EW:
Set in the high-stakes world of a live sports news program, the Aaron Sorkin-scribed dramedy followed the behind-the-scenes exploits of fictional “Sports Night” coanchors Casey (Peter Krause) and Dan (Josh Charles), their brilliant producer Dana (Felicity Huffman), harried associate producer Natalie (Sabrina Lloyd), gruff executive Isaac (Robert Guillaume), and whip-smart researcher Jeremy (Josh Malina).
Such a shame this show wasn’t a hit. While set in a sports world, it wasn’t specifically about sports but about the workplace and relationships much like Sorkin’s other shows. It also had amazing actors and Sorkin’s typical great writing.
“A show about a show about sports that’s not about sports.”
The title doomed the show before it had a chance to catch on. People who liked sports watched it and hated it because it wasn’t about sports. People who would have loved it didn’t watch it because they thought it was going to be about sports. I watched it because the TV critic in the SF Chronicle said it was one of the best shows ever and that guy was always right. I was heartbroken when it ended.
I loved this show. Every now and then I’ll binge watch it on Netflix.
I must be one of the few sports fans that loved Sports Night. Other than a reboot, which I would watch even if it meant subscribing to a particular cable channel, I would love to see a “first season without a laugh track” release. I would buy that in a heart beat and I already own the show on DVD and purchased it again through iTunes.
Sport Night, and in particular Sorkin and Schlamme are what drew me to watch the first episode of The West Wing. I’m very happy it did
Huge sports fan here. I loved this show.
Sorkin’s writing on this show was one of the few ways anyone has ever effectively communicated pro sports in an interesting way to me.
More important to me, though, was a scene between Casey and his Little Leaguer son, in which the kid admits he’s been worried about not living up to his dad’s expectations on the field. Casey’s response to the kid had me bawling and useless for about an hour.
Shows like this don’t catch on because they can’t attract enough dumb people to watch them.