I hated this show… Perhaps I only caught some of the episodes that weren’t as good. Please tell me why this was such a good show!?
First off, what’s with the laugh track? I mean, it was “comical” at times, but it was also “serious”, I think that REALLY took away from the show. (Notice the “”"").
People talked way too fast to be taken seriously. Ok, I get it… a show is going on the air in a few minutes, and you need people to have quick exchanges. It was just a little witty, TOO fast. Everyone had a quick, quirky little comment in a split second time.
The serious parts of it made me feel like I was listening to a public service announcement. It was just WAY too sappy and wussy… AND I’M A HUGE WUSS! FOR ME TO SAY SOMETHING IS TOO WUSSY IS LIKE A VEGETARIAN SAYING: “There’s not enough meat in this vegetarian chili”!
From what I remember, it seemed like there was a pretty liberal mentality. But I don’t know if this is the case, and if it is, if it’s enough for me to complain about. It’s not that I mind views being expressed threw TV, so long as there is a range of views and people at least acknowledge the other side of the argument. It’s so easy to make your way the only rationale way in your own TV show; all the more reason why (if this is true), it sounds like an anti-tobacco TV spot. Please tell me if I remember correctly, of if I’m thinking of another show.
Give me The Larry Sanders Show over this ANY DAY.
No way is this Sports Night as good. Before SN came out, I saw and commercial for it and was VERY interested. The acting was at least good!
This post was a disaster as far as spelling and coherency goes. Try not to let this take away from the argument. I’m sorry for that, pluss I had a cat on my lap!
I think you were watching a different show. Or at least caugght some bad episodes.
The laugh track was only on the first season, and it kind of “faded out” as the season progressed, so by the end it was hardly noticible.
The rapidfire witty banter was part of the writing. I thought it was good. They’re used to thinking on their feet, running live TV and all, and that spills over into their lives.
There were a few episodes that were preachy, but most were just your typical sitcom stuff: building has a bomb scare, bunch of wierd stuff goes on in one night, the two stars have a fight, various love affairs. Only occasionally did they get preachy: racism issues (The Six Southern Gentlemen of Tennessee) and drugs (The Apology, episode 2) come to mind.
I draw comparisons to shows like Boston Public, which attempt to compress a week’s worth of events into one show a week. Tough to do, but doable if you’re willing to make each minute action-packed and emotion-filled.
Great series, I’m getting it on DVD for Christmas.
I didn’t like it much either. It was a little sappy for me as well.
I saw a few episodes, I don’t remember them well. One was about some “hero” sports figure dying, and one was about that guy dating that real cute brunet, and hurting her feelings or something. There were a few others.
I can see where a person might like the show, it just wasn’t my cup-o-jo. I don’t remember it being particularly preachy, however.
It’s like the show should have ended/started with: “today’s life lesson is…”
Found it sappy and overdramatic and didn’t like the humour? You and Peter Griffin from “Family Guy” both, I guess. I watched it while it aired, but I never was gaagaa over it. I see it now as more of a springboard for the guy on “Six Feet Under”, who was one of the anchors in “Sportsnight.” I don’t really like Aaron Sorkin’s shows all that much, so maybe it’s just a matter of taste, like most things.
Different strokes, I guess. I certianly agree that the laugh track was awful, which is why they got rid of it after the first several episodes. I suppose it could be thought of as preachy sometimes, but IMO they never said anything that wasn’t glaringly obviously right on the money, and they realistically portrayed the frustration I get when not everyone sees the truth as clearly as I do. (I’m thinking here specifically about how angry Casey was about the bomb threat.)
As for they talk, it is unrealistic, but it at least sounds more realistic than typical sitcoms where the rhythm is joke, beat, joke, beat. This was more like real people talk when they’re really on a roll, which has happened to everyone a few times and no more than that.
If you’re willing to give it another try, I’d specifically recommend the episodes “Shoe Money Tonight” and “Sally”; the climax to the first is pure poetry and the second pure drama.
The main thing that turned me off of that show was the show within the show. Now I used to watch a whole heck of a lot of “Sportscenter” and there show didn’t feel right. They seemed bored with sports. Although outside of that I liked it. Although I did want to smack several of them upside the head every few episodes.
Which was a shame because Natalie was really cute. Oh well.
ABC insisted on the laugh track while Aaron Sorkin fought it every step of the way. He finally won. Don’t blame him or the show for the laugh track. It’s the Evil Stupid Network Executive Syndrome at work again!
:eek:
Not like Sports Night? I think I’m going to faint…
SN is probably my favorite new show of the last five years or so. It was nice to see a sitcom about smart people for a change. And I never found it as preachy, as, say, West Wing, Sorkin’s other baby (the one I watched this morning had a Jeremy rant about hunting, though).
I TiVo it every night off Comedy Central (it must be on at like 2:30 am). Yeah, it’s not realistic, but it’s funny and I like the quick witty banter and obscure references. It’s not the broad, obvious comedy or insult-jokes of most other sitcoms.
Gotta get that DVD.
PS - the laugh track was a travesty. But at least they got rid of it before the second season.
The Poker Game was excellent, as was the one where Isaac comes back after his stroke. And Dana and Casey had such a chemistry, “I want SO badly to rip his face off.”
That Natalie girl is my cousin! Is that cool, or what? Of course she has about sixty or seventy cousins, and she couldn’t pick me out of a line-up, since I haven’t seen her since she was an infant. But hey, cheap thrills, I am almost nearly a little bit famous, by association.
That was it for me. No one was dumb. Silly at times, slightly neurotic frequently. But very smart, and they talked and acted like smart people. No kind-but-bumbling idiots.
I need the DVD to rewatch them all… but I remember really loving watching Jeremy break down in “The Sword of Orion” - I thought it was very well done.
I never watched the show when it was on, and I don’t have cable. I recently finished up the DVD though, and loved every minute of it.
The fast paced wittiness is IMHO really the whole point of the show. It happens to be why I enjoyed it. The only problem I had with it (laugh track not included of course) was that EVERYONE was sleeping with EVERYONE ELSE. In reality that would just make life at work so awkward.
But in TV land, it made things funny.
But hey, nothing out there that says you have to like it. To each their own. Trust me, what seems like the entire world is on its way to see the next LOTR movie. I have no desire. But I don’t fault anyone for liking it themselves.
I like Natalie, too, (as a gal, that is) and actually looked her up at IMDB to see what else she’s been in.
It just seemed like some of the story lines were stolen by shows like Saved By The Bell. You feel like there’s a lesson they are trying to get you to learn.
Screech overhears his buddies talk about what a dork he is… that type of thing can be seen in any sitcom, but the way it’s resolved is what SBTB and SN has in common. Screech and his buddies have a heart warming talk about how Screech brings laughter in their life, and you her that annoying Full House-Esc “tender time” music, and can almost hear all the fans collectively saying… “awww”.
Maybe I’m not right on the money, But I think you understand some of what I’m trying to get across.
Diff T, are you watching the same show I am? What you just described bears no resemblance to the show I’m talking about.
I can’t recall any overheard misunderstandings, lame “lessons”, and certainly no cheesy “tender” theme music. We’re talking about Sports Night. I think you might be thinking of Three’s Company.