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The Best Episodes of Sports Night Season 1

Every episode of Sports Night Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Sports Night Season 1!

Binge this in 8h 26m•Peaking at 8.7/10

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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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Sports Night Season 1 Episode 11 - The Six Southern Gentlemen of Tennessee
    8.7/10(189 votes)

    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 23 - What Kind of Day Has It Been
    8.5/10(151 votes)

    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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  3. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 2 - The Apology
    8.4/10(234 votes)

    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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  4. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 5 - Mary Pat Shelby
    8.4/10(177 votes)

    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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  5. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 19 - Eli's Coming
    8.4/10(161 votes)

    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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  6. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 18 - The Sword of Orion
    8.3/10(135 votes)

    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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  7. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 14 - Rebecca
    8.2/10(147 votes)

    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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  8. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 6 - The Head Coach, Dinner and the Morning Mail
    8.1/10(156 votes)

    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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  9. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 7 - Dear Louise
    8.1/10(161 votes)

    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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  10. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 8 - Thespis
    8.1/10(166 votes)

    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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  11. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 10 - Shoe Money Tonight
    8.1/10(158 votes)

    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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  12. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 16 - Sally
    8.1/10(142 votes)

    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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  13. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 22 - Napoleon's Battle Plan
    8.1/10(126 votes)

    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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  14. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 3 - The Hungry and the Hunted
    7.9/10(175 votes)

    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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  15. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 9 - The Quality of Mercy at 29K
    7.9/10(162 votes)

    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 12 - Smoky
    7.9/10(140 votes)

    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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  17. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 13 - Small Town
    7.9/10(150 votes)

    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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  18. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 17 - How Are Things in Glocca Morra?
    7.9/10(131 votes)

    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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  19. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 21 - Ten Wickets
    7.9/10(126 votes)

    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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  20. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    7.8/10(226 votes)

    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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  21. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 4 - Intellectual Property
    7.8/10(165 votes)

    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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  22. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 15 - Dana and the Deep Blue Sea
    7.8/10(141 votes)

    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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  23. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 20 - Ordnance Tactics
    7.8/10(125 votes)

    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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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"The Six Southern Gentlemen of Tennessee" is the best rated episode of "Sports Night" season 1. It scored 8.7/10 based on 189 votes. Directed by Robert Berlinger and written by David Walpert, Bill Wrubel, Matt Tarses, Aaron Sorkin, it aired on 12/15/1998. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "What Kind of Day Has It Been".