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IMDbPro

Sports Night

  • TV Series
  • 1998–20001998–2000
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
8.3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,746
292
Josh Charles, Felicity Huffman, Sabrina Lloyd, Robert Guillaume, Peter Krause, and Joshua Malina in Sports Night (1998)
Home Video Trailer from Shout! Factory
Play trailer1:41
2 Videos
59 Photos
ComedyDramaSport
Casey McCall and Dan Rydell are sports anchors and best friends on "Sports Night", a nightly cable program.Casey McCall and Dan Rydell are sports anchors and best friends on "Sports Night", a nightly cable program.Casey McCall and Dan Rydell are sports anchors and best friends on "Sports Night", a nightly cable program.
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
8.3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,746
292
    • Aaron Sorkin
  • Stars
    • Josh Charles
    • Peter Krause
    • Felicity Huffman
    • Aaron Sorkin
  • Stars
    • Josh Charles
    • Peter Krause
    • Felicity Huffman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 122User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Primetime Emmys

    Episodes45

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos2

    A Guide to the Work of Aaron Sorkin
    Clip 5:24
    Watch A Guide to the Work of Aaron Sorkin
    Sports Night: The Complete Series - 10th Anniversary Edition
    Trailer 1:41
    Watch Sports Night: The Complete Series - 10th Anniversary Edition

    Photos59

    Felicity Huffman and Sabrina Lloyd in Sports Night (1998)
    Josh Charles in Sports Night (1998)
    Felicity Huffman and Peter Krause in Sports Night (1998)
    Josh Charles in Sports Night (1998)
    Felicity Huffman, Peter Krause, and Ted McGinley in Sports Night (1998)
    William H. Macy and Sabrina Lloyd in Sports Night (1998)
    Josh Charles in Sports Night (1998)
    Josh Charles, Felicity Huffman, and Sabrina Lloyd in Sports Night (1998)
    Josh Charles in Sports Night (1998)
    Felton Perry in Sports Night (1998)
    Felicity Huffman in Sports Night (1998)
    Josh Charles and Teri Polo in Sports Night (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Josh Charles
    Josh Charles
    • Dan Rydell
    Peter Krause
    Peter Krause
    • Casey McCall
    Felicity Huffman
    Felicity Huffman
    • Dana Whitaker
    Joshua Malina
    Joshua Malina
    • Jeremy Goodwin
    Sabrina Lloyd
    Sabrina Lloyd
    • Natalie Hurley
    Robert Guillaume
    Robert Guillaume
    • Isaac Jaffe
    Kayla Blake
    Kayla Blake
    • Kim
    Greg Baker
    Greg Baker
    • Elliott
    Timothy Davis-Reed
    Timothy Davis-Reed
    • Chris
    Jeff Mooring
    Jeff Mooring
    • Dave
    Ron Ostrow
    Ron Ostrow
    • Will
    Suzanne Kellogg
    • Alyson
    Rose Colasanti
    Rose Colasanti
    • Billi
    Ted McGinley
    Ted McGinley
    • Gordon
    Teri Polo
    Teri Polo
    • Rebecca Wells
    Brenda Strong
    Brenda Strong
    • Sally Sasser
    Darren Foreman
    • Jack
    William H. Macy
    William H. Macy
    • Sam Donovan
      • Aaron Sorkin
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The last episode of the first season of all three of Aaron Sorkin's TV shows (The West Wing (1999), Sports Night (1998), and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006)), as well as the series finale of "The Newsroom" (2012), is titled "What Kind of Day Has It Been?"
    • Quotes

      Isaac Jaffe: Let me start by saying that: Dana, what I say in my office stays in my office.

      Dana Whitaker: Natalie's my number 2, she's the only one I told.

      Natalie Hurley: Jeremy's my boyfriend, and he's the only one I told.

      Jeremy Goodwin: I told many many people.

    • Connections
      Featured in Spin City: Internal Affairs (1999)

    User reviews122

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    This is television at its best.
    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.
    helpful•73
    2
    • Pavel-8
    • Jun 29, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 22, 1998 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Burbank, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Imagine Television
      • Touchstone Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 30 minutes
      • Color
      • Stereo

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