Sports Night on DVD
Sometimes the DVD version of Sports Night really bugs the hell out of me.
I realize that the series was shot on film (which is way more expensive than shooting on video) and that they had to sync up zillions of TV monitors with the camera for every single shot. In other words, they had tons of production issues to deal with.
The problem is, with all of these other issues, a lot of the time they let continuity fall through the cracks. Like, a character with his back to the camera will start answering a question before the POV switches and before the actual audio of their comments starts. There's also many other cases where the dialog is very obviously looped, which isn't as bad but can still be a bit annoying if it's particularly bad.
All of this I can chalk up to the DVD transfer, though. I mean, little stuff like this probably wouldn't be noticed during a normal broadcast. Hell, the first time *I* saw most of these episodes, I was watching it through the snow on a little tiny TV in my room at college, sans cable.
The biggest complaint that I have at this point, though, is the "Sports Night" show itself. Maybe it's because I've been watching a lot of Sportscenter lately what with trying to catch Sox and hockey highlights (and because without Tivo, there's often nothing else on), but... Man. I hate to say it, but the "Sports Night" show-within-a-show is *terrible*. Dan and Casey have great charisma off the set, but *on* the set it all disappears! Why can't they move their eyebrows? Perhaps move their head a little while they're reading the teleprompter? Change expression every once in a while, and not to the patented George Clooney "Look, ma, I'm trying to act!" grin. Jesus, the local tv sports reporter in Quincy, IL probably has more on-camera presence, and I'm not just saying that because it used to be Schoenecker.
Anyway... it's still the best show ever. I just felt a need to complain.
I realize that the series was shot on film (which is way more expensive than shooting on video) and that they had to sync up zillions of TV monitors with the camera for every single shot. In other words, they had tons of production issues to deal with.
The problem is, with all of these other issues, a lot of the time they let continuity fall through the cracks. Like, a character with his back to the camera will start answering a question before the POV switches and before the actual audio of their comments starts. There's also many other cases where the dialog is very obviously looped, which isn't as bad but can still be a bit annoying if it's particularly bad.
All of this I can chalk up to the DVD transfer, though. I mean, little stuff like this probably wouldn't be noticed during a normal broadcast. Hell, the first time *I* saw most of these episodes, I was watching it through the snow on a little tiny TV in my room at college, sans cable.
The biggest complaint that I have at this point, though, is the "Sports Night" show itself. Maybe it's because I've been watching a lot of Sportscenter lately what with trying to catch Sox and hockey highlights (and because without Tivo, there's often nothing else on), but... Man. I hate to say it, but the "Sports Night" show-within-a-show is *terrible*. Dan and Casey have great charisma off the set, but *on* the set it all disappears! Why can't they move their eyebrows? Perhaps move their head a little while they're reading the teleprompter? Change expression every once in a while, and not to the patented George Clooney "Look, ma, I'm trying to act!" grin. Jesus, the local tv sports reporter in Quincy, IL probably has more on-camera presence, and I'm not just saying that because it used to be Schoenecker.
Anyway... it's still the best show ever. I just felt a need to complain.