tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post8813324378347105766..comments2024-03-25T19:18:14.047-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: Sports Night rewind, episode 2: "The Apology"Alan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-50699354073382107852009-06-28T21:09:38.338-04:002009-06-28T21:09:38.338-04:00You've expressed everything I love about this ...You've expressed everything I love about this episode, just as I'd want to, and better than I could. This was actually the first episode of the series I ever saw (somehow I missed the pilot when it first aired in Canada) and it hooked me <i>but good</i>. I really liked how Sorkin sketched out the relationships between the characters, especially Dan's relationships with Isaac and Casey, with such economy and vividness. Everything is in place by the second episode. On the other hand, you're completely right about Casey's and Dana's acting like idiots most of the time. In my house we don't mention the Dreaded Dating Plan - but I'm getting ahead of myself.<br /><br />I'm really enjoying your rewatch, and I'm thrilled that you love this underappreciated show so much. Keep up the wonderful work.Sandmanhttp://hipdeepinpie.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-54043808269444536182009-06-15T01:47:57.130-04:002009-06-15T01:47:57.130-04:00Kayla Blake? Sexiest-looking woman on TV? Yeah, s...Kayla Blake? Sexiest-looking woman on TV? Yeah, she was OK.Mikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-86325464514027103742009-06-14T06:51:56.967-04:002009-06-14T06:51:56.967-04:00Each time I see this episode, I'm amazed all o...Each time I see this episode, I'm amazed all over again by how long Dana and Isaac allow Danny to pull himself together. All that on-air silence. Earlier, before the show, Dana orders everyone to get "in the zone". It's one of Danny's favorite places, as we learn in another episode, and, luckily, on this night, he manages to find it.<br /><br />Another touch I'm fond of: After Dana comes in and orders the life sucked out of Jeremy's highlight tape, Casey departs, saying he's got to get dressed for the show, saying: "The storm clouds are gathering." <br /><br /><br />Whenever I hear Jeremy obsess about those storm clouds, I think of Winston Churchill. The first volume of his 6-volume history of World War II is "The Gathering Storm". Volume II is "Their Finest Hour". Yes, I know, I probably shouldn't draw comparisons between WWII and a TV show, Winston Churchill and Aaron Sorkin, the British people and Dan Rydell -- but it's in the nature of Sports Night fandom to over-analyze and obsess, so there are you are.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-29238694110897553492009-06-13T23:59:56.464-04:002009-06-13T23:59:56.464-04:00I remember hearing that when you watch Sports Nigh...I remember hearing that when you watch Sports Night, some of the behind the scenes areas you seen are actually the parts of the real "Sports Night" set, and many of the people who were seen on screen working on the fictional Sports Night "show within a show" are people who actually worked on Sports Night, the ABC tv show we saw. <br /><br />According to the DVD extras, this episode has a good example of that. If you watch the scene where Jeremy is working on his feature with Casey, the women seen patiently editing the footage while Jeremy and Casey try to resolve their creative differences (and then Natalie and Dana pipe in) is actually Janet Ashikaga, the editor for all of the Sports Night episodes (plus some West Wing and Dirty Sexy Money episodes, among many others). She also gets an onscreen mention by Dan and Casey in one my favorite episodes, Season 1's Six Southern Gentlemen of Tennessee.<br /><br />Thanks again, Alan, for doing this rewind.Hannah Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-68242339615740400642009-06-11T23:59:04.008-04:002009-06-11T23:59:04.008-04:00Anon, Eyeball Wit was referring to E/R, a short li...Anon, Eyeball Wit was referring to E/R, a short lived sitcom, and not the vastly popular ER. Both featured Clooney, but it's just a coincidence. <br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E/RAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-26289451423365977032009-06-11T14:29:13.370-04:002009-06-11T14:29:13.370-04:00Eyeball Wit: I disagree.
Firstly: ER lasted 15 se...Eyeball Wit: I disagree.<br /><br />Firstly: ER lasted 15 seasons compared to SN's two. That's more than seven times as many episodes to feature guest stars, and even then, the majority of them were already famous.<br /><br />Secondly: Peter Krause, Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, Joshua Malina, Lisa Edelstein, Sabrina Lloyd, Paula Marshall, Ted McGinley, Teri Polo... the list goes on and on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-14246315688163944812009-06-11T12:45:51.784-04:002009-06-11T12:45:51.784-04:00Don't know where to post this. Most critics lo...Don't know where to post this. Most critics loved MODERN FAMILY. Don't recall hearing your thoughts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-3552693580721107492009-06-11T12:04:28.078-04:002009-06-11T12:04:28.078-04:00I can't recall any show that was cancelled tha...<i> I can't recall any show that was cancelled that had a cast that went on to accomplish so much - even the guest stars.</i><br /><br />Anon 4:26, just look up a short-lived show called E/R. It featured both George Clooney, Jason Alexander, and oscar winner Mary McDonnell.<br /><br />Or Day By Day, which had Julia Louis Dreyfus and Courtney Thorne Smith. <br /><br />None of the Sports Nighters really went on to become really *huge* stars. They mostly went on to similar roles in slightly more popular shows.Eyeball Witnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-34087801622608158092009-06-11T08:03:09.396-04:002009-06-11T08:03:09.396-04:00The reason "The Apology" never seems to ...The reason "The Apology" never seems to me like Preachy Sorkin (and nobody but nobody has whined about Preachy Sorkin in the last ten years more than me) is that I don't think the point that's being made is really about drugs, pro or con.<br /><br />I think this is yet another episode that isn't about the broader social issue; it's about media companies. Dan isn't offended because the network is anti-drug. Dan is offended because the network is neither anti-drug nor pro-drug, but is reducing the entire issue to whatever answer it believes will be best for Dan's popularity.<br /><br />Dan has always seemed disgusted with the network not because of their specific position on marijuana legalization, but because he feels like he's being lectured about the seriousness of something by people who don't take it one-tenth as seriously as he does.<br /><br />But the recap nails it, in that to me, the best part of the entire episode is those last ten seconds where Casey rolls over his chair to talk to Dan. My favorite thing about Sports Night, of the many things I love about it, is that every individual relationship between any two people is very specifically and lovingly drawn, and that moment speaks volumes about the relationship between Dan and Casey.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08184669198971626945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-45427706942787225142009-06-11T01:53:47.154-04:002009-06-11T01:53:47.154-04:00By the way, Alan, to second what everyone has alre...By the way, Alan, to second what everyone has already said: these recaps are all kinds of awesome. Thank you.Hal Incandenzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10009435533181019872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-19647183230101288292009-06-11T01:20:08.692-04:002009-06-11T01:20:08.692-04:00Do the others know? Whenever I watch this episode...Do the others know? Whenever I watch this episode, I think about that and try to see the day with that in mind.<br /><br />It's the hardest day of the year for Danny and he's always grateful when it falls on a workday. Just as he had promised never to comment on Casey's issues with Lisa, he has made Casey promise never to tell anyone at work about what happened to Sam and to help him keep the anniversary of his death as normal as possible. It helps and doesn't help that the article hits the stands that day -- a distraction, a source of pride, but scary, too. And then there's the silliness about the stalker -- maybe something Danny invented to give him something to chatter about, too keep anyone from getting too close.<br /><br />Casey's obsession about the cool/not cool thing is very real to Casey, of course, but I also believe he uses it to keep Danny amused and distracted. In their talk in the office there's a fond look Danny gives him as Casey argues that he IS cool -- and Danny gratefully continues the banter -- that banter that is so important to how they connect -- a very safe, soothing kind of thing.<br /><br />Isaac knows about Sam's death -- you'll never convince me that as close as they are Danny hasn't told him -- maybe late at night over drinks in Isaac's office. It's one of the reasons Isaac tells him he loves him before he lets him have it about Rosa Parks. And, of course, there's that "Come on, Daniel" as he watches him struggle on-air. Isaac knows what's going on inside that head.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-20795900439356533792009-06-10T21:55:39.455-04:002009-06-10T21:55:39.455-04:00While Dan's apology gets me every time, it has...While Dan's apology gets me every time, it has always bothered me that it seems like it is news to everyone, Isaac included. While he may not have known the specifics, I never could believe Isaac didn't know this part of Dan's history. At some part he would have to have asked Dan if any of this had to do with his brother, especially the day he stopped taking drugs.dhcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-68752622230997882812009-06-10T19:25:12.817-04:002009-06-10T19:25:12.817-04:00(sorry if this shows up twice, blogger told me I t...(sorry if this shows up twice, blogger told me I timed out...) <br /><br />@filmcricket: I agree with you about Natalie, but I would actually distinguish between what Natalie does and what Jeremy does. Jeremy wins the argument, but Natalie wins the fight. Case in point: the white dress shirt. <br /><br />The monitors/gels argument is one of my fave moments. I love the support staff on "Sports Night". I love that all of the characters were funny and important. The early seasons of "The West Wing" had that too. Once Sorkin left it got messy and the people in the background that I always loved were nowhere to be found or were just generic characters. "Studio 60" never had anything close to either. On "Sports Night" nobody was ever wasted or used as filler.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-36067917083434661242009-06-10T19:20:11.661-04:002009-06-10T19:20:11.661-04:00True, Mike C, but Sports Night did it first.
Alan...True, Mike C, but Sports Night did it first.<br /><br />Alan, this episode is a good example of something you mentioned in your pilot commentary: Sorkin really could pack a lot into a 22 minute episode. It had: the dramatic A plot with Dan, that took a turn and opened up so much depth for that character, the continuation of the SN/CSC control issues, and a couple entertaining comedy subplots. And what ties it all together for me are these wonderful characters and their relationships as they crisscrossed the various plots: Isaac being at turns annoyed, protective, and lovingly critical with Dan, Casey being ridiculous with the crew, Dan, and Dana about his lack of cool, patient and then exasperated with Natalie and Jeremy (while being the brunt of everyone's jokes) and then supportive of Dan in the end, etc, etc. <br /><br />The end of the episode was just perfect for me. It hit the reality of a live show (with Natalie telling Casey to be ready to go to commercial when Dan seemed to be freezing), the seriousness of the moment for Dan (and a glimpse of issues that would haunt that character the entire series), the depth of the Dan/Casey relationship, and comedy, all in 2 minutes.<br /><br />A couple of little things I enjoyed: <br /><br />- "Go sit your sorry a** down in that meeting"<br /><br />- "Well, first I'd have to disabuse you of the notion that you were ever cool before"<br /><br />- "Where do you think this perception comes from?" "I think it comes from reality."<br /><br />- Dave reaching out to Chris to try to stop him from irritating Dana more during the "It's the monitors/It's the gels" banter.<br /><br />- Casey gently pulling/wheeling himself over to Dan after the apology (instead of staying put & leaning in or more forcefully pushing himself closer) as he helps Danny return to normal.<br /><br />- The episode ending echoing the the pilot, fading out on Dan/Casey's banter at the end.<br /><br />- “Zamfir, Master of the Pan Flute?” “Very, very, cool.” (I don't know why; maybe it's the pure randomness of the Zamfir reference.)Hannah Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-13096871489300699892009-06-10T17:52:10.112-04:002009-06-10T17:52:10.112-04:00This episode is probably my favorite for Dan's...This episode is probably my favorite for Dan's amazing storyline, and the silliness of Jeremy's 8.5 minute highlight reel. ("You can make it shorter.")<br /><br />I can't really think of an example of "Afternoon Delight" not being used effectively - Sports Night, Anchorman, Arrested Development. You can't go wrong!Mike Cnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-26905826157589050852009-06-10T16:34:20.956-04:002009-06-10T16:34:20.956-04:00Jeremy probably wins the argument about Galveston....Jeremy probably wins the argument about Galveston... but I can never give it to him because he disses Galveston as being a cow town when it's a freaking island. Plenty of reasons to diss Galveston but there aren't a whole heck of a lot of cows there. <br /><br />Plus it's an hour from Houston. Houston's a big market. <br /><br />But that's getting ahead of ourselves.<br /><br />Greebs favorite quote is also mine (although if you are watching it post West Wing you probably think of it from Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc)<br /><br />But on Sports Night it's in the next episode, I think... which is an episode I love because Jeremy gets the call!Brandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04760396392766842671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-25380350190314015092009-06-10T16:26:49.452-04:002009-06-10T16:26:49.452-04:00Just got done watching the entire series and can&#...Just got done watching the entire series and can't wait til you start talking about Terri Polo. If you could make references to roles that the cast went on to star in, that would be impressive. I can't recall any show that was cancelled that had a cast that went on to accomplish so much - even the guest stars.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-20387428189777420412009-06-10T15:33:27.542-04:002009-06-10T15:33:27.542-04:00I had forgotten how much I liked Kayla Blake as Ki...<i>I had forgotten how much I liked Kayla Blake as Kim. Wish she worked more after the series ended.</i><br /><br />My dad, who re-watches the series at least once a year, has long maintained that Kim is his favorite character. <br /><br />This was the first episode I caught after my dad insisted I watch it, and boy, is it a good one. Not my all-time favorite episode, but a good one nonetheless.Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15433685942766758829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-6214087945468638502009-06-10T15:29:34.769-04:002009-06-10T15:29:34.769-04:00I don't have a lot to add other that to say th...I don't have a lot to add other that to say that this episode is my favorite half hour of tv ever produced.Jordannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-29066626878742628432009-06-10T15:24:04.243-04:002009-06-10T15:24:04.243-04:00If we are going for great Sports Night quotes, thi...If we are going for great Sports Night quotes, this could go on for awhile. But nothing to me beats the following - it's posted on my desk, and I believe in it daily:<br /><br />"If you're dumb, surround yourself with smart people. And if you're smart, surround yourself with smart people who disagree with you." -- Isaac Jaffe.greebshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10945022888968961800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-75991238829454951912009-06-10T12:41:00.524-04:002009-06-10T12:41:00.524-04:00filmcricket: I don't believe that Danny's ...filmcricket: I don't believe that Danny's apology was intended to be a way to sell the audience on Danny's opinion. The brilliance of the apology is that it sidestepped the argument between Danny and the network by talking about something else other than the controversy, and yet still communicated the point about drugs being a destructive force on society, while also providing a relevant reason for apologizing, instead of just "I'm sorry you didn't agree with me". As an added bonus for the both the real world and "Sports Night" audience, it gave us a deeper insight into Danny's character. (And in the Sports Night world, I imagine it resulted in a nice ratings boost for the show.)Isaac Linnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-172155343698876622009-06-10T12:37:54.081-04:002009-06-10T12:37:54.081-04:00I used to watch this show when Comedy Central show...I used to watch this show when Comedy Central showed the reruns, mostly because I've always like Guillaume, and when I was a teenager I watched the movie Threesome with Josh Charles 50+ times. Haven't had time to go back to this yet, what with Burn Notice, Band of Brothers, and showing my girlfriend The Wire, but I'm glad it'll be on here when I get to it.<br /><br />However, I do remember that Rosa Parks line, and even as a dumb high schooler I thought it was hilarious.<br /><br />PS Happy birthday, Aaron Sorkin! It was yesterday (as was mine, yippee!), but this post made me remember that we shared.Hatfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01184680741873873714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-88054466960875528712009-06-10T12:16:32.266-04:002009-06-10T12:16:32.266-04:00"Jeremy wins every single argument the two ev..."Jeremy wins every single argument the two ever have."<br /><br />That's interesting. I will have to rewatch, because my impression is that Natalie wins an awful lot of them (albeit often because she's able to distract Jeremy by putting on one of his white dress shirts).<br /><br />She "wins" in "Shoe Money Tonight"; she wins in S2, Ep 1; she wins in whichever episode it is where Jeremy loses an award to Sally, and, without wanting to spoil anything, I think she wins the argument about going clubbing.filmcrickethttp://filmcricket.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-16245145169852052532009-06-10T11:57:24.703-04:002009-06-10T11:57:24.703-04:00This episode didn't do anything for me when I ...This episode didn't do anything for me when I first saw it - long after SN was off the air. But it's grown on me after a few more viewings. I love Dan's strategy of making them wait for the meeeting and Casey pointing out that he's just making them mad - "Specifically you're making Isaac mad." <br /><br />The B story of Casey not being cool also plays out later in Season 2 with the rigged poll. And that brings me to my real point: Alan - you gotta double up on the episodes. At 1 per week I figure we'll barely get to the Six Southern Gentlemen. We won't learn of the exploits of Alberto Fedrigotti, or the goings on at the Hotel de Espana, to say nothing of the importance of someone who can make glass tubes. And I think it's those later season 1 episodes where SN really found its voice. For me, anyway.<br /><br />Oh well, I'll just have to look forward to next week when Jeremy gets the call. And btw - I still don't know what that means.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-81136214764306068432009-06-10T11:40:33.891-04:002009-06-10T11:40:33.891-04:00Got chills reading your snippet from Dan's spe...Got chills reading your snippet from Dan's speech. Great, great TV.<br /><br />A friend of mine can't stand the Jeremy-Natalie dynamic (though, I believe, he likes both the characters) for the simple reason that Jeremy wins <i>every single argument the two ever have</i>. I re-watched the eps, and it's kind of true. See if that influences your viewing experience.Hal Incandenzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10009435533181019872noreply@blogger.com