One of the best television series of the past decade, “SPORTS NIGHT” only ran for two seasons, but now all of its 45 episodes are available from BUENA VISTA in a boxed dvd collection. 

Aaron Sorkin, the mind behind “A FEW GOOD MEN”, “AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT”, and the hit NBC series, “WEST WING” is responsible for this incredible series.  While the huge audience it deserves may have been scared off due to its title, one doesn’t need to know “anything” about sports to appreciate and even love the show!  It’s not about sports!  Sure, it takes place at a 24 hour cable sports network, but it could just as well have taken place at a 24 hour food or comedy network!  The show is about people that are passionate about what they do.  Just as one doesn’t have to be liberal to enjoy “WEST WING”, viewers are only hurting themselves by not giving “SPORTS NIGHT” a try! Ideally, this boxed set belongs in every dvd collection, and it is thoroughly recommended as a terrific holiday present!  It’s a show that one may have to be talked into watching, but afterwards, they’ll feel nothing but gratitude! It’s that impressive!

Sorkin managed to create “45” original “non” derivative episodes, filled with important issues, and characters that are easy to care about!  The main couple featured here, evokes memories of Hepburn and Tracy, and that’s not a team easily matched! 

Certainly, the struggles relating to the daily conflicts involved in keeping a network running, don’t have the same universal ramifications as conflicts within the White House may have, but they’re equally important to those involved.  And that’s what Sorkin, through his incredible writing, makes us realize.  This is great television!

The image is extremely good!  Its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio is intact.  Color values are solid, often rich and never dull. Fleshtones are always natural.  Contrast is excellent, with deep blacks and grays, providing detail in even the darkest scenes.  While there is some noise and grain in various scenes, it’s not distracting from the generally fine picture.   

Unfortunately, the first season of “SPORTS NIGHT” featured an annoying and obviously “canned” laugh track!  Sorkin managed to get rid of it for the 2^nd season, but BUENA VISTA didn’t eliminate it from this release! 

The dialogue-heavy show, offers “no” surround sound in spite of a Dolby 2.0 stereo mix.  There are really no ambient effects, although the show’s theme and score provides some separation effects for the front soundstage.  Dialogue is always intelligible and free from distortion.