Recap: SN1-02, “The Apology”
We’re taking a second look at “The Apology,” the second episode of Sports Night. Following up on the review, here’s a recap of the episode. Still to come: memorable lines from the episode.
It’s another start of another show. Natalie thinks Dan is nervous about something — maybe the Esquire interview that’s about to come out? Dan claims he’s actually nervous because he has a stalker, one of the CSC morning aerobics women. Meanwhile, Casey’s doing some actual journalistic work, trying to get confirmation of a firing. Dana puts word of a no-hitter in progress in the tease for the show, which distresses Jeremy because it’s bad luck for the pitcher to talk about a no-hitter. Since Dana doesn’t work for the pitcher, she’s fine with that (even though the no-hitter is blown shortly thereafter).
The next day, the interview’s out, and there’s general agreement that Dan is going to be in some kind of trouble. What worries Casey most, though, is that the interview builds upon the popular perception that Dan is the cool one and Casey is … not. Dana thinks that perception is based on reality, possibly because of his haircut, or maybe his clothes. She’s more worried about Dan, though, and the fact that lawyers and Standards and Practices folk are already circling, because Dan belongs to a group that favors the legalization of marijuana, and he mentioned it in the magazine.
Casey’s got bigger problems than being uncool; Natalie wants him to help Jeremy cut his first highlight package. She’d do it herself, but she has certain feelings for Jeremy, which she goes on about at way more length than Casey wanted to hear. Dan and Casey discuss the interview for a bit, and Casey’s longterm lack of coolness for a bit, as Dan avoids going into a meeting in Isaac’s office. Isaac finally comes to get him, none too pleased.
In Isaac’s office, a network suit is accusing him of encouraging people to use marijuana. Actually, two network suits — the “reasonable” cop and the “shrill and obnoxious” cop — working at him to get him to acknowledge the badness of what he did and agree to make an apology. They threaten him with the wrath of network owner Luther Saks, they threaten him with the morals clause on his contract, and they threaten him with health-insurance fraud because he mentioned in the article that he stopped smoking marijuana eleven years ago today, and he must have been an addict to remember the date that precisely.
Dan gets up on a pretty high horse of free speech and the responsibility of celebrities to speak out and the need to challenge the status quo, but Isaac knocks him off of it, assuring the suits that Dan will make an apology that night, and telling Dan that rich white guys ought not to be comparing themselves to Rosa Parks. Dan isn’t sure what he’s supposed to say or who he’s supposed to be apologizing too, but Isaac assures him it doesn’t really matter as long as he does it.
Casey has some notes for Jeremy about his highlight reel: It’s a little long. About eight minutes long, to be exact. Jeremy can’t imagine what could be cut, as he appreciates every battle between pitcher and batter, every psychological nuance. Finally Dana breaks in to say they have to cut it even further, down to just three plays, and although Jeremy declares it a travesty, that’s that.
Natalie tells Dana that Casey needs a woman, and is reaching out to her. Natalie suggests offering kitchen supplies, and Dana chats with Casey over whether he has spoons, forks, and a whisk. He does, and doesn’t seem to be reaching out much now. Dana’s momentarily flustered, then flips back into work mode.
Because, the show is starting. And soon, it’s time for Danny to do his apology. He starts out with the basic corporate line, then freezes. Then he talks about his younger brother Sam, who was a genius and would be living a great life today if he hadn’t copied his big brother Dan, gotten high, ran a red light, and been hit by an 18-wheeler, eleven years ago today.
The studio is hushed as he finishes. Then, during the break, Casey quietly starts a discussion about the relative coolness of the Starland Vocal Band, and which artists are uncool that Casey thought were cool, as we go to credits.
Sports Night, ABC, The Apology, recap
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