Disney–ABC Domestic Television
It's not lost on me that after absolutely the most wretched weeks of my career, I resorted to bing-watching Sports Night. I felt an allegiance to Jeremy who defended, 'not fitting in is how qualified people loose jobs.' I spent my after work hours imagining a world where everyone is intelligent, sharp witted, moving at an energetically infectious, rapid-fire pace. A world of Dan and Casey's banter, Dana coaching Natalie, Jeremy being Jeremy, Issac sharing wise words, and where the best date is in the comfort of wherever you call your home.
After two seasons of holding the dubious title 'the best show you're not watching', Sports Night was cancelled. With a stellar cast, writing and directing, I gotta put this one on Marketing. Maybe it wasn't promoted right, focusing on the concept rather than the fully fleshed out, memorable characters. Maybe the name Sports Night was too on the sports nose and got disregarded by half the population, even the DVD trailer missed the demographic mark. Here's a hint marketing team, in 1998, long before Liz Lemon, Dana Whitaker, ran the Sports Night show. At the helm of a male dominated industry, a powerful, passionate female called the shots, alongside her right hand man, a woman, Natalie Hurley. Highlighting characters like Dana and company may have served the show better than running promos that look like confusing ESPN knock-offs. Much like the aftermath of my own work week, I can get lost in the question, why? But those answers are hard to come by. Instead, let's get lost with Sports Night, Aaron Sorkin and his irresistibly frenetic walk and talk. Smoky.