"Night Court" (1984) TV series 1984-1992

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Creator:

Reinhold Weege

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Release Date:

4 January 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

An eccentric fun-loving judge presides over an urban night court and all the silliness going on there.

Plot Keywords:

Judge | Clerk | Attorney | Criminal | Cafe

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 11 wins & 26 nominations

Cast

Harry Anderson	...	Judge Harry T. Stone (193 episodes, 1984-1992)
John Larroquette	...	Asst. D.A. Dan Fielding (192 episodes, 1984-1992)
Richard Moll	...	Nostradamus 'Bull' Shannon (185 episodes, 1984-1992)
Charles Robinson	...	Mac Robinson (182 episodes, 1984-1992)
Markie Post	...	Christine Sullivan (152 episodes, 1984-1992)
Marsha Warfield	...	Rosalind 'Roz' Russell (131 episodes, 1986-1992)

Also Known As:

"The Harry Anderson Show" (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min (193 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Stage 9, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Starry Night Productions

Trivia:

Harry was 34 when he was appointed to the bench. He was appointed because he was the only candidate on the list to have answered their phone on the Mayor's last Sunday in office. He was the last name on the list. As he says, he got to be a judge, "because I was home."

Quotes:

[on trial are a group of beauty contestants who attacked their sneaky pageant coordinator]
Dan Fielding: Your Honor, according to witnesses, Miss Congeniality led the attack with a kick to the groin.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "30 Rock: The One with the Cast of 'Night Court' (#3.3)" (2008)

wicked sense of humor

"Night Court" was one of the more bizarre shows to come along. The only time I've ever seen a show that featured a lot of slapstick and raunchy gags, unlike any other sitcom. Harry Anderson was Harry Stone, a zany judge who loved magic and silly props, which he would pull outta nowhere a lot of the time. In his court was my all time fave sitcom actor John Larroquette, as smutty Dan Fielding, a womanizing, outspoken district attorney. There was also well meaning but dumber than cotton Bull Shannon, a towering bailiff. These three were really the only ones who were around from the shows first episode. I'd have to say they may have set a record for most cast changes for a sitcom as there were at least 4(!) leading female characters. There was Karen Austin, Ellen Foley for a season, than a series of several replacement actresses for a few weeks before Markie Post finally grounded herself as the main female character. Also along midway through were Charles Robinson as Mac, Florence Hallop, who died shortly after joining the show, and she was replacing Selma Diamond who also passed away. Finally the producers went with a younger choice, Marsha Warfield as no nonsense Roz. Lots of great episodes, of mention the one where Harry's old college friend shows up. Anderson and Larroquette end up on a ledge nude which leads to the shows best line ever when one looks down at the others privates: "So, what's up?" They ended their run in 92 with an extremely disappointing show, which wrapped the characters fates nicely, but lacked any type of laughs at all. But still a terrific bunch of shows midway through the 80s make it one of the best, if edgiest, shows ever.