Best of TV, No. 4


My countdown of my favorite TV series of all time continues this week as we get into the top four. Here comes the first of two Aaron Sorkin shows on this list, and the second of two sitcoms on the list.

Sports Night (1998-2000)
Network: ABC
About: This was Sorkin's first show to hit the air, and started a strong of shows that really pulled back the curtain to show you what happens behind the scenes. Since "Sports Night," Sorkin has used this model in two other shows relating to going behind the scenes of a TV show — with "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and "Newsroom," which premiered on HBO in June. But none of the attempts have been a fun and endearing as "Sports Night." This show hit ABC during a time when the network was struggling to find an identity. I can't help but wonder if this show had hit ABC a few years later if it wouldn't still be on the air. It was a poignant comedy, which was a rare deviation from the comedy model NBC used so successfully in the 1990s. In the beginning the network tried to mess with the formula, even doing things like adding a laugh track that really didn't work. Still, the stories, characters, and heart of this show was undeniable. This is the shortest run show on this list, lasting just two full seasons on ABC. You could definitely say it was a show that ended too soon, and more than a decade since it went off the air it continues to have a strong fan base. The show also captured the beautiful part of life and sports. It felt very much like a nod to the kind of fun and relationships you always assume exist at ESPN. The acting was great, with Peter Krause, Josh Charles, and Felicity Huffman headlining the cast. All three have gone on to do other good work in the medium, but there was real magic in "Sports Night." I recently watched the entire series over again in a couple of weeks, and it's amazing how well it holds up and how resonate it still is. Sorkin has a gift for dialogue and writing. Not everyone appreciates his style, and there are times when it doesn't work because his ideology conflicts with his storytelling. But with "Sports Night" there was a perfect blend of both, and it worked really well. And he created some great characters that added to the whole ethos of the show.
Where to Find It: The complete series of "Sports Night" is available on DVD

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