Initially, earlier episodes had a laugh track that dissipated over the course of the first season with that feature gone in Season 2. ABC labeled the prime-time program as a comedy-drama, or what would now be designated as a dramedy. Some pointed toward how the show had what was then a bizarre format unlike anything else on TV. Of course, Sorkin went on to create three more shows in “The West Wing,” “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” and “The Newsroom.”ĭebates have long been held regarding why “Sports Night” was short-lived. Sorkin’s first foray into writing a TV series has become a cult classic and is often listed among shows many believe were canceled too soon.

Olbermann’s account with the man who played Rydell for 45 episodes is one of many stories that has come in the 20 years since “Sports Night” left television. Although, this could also be interpreted as the literal translation of when art imitates life. This launched a friendship that still stands between Charles and Olbermann. I bust up laughing and he gave me a big hug.” “I went, ‘You don’t get to say this a lot in life but didn’t you used to play me on TV?’ He busts up laughing. He recognizes me and has this look of shock and horror appears like, ‘Oh my God.’ I say, ‘Excuse me’ and he gives me the movie star look of, ‘Yes, I’m famous.’ You know, that one. We’re about to pass on Sixth Avenue right in front of (the Fox Broadcasting Company) building. I’ve got at minimum two minutes to say what it is I want to say to Josh. I obviously watched the show and I’ve talked to Aaron Sorkin about it and he’s used episodes from my life,’” Olbermann recalled when talking about his first meeting with Charles. Sorkin drew inspiration from Olbermann and Dan Patrick - the famed ESPN “SportsCenter” duo - with some of the show’s stories based on another former anchor in Craig Kilborn.Ĭharles and Krause portrayed sports anchors Dan Rydell and Casey McCall, respectively, who hosted a nightly highlights show in the same manner Olbermann and Patrick did with “SportsCenter.” It has been said Rydell was crafted to be more in the image of Olbermann while McCall was sculpted to mirror Patrick. Charles, along with Peter Krause, Robert Guillaume, Felicity Huffman, Joshua Malina and Sabrina Lloyd, comprised the main cast for a show that won three Emmy Awards despite its brief tenure on ABC.

Josh malina