All the Dana/Casey/Gordon stuff gets a bit repetitve, but its so well played that you almost forget this.
Another good episode.
Another good episode.
2 Reviews
How Are Things in Gloca Morra?
studioAT4 March 2021
Classic over-wrought Sorkin - excellent but dated
jeffdstockton4 August 2023
See my other review of the series under the the SportsNight series listing; this review offers more detailed observations.
This episode is a great example of early Aaron Sorkin TV writing. A large percentage of the dialogue is comprised of repetition - by the character of his or her own line, or characters repeating what another character just said. The quick patter which characterizes Sorkin's writing is padded with such repetition, and other fluff transitions such as the Sorkin, "Okay..."
What's particularly dreadful here is the depiction of the Dan's character, robustly - gleefully - portrayed by Felicity Huffman. We're asked to believe that this highly accomplished career professional falls into little girl giddiness and giggles under some kinds of stress. And, that she has the emotional maturity of an eight year old. She is EXTREMELY annoying in this episode. Almost no one on the show seems capable of acknowledging that they are not the center of everyone else's universe, but Dana is especially self centered, and, unfortunately, her assistant, Natalie, is falling into the same dreadful pattern.
Sports Night is not alone on failing to depict characters' lives in certain real-life contexts, such as needing enough sleep in any given 24-hour period, but it's especially stupid here, in, for example, showing characters at work late at night, planning their 'night out' with friends whose jobs are on the other side of the clock. Essentially, these people don't have jobs to do; rather, as the series has developed, they just have marks to hit and poignant, glib, flippant comments to make.
Ultimately, SportsNight is an excellent clinic on how powerfully great writing, based in broad and deep knowledge with no fear of complexity, can elevate... almost anything. We watch SoortsNight knowing that it's almost a quarter century old, and we appreciate how advanced it was in its place and time.
But, we also see that it comes from a very privileged perspective. That may have something to do with its short lifespan, though I suspect it has much more to do with the narrow lack of vision that reside in the executive offices of the network at the time.
It still hits the heart and head with surprise and breath-taking impact. But, over time, it becomes like enjoying a favorite dessert with no constraints. We realize that it's best consumed in smaller, infrequent helpings.
This episode is a great example of early Aaron Sorkin TV writing. A large percentage of the dialogue is comprised of repetition - by the character of his or her own line, or characters repeating what another character just said. The quick patter which characterizes Sorkin's writing is padded with such repetition, and other fluff transitions such as the Sorkin, "Okay..."
What's particularly dreadful here is the depiction of the Dan's character, robustly - gleefully - portrayed by Felicity Huffman. We're asked to believe that this highly accomplished career professional falls into little girl giddiness and giggles under some kinds of stress. And, that she has the emotional maturity of an eight year old. She is EXTREMELY annoying in this episode. Almost no one on the show seems capable of acknowledging that they are not the center of everyone else's universe, but Dana is especially self centered, and, unfortunately, her assistant, Natalie, is falling into the same dreadful pattern.
Sports Night is not alone on failing to depict characters' lives in certain real-life contexts, such as needing enough sleep in any given 24-hour period, but it's especially stupid here, in, for example, showing characters at work late at night, planning their 'night out' with friends whose jobs are on the other side of the clock. Essentially, these people don't have jobs to do; rather, as the series has developed, they just have marks to hit and poignant, glib, flippant comments to make.
Ultimately, SportsNight is an excellent clinic on how powerfully great writing, based in broad and deep knowledge with no fear of complexity, can elevate... almost anything. We watch SoortsNight knowing that it's almost a quarter century old, and we appreciate how advanced it was in its place and time.
But, we also see that it comes from a very privileged perspective. That may have something to do with its short lifespan, though I suspect it has much more to do with the narrow lack of vision that reside in the executive offices of the network at the time.
It still hits the heart and head with surprise and breath-taking impact. But, over time, it becomes like enjoying a favorite dessert with no constraints. We realize that it's best consumed in smaller, infrequent helpings.
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