This was an odd episode. I have seen it listed as the first episode of Season 2, and I have it listed as a "free standing" Christmas special. Without explanation, Dan Fielding is back as the public defender rather than a judge in Louisiana. Also, the court clerk is a different actor and character. It makes me wonder if we are looking at the future of Season 2 (as episodes were probably filmed already), and because this ended up not starting in the fall due to the strike, they decided to air the Christmas episode first due to the timing. If that is the case, then Dan must (as will be explained in other episodes) give up his judgeship to return to night court. There must also be a change to the clerk character at some point as well. If that is NOT the case, then I have no other explanation. Perhaps a holdover episode from Season 1 (although that doesn't explain the different clerk)?
4 Reviews
Best Episode of the Revival Yet
CapsNut30 December 2023
Just like the original series took a couple of seasons to hit its stride, is the revival is taking the same track? We don't know yet, but they're off to a much better start than the pilot episode provided Season 1.
Kapil Talwalkar as Niel the clerk is out and while no explanation was given, it is probably for the best as his character was all kinds of awkward and creepy in Season 1. He's replaced by Gary Anthony Williams who is a fine comedic actor in his own right and I hope he stays with the show going forward. He was fantastic as Flobert.
However, the biggest change is that they finally found the formula "secret sauce" that made the first series work so well. The writing on this episode was better than anything they did in the first season and I'm proud to say, the Dan Fielding we all knew and loved from the original run is mostly back.
The rest of the cast are much better in their roles as they seem to understand and execute them better now than they did in Season 1. While John Larroquette still outshines everybody; he doesn't carry the whole episode, his costars (Melissa Rauch especially) hold their own and you get the kind of legit laughs that remind you of the original run of the show.
The only drawback is that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar seemed to be reading directly from the cue cards even though he was playing himself. One of his jokes deserved a much better laugh track than it was given too. But it was still a very enjoyable cameo.
Hope this portends good things for this going forward.
Kapil Talwalkar as Niel the clerk is out and while no explanation was given, it is probably for the best as his character was all kinds of awkward and creepy in Season 1. He's replaced by Gary Anthony Williams who is a fine comedic actor in his own right and I hope he stays with the show going forward. He was fantastic as Flobert.
However, the biggest change is that they finally found the formula "secret sauce" that made the first series work so well. The writing on this episode was better than anything they did in the first season and I'm proud to say, the Dan Fielding we all knew and loved from the original run is mostly back.
The rest of the cast are much better in their roles as they seem to understand and execute them better now than they did in Season 1. While John Larroquette still outshines everybody; he doesn't carry the whole episode, his costars (Melissa Rauch especially) hold their own and you get the kind of legit laughs that remind you of the original run of the show.
The only drawback is that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar seemed to be reading directly from the cue cards even though he was playing himself. One of his jokes deserved a much better laugh track than it was given too. But it was still a very enjoyable cameo.
Hope this portends good things for this going forward.
Bring Neil Back!
jacobstaggs24 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This is a review for the new Night Court's standalone Christmas Special which has aired before the season 2 premiere. Season 2 premieres January 2 at 8PM on NBC.
Let's get to the main point here first. Court Clerk Neil is nowhere to be seen in the special. He is the second best character in the whole revival. I am not sure why he is not here. The Murray Flobert character from the episode Train Court is here in his place. I'think that there will be a character that will be filling in for him in other season 2 episodes but I don't know if he is a permanent replacement or not. I don't even know for sure there is but my guess would be Dwayne Colbert because he appears in two different promotional stills for the season 2 premiere The Roz Affair in court like attire with two of the main cast members. Neil appears in zero of the eoisode's promotional stills. Bottom line: season 2 better have some episodes with Kapil Talwalkar as Neil.
Now that I've gotten that out of the way, this was a terrible episode. Three jokes landed. The squid one was the funniest.
The entire main ensemble sans the Murray Flobert character did terrible and they all seemed to be portrayed very out of character. Dan and Olivia in particular were extremely out of character in contrast to what season 1 showed us.
The episode was just a waste of time.
Next time, I'll be reviewing the season 2 premiere The Roz Affair. Stay tuned!
Let's get to the main point here first. Court Clerk Neil is nowhere to be seen in the special. He is the second best character in the whole revival. I am not sure why he is not here. The Murray Flobert character from the episode Train Court is here in his place. I'think that there will be a character that will be filling in for him in other season 2 episodes but I don't know if he is a permanent replacement or not. I don't even know for sure there is but my guess would be Dwayne Colbert because he appears in two different promotional stills for the season 2 premiere The Roz Affair in court like attire with two of the main cast members. Neil appears in zero of the eoisode's promotional stills. Bottom line: season 2 better have some episodes with Kapil Talwalkar as Neil.
Now that I've gotten that out of the way, this was a terrible episode. Three jokes landed. The squid one was the funniest.
The entire main ensemble sans the Murray Flobert character did terrible and they all seemed to be portrayed very out of character. Dan and Olivia in particular were extremely out of character in contrast to what season 1 showed us.
The episode was just a waste of time.
Next time, I'll be reviewing the season 2 premiere The Roz Affair. Stay tuned!
More of the Same
negralito25 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Just a few minutes into this episode and I was reminded of why I didn't care much for season 1. More flat jokes, more of Abby's shrill voice and more bizarre "Gurglings" from Lacretta. This episode also included a crazy character who believed she was a ghost from 'A Christmas Carol' and ran around the court building carrying a big turkey leg or something. I entirely missed what was going on with that, but it probably wasn't anything that resembled humor. On a positive note, John Laroquette can still deliver. He is the only actor here who consistently does. It's a good thing that he is back or season 2 would tank, I believe. Also, the directors must have been coaching the actress who plays Olivia. She is noticeably less staccato in her delivery and thus easier to understand. Unfortunately her lines aren't any funnier. It didn't help that she spent most of the episode running around with the batty ghost lady. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was surprisingly not bad in a guest role playing himself. I will probably watch the next few episodes although I'm not sure why.
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