Quo Vadimus! 20 Random Reasons You Should Watch "Sports Night"

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (20)

Casey: There is a perception in the press, never more clear than in this article, that I’m not cool. Now where do you suppose that perception comes from?

Dana: I think it comes from reality.

Do Not Abandon Blowouts

Casey: It’s a vicious circle.
Dan: Yep. Just keeps going around and around.
Casey: Never stops.
Dan: That’s what makes it vicious.
Casey: And a circle.

Dan Rydell Does Not Wear Pants

Jeremy’s Speech: Brilliant. Isaac’s Response: Flat-out Amazing

Dan: The high water mark was when I was mistaken for a Backstreet Boy. Is there a Backstreet Boy I look like?

Jeremy: Yep.

Dan: Which one?

Jeremy: That guy.

Glass Tubes!

Go to 5:35. Now.

I’m a Cat with Kittens, Casey

Dan Rydell: I would like to have an intelligent, high-minded, right-thinking, socially progressive, impressively pragmatic conversation with Hillary Clinton. Tomorrow morning I shall.

Casey McCall: Shall you?

Dan Rydell: Yes. And she will say, “My goodness. That Dan Rydell is such a bright young boy, so much more than sports scores and highlights. I think I’ll make him my gentleman friend.”

Casey McCall: Well, then, here’s to you Mrs. Robinson.”

The Lion King? Really?

Donna Moss

Dan: He missed the home run. He was in the men’s room washing his hands.

Dana: Really?

Dan: Yeah.

Dana: It’s kind of funny, if you think about it.

Dan: Yeah, ‘cause at the end of the day, it’s just a baseball game.

Dana: How is it not funny?

Dan: It was an idiotic dating plan, Dana. What did you think was gonna happen? Forget that he’s meeting all kinds of women, that was gonna happen. But the one he wanted was you anyway.

Dana: Wanted?

Dan: All this is doing is making him feel a lot less like the man he is, which is why he left Lisa in the first place. I know what he wants and I gotta say he’s done a pretty good job of going after it, which isn’t like the most natural thing in the world for Casey to do. And I know what you want, and all I’ve seen you do is hide behind this psychotic behaviour all dressed up as cute. He wanted you and he told you every possible way he could. You’ve just been hanging out in the men’s room.

Because It’s Never Not Worth It to See This

If you have Netflix Instant, this is where to go.

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Comments

Casey remembers the names.

I'm not recognizing the breakup.

Cricket.

Posted by: Tao at August 30, 2011 12:46 AM

Jeremy: Listen. Think about this: halfway around the world, a lone man has accomplished an extraordinary athletic feat.
Dan: What?
Jeremy: I don't know.

Posted by: DamnYankees at August 30, 2011 12:50 AM

Stunning writing, CRAZY great cast... And a laugh track that made me want to set my head on fire. I understand the laugh track is phased out eventually, but MAN I had to take a break from watching the series on Netflix because that laugh track was sooooo grating against Sorkin's writing. Like a prime steak served with a garnish of Velveeta.

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at August 30, 2011 12:53 AM

YES. Sports Night is the show I recommend to EVERYONE. The Summerland of TV. (What's that? You haven't read Summerland? Go fix that.)

Other excellent scenes: CUT MAN. And Jeremy's interview. And Jeremy threatening to beat up Chrisian Patrick. And Dan with the homeless guy.

And most of all: Dana during the SHOE MONEY TONIGHT episode. And the fact that it was the first show to really ever use the music/fade out effect. And clearly I have to stop this comment now or it will go on forever. But seriously, watch Sports Night. It will make you a better person. Yes, actually.

Posted by: esme at August 30, 2011 1:41 AM

Best show I re-discovered. I watched an episode or two back in the day, and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was a great show. Excellent (if overwrought) writing.

Posted by: Brenton at August 30, 2011 2:35 AM

Remember the tacked on laugh track? A sports night tumblr is about my idea of perfection. Take from that what you will

Posted by: Nadine at August 30, 2011 4:38 AM

But the best has to be Lisa Edelstein's Bobbi Bernstein, who is bat s*&% crady in the first season and compleatly sane in the second. And Dan and Teri Polo first date! And of coerce show killer Paula Marshall, who's a great actress, but the unluckiest sharm for any good show.

Posted by: Malexa at August 30, 2011 4:56 AM

Puns? There are puns?!

Posted by: branded at August 30, 2011 8:16 AM

I was too young/ busy to care about this show when it came out, so I watched it this summer. Holy shit, balls out amazing. I was genuinely sad when I had no more episodes left. This means I was sad a show that ended ten years ago ended. :(

Posted by: Nimue at August 30, 2011 8:25 AM

And once again, Canadian Netflix subscribers are left out in the terrible, late summer cold. I've really got to stop reading these lists, 'cause every time I do I feel like I'm getting screwed, and not in the fun way.

Posted by: Groundloop at August 30, 2011 8:50 AM

I watched this show on Netflix Instant based on positive reviews from Pajiba. I LOVED it. I was too young to be interested when it originally aired, but I devoured it in about three weeks when I got going with it. Because of this, I always give Pajiba favorites a chance. I never know when I might find another diamond in the rough.

Posted by: tipsywoozy at August 30, 2011 10:12 AM

(I understand your pain, Nimue. I found Firefly last year through these people... still stings)

That scene with Dana talking about the theatre makes me cry. Not sob, just constant leaking of ocular fluid. It reminds me every time why I went into acting, and often moves me to try again.

I'm going home to these DVDs and treating them right.

Posted by: Patty O'Green at August 30, 2011 10:42 AM

Groundloop, I totally feel your pain. I went over and checked Netflix.ca after reading this because I didn't remember seeing it on there and sure enough, we don't have it. Now I have another show to constantly bitch about, a la The Wonder Years which has been on American Netflix for months.

Posted by: Nicole at August 30, 2011 10:54 AM

i have a soft spot for Sports Night, but i still chortle at this semi review:

"Sports Night, the comedy that's too good to be funny."

Posted by: Scott at August 30, 2011 12:30 PM

laughtrack

Posted by: zito at August 30, 2011 3:04 PM

Sports Night was one of the best shows ever! I guess it was too intelligent for a sitcom. Watching it recently on Netflix, I wish they ditched the laugh track.

Posted by: Traci at August 30, 2011 3:35 PM

I still need to watch the rest of this show someday.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at August 30, 2011 4:02 PM

A true classic. I watch it all the way through at least once a year.

Posted by: Chris Ullrich at August 30, 2011 6:25 PM

The love I have for this show is limitless. I want my own Dan, especially after his apology. The best anything should have emotion at the heart of it and Sports Night had it.

This is perfect timing as I recently started watching this show again, and then I needed to watch the first for seasons of West Wing too. Sorkin just has a way with clever and witty dialogue that is rarely matched.

Posted by: noo at August 30, 2011 6:36 PM

I just started watching this. I absolutely love it, and have been recommending it to everyone.

Posted by: DominaNefret at August 31, 2011 1:51 AM

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Quo Vadimus! 20 Random Reasons You Should Watch "Sports Night"

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