80s | Pop Culture | TV
10 Facts About 'Night Court' Even Bull Didn't Know
From 1984 to 1992, Night Court was one of the most beloved comedies on TV. Part of NBC's "Must See Thursday" lineup alongside shows like Family Ties and Cheers, the show won a number of Emmys, and ran for a whopping NINE seasons (that's 193 episodes people).
Focusing on a newly-appointed judge who was literally the last possible choice for the job and the cast of misfits that work with him, the show had us splitting our sides with laughter. We still love it today, but did you know these 10 facts about it?
John Larroquette was just too good at his job.
After winning an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series four years in a row, he asked for his name to be taken out of the running. He was also offered a spinoff series based on his Dan Fielding character, but turned it down.
A quick reference to a singer led to a surprise cameo.
Harry Stone is mentioned as being a massive fan of jazz/pop singer Mel Tormé in the shows first episode. Friends and family of Tormé called him to let him know, and he was so touched by the reference he agreed to a cameo. He also said the references boosted his audiences and rekindled his singing career.
There were a massive number of recasts in the first season.
In the first year of the show, six female leads were featured before the studio settled on Markie Post. The only cast members to remain from the pilot until the finale were Harry Anderson, John Larroquette, and Richard Moll.
The cast had to clear out pretty quickly at the end.
After taping the show's final episode on a Friday, the cast and crew were sent telegrams to have their dressing rooms vacated by the following Monday, or their belongings would be thrown away. Yeesh.
You think those facts are crazy? You haven't seen anything yet!
The opening credits never changed in any way.
They remained exactly the same for all nine of the show's seasons.
There's a pretty random horror movie reference in an episode.
In an episode where Dan is trapped in a motel room with a psychotic woman, the TV announcer says "We'll return to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre", to which Dan says, "Seen that already." John Larroquette was the narrator in both the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre and its 2003 remake.
Roz had to be recast a lot because of deaths.
Selma Diamond passed away after the second season, and was replaced by Florence Halop, who the studio felt was very similar. However, Halop also passed away after only a single season, leading to the studio looking for a younger actress for the role. They settled on Marsha Warfield.
A lot of the hookers and pimps are named after real people.
They're named after show creator Reihold Weege's family and friends.
The show was notorious for "recycling" actors.
For example, Jack Riley appeared as Emil Dutton, Warren Wilson, Dr. Flick, Beepo the Clown, Mr. FrouFrou, and Jim Wimberly; all separate, unrelated roles.
Storylines had to be dropped because of the show getting a ninth season.
Among other major shakeups that were supposed to happen at the end of season eight, Harry and Christine were supposed to get married, and Dan was supposed to become a priest. These were all dropped when NBC ordered a ninth season.