Quick review: Night Court

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Tom Wolper

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Jan 18, 2023, 3:17:01 PM1/18/23
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Ouch. NBC aired two episodes last night so I got a chance to see if the show was finding its footing after the pilot and it just got worse. I remember the original Night Court had its appeal from the beginning and really found its sweet spot after a couple of seasons. This series is trying to land in the old series’s sweet spot at the beginning and it won’t work.

The worst problem is the actors can’t inhabit their characters so you’re watching actors recite lines rather than watching characters interact.

Kevin M.

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Jan 18, 2023, 3:32:00 PM1/18/23
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I don’t dislike the series, but the pace/timing feels way off. Last night before watching the new episodes, I rewatched several episodes of the original series, and by comparison the new series feels like “704 Hauser.” For those unfamiliar with the reference, 704 Hauser was a show set at the same address as “All In The Family,” but it had a different cast and a very different vibe. It wasn’t a bad series, but it was bad compared to what came before it. The new Night Court isn’t bad, and it might get better, but it isn’t close to what the original series was. Melissa Rauch is — to me — not a good enough actor to be more than a supporting character, so when she’s supposed to be the lead in this show, my focus drifts away from her, which is a bad thing for a series lead. 

On Wed, Jan 18, 2023 at 12:17 PM Tom Wolper <two...@gmail.com> wrote:
Ouch. NBC aired two episodes last night so I got a chance to see if the show was finding its footing after the pilot and it just got worse. I remember the original Night Court had its appeal from the beginning and really found its sweet spot after a couple of seasons. This series is trying to land in the old series’s sweet spot at the beginning and it won’t work.

The worst problem is the actors can’t inhabit their characters so you’re watching actors recite lines rather than watching characters interact.

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Jon Delfin

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Jan 18, 2023, 4:14:05 PM1/18/23
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Fienberg at THR said his review was based on seeing six episodes, and that three were okay, while the other three weren't. I'm guessing last night's pair were in the latter group.

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Brad Beam

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Jan 18, 2023, 7:20:09 PM1/18/23
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From: tvor...@googlegroups.com [mailto:tvor...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jon Delfin

>Fienberg at THR said his review was based on seeing six episodes, and that three were okay, while the other three weren't. I'm guessing last night's pair were in the latter group.

 

The show should move on from "It's what Dad would've wanted" and stick with the surrealness  (e.g., the Getty Museum) that made the original fun to watch.

Tom Wolper

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Jan 18, 2023, 11:08:01 PM1/18/23
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One of the core ideas of the original Night Court, which it inherited from Barney Miller, was to bring New York’s weirdo characters into the squad room/courtroom every week. They served as a snapshot of what was going on in Manhattan at the time. So far, this iteration of Night Court treats the trials and defendants as disposable and makes no effort to make them part of the fabric of the show.

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Jim Ellwanger

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Jan 19, 2023, 10:23:08 AM1/19/23
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I wonder how much this is part of the issue: 2020s "Night Court" episodes are probably 3-4 minutes shorter than 1980s "Night Court" episodes due to the increase in commercial time. (I also wonder if that's why they only have one bailiff instead of two.)


M-D November

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Jan 19, 2023, 12:47:20 PM1/19/23
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Also, to Tom's point about NYC of the '80s...how would Times Square Elmo, Karens on the warpath and Vape Enthusiasts Gone Wild compare to the hookers, addicts & general weirdos from the original series?

M-D
"...and the bishop says '20 bucks - same as in town'!"

Bob Jersey

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Jan 20, 2023, 10:02:33 AM1/20/23
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Still, the return notched the highest viewer numbers since the return of "Will & Grace" in 2017... the highest same-day audience for a comedy this season... and the best figures for any network entertainment show this season that didn't have the NFL as its lead-in...


B

Tom Wolper, Jan 18th:

Tom Wolper

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Jan 20, 2023, 10:13:38 AM1/20/23
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Let’s see if they can sustain those numbers.

I’ve decided to wait a few weeks and sample another episode to see if the deficiencies are due to the belief that they had to keep Harry Stone’s presence in the plots at the beginning and they can get going once he’s out of the way. I doubt that many people who watched the first two episodes are settling up a season pass for the show.

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Marti Lawrence

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Jan 20, 2023, 1:07:59 PM1/20/23
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We were disappointed with the new version, but we have been rewatching the original, and it is easy to make negative comparisons to the great cast and camaraderie that they had. 
We'll give the new version a few more episodes to see if it finds its footing. 

~Marti

Kevin M.

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Feb 2, 2023, 7:56:41 PM2/2/23
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Picked up for a second season. I’ve continued watching it. It is good but not great. Maybe with another season to grow it’ll be better. 



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Doug Eastick

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Feb 2, 2023, 9:02:30 PM2/2/23
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I just watched ep 3 or 4 tonight and I actually did laugh once.  So I'll keep going. 

Dan is such a great character. 


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Kevin M.

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Feb 2, 2023, 9:58:47 PM2/2/23
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On Thu, Feb 2, 2023 at 6:02 PM Doug Eastick <eas...@eastick.ca> wrote:
I just watched ep 3 or 4 tonight and I actually did laugh once.  So I'll keep going. 

Dan is such a great character. 

John Larroquette is very watchable. From his early supporting roles in Black Sheep Squadron and Stripes to the cult classic sitcom of his own name, he just has that spark. 

I heard rumors that after the Night Court episode of 30 Rock, the concept of a single camera comedy series featuring all the original characters later in life was seriously considered. I’m sad that didn’t come to pass. 


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Tom Wolper

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Feb 16, 2023, 5:56:59 AM2/16/23
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I waited a month and gave the series another shot. The actors seem to have settled into their characters but the characters lack the goofiness and irreverence of the original show. I’m done with it.

Marti Lawrence

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Feb 16, 2023, 1:46:46 PM2/16/23
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We tried as well, but took it off the DVR this week because there is only so much time, and sadly, the new Night Court just wasn't worth any more of ours.

~Marti

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