User Reviews

Full disclosure - I watched every episode of the original "Night Court" when it was new. And it is true that the original show went through some growing pains with several cast changes (including public defenders) and lost more than its share of core cast members. But it quickly found its rhythm, thanks in no small part to Harry Anderson, John Larroquette, and Richard Moll - the original "souls" of the show. Not so for the reboot.

Of course, most everyone knows that Melissa Rauch made her name on "The Big Bang Theory" as an ensemble player, but here she fails to have enough to carry the show as the lead. She has said that the "Night Court" reboot was her passion project, so it is improbable that Rauch would re-cast her own role - but she just doesn't carry the show like Harry Anderson did. She just doesn't have Anderson's charisma. While both Judges Stone cared about the people they saw in court, Anderson had an indefinable quality. Was it his love of magic? His love of Mel Torme? His impish sense of humor? It didn't matter - we all thought if we ever had to face a judge we hoped he or she would embody the qualities exhibited by Anderson's Judge Stone.

This "Night Court" has not given Judge Abby Stone much of a back-story to work with. Rauch plays her as a one-dimensional character, and I'm sorry, but her height (just under 5 feet according to IMDB), makes framing shots with her and other cast members, such as with the 6' 4" Larroquette, challenging at best, which can be distracting.

Much of the rest of the cast is not helping. There is the forgettable India de Beaufort (as Olivia) and the completely annoying one-named Lacretta (as the unfortunately named "Gurgs"). These two bring absolutely nothing to the reboot. Kapil Talwalkar (as Neil) seems ok, but we aren't made to really care much about his character. Even the inclusion of Pete Holmes (as Rand, the boyfriend) for a few episodes was a wasted opportunity and he was obviously written off the show in this season finale when he and Abby break up.

Which brings us back to John Larroquette, who remains the single shining light on this reboot. It was a coup to get him to reprise the Dan Fielding role. Of course nearly 40 years later, broadcast television would never tolerate a misogynistic womanizer like Dan Fielding had been, so the character has matured, making him wiser and more empathetic (now a widower who hasn't quite gotten over the loss of his wife). But for some reason, the reboot switches his role from prosecutor to public defender, which he eventually learns to embrace.

Larroquette's timing, presence, and acting ability were the ONLY reasons to watch the reboot. And in this episode, his character leaves NYC to accept a judicial position in Louisiana (a role strangely similar to Judge Stone's, of course). At the end of this episode, now-Judge Fielding presides over a drunk and disorderly case featuring none other than Marsha Warfield - Roz, the last in the original series' long-line of female bailiffs. What a "coincidence"!

Of course, this wasn't really a surprise - a cameo from the old show was expected at some point. Personally, I was hoping that Richard Moll might show up. (Moll is still acting - not retired - but perhaps he's just not interested in revisiting Bull again.) Of course, sadly, other cast-members from the original show are no longer around, including Markie Post, Charles Robinson, Selma Diamond, Florence Halop, Paula Kelly, and of course, Harry Anderson.

So was this episode a way to write John Larroquette off the show and give his character a proper send-off? Or maybe Larroquette only signed on for a single season as a way to help get the reboot on its feet, to lend it an air of authenticity as a link to the original. Either way, if Larroquette is gone from season 2, then the show is basically doomed unless serious cast changes are made - primarily prosector Olivia and bailiff "Gurgs" (Rauch will never leave the role she created for herself).

And what of John Larroquette? Of course, in television anything can happen. He could easily return to NYC next season via a couple of cleverly-written lines. (But currently with the writers on strike, that possibility, as well as the entire next season, is in limbo.) Less likely is that the show shifts its focus to Judge Fielding's court.

And what of Warfield (Roz)? Was this a one-shot gimmick or will she figure into season 2, perhaps replacing Larroquette in the cast? Too soon to tell.

I watched every episode of the first season of this reboot. I gave it the benefit of the doubt, as reboots of classic shows are incredibly difficult to successfully pull off. But this reboot is simply a hollow echo of what the original "Night Court" was. Not EVERY show needs to be rebooted and some classics stand on their own. In short. "Night Court" did NOT need to be remade.

The season 1 finale did not leave me wanting more of this version. While NBC may be hungry for content, this show doesn't seem ready for prime-time broadcast. Season 2 should be relegated to their streamer Peacock and let us remember "Night Court" the way it was.