Rating: 
Summary: Give this show a chance!
Review: For those that might see this title come up while searching for the West Wing DVD, I fully recommend this amazing box set. The characters, plotlines and dialog are brought to life with such a glow, a special X factor, that you can't help but be engrossed. I have to say that if this show had been given the chance that Cheers had received when it was tanking in its' first few seasons, I know that this would be one of the most watched TV shows on ABC. There are few shows that give the viewer a real palpable sense of satisfaction simply by watching them. Something beyond a woman picking a husband on TV, or cops solving a mystery. Sports Night is TV at its finest. The characters are intelligent, and they exude a vulnerability that allows the viewer to be saddened by their struggles as well as revel in their triumphs. This show has an exuberance and zest for itself that makes you care about it. A wit and style that make you see the characters as multi-dimentional, not just cardboard, static stereotypes. Aaron Sorkin took Sports Center and gave it a soul. Gave it something special that the viewers never see. Then he brought it to everyone. You do NOT have to like sports at all to enjoy this show. Just don't be surprised when you find yourself caring about men climbing a mountain or a pitcher throwing a no hitter, because it's all seen through the wonderfully human eyes of the characters. In short, this show is at the top of it's game when it's funny, as well as dramatic. It's just a shame that ABC didn't know how to market that.
Rating:
Summary: A comedy that's inspiring?
Review: How many sit-coms have the following? - Witty, fast-paced dialogue
- Characters who actually care about being moral (!)
- Interesting and surprising plot lines
- Good acting by everyone in the cast
- Stories that inspire you at times and make you tear up at others I agree with the other reviewer who said the ABC exec who cancelled this show should be shot. If the networks realized that *long-term* financial gain is actually a good thing, and often can only come via word of mouth promotion, they might actually give a show like this a chance. The reason I never watched it myself when it was on the air, was that I thought it was "a show about sports". (I'm a sports fan, by the way, just not a fan of dopey sit-coms.) I clearly remember some ads in the NYC subway which conveyed to me: "Another stupid TV comedy, but this one's about sports." I put a lot of blame on ABC's marketing department for the show's cancellation. Reminds me of the movie "The Shawshank Redemption". It was hurried off the screens, then the following year became the most rented video of the year. I'm 100% capitalist, but businessmen sure seem to know how to mess up a good movie or TV show.
Rating:
Summary: Truly brilliant television.
Review: I was a fan of SPORTS NIGHT when it was on the air. Now, seeing the episodes again on DVD, I'm even more deeply impressed. The sophisticated writing (superior, in my opinion, to THE WEST WING, in that all the characters do not have the same voice); the snappy, deeply talented ensemble; the great direction and camera work; and the truly inspired storylines combine to make one of the best half-hour programs TV has seen. I love this show more now than I did years ago.
Rating:
Summary: The Best ... Sports Show, Period
Review: Yes, the writing is the best ever on TV. Yes, the cast is absolutely perfect. Yes, the programming exec that decided the fate of "Sports Night" should be taken out back and shot. But what makes this "good show" so great is how all the great pieces come together to make such a moving piece of television history. The show was not without flaws, but it worked through them. The changes between the pilot and the next episode were incredible! The whole "dramady" thing obviously created a lot of anxiety about how to use a laugh track or whether to use one at all. After overuse in the pilot, the laugh track was slowly disolved more and more into the background. Thankfully. I know I didn't need to hear any fake laughter to rattle my funnybone! And the almost maniacal Jeremy and Natalie (and a few others) were toned down appropriately from the pilot for the rest of the series. I love movies and TV shows with great characters, and this show made me care about its characters remarkably quickly. I heard that Aaron Sorkin had a deal to recreate the show on Showtime but ABC stepped in to prevent it. So, the network not only knocked out the show, it pulled the plug on its life support. Outrageous! Yes, this is the same network that gave life to Bonnie and Jim and Hope and Faith. Funny, I'm losing mine.
Rating:
Summary: How are things in Glocamora?
Review: I remember watching this show when it was on the air. And I also remember how sad and disheartening it was when the show went off the air. I definitly think that everyone should own this series. I mean why is it that a show that won 3 Emmy Awards went off the air after 2 seasons? I would think that they would take a show that isn't doing so well of the air. Anyway, the show is a great mix of seriousness and humor. Every episode had a plot and all 45 episodes were perfectly sequenced. The thing about this show is you have to watch the episodes in order. Even though you could watch one episode and understand what was going on, you would watch all 45 episodes and see a stroy from beginning to end. From the endless love between Casey and Dana to the ratings of the show from start to finish. I also noticed that even though the show went off the air. It did leave an opening to come back for another season. So I am assuming that when the writers wrote it they weren't 100% sure that they were going to end. But the one thing I think you should take notice from in this show is the humor and sarcasm from the show's Executive Producer Isaac Jaffe. He is the epidomy of what a boss should be, his wit and humor make this show one of the best I have ever seen. I say buy it and watch it from start to finish. It will only take 14 hours with breaks and changing discs included. lol Anyway I give this show the greatest rating in the world.
Rating:
Summary: "Good Show"
Review: Not to repeat everything that has already been said... But this show is great! Every episode is extremely well done, and each can be wathed again and again... If you are a fan of the "West Wing" you should like this! As with any series interest really picks up after the fourth or fifth episode, try it - you shouldn't be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece in 45 acts. The Larry Sanders of Drama
Review: Sports Night was a show that, despite its quality, never seemed to find its audience. Though it aired on a major network with decent publicity, the public largely ignored this superb show, writing it off as a show about sports. I am embarrassed to say that I was part of that ignoring public. Visiting the show later in reruns on Comedy Central, I came to understand why this show was almost universally praised by critics: Sports Night is, through and through, one of the most tightly crafted shows to ever hit the airwaves. Sports Night focuses on a fictional sports show with the same name, broadcast nightly on a third-place cable sports station, and hosted by two intelligent, witty men who put up good appearances on the air, but who are each struggling with their own demons behind the scenes. Added to the mix are a domineering executive producer (brilliantly portrayed by Felcity Huffman), as well as a cast of neurotic characters, all anchored by the sanity of Isaac, played by Robert Guillaume. What makes Sports Night so incredibly watchable is the accessability of the show to any type of viewer, sports fan or not. In fact, the sports references are kept to a minimum, as the show--like The Larry Sanders Show--focuses more on what happens behind the scenes. The dialogue is extraordinarily snappy, and moves along at a rhythmic clip that is almost melodic in nature. It's a banter whose music rivals that of the best David Mamet scripts. Perhaps the only mistep Sports Night made was the inclusion of a laugh track early on in the show. Not only was this extremely obvious as canned laughter, it also seemed out of place, as this is not a comedy with dramatic elements, but rather a drama with a hint of comedy every now and then. Sports night is a true gem.
Rating:
Summary: I almost wanted to cry
Review: I watched the final disc of this set last night and was half-way between crying that it was over and cursing the network that dropped it after two seasons. I feel partly to blame since I'd never seen the show when it was on the air and I wish I could go back in time. This show needed more time to find an audience. I seem to remember "Cheers" not being very popular the first couple seasons but NBC stuck with it. This show needed more time. I need more episodes.
Rating:
Summary: What more can I say?
Review: So many people have written about the quality of this show, there is really little more that I can add to say how wonderful this series is. All I can say is buy it, sit back and enjoy the ride. Believe me, you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: I kick myself
Review: for not loving this show so much when it was on the air, now I'd say it's my favorite show on or not on television.
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