Sports Night (TV Series)

The Apology (1998)

Josh Charles: Dan Rydell

Photos 

Quotes 

• [Dan is told to "apologize" on the air for belonging to an organization that supports the legalization of marijuana] 

  Dan Rydell : You think I should apologize?

  Isaac : No. But you're going to anyway.

  Dan Rydell : Why?

  Isaac : Because this is television and this is how it's done.

  Dan Rydell : Yeah, well, sitting in the back of the bus was how it was done until a forty-two year old lady moved up front. I'm not very impressed with how things are done, Isaac.

  Isaac : Be that as it may. We'll do it tonight. That's all, we're done.

  Gilbert : You know, you might...

  Isaac : We're done, Stanley.

  Dan Rydell : Well that was a lot of fun huh?

  Isaac : Yeah. Take thirty seconds before the second commercial break, then get us right back into the show.

  Dan Rydell : You know, I don't have any idea what I'm gonna say.

  Isaac : You'll think of something.

  Dan Rydell : I don't know what I'm supposed to say.

  Isaac : Apologize.

  Dan Rydell : To who?

  Isaac : Who cares?

  [pauses] 

  Isaac : Danny?

  Dan Rydell : Yeah?

  Isaac : You know I love you, don't you?

  Dan Rydell : Yeah.

  Isaac : And because I love you I can say this: no rich young white guy has ever gotten anywhere with me comparing himself to Rosa Parks. Got it?

  Dan Rydell : Yes sir.

  Isaac : Good.

• Chase : Our sponsors expect us to project an image of good health and clean living.

  Dan Rydell : I'll think about that the next time I'm reporting on how the Miller Genuine Draft car did in the Winston Cup.

• Casey McCall : No, I think you're just making them mad.

  [he sees Isaac standing behind Dan] 

  Casey McCall : I think Isaac, specifically, is mad.

  Dan Rydell : No, Isaac's on my team, Isaac understands me. Isaac has a highly developed sense of right and wrong and he is hip to my battle plan.

  Casey McCall : Danny, he's standing right behind you.

  Dan Rydell : [Dan jumps up quickly and turns to face Isaac]  How ya doin'. Casey and I were just talking about your highly developed sense of right and wrong and I was saying that I -

  Isaac : Go sit your sorry ass down in that meeting!

  Dan Rydell : On my way, sir

  [runs out of the office] 

• Dan Rydell : I have a younger brother named Sam. Sam's a genius. I mean, literally. As a kid, he tested off the charts. The first computer I ever had, he built from a kit he bought with money he earned tutoring other kids in math. He's energetic and articulate, curious and funny. A great source of pride to our parents. And there's no doubt that he'd be living a great life right now, except for that he's dead. Because when you're fourteen years old, all you ever really wanna be when you grow up is your sixteen-year-old brother. And in my case, that meant smoking a lot of dope. The day I went off to college was the day that Sam got his driver's license. And he celebrated by taking a drive with some of his friends. Drunk and high as a paper kite. He never saw the red light that he ran. And he probably never saw the eighteen-wheel truck that put him into the side of a brick bank, either.

  [long pause] 

  Dan Rydell : That was eleven years ago tonight. And I just wanted to say... I'm sorry, Sam. You deserved better in my hands. And I apologize.

• Dan Rydell : Now, if I'm nervous about anything, it's that I think I have a stalker.

  Natalie Hurley : A stalker?

  Dan Rydell : Mm-hmm.

  Natalie Hurley : Who?

  Dan Rydell : One of the "CSC Morning" aerobics women.

  Natalie Hurley : Sandy?

  Dan Rydell : Is her name Sandy?

  Natalie Hurley : Randy?

  Dan Rydell : Mandy.

  Natalie Hurley : Mandy.

  Dan Rydell : Madeline.

  Casey McCall : Natalie!

• Casey McCall : Can I just say one more thing about the Starland Vocal Band?

  Dan Rydell : Sure.

  Casey McCall : 1978, they win the Grammy for Best New Artist. You know who they beat? Elvis Costello. Now is it your belief that Elvis Costello isn't cool?

  Dan Rydell : No, it's my belief that the Grammy voters aren't cool.

  Casey McCall : Now they tell me.