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The Best Episodes of Sports Night

Every episode of Sports Night ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Sports Night!

Binge this in 16h 30m•Peaking at 9.0/10

The offbeat cast and crew of a sports news show deal with professional, personal, and ethical challenges while functioning in a pressure-cooker work environment.

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Seasons2

All12

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Sports Night Season 1 Episode 11 - The Six Southern Gentlemen of Tennessee
    9.0/10(2 votes)

    #1 - The Six Southern Gentlemen of Tennessee

    S1:E11

    Casey appears on _"View, The" (1997)_ and the team follows the story of seven college football players who are suspended for refusing to play under the Confederate flag.

    Director:Robert Berlinger
    Writers:David Walpert, Bill Wrubel, Matt Tarses, Aaron Sorkin

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  2. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 2 - The Apology
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #2 - The Apology

    S1:E2

    The network is upset when a newly-published magazine interview reveals that Dan is in favor of the legalization of marijuana.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  3. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 3 - The Hungry and the Hunted
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #3 - The Hungry and the Hunted

    S1:E3

    Jeremy gets his first big producing break - a hunting segment. Natalie tries to get Casey interested in Dana during the run-up to one of Luther Sach's dinner parties.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  4. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 16 - Sally
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #4 - Sally

    S1:E16

    Gordon stands Dana up, and Casey's missing his favorite shirt.

    Director:Robert Berlinger
    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Rachel Sweet

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  5. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 17 - How Are Things in Glocca Morra?
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #5 - How Are Things in Glocca Morra?

    S1:E17

    The show is held up when a tennis match goes longer than expected, putting a damper on Dana and Gordon's dinner plans.

    Director:Marc Buckland
    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Rachel Sweet

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  6. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 18 - The Sword of Orion
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #6 - The Sword of Orion

    S1:E18

    Jeremy's parents are getting divorced, and Dan eagerly awaits Orlando Rojas' return to baseball.

    Director:Robert Berlinger
    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, David Handelman, Mark McKinney

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Sports Night

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  7. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 19 - Eli's Coming
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #7 - Eli's Coming

    S1:E19

    Isaac is late coming back from vacation, Bobbi Bernstein returns, and Steve Sisco visits Rebecca.

    Director:Robert Berlinger
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  8. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 23 - What Kind of Day Has It Been
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #8 - What Kind of Day Has It Been

    S1:E23

    Casey's son comes to visit, and Dana takes a group photo with her new camera. Season One Finale.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  9. Sports Night Season 2 Episode 15 - Celebrities
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #9 - Celebrities

    S2:E15

    Natalie organizes a post-show trivia game but excludes Jeremy, who ends up meeting a woman at a bar.

    Director:Robert Berlinger
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  10. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    8.0/10(5 votes)

    #10 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    Dejected by his divorce and the state of sports, Casey contemplates leaving "Sports Night". Natalie has a crush on an applicant for an associate producer position.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  11. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 4 - Intellectual Property
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #11 - Intellectual Property

    S1:E4

    Casey's jealousy over Dana and Gordon leaves him kicking fire hydrants and hearing phantom flies. Dan faces repercussions from the network for his birthday present to Casey.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  12. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 5 - Mary Pat Shelby
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #12 - Mary Pat Shelby

    S1:E5

    Natalie does a pre-interview with a volatile football player and things get out of hand.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Tracey Stern

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  13. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 7 - Dear Louise
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #13 - Dear Louise

    S1:E7

    Jeremy writes a letter to his sister Louise, flashing back over the day's events, including Dan's problems with writer's block and Isaac's problems with his daughter's new boyfriend.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writers:David Walpert, Aaron Sorkin

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  14. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 8 - Thespis
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #14 - Thespis

    S1:E8

    Dana worries about her Thanksgiving turkey, Isaac worries about his pregnant daughter, and the ghost of Thespis wreaks havoc on the set.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  15. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 9 - The Quality of Mercy at 29K
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #15 - The Quality of Mercy at 29K

    S1:E9

    The team anchors a broadcast from Mt. Everest, Dana sees a Broadway show, and Dan tries to find a worthy charity.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writers:Bill Wrubel, Aaron Sorkin

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  16. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 10 - Shoe Money Tonight
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #16 - Shoe Money Tonight

    S1:E10

    Dan and Casey are Atlantic City-bound after the broadcast, Natalie and Jeremy have a fight, and Isaac discovers he's shrinking.

    Director:Dennie Gordon
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  17. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 12 - Smoky
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #17 - Smoky

    S1:E12

    Dan decides that it's time Casey started dating again, so long as he stays away from Sally Sasser. Isaac fears for his job.

    Director:Robert Berlinger
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  18. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 13 - Small Town
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #18 - Small Town

    S1:E13

    Dana, Gordon, Casey, and a woman from Gordon's office go on a double-date, leaving Natalie to produce the show and Dan to contend with a replacement anchor.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Paul Redford

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  19. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 14 - Rebecca
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #19 - Rebecca

    S1:E14

    Dan obsesses over a woman who works in the building, and everyone worries about Isaac's job.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  20. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 15 - Dana and the Deep Blue Sea
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #20 - Dana and the Deep Blue Sea

    S1:E15

    Gordon invites Dana to go snorkeling, and Dan begs Jeremy to talk him up to Rebecca.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  21. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 20 - Ordnance Tactics
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #21 - Ordnance Tactics

    S1:E20

    A bomb scare clears the building, Jeremy tries to break up with Natalie, and the network starts pressuring Dana.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Paul Redford

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  22. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 21 - Ten Wickets
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #22 - Ten Wickets

    S1:E21

    Casey is still rattled from the bomb scare, Jeremy tries to understand a cricket story, and Rebecca makes her decision about Dan.

    Director:Robert Berlinger
    Writers:Matt Tarses, Aaron Sorkin

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  23. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 22 - Napoleon's Battle Plan
    8.0/10(2 votes)

    #23 - Napoleon's Battle Plan

    S1:E22

    When Dana and Gordon get engaged, Casey has no plan and Dan's compelled to reveal a secret.

    Director:Robert Berlinger
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  24. Sports Night Season 2 Episode 1 - Special Powers
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #24 - Special Powers

    S2:E1

    Casey tries to find the courage to ask Dana out, Isaac's back at work, and Jeremy and Natalie have a fight.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  25. Sports Night Season 2 Episode 3 - Cliff Gardner
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #25 - Cliff Gardner

    S2:E3

    The staff are stressed out by Sam Donovan's presence, and things get worse when J.J. stops by to give them notes.

    Director:Robert Berlinger
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Six Southern Gentlemen of Tennessee" is the best rated episode of "Sports Night". It scored 9/10 based on 2 votes. Directed by Robert Berlinger and written by David Walpert, Bill Wrubel, Matt Tarses, Aaron Sorkin, it aired on 12/15/1998. This episode scored 0.5 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Apology".