The show is held up when a tennis match goes longer than expected, putting a damper on Dana and Gordon's dinner plans.The show is held up when a tennis match goes longer than expected, putting a damper on Dana and Gordon's dinner plans.The show is held up when a tennis match goes longer than expected, putting a damper on Dana and Gordon's dinner plans.
Photos
Robert Guillaume
- Isaac Jaffe
- (credit only)
Pete Sampras
- Self
- (archive footage)
Paul Goldstein
- Alberto Fedrigotti
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
Frank C. Williams
- Sports Announcer
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe character of Isaac did not appear in this episode as actor Robert Guillaume had suffered a stroke. This was written into the series to explain Isaac's continued absence. Guillaume made a return to the show in the last episode of season one, 'What Kind of Day Has it Been?' The title of this episode, "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" was retained, even though the plot point to which it refers was dropped (it reappears in the season two episode "Celebrities").
- Quotes
Jeremy Goodwin: I understand what makes a woman think that any man is better than nothing. I'll just never understand what makes a woman think she's got nothing.
- ConnectionsReferences Raging Bull (1980)
- SoundtracksHow Are Things in Glocca Morra?
(uncredited)
Music by Burton Lane
Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg
Performed by Robert Guillaume
Featured review
Classic over-wrought Sorkin - excellent but dated
See my other review of the series under the the SportsNight series listing; this review offers more detailed observations.
This episode is a great example of early Aaron Sorkin TV writing. A large percentage of the dialogue is comprised of repetition - by the character of his or her own line, or characters repeating what another character just said. The quick patter which characterizes Sorkin's writing is padded with such repetition, and other fluff transitions such as the Sorkin, "Okay..."
What's particularly dreadful here is the depiction of the Dan's character, robustly - gleefully - portrayed by Felicity Huffman. We're asked to believe that this highly accomplished career professional falls into little girl giddiness and giggles under some kinds of stress. And, that she has the emotional maturity of an eight year old. She is EXTREMELY annoying in this episode. Almost no one on the show seems capable of acknowledging that they are not the center of everyone else's universe, but Dana is especially self centered, and, unfortunately, her assistant, Natalie, is falling into the same dreadful pattern.
Sports Night is not alone on failing to depict characters' lives in certain real-life contexts, such as needing enough sleep in any given 24-hour period, but it's especially stupid here, in, for example, showing characters at work late at night, planning their 'night out' with friends whose jobs are on the other side of the clock. Essentially, these people don't have jobs to do; rather, as the series has developed, they just have marks to hit and poignant, glib, flippant comments to make.
Ultimately, SportsNight is an excellent clinic on how powerfully great writing, based in broad and deep knowledge with no fear of complexity, can elevate... almost anything. We watch SoortsNight knowing that it's almost a quarter century old, and we appreciate how advanced it was in its place and time.
But, we also see that it comes from a very privileged perspective. That may have something to do with its short lifespan, though I suspect it has much more to do with the narrow lack of vision that reside in the executive offices of the network at the time.
It still hits the heart and head with surprise and breath-taking impact. But, over time, it becomes like enjoying a favorite dessert with no constraints. We realize that it's best consumed in smaller, infrequent helpings.
This episode is a great example of early Aaron Sorkin TV writing. A large percentage of the dialogue is comprised of repetition - by the character of his or her own line, or characters repeating what another character just said. The quick patter which characterizes Sorkin's writing is padded with such repetition, and other fluff transitions such as the Sorkin, "Okay..."
What's particularly dreadful here is the depiction of the Dan's character, robustly - gleefully - portrayed by Felicity Huffman. We're asked to believe that this highly accomplished career professional falls into little girl giddiness and giggles under some kinds of stress. And, that she has the emotional maturity of an eight year old. She is EXTREMELY annoying in this episode. Almost no one on the show seems capable of acknowledging that they are not the center of everyone else's universe, but Dana is especially self centered, and, unfortunately, her assistant, Natalie, is falling into the same dreadful pattern.
Sports Night is not alone on failing to depict characters' lives in certain real-life contexts, such as needing enough sleep in any given 24-hour period, but it's especially stupid here, in, for example, showing characters at work late at night, planning their 'night out' with friends whose jobs are on the other side of the clock. Essentially, these people don't have jobs to do; rather, as the series has developed, they just have marks to hit and poignant, glib, flippant comments to make.
Ultimately, SportsNight is an excellent clinic on how powerfully great writing, based in broad and deep knowledge with no fear of complexity, can elevate... almost anything. We watch SoortsNight knowing that it's almost a quarter century old, and we appreciate how advanced it was in its place and time.
But, we also see that it comes from a very privileged perspective. That may have something to do with its short lifespan, though I suspect it has much more to do with the narrow lack of vision that reside in the executive offices of the network at the time.
It still hits the heart and head with surprise and breath-taking impact. But, over time, it becomes like enjoying a favorite dessert with no constraints. We realize that it's best consumed in smaller, infrequent helpings.
helpful•01
- jeffdstockton
- Aug 4, 2023
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