Looking back at “Night Court”

It was a Thursday night staple on Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial in the 1980s, along with fellow comedies “The Cosby Show”; “Family Ties”; and “Cheers”.

“Night Court” was the final one of those big four, I suspected, because it was a little bit more mature and a little less family friendly at times.

Still, it was cool to tune in every week to Judge Harry Stone’s court room to see just what weird things that odd people had done to run afoul of the law. We heard the cases for and against made by Dan Fielding and Christine Sullivan, and saw just what was happening in the personal lives of everyone, including bailiffs Bull and Roz, and Mac the clerk.

“Night Court” had an interesting premise, so much so it has new life with the current iteration of the show.

A story came across my news feed yesterday about how the current show is losing cast members regularly, something that happened on the original show.

I am not sure it is a fair comparison, but it is interesting to look back.

“Cheers” to Harry Anderson
Before “Night Court” came on the air, Harry Anderson, who would go on to play Judge Harold T. Stone, had begun to make a name for himself. He was a stand-up comedian and magician, who had a guest spot on the comedy “Cheers”, where he played a bit of a con man. His glasses weren’t even real – they didn’t have any lenses.

Initially, I did not see Harry Anderson on “Cheers”, because it did not air on peasant vision. Instead, I read about it in “TV Guide”.

By the time Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial picked up “Cheers”, and I saw Anderson’s turn as Harry “The Hat” Gittes, I had been introduced to him on the afternoon talk show “The Alan Thicke Show”. There, Anderson talked about getting his own show.

That show would be “Night Court”.

Not very judge-y
The pilot of “Night Court”, which debuted in January of 1984, still has one of the best opening scenes I have ever seen. The payoff is awesome.

Everyone, including court clerk Lana Wagner, is a bit anxious because a new judge is starting that day. The mayor had filled all these vacancies on his last day, so no one knew who was appointed or where they were going.

Lana is in the judge’s chambers when a man in sweat shirt and jeans shows up with a box of stuff. She asks if it is for the new judge and he says it is, although it looks like junk to him. She tells him to stick it over in the corner.

He tells her his name is Harry.

“So,” she responds.

"I get your drift,” he replies.

Attorneys Sheila Gardner and Dan Fielding arrive, asking if the judge has arrived. Sheila asks if Lana has heard anything about him. No, she was just told to expect him tonight.

Then a delivery man comes with a package for Judge Stone. Lana says he’s not here. Harry is lying in front of the window and says, “Great view.” Lana shoos him off, and grabs Harry by the collar. The delivery man says the judge has to sign for the package himself. Lana says he is not here.

“Oh yes he is,” Harry says.

“What?” Lana asks, then looks down at him now lying on his back on the window sill. “Oh, you don’t mean…”

Harry nods.

“You’re Judge Harold T. Stone?” the delivery man asks.

“Yup.”

“You, are really a judge?” the delivery man persists.

He responds that if he wasn’t really the judge could he do this? Then shoots canned stuffed snakes at Lana then Dan.

“In his office?” Harry adds.

“Naw, I guess not,” the delivery man says, and Harry signs for his package.

Harry apologizes he does not tip, but adds how does he know the delivery man won’t go out and spend it on a Barry Manilow album. The delivery man leaves.

Dan then introduces himself, and Sheila introduces herself.

“I’m Lana Wagner, your court clerk,” she says, shaking Harry’s hand.

“Couldn’t ya just die?” he responds with this huge grin.

It was awesome.

The cast from the sitcom "Night Court". In back from left are Charles Robinson; Richard Moll; and Marsha Warfield; while in front from left are John Larroquette; Harry Anderson; and Markie Post.

Source: https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/where-is-the-original-night-court-cast-now

(May be subject to copyright)

Cast changes
It is true, the cast changed after the first season, which was just 13 episodes long because “Night Court” was a mid-season replacement.

That first season had Judge Stone; Bull Shannon, the bailiff, played by Richard Moll; Selma Hacker, the other bailiff, played by Selma Diamond; assistant district attorney Dan Fielding, played by John Larroquette; public defender Liz Williams, played by Paula Kelly; and court clerk Lana Wagner, played by Karen Austin. Gail Strickland had played public defender Sheila Gardner, but just for the pilot.

When “Night Court” returned for its second season in September of 1984, a lot had changed. Liz Williams was gone, replaced by a new public defender, Billie Young, played by Ellen Foley. Lana Wagner was also gone, replaced by Mac Robinson, played by Charles Robinson who was fresh off a stint on the show “Buffalo Bill”.

Selma Diamond died after the second season, and Ellen Foley left the show. Florence Halop joined the cast as Flo Kleiner, a new bailiff in the third season, and Markie Post joined the cast as Christine Sullivan, a new public defender. She had made one appearance in the second season,. However, Post was unavailable to take on the role full time. She was still committed to another series, “The Fall Guy”.

Sadly, before the start of the fourth season, Florence Halop died. Marsha Warfield then joined the cast starting in the fourth season as bailiff Roz Russell.

I guess there were a lot of cast changes, but starting in the fourth season, and running right through to the end of the ninth season, this cast was set.

Crazy like a fox
I don’t recall a lot of episodes, although I do recall watching “Night Court” every Thursday night on Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial.

In one episode I do remember, this teenaged couple appears before Judge Stone, and the boy is just full of attitude.

“Your honour, permission to slap them around a little,” Dan Fielding asks.

The boy full of attitude was a young Michael J. Fox.

The end
The show finally did run its course, and I do recall in the summer of 1992 watching the series finale. What I remember best is Bull leaving Earth with aliens.

“Night Court” ran nine seasons, from 1984 to 1992, for a total of 193 episodes.

It all also garnered its fair share of Emmys. In her lone year on the show, Paula Kelly was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1984. Harry Anderson was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 1985, 1986, and 1987. John Larroquette won for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1988, then asked that his name be taken out of contention.

“Night Court” was also nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1985, 1987, and 1988.

Parting thoughts
I have really enjoyed the new “Night Court” starring Melissa Rauch as Harry’s daughter Abby Stone who is following in her father’s footsteps as a night court judge. John Larroquette is excellent as an older Dan Fielding who is now on the other side as a defence attorney.

It reminds me that I should have paid more attention when I watched the original.

However, I do recall how much I loved Harry and his unique approach to the law.

It is never too late to tune up “Night Court” on demand.

Maybe it’s time has come.