Watching Studio60

I watched “Intellectual Property,” the fourth episode of Sports Night, again last night, and this seems like the first episode that didn’t really have a strong central storyline. For most of the episode, all the different strains of silliness seemed to have more or less equal weight.

There was a last-minute turn toward the serious, I supposed, but Dana and Casey squabbling over their dysfunctional relationship was a lot less weighty than Jeremy’s deer diatribe from last week or Dan’s apology to his brother the week before.

Who knew you couldn’t sing “Happy Birthday” on TV without paying up? I enjoyed Yeardley Smith (otherwise known as the voice of Lisa Simpson) as the lawyer whose job it was to set Dan straight; wouldn’t it have been more fun if she was one of the lawyers double-teaming Dan over his drug quote a couple of weeks ago instead of those two stuffed shirts they had?

Poor Casey, attacked by a phantom fly and a fire hydrant, unable to function effectively in a world with one extra Gordon. Natalie, the troublemaker, seems determined to bring him and Dana together regardless of whether they want to be or not, and the closing shouting match made it clear how very complicated that issue is. It’s a little bittersweet watching this now, knowing how not-smooth their romantic path runs in the future.

Loved that memorable closing moment, though, when Dana finally sees the fly, and has to wonder what else is not all in Casey’s head.

What did you think about this episode? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Sports Night, ABC, Intellectual Property, review