From wikipedia.com:

*** In an episode of Family Guy, an unnamed character remarks that, after licking a drug-laced frog, he "finally gets Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night: It's a comedy that's too good to be funny." ***

A colleague lent me the entire "Sports Night" series on DVD. It seems that anybody who works in television loved this show, although I didn't actually work in television when the show aired from 1998-2000. However, I loved SportsCenter. I dig romantic comedies, and I admire great dialogue.

I've watched five episodes so far this weekend, and the show still holds up except that the laugh track really, really, really makes me cringe. Television, particularly good television, has come a long way.

What I did find funny is that Ted McGinley appeared in Sports Night's fourth episode, in what should have been some foreshadowing for the world's preeminent shark jumper.

However, what most critics and that wikipedia entry don't mention is that it was right after McGinley appeared on Sports Night that the show went from an oddity featuring repartee to a critical but terribly underpromoted cult hit.

It was Episode 5 that, I think, turned the show's fortunes. It's titled "Mary Pat Shelby," and I do believe the laugh track was turned off.

The episode dealt with a jackass athlete (Christian Patrick) and his behavior toward Natalie. You have to understand: I think most men who love this show harbor a pretty deep crush on Natalie.

I do. Everybody to whom I've ever discussed the show does.

This turd deigned to f*** with Natalie, and it caught our attention. Alas, the show demonstrated itself to be effective at handling serious subject matter, and it did so in a way that holds true to television, particularly the adrenalin a station would have if that situation happened.