‘Night Court’ Revival Reminded Melissa Rauch of ‘The Big Bang Theory’ in 1 Way
NBC is bringing back Night Court. The network confirmed on Sept. 24 that the revival series would air on the broadcaster. The Big Bang Theory’s Melissa Rauch and original Night Court star John Larroquette filmed a pilot earlier this year. It just so happens that Rauch spoke with Showbiz Cheat Sheet about her charity, Oscar’s Kids, the same week so we had a chance to talk about Night Court with her.
What ‘Night Court’ had in common with ‘The Big Bang Theory’
Rauch will play Judge Abby Stone, the daughter of Harry Stone (Harry Anderson) from the original series. Dan Fielding (Larroquette) is still the prosecutor. Rauch said stepping onto the Night Court set was the same as when she joined the cast of Big Bang Theory.
“Similarly, when I joined the cast of Big Bang, I had been a fan of the show before I joined the set and then just walking onto the set was so exciting,” Rauch told Showbiz Cheat Sheet by phone on Sept. 21. “Oh, I’ve seen that on my TV screen and now I’m sitting here on the couch. It was a similar feeling being able to do that with the Night Court set as well.”
There is one big difference between Big Bang Theory and Night Court though. The Big Bang Theory was currently in production when Rauch joined the cast in 2009. Night Court has been off the air since 1992, so they had to rebuild that courtroom set from scratch.
“We were able to recreate the original sets which was just amazing to be able to step into those walls,” Rauch said.
Were Markie Post and Charlie Robinson going to be in ‘Night Court’?
Two original Night Court stars died in 2021. Charlie Robinson died on July 11 and Markie Post died on August 7. Rauch said they were not involved in the first episode, and she’s sad that having public defender Christine Sullivan (Post) or court clerk Mac (Robinson) back in the new series will not be possible anymore.
“It’s so heartbreaking,” Rauch said. “Those losses are just absolutely heartbreaking and my heart is, of course, with their families. I know that if it went forward it would’ve been amazing to have plans to do that, but just in the meantime, my heart just goes out to their families. Such immense talents.”
Richard Moll and Marsha Warfield are still alive, so there is a chance for bailiffs Bull and Roz, respectively. For now, Larroquette is the only returning Night Court star. When the new Judge Stone hears nightly cases in municipal court, the hijinks ensue like they did in the original series.
“John Larroquette is reprising his role as Dan Fielding and he’s absolutely incredible to work with and he’s just such a brilliant, brilliant actor and wonderful person,” Rauch said. “I loved him in the original and he’s just a real honor to get to work with him.”
Did Mellissa Rauch ever meet Harry Anderson?
Anderson died in 2018. That was before the idea for a new series starring Harry Stone’s daughter was in development. Rauch said she never encountered Anderson in Hollywood before his death.
“I never had the pleasure of meeting him, no,” Rauch said. “I absolutely wish I did. I’ve heard such amazing things about him and was obviously such a fan of his work and the incredible actor that he was. It’s an honor. It was an honor getting to play that role. I grew up such a fan of the show so getting to work in that world was just so thrilling.”
