that my favorite writers are Paddy Chayefsky and Gilbert & Sullivan? I'll have my Pilot teaser be a rip-off of "Network", and then have my characters espouse their love for Paddy Chayefsky and do a send-up of "Pirates of Penzance"! Did I mention that I have a coke problem? I'll have my main character..." and on and on.

The show's plots also leave a lot to be desired. They are rife with obvious set-ups for lame jokes, and practically shameless "After School Special" or "Christmas at Sports Night" moralizing (the "This is sexual harassment, and I don't have to take it!" episode really stands out, particularly since Natalie is a cloyingly quirky character that no real person would stand working with). While entertaining and inherently watchable, the stories are neither quite as smart as Mr. Sorkin believes they are, nor as intelligent as he himself is. He should - nay, does - know better.

It amazes me how much Sorkin has in common with M. Night Shyamalan - they both have enviable raw talent, are in love with their own works, and yet try so hard you just know that they're incredibly insecure about their own abilities. If they would stop with such egotistical nonsense as forcing their own personal stamp on their projects, and instead just worked to make a great movie or TV show, the entertainment world would be a much better place.

It's true, "SN" is weak. But I suppose bland coffee is better than none at all.

I never caught this on TV, but I bought the DVDs, and am very happy I did! What a great show. In turns funny, touching, intelligent, entertaining... this show covered all the bases.

The chemistry between the characters is just phenomenal, one or two episodes in, things really start warming up and you find yourself completely hooked.

Great writing on TV doesn't come along that often, but Sports Night (except for the occasional smart-ass moment) proves to be as well-written as anything I've ever seen... it's amazing what they managed to squeeze in in these 20 minute episodes.

And don't worry if you're not a sports fan - you don't have to be to enjoy this show.

The DVD box set is unbelievably plain - 42 episodes and that's it - no booklet, no supplements, no commentary. But fortunately, the material itself is so good, I can forgive Buena Vista for this. Also, the laugh track is a little infuriating to begin with, but it gets toned down in later Season 1 episodes, and removed altogether later in Season 2.

I never missed an episode of this show during it's original run and even recorded all but a few. I was thrilled to see this was released on DVD. I've turned a few people on to this show via my video tapes and we all love it. The reason to watch this show isn't the guffaws. You smile and snicker more then laugh out loud. But for shear entertainment you just can't beat it. The characters are real and you can relate to all of them and more importantly you care for all of them. The real genius of this show is not just the story and characters, but the dialogue. The way the actors deliver the lines, and the lines themselves are a joy to listen to and what makes this show watchable again and again. You will never get tired of listening to the verbal volleys between the actors. I can't say enough about the writing and acting of this show. Borrow it, rent it, buy it, whatever you have to to see it. Give it just a few episodes (ignore the lame laugh track on the first episode or 2) and I guarantee you'll be happily addicted to possibly the most well written (and acted) television show ever.

TV Guide voted it 'The Best Show You're Not Watching' ('If they're not watching it, how do they know?' demanded Peter Krause, accepting the award.)

Sports Night was West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin's first venture into television. Its focus was a fictitious sports show, the struggling 'Sports Night' on cable channel CFC ('A third-rate show on a fourth-rate network'), and the dramas lived out behind the scenes by the characters: Dan Rydell (Josh Charles, in one of the most marvelously complex and multi-faceted performances ever to grace the small screen) and Casey McCall (Peter Krause, now better known as Nate in Six Feet Under), the two handsome, charming, talented and hopelessly neurotic anchors; the producer, Dana Whitaker (Felicity Huffman), confident in her professional abilities but insecure in her personal life; associate producers Jeremy Goodwin (Joshua Malina, now to be seen in Sorkin's other show), geek extraordinary, and his girlfriend, the forceful, opinionated Natalie Hurley (Sabrina Lloyd); and, overseeing it all with quiet dignity, veteran journalist, now managing editor, Isaac Jaffee (Robert Guillaume, known to a generation of viewers as 'Benson', whose dry delivery makes his every utterance a joy, and whose mere presence lends the show gravitas). A critical success but a ratings failure, it lasted for a scant two seasons comprising 45 half-hour episodes (less commercials and credits, more like 22 minutes apiece). That was enough to gain it a small but dedicated audience, and a fanbase whose numbers are still growing. The release of this DVD boxed set has helped to bring Sports Night, never to date aired on UK TV, to a new and appreciative audience.

Some aspects of the show, which ran from September 1998 to May 2000, haven't aged well – the frequent establishing shots of the New York skyline dominated by the twin towers of the World Trade Centre send a jolt through the system every time, whilst a passing reference to the Spice Girls seems laughably dated. But the dialogue (much of which Sorkin recycled for use in The West Wing) is as fresh and vibrant as the day it was penned, the story lines as compelling, the characters as real, human, endearing and, frequently, maddening, as ever seen on TV – and a great deal more so than most. The performances throughout are assured and compelling, the timing split-second, the direction flawless; and Sorkin's trademark walk-and-talk dialogue and long tracking shots through a standing set will be instantly recognisable to anyone familiar with his work.

Two criticisms: season one is plagued by a laugh track, superimposed (presumably in a fit of madness) by the US network; and there are no DVD extras, only the 45 episodes. But, really, that should be enough. Wanting more is simply greedy. But, of course, I do want more. And so does everyone else who loved this show.

This show is a hidden gem. It was amazing for its time and has held up for the most part. Definitely worth watching.

Incredible cast.

Great writing and actors make this a show you wish went on for many many seasons.

The characters in this sitcom are often incredibly self-involved and confuse being right with being persecuted. The Dialogue is unrealistically witty and quick. That said, it is possibly some of the best writing in television history. The characters are compelling and rich. The Dialogue is "ideal". The Dialogue is what you and the guys where you work wish you were capable of but fall incredibly short because you're not reading from a script. With the exception of Robert Guillaume the cast had little experience with weekly TV, but by the middle of the first season, each character was polished to a sheen. The name is the show's paradox. Those who would be drawn by the name are not going to like a show about ideal principles and quick wit and banter, and those into these things are not going to be big sports buffs. Good show. Maybe a great show.

My Tweets about Sports Night while binge watching the show:

Watching "Sports Night", so many familiar faces.

Sports Night, end of season 1, the workplace relationship drama is starting to grate on me.

(With hindsight) Y2K episodes in TV shows are really lame.

After one and a half seasons of Sports Night I still don't have a clue what good sports reporting is supposed to look like.

Sports Night reminds me of how boring American sports are. At this point most of the Sorkinness I enjoyed on The West Wing has vanished.

"By the way, I met a girl named Suzy today. It sounds like she's the preferred vacation spot for all the men you date."

A "Hooker with a Heart of Gold" storyline.

It seems I'm not the only one who is watching Sports Night / The Newsroom and thinks, was I wrong to love The West Wing?

Sorkin's Sports Night is just another mediocre show, but the scene involving the punchline "You're wearing my shirt, Gordon." is magnificent

Verdict on Sports Night: Above average relationship (comedy)-drama with likable characters but no unique features.

I got the series DVD for Christmas because I have "fallen in love" with Peter Krause after watching Dirty Sexy Money. I LOVE Sports Night, have watched every episode and am in tears because it's over. I can't believe I never watched it when it was on. I think it was the title -- I'm not into sports, and didn't realize what it was.

After living through these two seasons in just a couple of weeks, I feel like I know them personally, like they're family. The casting is perfect, the scripts are awesome - I couldn't stop watching. I LOVE these people.

OK, since it ended with them able to keep the show, did Sorkin perchance leave room for a rebirth at some point. West Wing is gone - why not bring back Sports Night? There are a lot of new fans now that didn't know about it before. Peter Krause and Feclicy Huffman are perfectly capable of carrying more than one show. Can we start a mass outcry for more?

This show is highly entertaining, compelling, and extremely well acted. Each episode has a theme/message that is generally delivered powerfully and threaded well throughout the scenes. The on air interplay between the two sports anchors is hilarious. Unfortunately, that's as real as it gets. In their off air interactions, none of the characters sound realistic. They're all washed in the same color and have no real self or dimension. They also seem to be mouthpieces for a man with a message. Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing resolves all the issues that show up in this dramedy. Whether it was because Sports Night was a sitcom or because Aaron Sorkin had some adolescent issues to resolve, the women in the show come off as silly, insecure, and vain. They aren't without their strong points (e.g., capable at work) but they're constantly obsessing over men and rarely have great speeches. The men frequently act self-righteous speeches about how these silly women need to trust that they're not like other men and should be trusted and evaluated on their own merit. He uses the line "don't talk to me like I'm other people" no less than 3 times in the first season. Overall, it's a strong showing, but Aaron Sorkin had a lot of growing up to do when he wrote this one.

I have seen a lot of sitcoms, and this is one of the best.

Offering a level of realism and intelligence rarely seen in a sitcom, Sports Night should have been destined for greatness. Alas, it wasn't. ABC pulled the plug on this amazing piece of work much to early. (ABC, by the way, should be flushed down a toilet after THAT blunder.) Rarely does any show on television, dramas included, engage the viewer in such a way as this one did.

The show is filled with great characters, dialogue, and plots. Further more, much like the Simpsons and Seinfeld, you really get to know and like just about every character on the show, rather than merely the main characters. The people whose names you may be hard pressed to remember offer up as many enjoyable moments as the 'stars' of the show.

I would wish that this show would be picked up again by some other network looking to continue this amazing show, but that is something out of fantasy. In the real world, it just can't happen like that. Which is a real shame.

For all of you who missed it's original airing on ABC (who could've done a MUCH better job promoting this show), I advise you to catch it in reruns on Comedy Central. You'll be glad you did.

Sports Night is basically Aaron Sorkin's first big success on TV. It's an inside look on the workings of a fictional sports show like ESPN Sportscenter. It stars Josh Charles, Peter Krause, Felicity Huffman, Joshua Malina, Sabrina Lloyd, and Robert Guillaume. It was some of their first big hit. At least it was a showcase of all of their acting skills, and it must be considered as some of their best work.

When it first came on, I loved the dialog. Sure other shows had rapid fire talking, but a lot of times it's deteriorates into a screaming mess. Aaron wrote dialog like music. It flows from one character to another. It was a pleasure to watch and listen to. And it proved to be the hallmark for all of Aaron Sorkin's work to come.

When a talent like Sorkin tells you that a laugh track is REALLY BAD IDEA, listen.

Dickhead....

There is absolutely no doubt tis is great television but there are so many flaws I just can't give it a ten. The major flaw is that for the sake of realism or some such relatively meaningless goal every scene seems to be accompanied (even inundated) by annoying background telephones ringing. Maybe I am at an age where that particular frequency strikes anger and hosiltiy buttons for me but a teeny, tiny bit of that crap goes a long, long way. Also the laugh track that was added at some point is not the most intrusive by any means, it is just unnecessary. As for the writing, when it comes to maintaing its "message sending" status, it is truly first rate. Unfortunately it is kind of a onetrick pony when it comes to the humorous banter. It is a really good trick but a little more variety and input from some of the lesser characters might have been nice.

Absoltely terrific show - one of the best ever made - quick, clever and strong messaging - sexy, sophisticated characters - very distinctive! This is a show that was cut short for no apparent reason - maybe almost too good and maybe too far ahead of it's time then. It can surely be re-launched - I for one, fervently hope so!! All the characters are real and are all incredibly attractive, mainly because of their flaws, not really their more stellar qualities. They are fallible, human and the depth revealed through the writing shows great amounts of empathy and sensitivity. My favorite is of course Casey - intense, vulnerable and slightly twisted - he is surely extremely attractive to most women and Peter Krause nails it!

I loved this series when it first started and having just watched it all again, I still love it. Amazing characters, great story lines... this show kept a person who is not interested in sports engaged every time.

And in my opinion, the episode where Dan gets writer's block, remains one of the funniest episode of TV ever. Watch it and see if you agree.

Aaron Sorkin is an inspired show creator and it is a testament to his ability to pick winners that so many of the actors he selected for this show, even the guest shots, have gone on to have amazing careers. Even in other Sorkin shows.

I've recently started getting into the mid 90's - late 90s television shows. I had no idea what I was looking for, so I just googled "best television shows '90s". I have stumbled upon series as 'Freaks & Geeks', 'Undeclared', '21 Jump Street', ... I had never heard of these shows - I'm Belgian, so that explains it, in case you were wondering - but was pleasantly surprised. I also discovered 'Sports Night', which carried the tag line 'It's about sports... the same way Charlie's Angels was about law enforcement'. I'm really liking this show. It described the interdependency of co-workers at a news station. Their quarrels and affairs, mostly amusing (some get boring, but hey, what are you gonna do about it?). I watched Studio 60 this year, and considering how Aaron Sorkin created both shows, I have the feeling he recycled an old idea to try to make it better. Well, he failed. This show doesn't try to give the characters unnecessary depth. It doesn't come in waves. It just is. The characters develop what little they do in a normal, realistic way. No epiphany's, or whatever. The show is entertaining, funny... just good actually. Only thing that bugs me - and it bugs me real bad - is the laugh-track. Don't do it. I know it was common back then, but still. It is senseless. Even though the track isn't omnipresent in the show, it's still quite annoying. It gets the score down from an 8 to a 7. I was born in '88, so I still got a whole lot of 90s-series catching up to do. But I'll stick with this one for a little while longer.

If you love the snappy fast paced dialogue of The West Wing then understand Sorkin got his feet wet with this light hearted comedy about an all sports station competing with ESPN and FOX Sports.

I for one found this show in mid flight when ABC had it and was sorry to see it canceled. I was also gratified many tv critics complained that intelligent and fast paced humor could not survive the rating wars. It was just recently on Comedy Central and I would set my VCR to record it at 3:30 am each night (morning). I looked forward to the twenty plus minutes a day to watch it (I skipped commercials!). I found the show went by far quicker than the regular sit-coms on tv now and that told me one thing...this was a well done show with good performances from some really excellent actors. For those that did not like the show...have you really taken stock of the pool of talent this show had?

Peter Krause is now a bedrock performer on HBO's Six Feet Under. Robert Guillaume, whom we all got to love as Benson from the original "take it to edge" comedy SOAP and then the Benson spin off is terrific. Integrating his real life stroke into the fabric of a show's Managing Director's stroke was brilliant. Josh Charles did a good job, Sabrina Lloyd will be heard from, and we discovered a fine young actor in Joshua Molina who has gone on to play good roles in The American President and has now emerged as a character that will endure in The West Wing. Felicity Huffman also does an outstanding job as Dana, the show's producer.

For you naysayers take a look at the guests on this show. Can one quibble with William H. Macy, Ted McGinley, Terri Polo, and Lisa Edelstein? This show had sass, verve, energy, and dealt with some very real subjects such as the one where Natalie (Lloyd) is accosted in the locker room of a pro football team by one of it's star players. Does the name Lisa Olson ring a bell? Or how about the one where the star running back (African-American) at a Tenn. college refuses to play so long as the school flies the Confederate flag. Was this not a current and highly charged issue?

I cannot tell people that were not fans of the show what to like. What I can say is if you like very fast wit, quick "you gotta be on your toes or you might miss the next sarcastic or sardonic line" dialogue, or if you just want to see 1/2 hour go by in a flash then see this show when (if) it comes back on. My advice is tape it if it shows again at the 3ish in the morning time slot OR it is now on DVD (the entire two seasons.