Sports Night (1998)

Before The West Wing, Aaron Sorkin made this comedy about the staff of a struggling cable sports highlights show, and you do not need to care about sports at all. The rapid-fire dialogue, the crush of deadlines and a superb cast led by Robert Guillaume, Felicity Huffman, Peter Krause and Josh Charles make it a comedy about people who are very good at their jobs. ABC forced a laugh track on it, turned it down during the first season and dropped it for the second, so early episodes feel slightly at war with themselves. The network canceled it in 2000 after two seasons and 45 episodes; other channels offered to take it, but Sorkin chose to concentrate on The West Wing. The finale gives the fictional show a happy ending, so it closes neatly.