Night Court: Difference between revisions

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[[File:night_court_1755.jpg|frame]]
[[File:night_court_1755.jpg|frame]]


''Night Court'' was a [[Sit Com|situation comedy]] that aired on NBC from January 1984 until May 1992.
''Night Court'' was a [[Sitcom|situation comedy]] that aired on NBC from January 1984 until May 1992.


It followed the goings-on of a night-shift Manhattan arraignment court, which was populated by a madcap band of lawyers, judges, and bailiffs, including (by the end of the series):
It followed the goings-on of a night-shift Manhattan arraignment court, which was populated by a madcap band of lawyers, judges, and bailiffs, including (by the end of the series):
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The show is usually considered a satire and subversion of the [[Law Procedural]] genre, featuring bizarre, wacky crimes, such as groups of rival ventriloquists and their dummies assaulting each other (although the show was also praised for its refusal to deal with violent and "glamorous" crime and called "The most realistic law show on the air" by ''Time Magazine'', no less). Logic and realism were frequently abandoned for the sake of a joke: cartoon animal [[Looney Tunes|Wile E. Coyote]] once appeared in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh1pZqmxvmM brief gag] as a defendant.
The show is usually considered a satire and subversion of the [[Law Procedural]] genre, featuring bizarre, wacky crimes, such as groups of rival ventriloquists and their dummies assaulting each other (although the show was also praised for its refusal to deal with violent and "glamorous" crime and called "The most realistic law show on the air" by ''Time Magazine'', no less). Logic and realism were frequently abandoned for the sake of a joke: cartoon animal [[Looney Tunes|Wile E. Coyote]] once appeared in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh1pZqmxvmM brief gag] as a defendant.


The show featured regular guest appearances by John Astin, of ''[[The Addams Family (TV)|The Addams Family]]'' fame, as Buddy Ryan, Judge Stone's certifiably insane birth father. Harry Stone's idol Mel Tormé made frequent guest spots, as did Brent Spiner (later famous for his role as Data on ''[[Star Trek the Next Generation]]'') as Bob Wheeler, patriarch of a family of Yugoslavians who pretended to be a hick family from West Virginia and, at one point, even ran a concession stand in the courthouse.
The show featured regular guest appearances by John Astin, of ''[[The Addams Family]]'' fame, as Buddy Ryan, Judge Stone's certifiably insane birth father. Harry Stone's idol Mel Tormé made frequent guest spots, as did Brent Spiner (later famous for his role as Data on ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'') as Bob Wheeler, patriarch of a family of Yugoslavians who pretended to be a hick family from West Virginia and, at one point, even ran a concession stand in the courthouse.
{{tropelist}}
{{tropelist}}
* [[Actor Allusion]]: One of the many, '''many''' people who have taken the court hostage over the years was a woman with a grenade who couldn't distinguish television shows from reality. She was played by Marion Ross, aka [[Happy Days|Mrs. Cunningham]]. She lists her many friends which were fictional TV characters and it included "The Fonz".
* [[Actor Allusion]]: One of the many, '''many''' people who have taken the court hostage over the years was a woman with a grenade who couldn't distinguish television shows from reality. She was played by Marion Ross, aka [[Happy Days|Mrs. Cunningham]]. She lists her many friends which were fictional TV characters and it included "The Fonz".
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** Dan's "Ciao, baby!" in later seasons.
** Dan's "Ciao, baby!" in later seasons.
** And, of course, Buddy's standard conclusion to most of his stories regarding his hospital stay or past strange behavior, "But I'm feeling ''muuuuch'' better now."
** And, of course, Buddy's standard conclusion to most of his stories regarding his hospital stay or past strange behavior, "But I'm feeling ''muuuuch'' better now."
* [[The Character Died With Him]]: When Selma Diamond and then Florence Halop died, their respective characters were written as having passed away too.
* [[The Character Died with Him]]: When Selma Diamond and then Florence Halop died, their respective characters were written as having passed away too.
* [[Chick Magnet]]: Dan fancied himself something of one. Ironically, Harry and Bull were much better at attracting women with far less effort, if not particularly successful at maintaining lasting relationships.
* [[Chick Magnet]]: Dan fancied himself something of one. Ironically, Harry and Bull were much better at attracting women with far less effort, if not particularly successful at maintaining lasting relationships.
* [[Chivalrous Pervert]]: Dan Fielding, despite his protests to the contrary. Protesting the "chivalrous" part, that is.
* [[Chivalrous Pervert]]: Dan Fielding, despite his protests to the contrary. Protesting the "chivalrous" part, that is.
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** Although this is a milder form than the [[Trope Namer]], as personnel could be plausible transferred to different courts or shifts without warning or later comment.
** Although this is a milder form than the [[Trope Namer]], as personnel could be plausible transferred to different courts or shifts without warning or later comment.
** Happened with an actual brother in the pilot, where Harry made reference to a baby brother who was never seen or referenced again in the entire run of the show.
** Happened with an actual brother in the pilot, where Harry made reference to a baby brother who was never seen or referenced again in the entire run of the show.
** But what's probably the most jarring example are a couple of occasionally seen recurring characters, the hapless hicks, Bob and June Wheeler. In their final episodes they were actually being set up to have a semi-regular presence on the show, when they bought the courthouse cafeteria. But then the actor who played Bob, Brent Spiner, got cast as Data on ''[[Star Trek the Next Generation]]'', and so both Wheelers vanished without another mention. What makes their disappearance feel all the more abrupt is that their last episode was actually a [[Season Finale]] with a [[Cliff Hanger]] ending where the Wheelers weren't among the ones imperilled. Come the next [[Season Premiere]], and the cliffhanger is resolved, but with no sight or mention of the Wheelers.
** But what's probably the most jarring example are a couple of occasionally seen recurring characters, the hapless hicks, Bob and June Wheeler. In their final episodes they were actually being set up to have a semi-regular presence on the show, when they bought the courthouse cafeteria. But then the actor who played Bob, Brent Spiner, got cast as Data on ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', and so both Wheelers vanished without another mention. What makes their disappearance feel all the more abrupt is that their last episode was actually a [[Season Finale]] with a [[Cliff Hanger]] ending where the Wheelers weren't among the ones imperilled. Come the next [[Season Premiere]], and the cliffhanger is resolved, but with no sight or mention of the Wheelers.
*** This is also true to a lesser extent, of the Wheelers' little girl, Caroline. She's with them in their first 2 episodes, but not any of their remaining episodes.
*** This is also true to a lesser extent, of the Wheelers' little girl, Caroline. She's with them in their first 2 episodes, but not any of their remaining episodes.
* [[Citizenship Marriage]]: Mac and Quon Le started out as this. Subverted later on as it blossomed into actual love.
* [[Citizenship Marriage]]: Mac and Quon Le started out as this. Subverted later on as it blossomed into actual love.
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* [[Code Silver]]: More than once.
* [[Code Silver]]: More than once.
* [[Crapsack World]]: The world in which Harry Stone was never born in ''Hey, Harry, F'Crying Out Loud--It's a Wonderful Life...Sorta ''. Apparently Harry's friendship was the only thing keeping Dan Fielding from becoming a [[Card-Carrying Villain]] and taking over New York City from behind the scenes.
* [[Crapsack World]]: The world in which Harry Stone was never born in ''Hey, Harry, F'Crying Out Loud--It's a Wonderful Life...Sorta ''. Apparently Harry's friendship was the only thing keeping Dan Fielding from becoming a [[Card-Carrying Villain]] and taking over New York City from behind the scenes.
* [[Crossover]]: Night Court was introduced to a new generation from the crossover/ShoutOut in ''[[30 Rock (TV)|30 Rock]]''.
* [[Crossover]]: Night Court was introduced to a new generation from the crossover/ShoutOut in ''[[30 Rock]]''.
** There's also the theory that con-man Harry The Hat from [[Cheers]] moved on from Boston and is currently masquerading as a judge in New York City.
** There's also the theory that con-man Harry The Hat from [[Cheers]] moved on from Boston and is currently masquerading as a judge in New York City.
** Judge Wilbur from [[My Two Dads]] showed up from time to time.
** Judge Wilbur from [[My Two Dads]] showed up from time to time.
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** The Wheeler family was originally portrayed as being from West Virginia, until outcry over stereotyping revealed them to truly be from Yugoslavia.
** The Wheeler family was originally portrayed as being from West Virginia, until outcry over stereotyping revealed them to truly be from Yugoslavia.
* [[Did You Just Have Sex?]]: In "Jail Bait", Christine winds up having a one-night-stand with a young street artist she defended. The next day, she is smiling a little more than usual, leading Dan to announce loudly "You bopped the kid!"
* [[Did You Just Have Sex?]]: In "Jail Bait", Christine winds up having a one-night-stand with a young street artist she defended. The next day, she is smiling a little more than usual, leading Dan to announce loudly "You bopped the kid!"
* [[Directed By Cast Member]]: Several.
* [[Directed by Cast Member]]: Several.
** John Larroquette directed 2 episodes.
** John Larroquette directed 2 episodes.
** Harry Anderson directed 2 episodes. He also wrote 5 of them. (One - "Caught Red Handed" from the fourth season - he both wrote ''and'' directed).
** Harry Anderson directed 2 episodes. He also wrote 5 of them. (One - "Caught Red Handed" from the fourth season - he both wrote ''and'' directed).
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** [[The Sixth Ranger]]: All of the female bailiffs.
** [[The Sixth Ranger]]: All of the female bailiffs.
* [[Flame War]]: Actually [[Lampshaded]] when Judge Stone had to deal with an argument between fans of the old series and The Next Generation - literally. The TNG fans teleported away, which impressed everyone, while a fan said, "Oh, but can they do this?" (Vulcan Salute).
* [[Flame War]]: Actually [[Lampshaded]] when Judge Stone had to deal with an argument between fans of the old series and The Next Generation - literally. The TNG fans teleported away, which impressed everyone, while a fan said, "Oh, but can they do this?" (Vulcan Salute).
* [[Fully-Absorbed Finale]]: The ''[[30 Rock (TV)|Thirty Rock]]'' episode "The One with the Cast of ''Night Court''".
* [[Fully-Absorbed Finale]]: The ''[[30 Rock|Thirty Rock]]'' episode "The One with the Cast of ''Night Court''".
* [[A Fool and His New Money Are Soon Parted]]: "Mac's Millions." Mac's grandfather dies and leaves all his money to Mac, who naturally quits his job at the courthouse. Then he loses most of his newfound wealth when he's sued over damages caused by a restaurant he bought in a previous episode.
* [[A Fool and His New Money Are Soon Parted]]: "Mac's Millions." Mac's grandfather dies and leaves all his money to Mac, who naturally quits his job at the courthouse. Then he loses most of his newfound wealth when he's sued over damages caused by a restaurant he bought in a previous episode.
* [[Funny Foreigner]]: Two main recurring ones.
* [[Funny Foreigner]]: Two main recurring ones.
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* [[Hello, Attorney!]]: Christine Sullivan
* [[Hello, Attorney!]]: Christine Sullivan
** Billie Young before her too.
** Billie Young before her too.
* [[Hey, It's That Guy!]]: [[Star Trek the Next Generation|Brent Spiner]] showed up periodically as Bob, one half of an accident-prone hillbilly couple.
* [[Hey, It's That Guy!]]: [[Star Trek: The Next Generation|Brent Spiner]] showed up periodically as Bob, one half of an accident-prone hillbilly couple.
** Ellen Foley, who sang the female lead in "Paradise by the Dashboard Light," played defense attorney Billie Young for a season.
** Ellen Foley, who sang the female lead in "Paradise by the Dashboard Light," played defense attorney Billie Young for a season.
* [[Hooker With a Heart of Gold]]: A lot of these came through Harry's courtroom. Many of them came back so often the staff seemed to regard them as friends.
* [[Hooker with a Heart of Gold]]: A lot of these came through Harry's courtroom. Many of them came back so often the staff seemed to regard them as friends.
* [[Hostage Situation]]: Many episodes centered around this.
* [[Hostage Situation]]: Many episodes centered around this.
* [[Hot Mom]]: Christine, in later seasons.
* [[Hot Mom]]: Christine, in later seasons.
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* [[Instrumental Theme Tune]]
* [[Instrumental Theme Tune]]
* [[It's a Wonderful Plot]]: The episode "Hey, Harry, F'Crying Out Loud--It's a Wonderful Life...Sorta", in which a guardian angel shows Harry what the world would have been like without him.
* [[It's a Wonderful Plot]]: The episode "Hey, Harry, F'Crying Out Loud--It's a Wonderful Life...Sorta", in which a guardian angel shows Harry what the world would have been like without him.
* [[Jerk With a Heart of Gold]]: Dan was usually rude, condescending, arrogant, and self-centered, but he was capable of truly astounding levels of sincerity and sensitivity. He also risked his life, multiple times, to save both his friends and total strangers.
* [[Jerk with a Heart of Gold]]: Dan was usually rude, condescending, arrogant, and self-centered, but he was capable of truly astounding levels of sincerity and sensitivity. He also risked his life, multiple times, to save both his friends and total strangers.
** It was also made clear that he might be a jerk and a pervert, but he was honest and didn't play games with the law. At least three separate storylines centered upon someone attempting to bribe Dan and being reported to the authorities, every single time. He even refused a better-paying job with a big private law firm after he found out that his boss, an attractive woman, was more interested in his bedroom skills than his courtroom skills.
** It was also made clear that he might be a jerk and a pervert, but he was honest and didn't play games with the law. At least three separate storylines centered upon someone attempting to bribe Dan and being reported to the authorities, every single time. He even refused a better-paying job with a big private law firm after he found out that his boss, an attractive woman, was more interested in his bedroom skills than his courtroom skills.
** In that same episode, Dan proudly declared that he has the highest conviction rate, coupled with the fewest overturns on appeal, of any other prosecutor in the city.
** In that same episode, Dan proudly declared that he has the highest conviction rate, coupled with the fewest overturns on appeal, of any other prosecutor in the city.
* [[The Judge]]: Averted with Judge Harry Stone, who is anything BUT a typical judge.
* [[The Judge]]: Averted with Judge Harry Stone, who is anything BUT a typical judge.
* [[Just the Introduction To The Opposites]]: Everything, and everyone, is different in the Day Court. The cases are standard fare with no nuts. The crummy cafeteria is turned into a posh restaurant where reservations are required. Perhaps most worrying... Roz is a cheerful, friendly person.
* [[Just the Introduction to The Opposites]]: Everything, and everyone, is different in the Day Court. The cases are standard fare with no nuts. The crummy cafeteria is turned into a posh restaurant where reservations are required. Perhaps most worrying... Roz is a cheerful, friendly person.
* [[Keep Circulating the Tapes]]: Warner began issuing DVDs of the show in 2005; seven years later, they still haven't made it past Season 5 (and seasons 4 and 5 are [[Vanilla Edition|no-frills]], "manufactured-on-demand" releases available only online). Shameful considering ''Night Court'' was part of NBC's vaunted '80s Thursday Night Line-Up, along with ''[[The Cosby Show]]'', ''[[A Different World]]'', ''[[Family Ties]]'', ''[[Cheers]]'', ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'', ''[[LA Law]]'', ''[[Seinfeld]]'', ''[[Wings (TV)|Wings]]'', and ''[[Frasier]]''.
* [[Keep Circulating the Tapes]]: Warner began issuing DVDs of the show in 2005; seven years later, they still haven't made it past Season 5 (and seasons 4 and 5 are [[Vanilla Edition|no-frills]], "manufactured-on-demand" releases available only online). Shameful considering ''Night Court'' was part of NBC's vaunted '80s Thursday Night Line-Up, along with ''[[The Cosby Show]]'', ''[[A Different World]]'', ''[[Family Ties]]'', ''[[Cheers]]'', ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'', ''[[LA Law]]'', ''[[Seinfeld]]'', ''[[Wings (TV series)|Wings]]'', and ''[[Frasier]]''.
* [[Keet]]: Harry and Bull.
* [[Keet]]: Harry and Bull.
* [[Lamaze Class]]: Two instances.
* [[Lamaze Class]]: Two instances.
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* [[Laugh Track]]: It had one but rarely needed it.
* [[Laugh Track]]: It had one but rarely needed it.
** Actually a [[Studio Audience]], where the same person (sometimes identified as creator Reinhold Weege's father) is often heard laughing uproariously.
** Actually a [[Studio Audience]], where the same person (sometimes identified as creator Reinhold Weege's father) is often heard laughing uproariously.
* [[Locked in A Freezer]]: There was never a literal freezer, but various episodes did center upon the cast being trapped due to various hazards, including...
* [[Locked in a Freezer]]: There was never a literal freezer, but various episodes did center upon the cast being trapped due to various hazards, including...
** ... a fire, which forced the cast to take refuge in the courthouse morgue.
** ... a fire, which forced the cast to take refuge in the courthouse morgue.
** ... a hurricane.
** ... a hurricane.
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** This is actually the punchline to a [[Real Life]] dirty joke, which the writers couldn't tell in full on the show.
** This is actually the punchline to a [[Real Life]] dirty joke, which the writers couldn't tell in full on the show.
* [[Overly Long Airplane Banner Gag]]: "Constitution" actually does it without an airplane. Bull puts up a "Welcome Home Roz" banner that runs the entire length to the courtroom: ''eighteen floors''.
* [[Overly Long Airplane Banner Gag]]: "Constitution" actually does it without an airplane. Bull puts up a "Welcome Home Roz" banner that runs the entire length to the courtroom: ''eighteen floors''.
* [[Pie in The Face]]: The entire cast pays to have this done to Dan.
* [[Pie in the Face]]: The entire cast pays to have this done to Dan.
* [[Post Script Season]]: Season 8 is over. Dan quits his job and loses the Phil Foundation fortune. More importantly, Harry and Christine have professed their love to one another. OK, that's the end. What's that? We've been renewed? Oh, crap!
* [[Post Script Season]]: Season 8 is over. Dan quits his job and loses the Phil Foundation fortune. More importantly, Harry and Christine have professed their love to one another. OK, that's the end. What's that? We've been renewed? Oh, crap!
* [[The Prankster]]: Harry took professional pride in it.
* [[The Prankster]]: Harry took professional pride in it.
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* [[Squick]]: The episode with the cockroach infestation. At one point the characters discover they've wandered into a carpet of dead roaches.
* [[Squick]]: The episode with the cockroach infestation. At one point the characters discover they've wandered into a carpet of dead roaches.
{{quote| '''Christine:''' Oh, please God, let that be a pebble in my shoe.}}
{{quote| '''Christine:''' Oh, please God, let that be a pebble in my shoe.}}
* [[Status Quo Is God]]: The show did follow the standard [[Sit Com]] mold of having everything go back to normal, if not by the end of the episode, than almost always before the end of the season.
* [[Status Quo Is God]]: The show did follow the standard [[Sitcom]] mold of having everything go back to normal, if not by the end of the episode, than almost always before the end of the season.
** Most of the cast's romantic relationships were short-lived and didn't last long. Even Christine's marriage ended part-way through the following season and Harry's longest-lasting relationship was only half a season.
** Most of the cast's romantic relationships were short-lived and didn't last long. Even Christine's marriage ended part-way through the following season and Harry's longest-lasting relationship was only half a season.
*** The most notable exception was Mac and Quon Le, whose marriage lasted the entire run of the show.
*** The most notable exception was Mac and Quon Le, whose marriage lasted the entire run of the show.
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* [[Technology Marches On]]: Averted, Dan makes use of a cell phone several times and Harry owns several laptop computers as the series goes on.
* [[Technology Marches On]]: Averted, Dan makes use of a cell phone several times and Harry owns several laptop computers as the series goes on.
* [[Ted Baxter]]: Dan Fielding
* [[Ted Baxter]]: Dan Fielding
* [[Ten Minute Retirement]]: In season 3's "Wheels of Justice" 2-parter, Harry briefly quits his job after being unable to stop a family from being evicted from their apartment, and said family's son chastising him, and the law in general, for failing them.
* [[Ten-Minute Retirement]]: In season 3's "Wheels of Justice" 2-parter, Harry briefly quits his job after being unable to stop a family from being evicted from their apartment, and said family's son chastising him, and the law in general, for failing them.
* [[The Other Darrin]]: Phil Sanders was played by a different actor (and had a quite different characterization) when he first appears (and is revealed to actually be a wealthy former Wall Street banker who suffered a breakdown).
* [[The Other Darrin]]: Phil Sanders was played by a different actor (and had a quite different characterization) when he first appears (and is revealed to actually be a wealthy former Wall Street banker who suffered a breakdown).
* [[Trickster Archetype]]: Harry
* [[Trickster Archetype]]: Harry
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* [[We Want Our Jerk Back]]: The cast's reaction to Season 8's Do-Gooder Dan.
* [[We Want Our Jerk Back]]: The cast's reaction to Season 8's Do-Gooder Dan.
* [[What a Piece of Junk!]]: Christine's Buick Roadmaster.
* [[What a Piece of Junk!]]: Christine's Buick Roadmaster.
* [[What Could Have Been]]: We never did get to see [[30 Rock (TV)|a three-part episode with werewolf lawyer Sparky Monroe]].
* [[What Could Have Been]]: We never did get to see [[30 Rock|a three-part episode with werewolf lawyer Sparky Monroe]].
* [[The Wonka]]: Harry.
* [[The Wonka]]: Harry.
* [[You Look Familiar]]: Literally dozens of examples.
* [[You Look Familiar]]: Literally dozens of examples.
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