The Best Episodes of Sports Night Season 1

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   7.8/10(254 votes)

   #1 - Pilot

   S1:E19/22/1998

   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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   Director:Thomas Schlamme

   Writer:Aaron Sorkin
2. 

   8.4/10(263 votes)

   #2 - The Apology

   S1:E29/29/1998

   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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   Director:Thomas Schlamme

   Writer:Aaron Sorkin
3. 

   7.9/10(205 votes)

   #3 - The Hungry and the Hunted

   S1:E310/6/1998

   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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   Director:Thomas Schlamme

   Writer:Aaron Sorkin
4. 

   7.8/10(195 votes)

   #4 - Intellectual Property

   S1:E410/13/1998

   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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   Director:Thomas Schlamme

   Writer:Aaron Sorkin
5. 

   8.5/10(205 votes)

   #5 - Mary Pat Shelby

   S1:E510/20/1998

   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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   Director:Thomas Schlamme

   Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Tracey Stern
6. 

   8.1/10(185 votes)

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

   S1:E610/27/1998

   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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   Director:Thomas Schlamme

   Writers:Matt Tarses, Aaron Sorkin
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7. 

   8.1/10(189 votes)

   #7 - Dear Louise

   S1:E711/10/1998

   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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   Director:Thomas Schlamme

   Writers:David Walpert, Aaron Sorkin
8. 

   8.1/10(194 votes)

   #8 - Thespis

   S1:E811/17/1998

   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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   Director:Thomas Schlamme

   Writer:Aaron Sorkin
9. 

   7.9/10(190 votes)

   #9 - The Quality of Mercy at 29K

   S1:E912/1/1998

   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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   Director:Thomas Schlamme

   Writers:Bill Wrubel, Aaron Sorkin
10. 

    8.1/10(187 votes)

    #10 - Shoe Money Tonight

    S1:E1012/8/1998

    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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    Director:Dennie Gordon

    Writer:Aaron Sorkin
11. 

    8.7/10(218 votes)

    #11 - The Six Southern Gentlemen of Tennessee

    S1:E1112/15/1998

    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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    Director:Robert Berlinger

    Writers:David Walpert, Bill Wrubel, Matt Tarses, Aaron Sorkin
12. 

    7.9/10(169 votes)

    #12 - Smoky

    S1:E121/5/1999

    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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    Director:Robert Berlinger

    Writer:Aaron Sorkin
13. 

    8.0/10(178 votes)

    #13 - Small Town

    S1:E131/12/1999

    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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    Director:Thomas Schlamme

    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Paul Redford
14. 

    8.2/10(177 votes)

    #14 - Rebecca

    S1:E141/26/1999

    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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    Director:Thomas Schlamme

    Writer:Aaron Sorkin
15. 

    7.9/10(170 votes)

    #15 - Dana and the Deep Blue Sea

    S1:E152/9/1999

    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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    Director:Thomas Schlamme

    Writer:Aaron Sorkin
16. 

    8.1/10(173 votes)

    #16 - Sally

    S1:E162/23/1999

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

    Director:Robert Berlinger

    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Rachel Sweet

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    Director:Robert Berlinger

    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Rachel Sweet
17. 

    7.9/10(162 votes)

    #17 - How Are Things in Glocca Morra?

    S1:E173/9/1999

    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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    Director:Marc Buckland

    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Rachel Sweet
18. 

    8.3/10(166 votes)

    #18 - The Sword of Orion

    S1:E183/23/1999

    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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    Director:Robert Berlinger

    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, David Handelman, Mark McKinney
19. 

    8.4/10(189 votes)

    #19 - Eli's Coming

    S1:E193/30/1999

    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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    Director:Robert Berlinger

    Writer:Aaron Sorkin
20. 

    7.9/10(154 votes)

    #20 - Ordnance Tactics

    S1:E204/6/1999

    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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    Director:Alex Graves

    Writers:Aaron Sorkin, Paul Redford
21. 

    8.0/10(158 votes)

    #21 - Ten Wickets

    S1:E214/13/1999

    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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    Director:Robert Berlinger

    Writers:Matt Tarses, Aaron Sorkin
22. 

    8.1/10(156 votes)

    #22 - Napoleon's Battle Plan

    S1:E224/27/1999

    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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    Director:Robert Berlinger

    Writer:Aaron Sorkin
23. 

    8.5/10(179 votes)

    #23 - What Kind of Day Has It Been

    S1:E235/4/1999

    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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    Director:Thomas Schlamme

    Writer:Aaron Sorkin