Do not adjust your web browser. You are now entering the Retro Squad, where we are reviewing past episodes of your favorites shows, in order, every week.(S01E02) No one mixes comedy and drama better than Aaron Sorkin. I don't mean in that "dramedy" kind of way (ugh, I hate that term), I mean in a natural, realistic way. You saw it all the time on The West Wing, and also on Sports Night. It's in particularly fine form in this episode, one of my favorites.
Dan is in trouble with the network for saying in an Esquire interview that marijuana should be legalized. Meanwhile, Jeremy puts together his first highlight reel, and Natalie tells Dana to show an interest in Casey now that he's divorced.
The network execs (and the head of the network) all want Dan to apologize, but he has no idea who they want him to apologize to (he just said what he said in the article to spur debate, because the nation's drug war has gone wrong), but Isaac just tells him it doesn't matter who he apologizes to, to just do it so they can get this whole matter out of the way. The network execs are also confused by the fact that Dan says he hasn't smoked pot "in exactly 11 years." They think that's odd phrasing, as if it was coming from a former drug addict or alcoholic, and that would screw up the station's health coverage and medical liability.
Back in the studio, Casey tries to get Jeremy to cut the highlight reel he just put together. It's over 8 minutes long, when most of their highlight tapes are about, um, 30 or 40 seconds. Jeremy doesn't know what he could possibly cut, but Casey suggests maybe cutting the shots of players kicking dirt off of their cleats, and maybe the at bat where the lead off batter hit a routine grounder to first. Casey takes him into the editing room to show him the ropes. Natalie's feelings for Jeremy are growing, and she's telling everyone.
After the second commercial break, Dan starts to apologize. But he stops for over 20 seconds right in the middle and says nothing, with the camera still on him. He then starts again, with the story of his younger brother Sam, who's a genius and a hardworker. He put together Dan's first computer with a kit he bought with money he earned teaching other kids in math. Sam could be anything he wanted to be...if he wasn't dead. Sam looked up to his older brother Dan, and because Dan smoked a lot of pot when he was a teen, Sam did too, and ended up dying in a car crash on the day he got his permit. That was 11 years ago tonight. That's why Dan remembers the exact date the way he does.
And here's where the magic mix of comedy and drama comes in. The above is a pretty powerful scene, but Casey lightens things up by asking Dan who is cool (Elvis Costello, The Muppets, Zamfir) and who isn't, and the episode fades as the Starland Vocal Band's "Afternoon Delight" plays in the background.
As I said, one of my favorite eps. A lot of people cringe at the laugh track used in the early episodes, and while I'm not a laugh track "purist" (some shows need laugh tracks, in my opinion), this is one show that really doesn't need it.
Quotes:
"Well, first I have to disabuse you of the notion that you were ever cool." - Dan, to Casey, who asked him "how can I be cool again?"
"Yeah, it's also a prime number." - Dan, to a network exec who said that 11 was an odd number for Dan to use when referring to the last time he used pot.
"Danny, because I love you, I can say this to you: no rich white guy has ever gotten anywhere with me by comparing himself to Rosa Parks." Isaac, to Dan, who didn't want to apologize just because "that's the way things are done."
"Do you have spoons?" - Dana, to Casey, following Natalie's advice to ask him if he has spoons and other utensils because he's only lived in his new apartment for a few weeks since his divorce.
"No, it's my belief that the Grammy voters aren't cool." - Dan, to Casey, who asked him how could the Starland Vocal Band could be so uncool if they beat the cool Elvis Costello for Best New Artist in 1978.
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Have any questions for Vik Sahay of Chuck? Ask them here!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-08-2006 @ 9:50PM
Dorv said...
One of the best parts of Sports Night, in my opinion (Other than, you know, the writing, acting, directing, etc) was deep and varied relationships between each of the characters. It seems to be in some shows, the writers would cheat, and almost 'share' relationships. For instance, on other shows, Natalie's relationships between Dan and Casey would be the same, but here, not so much. (At this point, I've realized that I've rambled, and that my point might be completely lost).
Sports Night, in its second episode, proves exactly what Bob mentions above, that Sorkin can blend comedy and drama in a way that was unique to television at the time. Unfortunately, I think it was Sports Night's downfall. Previously, if a Sitcom was trying to do drama, the promos usually contained the words 'On a Very Special..." I think he nailed the genre he was looking for on the West Wing (Hell, I think he nailed it on Sports Night, but the ratings don't bear me out), and I look forward to Studio 60.
Dan's arc was great, and this episode really resonates into season two, when Dan faces down these (and other) demons again.
Speaking of one season's affect on the next, its nice, when watching season one, to see how interesting and fun the trials and tribulations of Dana and Casey were. The bit about the wisk and the fork is just plain funny. I wish they'd been able to hold onto that tension into season two.
I've got to say again, though, that this Retro Squad concept is great!
Reply
6-09-2006 @ 8:55AM
Fremont said...
I'm wondering if it hadn't been for Robert Guillame's real life stroke, and I am in NO WAY blaming him for the show going off the air, if the show would have kept going.
How about William H. Macy's appearance as the ratings specialist? I love to quote(and I could be misquoting him, but) this from him: "If you ever disrespect Isaac in my presence again, I will rededicate my life to ruining yours!"
When he goes back to the group meeting, he tells them that "he would never make fools of them", the same thing Dan tells .."Steve cisco's wife".. if I remember correctly!
I have a few episodes recorded, but having both seasons, all episodes, would be so much better!
When will the show be released as a DVD collection?? I may need to pay my car insurance, but I'd definitely spend the cash for the DVD's of THIS show!
Reply
6-09-2006 @ 9:21AM
Michael G said...
This show changed the way I watched TV. No longer did I look for simple Sitcoms with their timed dialog and spaced out jokes. This show made me pay attention. I miss this show.
Jeremy 8 minute clip was the same thing Dan needed. Not just the Highlights, but the Whole story, The lead off single needed to be show to set up the winning run. If the runner was not on base the infield would not be playing at double play depth. S
Same for Dan, the car crash setup up the rest of his life and why he takes the actions he does today.
Life is not about the highlights, the lead off runner needs to be talked about too.
Reply
6-09-2006 @ 10:04AM
JB said...
Fremont, this show has been out on DVD for a few years now.
Reply
6-09-2006 @ 12:28PM
R-Bro said...
I actually thought the Sports Night pilot was fairly weak, but this episode showed what the show could be--and turned out to be in almost every episode that followed. I remember thinking that I'd never seen a show talk about marijuana in a realistic way before. Usually it's either a joke or an after-school-special-type discussion.
I bought the Sports Night DVD set a couple years back, and I'm keeping it forever.
Reply
6-09-2006 @ 12:41PM
Karen said...
I'm with R-Bro. The pilot intrigued me, but Dan's on-camera speech in this episode grabbed me by the heart and the show never, completely, let go (well, it let go a little during Dana's insane "plan").
Aaron Sorkin can do almost no wrong as far as I'm concerned. I loved this show, I loved "The American President" (still the only movie I can watch Michael Douglas in without gagging), and I loved "The West Wing" while he was still there. I've read the pilot script of the new "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and I'm prepared to love that as well.
But "Sports Night" will always hold a special place in my memory. And I really really miss Josh Charles.
Reply