Rating: 
Summary: Sports Night at last!
Review: Sports Night is one of the best shows ever aired & a must-have for any fan of great television! I didn't watch it first time around because I'm not a sports fan. But once I did see it (and fall in love with it) I realized I'd been a victim of the poor marketing that resulted in its cancellation. This is a beautiful DVD set; the only shortcoming is a lack of extras (some commentary tracks would have been nice) & there's no scene access -- the only chapter stops are at the beginning of each episode so you have to fast foward to particular scenes. Aside from that it's perfect! Thank goodness the DVD industry has finally realized that people WANT to buy complete seasons or entire runs of their favorite series! They've been releasing them this way in England for years. Until recently all we were lucky to get here in the States were "best of" compilations while the bulk of a series' shows had to be caught in synidication (if it were still being aired at all). And, maybe it's just me, but I hate having to watch my favorite shows through the constant barrage of network logos & "watch this show next" banners plastered on the screen. And don't get me stated on how a show's tag scene usually gets bumped for an ad for some upcoming TV event I'm not even interested in! Or the networks that squeeze the picture so they can run a constant black bar of trivia & other nuisances along the bottom of the screen. DVD is now the ONLY way you can watch your favorite shows as they were intended in clear, uninterrupted & uncluttered pleasure.
Rating:
Summary: Vintage Aaron Sorkin ...
Review: Between '98 and '00 I somehow missed the two-season run of Sports Night. I'm an avid TV watcher, but it somehow slipped beneath my radar, such that I'd barely heard of the show until a couple of months ago. And this despite the fact that the show won three Emmys!That's when I learned that one of my favorite TV writers (Aaron Sorkin, The West Wing) had also written this half-hour "dramedy." (I hate that word, but it's better than "sit-com," which doesn't do Sports Night justice.) I'm such a huge Sorkin fan than when I saw that the (unfortunately short) series run of Sports Night was available on DVD, I bought it without having ever seen a single episode. And I wasn't disappointed. While it's clear that with The West Wing Sorkin has polished his dialogue style, it's still unmistakable here: sharp, smart, staccato exchanges between characters, so quick and lively that it makes the characters seem even more intelligent than they are. It's not exactly realistic, but it's what I WISH reality was. Like The West Wing, there's a great ensemble cast, too many to list individually. Most have gone on to other projects. And like The West Wing, Sports Night has its heart in the right place, as characters struggle with love, friendship, and work. A great show. Though the DVD set isn't heavy on special features, it does pack all 45 episodes into six discs and one three-box set. Well worth the money.
Rating:
Summary: I want to work HERE!
Review: They say you should never talk about politics and religion at the office. The characters of SPORTS NIGHT tackle religion, politics and much, much more on this great and eternally underrated TV show (marketed as a standard comedy sitcom but is much more complex, probably had the wrong original audience). With a mix of characters ranging from the elderly and very (albeit grudgingly) fatherly managing editor played by Robert Guillume, to the neurotic executive producer played by Felicity Huffman, the shy and tightly wound pair of associate producers (Josh Molina and Sabrina Lloyd) to the two byumbling but not superficial anchors of Peter Krause and Josh Charles. You can't get a better conglamoration of characters or better actors to play them with the right amount of comedy and splendor this side of "The West Wing". From a slow news day to personal feelings about ethics in sports as well as the role sports play in society this show covers them all in conjunction with the everyday office gossip, problems with management and interpersonal relationships. That this show is still funny and smart at the same time is a true testament to the writing skills of Aaron Sorkin. Notable guest appearences include Peter Reigert, John de Lancie (for all you Star Trek fans) and William H. Macy (who is married in real life to Felicity Huffman). Don't bother yourself getting up early on Saturday mornings to catch the re-runs on Comedy Central, get the series and watch them all as often as you like and basque in appreciation of what real television should be!
Rating:
Summary: Dangerously Addictive
Review: I never caught this show until late nights on Comedy Central (which still runs it in syndication from time to time) and was introduced to Aaron Sorkin through his brilliant "West Wing." This show is just as smart and funny, but even more accessible to everyday viewers. I admit to knowing next to nothing about Sports, but this show is so amazing. When I heard that ABC had cancelled it after only two seasons, I was heartbroken. This show has SOUL! It's also got six disks, and I watch them constantly. By the time you finish the sixth disk, and the final episodes of the second season, you're completely ready to start all over again. I don't know how Sorkin does it, but after watching a few shows of Sports Night, you will fall in love with these characters. You won't be able to wait to finish the two seasons, and trust me -- you'll wish ABC had realized their goof in letting this one get away. I really think the only reason this show didn't do well in the ratings was due to it's scheduling problems (ABC slung in around to at least a dozen different time slots). It might be a dream, but I'd love to see these characters come together to finish the series in a more satisfying way -- Peter Krause is in Six Feet Under, Josh Malina is "Will Bailey" on The West Wing, Sabrina Lloyd on "Ed," Felicity Huffman on "Frasier" and some new series on Showtime. Is it too much to ask these actors to just stop what they're doing and come back for a few more seasons? I think not.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best series ever!
Review: Writer/creator Aaron Sorkin and director Thomas Schlamme went on to develop NBC's "The West Wing" during the second season of this wonderful series. From the beginning, ABC had no clue of how to handle this show. First, they insisted that the producers ad a laugh track, because you don't know when to laugh. Then, they started to promote it like a soap opera, because it had serious issues to deal with at times. Ultimately, the quality of the show came through. A fabulous cast provided excellent performances. Josh Charles ("A Few Good Men") and Sabrina Lloyd ("Sliders") are the MVPs here, consistently giving the show it's heart. Peter Krause ("Six Feet Under"), initially stiff in his "on air" role as Casey McCall, settled in well mid-first season. The real gem here is Robert Guilamme ("Benson"), his Issac Jaffe is an excellent character brought to life with his gentle touch. Guilamme's real-life stroke was written into the series, and when he returned in the second season made for some wonderful moments and sly dialogue delivered by the veteran actor. If you've not yet experienced this series, you may want to catch a rerun on late night Comedy Central. But, I whole-heartedly endorse adding this DVD set to your personal collection.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Buy!!
Review: For fans of the show, or for fans of just great tv. When I saw this was available, I grabbed it so fast I left smoke behind! Great writing, wonderful humor, and great chemistry between all the actors made this a class act. The writers even managed to work in Robert Guillaime's (sp?) stroke so that he could continue on the show. Sports Night is about a cable sports network that stuggles to compete against the larger companies like ESPN and FOX, while dealing with regular personal problems like office politics, work relationships, and the bonds of friendship. The cast consists of two co-anchors who are long-time friends, a producer that's also a friend of one of the anchors, an editor/boss who keeps getting sucked into his office's soap opera lives while trying to fend off the company's bureaucratic sharks, and two associate producers who have a sweet office romance. Plus all the supporting technical people. It's not really a sitcom, nor a full on drama, but kind of in between--a dramedy I guess. This show was sadly cancelled after only two seasons, which means after the last episode, you still want more, and there were one or two loose ends that needed to be tied up. I found myself watching in 6-8 episode chunks, because you just can't stop after one!
Rating:
Summary: If it ain't on the page, it ain't on the stage
Review: That's the old rejoinder from the theatre, and Aaron Sorkin is quite easily the best writer of television currently working. The other reviews' thoughts on the wonderful acting, snappy directing and terrific camera work are all correct, but this show is all about the dialogue, pacing and pathos which falls from Sorkin's pen. Fans of The West Wing (I'm one, of course) will find this show to be even more tightly wound than our Wednesday-night wonder. The half-hour format may be the reason for its edge, or it might be the more-universal subject matter. It's definitely not about sports.
Since I'm not up at 3:30 am edt I rarely see the show on Comedy Central, and I dug out my tapes recently. Usually I intend to watch one or two episodes, but I invariably watch more like five or six. And for those of you who know the show only from Comedy Central, understand that the episodes were criminally edited for the time restraints of a basic cable network. The DVD will be a revelation to even those who think they know how good the show is.
By the way, this show dispels the notion that the mere presence of Ted McGinley makes any show "junp the shark." This is the only show he appeared in during its first season. :)
Rating:
Summary: Incredible show
Review: If you enjoy The West Wing, sports, or just good writing, Sports Night is the show for you. I never once watched the show when it was on network TV, in fact i didn't know it existed. I was up late one night and caught an episode and was instantly grabbed by its unique style and keen intellect. I purchased the set from Amazon.com after watching The West Wing Season 1 on DVD and instantly fell in love with Aaron Sorkin's writing. It will truly grip you. You will become attached to the characters as you watch them work and deal with a number of complex social and personal problems. You will honestly laugh and cry in the same episode. Perhaps the best part of the show is the way it constantly surprises you, not with cheap storylines which are cliched, but with the plot turns these characters face not only in each episode, but more so over the course of the whole set. The only regret I have is that there are only 2 seasons. This show really is a masterpiece, and I'm not one easily won over. Take a chance if you're interested in trying the show out, it will be worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Sports Night at last!
Review: Sports Night is one of the best shows ever aired & a must-have for any fan of great television! I didn't watch it first time around because I'm not a sports fan. But once I did see it (and fall in love with it) I realized I'd been a victim of the poor marketing that resulted in its cancellation. This is a beautiful DVD set; the only shortcoming is a lack of extras (some commentary tracks would have been nice) & there's no scene access -- the only chapter stops are at the beginning of each episode so you have to fast foward to particular scenes. Aside from that it's perfect! Thank goodness the DVD industry has finally realized that people WANT to buy complete seasons or entire runs of their favorite series! They've been releasing them this way in England for years. Until recently all we were lucky to get here in the States were "best of" compilations while the bulk of a series' shows had to be caught in synidication (if it were still being aired at all). And, maybe it's just me, but I hate having to watch my favorite shows through the constant barrage of network logos & "watch this show next" banners plastered on the screen. And don't get me stated on how a show's tag scene usually gets bumped for an ad for some upcoming TV event I'm not even interested in! Or the networks that squeeze the picture so they can run a constant black bar of trivia & other nuisances along the bottom of the screen. DVD is now the ONLY way you can watch your favorite shows as they were intended in clear, uninterrupted & uncluttered pleasure.
Rating:
Summary: Well-written, Intelligent Show
Review: Sports Night was an amazing show that combined both a drama and a comedy into a half-hour time slot. As many have already stated, in the same episode you could be teary eyed from something sad happening, and then a few minutes later, teary eyed from a humorous line. I'm amazed at how wonderfully written this show was, and how well the chararcters were thought out. I always liked how in the tough times Isaac could always give his wisdom, and it seemed to always make things better for the staff at Sports Night. Aaron Sorkin is a brilliant writer, and I'm hoping that he'll create more new shows that can at least compare to the intelligent writing of Sports Night. Anyone looking for an entertaining, quality TV show, should definitley check out Sports Night.
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