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If Sports Night is by far the most interesting new series of the year, and among the most entertaining, it also has some problems. Krause and Charles play the two quick-witted, sports-obsessed pals very plausibly, but so far their characters have been hard to get to know. Huffman is so convincingly over-stressed that she's almost off-putting. The most appealing cast member is Joshua Malina as a brainiac associate producer. But his role sometimes turns sappy, and the show's general earnestness results in speeches that are cliched and moral dilemmas that feel contrived.
Still, Sports Night's freshness is inspiring, and its potential is great. Luckily, Disney chief Michael Eisner is rumored to be among the show's fans. The network has ordered more episodes and acknowledges that it has not promoted the show properly; plans are under way to better convey its tone. "Today a show needs to be distinctive to break out," says Jamie Tarses, president of ABC Entertainment. Here's hoping Sports Night can break out, for if it fails, it could give distinctiveness a bad name, and that's just what TV doesn't need.
--With reporting by Jeanne McDowell/Los Angeles