'Sports Night' Actor Hopes Game Improves

by Richard Huff

It's been a bumpy ride this rookie season for ABC's "Sports Night." The show launched with great reviews but not-so-hot Nielsen numbers. And right up until the time the show was renewed for next season, about a month ago, it was considered to be on shaky ground.

"The ratings have not been as good as we hoped and what we wanted them to be," said Peter Krause, who plays sports-show anchor Casey McCall. While that has been frustrating, he said, he looks at the show sort of like the players who insist they take things one game at a time: "I just go in every week and try do my job."

The series, from writer Aaron Sorkin ("A Few Good Men," "The American President"), revolves around a cable sports update show called "Sports Night," one that instantly recalls ESPN's "SportsCenter."

Krause said he wasn't distracted by ABC's foot-dragging on the show's renewal because he believed if the network didn't pick it up another one would.

"It's very imaginative and unusual," Krause said of the series. "It's the best of all possible jobs. I get to play a real person, get to do some comedy, get to do witty dialogue and say things you wish you could say in real life."

In general, he noted, "Sports Night" stands out because "You don't feel like it's so false."

As for the ratings, Krause feels they'll come along. He's not looking for huge numbers, mind you. Just better.

"I don't need this to be a big popular-culture success like 'Friends,' " he said. "I'll be happy if the audience just picks up."