The Emmy-Winning Comedy Series That Laid The Groundwork For Night Court

Tv sitcoms and dramas alike are inclined to happen in comparable, acquainted settings. There is no lack of reveals set in hospitals, police stations, and courtrooms (leaving apart any extra low-key reveals which can be family-driven and thus happen in somebody’s house), and never simply amongst present TV sequence. However for a really very long time, it was far more conventional that, say, a cop present must be a drama; how may a present concerning the individuals who arrest criminals and try to achieve justice for no matter crimes have been dedicated be humorous? To be honest, that query has as soon as once more develop into related of late and is instantly associated to why “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” called it a day in 2021.

For a very long time, one thing comparable may very well be stated of courtroom reveals for a similar causes. Can you actually crack jokes on a sequence that revolves round accused criminals standing trial? Maybe it is becoming, then, that one groundbreaking comedy set in one in every of these not-funny-seeming settings led to a different groundbreaking comedy in one other of these settings. To wit: the mid-Nineteen Eighties NBC sitcom “Night time Courtroom” was all the time a average rankings success and a delightfully crazy present that managed to be humorous whereas being legally minded, and it was solely in a position to exist due to one other crazy present in its personal proper: ABC’s Emmy-winning cop sitcom “Barney Miller.”

“Barney Miller,” created by Danny Arnold, targeted on the cops and detectives of the twelfth Precinct of the New York Police Division positioned in Greenwich Village. Seeing as nearly each episode of the present’s eight seasons came about throughout the confines of the squad room of the precinct (akin to how later sequence like “Cheers” would set whole episodes, together with its full first season, throughout the titular bar solely), the present was as a lot concerning the folks working the beat as concerning the random oddballs they’d drag in for processing. Followers of extra trendy comedies like “Brooklyn 9-9” would really feel proper at house with “Barney Miller,” even when the latter present was a bit extra grounded.

Within the period of just some channels, “Barney Miller” was a solidly performing sequence for ABC regardless of by no means being the one greatest present on the community. Seeing because it premiered 50 years in the past, it appears like a captivating glimpse into a very completely different period, and it is no shock that much of the “Barney Miller” cast has since passed on. (It wasn’t that way back that style favourite Ron Glass died, as an example.) The sequence was standard sufficient to encourage one failed spin-off, “Fish,” concerning the eponymous detective portrayed by the lovably irascible Abe Vigoda. So, naturally, the concept that one in every of its writers, Reinhold Weege, would try to parlay the present’s success into creating one thing of his personal made good sense.

Timing being what it’s, Weege would not get “Night time Courtroom” off the bottom till after the conclusion of “Barney Miller” in 1982. Earlier than that sequence ended, he’d really tried his hand at creating one other sequence, the ill-fated CBS sitcom “Park Place,” with character actor Harold Gould because the lead. Although it’s possible you’ll not have heard of this sequence, seeing because it aired simply 4 episodes within the spring of 1981, the final premise might nicely sound acquainted. “Park Place,” regardless of the tony title, was set in a New York legal-aid clinic, balancing between the idealistic attorneys working there, their sage chief, and the zany purchasers they must tackle. In some methods, it feels just like the inverse of “Night time Courtroom,” which might additionally deal with the eccentric folks going to face judgment from the Mel Torme- and magic-loving choose Harry Stone (Harry Anderson).

Though “Night time Courtroom” was by no means the most important sitcom on NBC within the Nineteen Eighties, it had the good thing about taking part in behind “Cheers” for a lot of seasons; followers of that present little question acknowledged Anderson from his recurring position as Harry the Hat, a captivating con artist who would incessantly idiot the barflies and Sam Malone.

“Night time Courtroom” might not have been as unstoppable a drive, however it did find yourself being considerably larger than “Barney Miller” in just a few key methods. Whereas “Barney Miller” did win the Greatest Comedy Collection Emmy for its last season and “Night time Courtroom” was solely ever nominated, the latter sequence netted actor John Larroquette 4 consecutive Emmys for Greatest Supporting Actor, to the purpose the place he actually eliminated his title from competition after the fourth win. Likewise, “Night time Courtroom” ran for 9 seasons and practically 200 episodes — feats that “Barney Miller” was unable to prime.

In its personal approach, the present is a product of its time (having concluded in 1992), with most of the “Night Court” cast having sadly passed away since, Anderson included. (It is equally unhappy that Weege, who died in 2012, by no means created one other sequence of observe after leaving “Night time Courtroom” as soon as its sixth season ended.) Not too way back, NBC went again to the nicely to revive “Night time Courtroom” within the 2020s. The sequel sequence is now in its third season, with Melissa Rauch of “The Large Bang Idea” fame starring as Stone’s daughter and Larroquette reprising his position because the loutish Dan Fielding. Although the present’s revival has gone nicely relative to different trendy sitcom reboots, it is value reminding your self that this sequence and its predecessor can solely exist as a result of “Barney Miller” set a template for its existence 50 years in the past.

Tv sitcoms and dramas alike are inclined to happen in comparable, acquainted settings. There is no lack of reveals set in hospitals, police stations, and courtrooms (leaving apart any extra low-key reveals which can be family-driven and thus happen in somebody’s house), and never simply amongst present TV sequence. However for a really very long time, it was far more conventional that, say, a cop present must be a drama; how may a present concerning the individuals who arrest criminals and try to achieve justice for no matter crimes have been dedicated be humorous? To be honest, that query has as soon as once more develop into related of late and is instantly associated to why “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” called it a day in 2021.

For a very long time, one thing comparable may very well be stated of courtroom reveals for a similar causes. Can you actually crack jokes on a sequence that revolves round accused criminals standing trial? Maybe it is becoming, then, that one groundbreaking comedy set in one in every of these not-funny-seeming settings led to a different groundbreaking comedy in one other of these settings. To wit: the mid-Nineteen Eighties NBC sitcom “Night time Courtroom” was all the time a average rankings success and a delightfully crazy present that managed to be humorous whereas being legally minded, and it was solely in a position to exist due to one other crazy present in its personal proper: ABC’s Emmy-winning cop sitcom “Barney Miller.”

“Barney Miller,” created by Danny Arnold, targeted on the cops and detectives of the twelfth Precinct of the New York Police Division positioned in Greenwich Village. Seeing as nearly each episode of the present’s eight seasons came about throughout the confines of the squad room of the precinct (akin to how later sequence like “Cheers” would set whole episodes, together with its full first season, throughout the titular bar solely), the present was as a lot concerning the folks working the beat as concerning the random oddballs they’d drag in for processing. Followers of extra trendy comedies like “Brooklyn 9-9” would really feel proper at house with “Barney Miller,” even when the latter present was a bit extra grounded.

Within the period of just some channels, “Barney Miller” was a solidly performing sequence for ABC regardless of by no means being the one greatest present on the community. Seeing because it premiered 50 years in the past, it appears like a captivating glimpse into a very completely different period, and it is no shock that much of the “Barney Miller” cast has since passed on. (It wasn’t that way back that style favourite Ron Glass died, as an example.) The sequence was standard sufficient to encourage one failed spin-off, “Fish,” concerning the eponymous detective portrayed by the lovably irascible Abe Vigoda. So, naturally, the concept that one in every of its writers, Reinhold Weege, would try to parlay the present’s success into creating one thing of his personal made good sense.

Timing being what it’s, Weege would not get “Night time Courtroom” off the bottom till after the conclusion of “Barney Miller” in 1982. Earlier than that sequence ended, he’d really tried his hand at creating one other sequence, the ill-fated CBS sitcom “Park Place,” with character actor Harold Gould because the lead. Although it’s possible you’ll not have heard of this sequence, seeing because it aired simply 4 episodes within the spring of 1981, the final premise might nicely sound acquainted. “Park Place,” regardless of the tony title, was set in a New York legal-aid clinic, balancing between the idealistic attorneys working there, their sage chief, and the zany purchasers they must tackle. In some methods, it feels just like the inverse of “Night time Courtroom,” which might additionally deal with the eccentric folks going to face judgment from the Mel Torme- and magic-loving choose Harry Stone (Harry Anderson).

Though “Night time Courtroom” was by no means the most important sitcom on NBC within the Nineteen Eighties, it had the good thing about taking part in behind “Cheers” for a lot of seasons; followers of that present little question acknowledged Anderson from his recurring position as Harry the Hat, a captivating con artist who would incessantly idiot the barflies and Sam Malone.

“Night time Courtroom” might not have been as unstoppable a drive, however it did find yourself being considerably larger than “Barney Miller” in just a few key methods. Whereas “Barney Miller” did win the Greatest Comedy Collection Emmy for its last season and “Night time Courtroom” was solely ever nominated, the latter sequence netted actor John Larroquette 4 consecutive Emmys for Greatest Supporting Actor, to the purpose the place he actually eliminated his title from competition after the fourth win. Likewise, “Night time Courtroom” ran for 9 seasons and practically 200 episodes — feats that “Barney Miller” was unable to prime.

In its personal approach, the present is a product of its time (having concluded in 1992), with most of the “Night Court” cast having sadly passed away since, Anderson included. (It is equally unhappy that Weege, who died in 2012, by no means created one other sequence of observe after leaving “Night time Courtroom” as soon as its sixth season ended.) Not too way back, NBC went again to the nicely to revive “Night time Courtroom” within the 2020s. The sequel sequence is now in its third season, with Melissa Rauch of “The Large Bang Idea” fame starring as Stone’s daughter and Larroquette reprising his position because the loutish Dan Fielding. Although the present’s revival has gone nicely relative to different trendy sitcom reboots, it is value reminding your self that this sequence and its predecessor can solely exist as a result of “Barney Miller” set a template for its existence 50 years in the past.