The WORST episodes of Sports Night
Every episode of Sports Night ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Sports Night!
Sports Night ran nearly two full seasons on the ABC network in the US during the '98-99 and '99-00 seasons. Smart, fast-paced, witty and featuring a fine ensemble cast, Sports Night struggled in the ratings from the start, particularly during its second season, when it was routinely pre-empted and moved from night to night. Art imitated life imitating art, as the show took on a consultant, was hired to "tweak" the ratings. The show within a show continued to falter, amidst rumors of the imminent sale of its network and the subsequent gutting of its staff, until it, like its parent Sports Night, simply disappeared from the schedule.
#1 - Pilot
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/1998
Already at odds with the network over Casey's recent lack of professionalism, the team is struggling to get the go-ahead to air a human interest feature on an African runner who's about to compete in his first major race since recovering from a potentially career-ending leg injury. Natalie finds herself attracted to Jeremy, a nerdy but knowledgeable applicant for an opening on the production team
#2 - Thespis
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/17/1998
November 23rd marks the birthday of Thespis, the Greek God of Theater. A legend states that on his birthday he has been known to haunt live productions, and for the first half-hour of it, Sports Night is targeted. This date also is the anniversary of Dan and Casey's first broadcast, and Casey can't remember. Issac worries over his expecting daughter, and Dana worries about making Thanksgiving for her mother.
#3 - Draft Day: Part I - It Can't Rain at Indian Wells
Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/14/2000
Casey and Dana try to psyche each other out as they prepare to make their NFL draft day predictions. Dan gets glum when his golf date with PGA star David Duval is jeopardized - by his job. Jeremy tells Natalie about Jenny - except for the part about her being a porn star. Casey questions Dan's attitude and Dan questions their relationship.
#4 - Small Town
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/12/1999
It's Dana and Casey's night off, and neither wants to take it. They decide to double date, Dana with Gordon and Casey with Lisa a lawyer who's on a blind date. Natalie is left to produce the show for the first time, and has to handle an 11th hour trade, which in its chaos, Isaac and Jeremy question her authority. Casey's replacement is Bobbi Bernstein a psychotic woman who thinks that Dan slept with her in Spain and never called.
#5 - Kafelnikov
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/2/1999
Jeremy tells Dana that there is no reason to hire people to prepare for the expected Y2K computer problems; he has made the computers Y2K compatible. To prove this, Jeremy, rigs the computer to say that it is December 31, 1999 and hold a Y2K test to prove that there will be no computer problems when the studio rolls into 2000. The results are total darkness. Dan picks up a therapist in a bar, who invites him out on a date... or does she really just think he needs some therapy?
#6 - The Hungry and the Hunted
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/6/1998
Jeremy gets the ""call"" from Isaac and Dana, to go out on assignment for CSC's hunting show. While he wants to move up, he has a problem with hunting animals. Natalie tries to orchestrate romance between Casey and Dana, during one of Luther Sach's parties. Technical errors occur on the set.
#7 - April is the Cruelest Month
Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/28/2000
The network deals a financial blow to "Sports Night" that has Isaac and Dana reeling - the show's Olympic coverage is going to be cut to the quick and Natalie's job may be cut entirely! Depressed about his disgraceful on-air behavior toward Casey, Dan decides to hold a Passover Seder, which Jeremy turns into a theatrical event that has a healing effect on everyone.
#8 - Shoe Money Tonight
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/8/1998
It's snowing in Pittsburgh so, the anchors of the 2 AM West Coast Update are stuck and the staff have to stay to do the show. Instead of going to Atlantic City, Dan and Casey and the staff have a poker tournament. Natalie is angry with Jeremy because he skipped an outing with her to go play tennis with an old girlfriend who is now an actress. Casey approves a rundown from the 2AM producer, Sally without consulting Dana, making her feel very angry and unappreciated. Isaac is shrinking.
#9 - Ten Wickets
Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/13/1999
Jeremy can't figure out how to report a great story no-one understands. Natalie doesn't accept Jeremy's attempts to break up with her. Rebecca gives Dan her decision. Dana starts losing things and Casey doesn't want to stop the Jerry Falwell jokes.
#10 - The Sword of Orion
Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/23/1999
Hit hard by the news of his parents' impending divorce, Jeremy pushes himself to solve the mystery of a yachting disaster. This will be his first feature length story. Meanwhile, romance is in the air when Rebecca agrees to watch a baseball game with Dan.
#11 - The Head Coach, Dinner and the Morning Mail
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/27/1998
This episodes title represents it three main themes. "The Head Coach" involves Casey's harsh treatment on a coach's bad decision. "The Dinner" is about Jeremy's major decision about where to take Natalie on their first date. And the morning mail is about the hate mail Natalie receives after the events of last week's episode.
#12 - Bells And A Siren
Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/4/2000
Upset when Natalie gets a job interview with Saturday Night Live, Dana encourages everyone to undermine her confidence. Dan's publicist wants him on the PR fast track - starting with an appearance in New Jersey! Casey and Jeremy roll up their sleeves and try to get to the bottom of CSC's financial woes. Isaac stresses over his stroke's effect on his grandson.
#13 - The Giants Win the Pennant, the Giants Win the Pennant
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/11/2000
Casey goes out with Pixley again much to Dana's dismay. Dan wants to do a story on the amazing World Series win by the Giants in 1951, and finds out that Isaac was actually at the game, although he missed the key home run. When Casey finds out Isaac never told him, but told Jeremy he questions their special bond.
#14 - Celebrities
Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/29/2000
The staff prepares for a game of "Celebrities". Jeremy, feeling left out, goes to the bar and makes a new friend, then panics when he realizes who she is. Isaac, despite his vast knowledge of American popular theatre, cannot recall the lyrics of "How Are Things In Glocca Morra".
#15 - Smoky
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/5/1999
Certain employees try to position themselves for a promotion when rumors of Isaac's leaving start to circulate.
#16 - Dana Get Your Gun
Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/1/2000
Natalie and Jeremy fight over going to a club. Dan finagles the night off. A substitute anchor can't do his job because of his girlfriend. Dana and Sam share a moment.
#17 - La Forza Del Destino
Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/9/2000
While at Anthony's trying to drown their fears about the future of "Sports Night," Dana meets a mysterious stranger who seems to know a great deal about the bidding for Continental Corp.; and Dan tries to convince Casey that a move to LA might not be a bad thing.
#18 - Rebecca
Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/26/1999
Rumors spread about Isaac's job status when the Wall Street Journal reports the recent trouble between Luther Sachs and Sports Night. J.J. begs Isaac to let him forward messages to Luther instead of Isaac doing it himself. This leads Isaac to realize that J.J. is the only one to gain if there is turmoil between the show and company. Maybe J.J. is starting trouble? Dana is nervous that Gordon is going to dump her because she is so preoccupied with work. Dan feels he should apologize for not calling Rebecca after he met her in the elevator. She doesn't remember him, though.
#19 - Intellectual Property
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/13/1998
Casey spins out of control, due to jealousy when Dana starts seriously dating Gordon. He swats flies that no one else can see, kicks fire hydrants and other odd behavior. Dana, Natalie, and Jeremy wonder where all their ""good"" ideas went and CSC has to pay royalties after Dan sings Casey ""Happy Birthday"" on the air.
#20 - The Apology
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/29/1998
Dan is misunderstood on his opinion over marijuana and the law. When Luther Sachs reads this, he demands an on-air apology; Isaac seconds it, as does Dana. But no one will answer as to whom he should be apologizing to. Casey worries about why he is not considered ""cool"" like Dan is. Dan is stalked by one of the CSC fitness show stars.
#21 - Cliff Gardner
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/19/1999
With Sam Donovan around stiffness ensues both on and off the set. Dana debates leaving the show, after she feels everyone is blaming her for the shows problems. Natalie tells her that if she goes she has to bring her, and Jeremy, and Dan, and Casey. The tension grows, when the network bosses demand that the staff meet with J.J. and his boys for some notes. Sam is offered Isaac's job but he turns it down, and tells them where to go, thus showing he does have feelings.
#22 - Draft Day: Part II - The Fall of Ryan O'Brian
Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/21/2000
As NFL draft day unfolds, relationships unravel. Jeremy anguishes over Jenny's visit to the studio, where she and Natalie discover common ground and she and Jeremy come apart. After giving him a talking-to behind closed doors, Casey is stunned when Dan humiliates him in front of millions.
#23 - How Are Things in Glocca Morra?
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/9/1999
A televised tennis match heads into overtime, delaying the start of Sports Night and forcing Dana to choose between canceling a date with Gordon and handing the show over to Sally. Meanwhile, Jeremy uses the delay to write to Louise; and Dan's charms are beginning to work on Rebecca.
#24 - The Sweet Smell of Air
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/25/2000
The crew is excited when they get a chance to interview Michael Jordan; that is until the strings began to be attached. First they find a paper in the press packet, that coaches Michael how to steer away from sports questions, next they are told to only talk about his new cologne, and then they get a request for total editorial control to Michael. They drop the interview when they discover that they were picked because of their ratings vulnerability. Sam returns and sets Dana into a frenzy, he later meets Sally. Casey frets over what to do in front of Charlie's class, when he is invited to show and tell.
#25 - A Girl Named Pixley
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/28/1999
Dana worries when Casey goes out on a date. Jeremy's optimism about his award nomination fades.