Sports Night: “The Apology”

Date: January 18, 2021

Season 1, Episode 2

Music Video of the Day:

Interstellar News: One more load of laundry complete and a run to BJ’s to grab non-perishables, frozen potatoes, and a new shoe rack for the coat closet means it was a busy day. It’s also Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the U.S., so I hope you did something to honor his memory today.

Favorite Quote:

Isaac: You know I love you, don’t you?

Dan: Yeah.

Isaac: And because I love you that I can say this: no rich, young, white guy ever got anywhere with me comparing himself to Rosa Parks. Got it?

Dan: Yes, sir.

Isaac: Good.

Isaac explaining, in no uncertain terms, that he is not to be fucked with

“But then you miss the battle.”: There are two big parts to this episode: Jeremy’s first highlight tape and Dan’s interview and apology. We’ll start with Jeremy. Natalie has developed feelings for Jeremy so she asks Casey to help Jeremy with the highlight tape, and yes it’s on VHS. The tape should be 30 – 40 seconds long but Jeremy’s is almost 9 minutes long because he wants to tell a story instead of just doing the regular thing. He and Casey go back and forth for a while until Dana puts her producer hat on and says the three things she wants editing to show. It’s a wonderful set up to so many things… Natalie and Jeremy, Jeremy’s newness to the business but his passion for sports, Casey’s love of helping (and arguing), and Dana reeling them all back in.

The second bit of the episode deals with the fallout from an interview Dan did where he admits he doesn’t oppose the legalization of marijuana. The network wants him to apologize, which he does in a very big way. Dan explains his younger brother looked up to him, got drunk and high, and then died in a car accident when he was 16. It’s a very raw and personal moment and the set up is absolutely beautiful. At first everyone things Dan has frozen or won’t apologize, but then he tells this story that absolutely no one knew and everyone is quiet and then things start to flow as normal like nothing happened. Casey takes his cue to change the subject to the Starland Vocal Band (as “Afternoon Delight” plays in the background) because Casey still thinks it’s cool and it instantly diffuses the situation. It’s a heavy episode to follow the pilot, but the Jeremy stuff helps temper it and it’s another episode that I love! And yes, the Muppets are very, very cool.

TA Out!