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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 8.9/10

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 2 Episode 22 - Quo Vadimus
    8.9/10(179 votes)

    #1 - Quo Vadimus

    S2:E22

    Rebecca returns, Natalie and Jeremy rekindle their relationship, and the network is sold.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  2. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 11 - The Six Southern Gentlemen of Tennessee
    8.7/10(218 votes)

    #2 - 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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  3. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 5 - Mary Pat Shelby
    8.5/10(205 votes)

    #3 - 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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  4. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 23 - What Kind of Day Has It Been
    8.5/10(179 votes)

    #4 - 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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  5. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 2 - The Apology
    8.4/10(263 votes)

    #5 - 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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  6. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 19 - Eli's Coming
    8.4/10(189 votes)

    #6 - 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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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Sports Night

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  7. Sports Night Season 2 Episode 3 - Cliff Gardner
    8.4/10(156 votes)

    #7 - 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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  8. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 18 - The Sword of Orion
    8.3/10(166 votes)

    #8 - 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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  9. Sports Night Season 2 Episode 10 - The Giants Win the Pennant, the Giants Win the Pennant
    8.3/10(144 votes)

    #9 - The Giants Win the Pennant, the Giants Win the Pennant

    S2:E10

    Dana begins to see the flaw in her dating plan. Dan wants to use Isaac in a feature on the 1951 New York Giants pennant win.

    Director:Pamela Dresser
    Writers:Matt Tarses, Aaron Sorkin

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  10. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 14 - Rebecca
    8.2/10(177 votes)

    #10 - 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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  11. Sports Night Season 2 Episode 1 - Special Powers
    8.2/10(150 votes)

    #11 - 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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  12. Sports Night Season 2 Episode 11 - The Cut Man Cometh
    8.2/10(156 votes)

    #12 - The Cut Man Cometh

    S2:E11

    Dan and Casey cover a boxing match. Dan's father visits.

    Director:Alex Graves
    Writers:Bill Wrubel, Aaron Sorkin

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  13. Sports Night Season 2 Episode 15 - Celebrities
    8.2/10(150 votes)

    #13 - 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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  14. Sports Night Season 2 Episode 21 - La Forza Del Destino
    8.2/10(146 votes)

    #14 - La Forza Del Destino

    S2:E21

    Dana meets a man with inside information on the sale of the network. Dan and Casey have a job offer in Los Angeles.

    Director:Timothy Busfield
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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  15. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 6 - The Head Coach, Dinner and the Morning Mail
    8.1/10(185 votes)

    #15 - The Head Coach, Dinner and the Morning Mail

    S1:E6

    A distracted Natalie keeps forgetting things, while Jeremy tries to shield her from her hate mail.

    Director:Thomas Schlamme
    Writers:Matt Tarses, Aaron Sorkin

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  16. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 7 - Dear Louise
    8.1/10(189 votes)

    #16 - 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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  17. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 8 - Thespis
    8.1/10(194 votes)

    #17 - 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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  18. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 10 - Shoe Money Tonight
    8.1/10(187 votes)

    #18 - 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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  19. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 16 - Sally
    8.1/10(173 votes)

    #19 - 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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  20. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 22 - Napoleon's Battle Plan
    8.1/10(156 votes)

    #20 - 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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  21. Sports Night Season 2 Episode 7 - Kyle Whitaker's Got Two Sacks
    8.1/10(141 votes)

    #21 - Kyle Whitaker's Got Two Sacks

    S2:E7

    Jeremy has to fire an intern, and the team covers breaking news of a football steroid scandal.

    Director:Dennie Gordon
    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Tom Szentgyorgyi

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  22. Sports Night Season 2 Episode 19 - April is the Cruelest Month
    8.1/10(140 votes)

    #22 - April is the Cruelest Month

    S2:E19

    The network's cutting costs and jobs may be on the line. The staff sit for Passover Seder, and Dan hopes this will afford him the chance to mend a few fences.

    Director:Don Scardino
    Writers:Bill Wrubel, Matt Tarses

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  23. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 13 - Small Town
    8.0/10(178 votes)

    #23 - 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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  24. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 21 - Ten Wickets
    8.0/10(158 votes)

    #24 - 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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  25. Sports Night Season 2 Episode 2 - When Something Wicked This Way Comes
    8.0/10(148 votes)

    #25 - When Something Wicked This Way Comes

    S2:E2

    Dana goes to a bachelorette party and has an epiphany, Dan has breakfast with Hillary Clinton, and Isaac brings in a ratings guy.

    Director:Robert Berlinger
    Writer:Aaron Sorkin

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Best Episodes Summary

"Quo Vadimus" is the best rated episode of "Sports Night". It scored 8.9/10 based on 179 votes. Directed by Thomas Schlamme and written by Aaron Sorkin, it aired on 5/16/2000. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Six Southern Gentlemen of Tennessee".