| OF DRUGS AND LOSS AKA Common Threads between Sports Night and The West Wing - And Real Life! (These are just some I noticed, feel free to send me more) |
| Drug/Alcohol Problems SN: Dan Rydell was misunderstood when quoted in a magazine regarding the legalization of weed and it came out that he'd done his fair share and maybe a little more when he was 16-18 years old. He stopped when his brother was killed in a car crash while high. SN: Sam Donovan was in AA for having been an alocoholic. WW: Leo McGarry had been addicted to pain-killers and alcohol, he spent a month in Sierra-Tucson Rehab Center. RL: Rob Lowe spent a month in Sierra-Tucson and is a recovering alcoholic, John Spencer is a former alcoholic as well, as is Martin Sheen. Aaron Sorkin spent time in rehab for a cocaine addiction. |
| Survivor Guilt over Death of a Sibling SN: Dan Rydell's brother, Sam, was killed in a car crash (see above thread) and Dan still feels responsible for it. He also believes his parents blame him. WW: Josh feels guilty because, when his older sister Joanie was killed in a house fire, he survived because he ran out of the house. |
| Strokes of Bad Luck SN: Isaac had a stroke at the airport while returning from a Europe trip. RL: Robert Guilaumme who played Isaac had a stroke while in his dressing room at the set of Sports Night on 14 January, 1999. It was written in after urging from Guilaumme's wife. |
| Your Cheatin' Heart SN: Jeremy's father had an affair with a woman for 27 years. It was at that time he became obsessed with a 10-year-old sailboat race, trying to find out what went wrong. WW: Sam's father had an affair with a woman for 28 years. It was at that time he became obsessed with a 50-year-old treason case. |
| How are Things in Port St. Lucy? SN: A tennis match runs over, making Dana late for a date with Gordon. WW: A congressional vote runs over, making everyone late for weekend plans. |
| What's in a Title? SN: Season 1 Finale was entitled "What Kind of Day Has it Been" WW: Season 1 Finale was entitled "What Kind of Day Has it Been" |
| The Terror! RL: The Septembre 11th Attack on America by terrorist organizations. WW: "Isaac and Ishmael", a sort of seminar on terrorism. |
| Father-Child Bonding SN: "And the ONLY thing you ever had to do to make me or your mom happy is come home at the end of the day." - Casey McCallto his son Charlie, "What Kind of Day Has It Been" WW: "The only thing you had to do to make me happy was come home at the end of the day." -President Josiah Bartlet to his daughter Ellie, "Ellie" |
| Edging Humbled-Snorters SN: In "Ten Wickets", Jeremy goes on and on about a Cricket Match in New Delhi. WW: Lionel's cricket bat. WW: The President wanting to smash a teapot over someone's head if they try to explain cricket to him. |