Yes, I agree that SportsNight is amazing for its sparling electric dialogue and stories, often generating surprising emotional impact.
But, upon recent re-viewing on DVD, flaws appear. Some are due to the context of almost 25 years passing since its brief network run. That caveat applies to Sorkin's biases, as well. His perspective is clearly and painfully one of privilege, economic mainly, gender and race, too. Most of his portrayal of women wouldn't get in the air these days, and the overwhelming rich white foundation of the show, of which Sorkin seems unconscious, would certainly reduce the likelihood SportsNight reaching viewers today. But, that's historical context; Sorkin's writing evolves, somewhat, in more recent projects.
What is especially annoying are his story gimmicks - contrivances - such as the horrible BS of Dana's requirement that Casey date other women for 6 months before she will go out with him. Casey accepts the constraint with some objection, but essentially cowets like a litte boy to his mother. Interesting dynamic, right? And, it's absurd. It's absurd to build several episodes around this trash, but we suffer it's recurrence, again and again and again. And of course, Sorkin portrays Dana as the frightened little 4th-grader girl, rather than as an adult accomplished professional. Casey is shown in only slightly less supercial trash. And, Krause's amateurish 'acting by technique' (e.g. Smirking, smug face and voice, etc) match perfectly.
In general, the 2nd season stories are thinner, with some exception (William Macy's guest role episodes), and we suffer through Sorkin wallowing in the soap opera mire of his own making.
SoortsNight is definitely entertaining, and if you haven't seen it, it is well worth viewing - and re-viewing. It is a remarkable piece of work, a great example of stellar writing by a wordsmith (Sorkin). It's a great show that I've enjoyed from the first time I saw it. It set a high bar, from which we all learned, and which pushed the industry to be better.
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