AN OPEN LETTER TO SOME ABC TV EXECUTIVE :

Oh. ABC. I beg you. Please don't take off the best show on television.

Please don't give in to the "ratings". Look - I know you've tried lots of techniques for getting people to watch the most consistently thoughtful, touching, intelligent and funny show on television. I remember the first ad campaign, before the show started, how your ads read "Sports Night is about sports like Citizen Kane was about a sled" (ok, I don't remember EXACTLY what your comparison was, but it was something like that). I KNOW you TRIED to get women to watch the show (because let's be honest, this is NOT a "guy-show"). I know us fans shouldn't expect a quality show to be kept on the air just because it's good when you could have another 30 minutes to fill with Regis Philbin and some computer programmer from New Jersey trying to win some money to take back to his two-room apartment where he can upgrade to that next level of DSL service for their computer.

OK, I've gotten off track. Sorry.

I know you've kept it on the air way longer than other shows with similar ratings usually deserve.

BUT.....

I think it is your job, no- your "responsibility" to keep this show in production and keep allowing us faithful fans to enjoy it.

Here's a quick suggestion - rename the thing. I'm lucky. My wife is a sports fan. It didn't take much for me to convince her to watch the show with me when it started, even with the name "Sports Night". But the fact of the matter is, the title stinks. It's an immediate turn-off for non-sports fans. You can advertise all you want about how the show is about PEOPLE and RELATIONSHIPS and HUMOR- NOT SPORTS, but when Ms. East-Coast America looks in the TV page and sees that "Sports Night" is on after that awful Dharma & Greg (but that's a different review) I think she quickly turns her gaze to some other show.

I guess what I'm trying to say is - the show is great. Amazing. I don't think I'm overstating the fact when I say that it could be the greatest half-hour television series in the history of television.

But that title--- Well, let's work on it. Here's a short list off the top of my head of better titles for the show that might bring people to watch it once. Really, that's all you need, make them watch the show ONE TIME and you'll have them hooked. ANY title would be better, use something that has worked in television before....

Potential new titles for Sports Night :

C*S*C
NYTV Green
Dana & Casey
That (not really) Sports Show
Who Wants to Produce a TV Show
Benson's New Job

Look, you guys do this for a living. Figure it out. Don't let a good thing die. Do what it takes. This show is truly special and deserves as many chances as possible. At least as many as Veronica's Closet has gotten.





Recommended: Yes