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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 26mPeaking 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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Seasons2

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Sports Night Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    7.8/10(254 votes)

    #1 - 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.

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  2. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 2 - The Apology
    8.4/10(263 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.

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  3. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 3 - The Hungry and the Hunted
    7.9/10(205 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.

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  4. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 4 - Intellectual Property
    7.8/10(195 votes)

    #4 - 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.

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

    #5 - Mary Pat Shelby

    S1:E5

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

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

    #6 - 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.

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

    #7 - 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.

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

    #8 - 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.

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  10. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 9 - The Quality of Mercy at 29K
    7.9/10(190 votes)

    #9 - 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.

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

    #10 - 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.

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

    #11 - 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.

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  13. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 12 - Smoky
    7.9/10(169 votes)

    #12 - 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.

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

    #13 - 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.

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

    #14 - Rebecca

    S1:E14

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

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  16. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 15 - Dana and the Deep Blue Sea
    7.9/10(170 votes)

    #15 - Dana and the Deep Blue Sea

    S1:E15

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

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

    #16 - Sally

    S1:E16

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

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  18. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 17 - How Are Things in Glocca Morra?
    7.9/10(162 votes)

    #17 - 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.

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

    #18 - The Sword of Orion

    S1:E18

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

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

    #19 - Eli's Coming

    S1:E19

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

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  21. Sports Night Season 1 Episode 20 - Ordnance Tactics
    7.9/10(154 votes)

    #20 - Ordnance Tactics

    S1:E20

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

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

    #21 - 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.

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

    #22 - Napoleon's Battle Plan

    S1:E22

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

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

    #23 - 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.

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "Sports Night" season 1. It scored 7.8/10 based on 254 votes. Directed by Thomas Schlamme and written by Aaron Sorkin, it aired on 9/22/1998. This episode is rated 0.6 points higher than the second-best, "The Apology".