ABC'S "SPORTS NIGHT" EARNS SOLID REVIEWS FOR SERIES DEBUT

          ABC's new series "SPORTS NIGHT" makes its season debut
     tonight at 9:30pm.  The comedy revolves around a cable
     sports news show similar to ESPN's "SportsCenter."  In
     Boston, Matthew Gilbert calls it "one of the more promising
     new shows of the fall season" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/22).  In
     N.Y., David Bianculli writes that "Sports Night" has "the
     ring of truth" and has a "lot in common with other sitcoms
     set in TV operations," including "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"
     and "The Larry Sanders Show" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/22).  In
     Chicago, Phil Rosenthal gives it three stars and writes,
     "While it's set at an ESPN-like network, the show is about
     sports as much as '60 Minutes' is about time" (CHICAGO SUN-
     TIMES, 9/22).  In DC, Tom Shales calls it "lovable," the
     "best new ABC sitcom of the season" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/22). 
     In Philadelphia, Jonathan Storm calls it "different" and
     "good" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 9/22).  But in N.Y., Michele
     Greppi gives it only one star (N.Y. POST, 9/22).