Check This Out: TV Edition

SPORTS NIGHT (1998-2000)

"Sports Night" is another of those tragic tales of a critically acclaimed, excellently acted show that fell through the cracks and was canceled far before its time. It was created and mainly written by Aaron Sorkin, the guy responsible for The American President (if you haven't seen that, leave your house immediately and go rent it), "The West Wing," and most recently the film Charlie Wilson's War. It follows the exploits of six characters who work for "Sports Night," a cable sports show, very similar to ESPN's "Sports Center." That there are lots of sports references should go without saying. However, what does bear repeating is that this is one of the best cast, best acted, most likable set of characters I've ever come across.

Casey (Peter Krause, "Six Feet Under") and Dan (Josh Charles, Dead Poets Society) are best friends and co-anchors of "Sports Night." They spend most of the work day affably butting their noses into other people's business but still manage to write all their own material. On air, Dan and Casey never achieve the kind of spontaneity we're used to on "Sports Center," but remain clever and adorable. Their executive producer is the neurotic Dana (Felicity Huffman, "Desperate Housewives"), assisted by the even more neurotic, if not peppier, Natalie (Sabrina Lloyd). Jeremy (Joshua Malina) is the production assistant, a weather expert, and annoyingly, always right. The boss of all is director Issac (Robert Guillaume, "Benson"), the veteran journalist with a wry sense of humor.

In the midst of all the love triangles (Casey likes Dana, Natalie likes Jeremy, and so on), between the clever puns and sports discussion, the show actually manages to tackle some pretty interesting issues, affecting both the sports world and the personal lives of our characters: Who should have the final say about on-air content; the network or the producers? Should one reveal a competitor's indiscretion if it helps our own romantic cause? Has the increasing crime and immorality amongst athletes decreased our affection for the game? Should your relationship take priority over your career? These, and so many other topics are given due consideration on each episode while remaining light and fun to watch. And how awesome is it that the executive producer of a sports program is a woman?!?

The tone of the show can be best described as congenial. These characters populate a warm world and function more like a family than co-workers. Real world problems rear their ugly head, but never dampen the spirit of the show. Personally, I love Dan and Issac the most - they never rub me the wrong way. Dan is a fierce friend, the kind of guy who tells you when you're wrong, but doesn't hold it over your head. The fact that he's played by Josh Charles, who was Knox Overstreet, my favorite character in Dead Poets Society, doesn't hurt. Issac is the kind of boss we should all be so lucky to have, acting as father, teaching without scolding. This show is quick, chipper, intelligent and doesn't have to work hard to make me like it. It's not as painfully funny as "The Office," but it's also not as painfully awkward either. And it's soundtrack was smart enough to include "Sloop John B," "Afternoon Delight," "Eli's Coming," "The Shoop Shoop Song, " and "The Weight". Do give it a chance.

TOP FIVE FAVORITE EPISODES

• 5 - "The Sword of Orion" (Sn. 1, Ep. 18) Jeremy comes back from visiting his divorcing parents, obsessed with figuring out how a yacht named the "Sword of Orion" lost a big race. It's a stretch as far as metaphors go, but it still guts me a little. Dan is also obsessed, with getting Rebecca to watch a baseball game with him, and as usual is effortlessly winning. Also, "Sloop John B," my favorite Beach Boys song, plays over the end.
  
• 4 - "The Apology" (Sn. 1, Ep. 2) : After they do an interview for a magazine, Casey worries that Dan is cooler than him (he's right), and Dan is forced to do an on-air apology for his statements about legalizing marijuana. What Dan ends up apologizing for is surprising and sad, and (yay, continuity!) will come back to haunt him in Season Two. Plus this is the episode that features "Afternoon Delight"!
  
• 3 - "The Cut Man Cometh" (Sn. 2, Ep. 11) : Casey and Dana's tentative "relationship" comes to a painful head, but the tension is eased as Dan and Casey are forced to fill 3 hours of air time when a live boxing match lasts only seven seconds, and their correspondent is a drunken idiot. We learn lots of unnecessary (and queasy) facts about boxing, and see an argument about how many states are in the union.
  
• 2 - "Dana and the Deep Blue Sea" (Sn. 1, Ep. 15) : Dan adorably pursues Rebecca, who tries to remain indifferent to his charm, even as he makes awesome speeches, proving he's the coolest character on the show. Dana thinks Gordon is going to break up with her, making Casey think he has a chance, and leading to Dana trying to overcome her "fear of fish." Yeah, not making that up.
  
• 1 - "The Six Southern Gentlemen of Tennessee" (Sn. 1, Ep. 11) : Casey offends the wardrobe ladies during an appearence on "The View," the crew debate about "Play of the Year," and Issac kicks ass when he delivers an editorial about a race-relations issue. It's the Christmas episode too, which means the cheese factor automatically revs to 20.