"Night Court" (1984) TV series 1984-1992

Creator:

Reinhold Weege
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Release Date:

4 January 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

An eccentric fun-loving judge presides over an urban night court and all the silliness going on there.

Plot Keywords:

Judge | Night Court | Attorney | Clerk | Criminal

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 11 wins & 31 nominations

Cast

Harry Anderson	...	Judge Harry T. Stone (193 episodes, 1984-1992)
John Larroquette	...	Dan Fielding (193 episodes, 1984-1992)
Richard Moll	...	Nostradamus 'Bull' Shannon / ... (193 episodes, 1984-1992)
Charles Robinson	...	Mac Robinson (182 episodes, 1984-1992)
Markie Post	...	Christine Sullivan (157 episodes, 1984-1992)
Marsha Warfield	...	Rosalind 'Roz' Russell (136 episodes, 1986-1992)

Series Directed by
Jeff Melman		(77 episodes, 1984-1989)
Jim Drake		(63 episodes, 1984-1992)
Tim Steele		(19 episodes, 1986-1992)
Alan Bergmann		(7 episodes, 1985)
Howard Ritter		(7 episodes, 1987-1991)
Jay Sandrich		(4 episodes, 1984)
Charles Robinson		(3 episodes, 1990-1992)
Gary Shimokawa		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Asaad Kelada		(2 episodes, 1984)
Reinhold Weege		(2 episodes, 1985)
John Larroquette		(2 episodes, 1986)
Harry Anderson		(2 episodes, 1987-1990)
Kevin Charles Sullivan		(2 episodes, 1991-1992)

Series Writing credits
Reinhold Weege		(106 episodes, 1984-1990)
Stu Kreisman		(40 episodes, 1984-1991)
Tom Reeder		(14 episodes, 1984-1989)
Bob Underwood		(14 episodes, 1987-1991)
Bob Stevens		(13 episodes, 1984-1987)
Gary Murphy		(13 episodes, 1987-1990)
Larry Strawther		(13 episodes, 1987-1990)
Chris Cluess		(10 episodes, 1984-1991)
Nat Mauldin		(9 episodes, 1984-1987)
Nancy Steen		(8 episodes, 1988-1990)
Neil Thompson		(8 episodes, 1988-1990)
Fred Rubin		(8 episodes, 1989-1991)
Teresa O'Neill		(7 episodes, 1985-1987)
Linwood Boomer		(7 episodes, 1986-1988)
Elaine Aronson		(6 episodes, 1990-1992)
Bill Fuller		(6 episodes, 1990-1992)
Nancylee Myatt		(6 episodes, 1990-1992)
Jim Pond		(6 episodes, 1990-1992)
Dennis Koenig		(5 episodes, 1986-1988)
Tom Straw		(5 episodes, 1986-1988)
Harry Anderson		(5 episodes, 1987-1990)
Bill Bryan		(5 episodes, 1989-1990)
Kevin Kelton		(5 episodes, 1990-1992)
Howard Ostroff		(4 episodes, 1984-1987)
Ron Osborn		(4 episodes, 1984-1985)
Jeff Reno		(4 episodes, 1984-1985)
Alison Rosenfeld Desmarais		(4 episodes, 1988-1992)
Lee Maddux		(3 episodes, 1990-1991)
Bob Colleary		(2 episodes, 1984-1987)
Paul Raley		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Rich Reinhart		(2 episodes, 1987)
James Gates		(2 episodes, 1988-1989)
Mike Imfeld		(2 episodes, 1989-1992)
Vince Cheung		(2 episodes, 1991-1992)
Ben Montanio		(2 episodes, 1991-1992)

Series Produced by
Tim Steele	....	co-producer / producer / ... (98 episodes, 1985-1990)
Reinhold Weege	....	executive producer (94 episodes, 1984-1989)
Jeff Melman	....	supervising producer / producer (84 episodes, 1984-1989)
Bob Underwood	....	producer / supervising producer / ... (52 episodes, 1988-1991)
Chris Cluess	....	executive producer (46 episodes, 1990-1992)
Stu Kreisman	....	executive producer (46 episodes, 1990-1992)
Christine Reedy	....	associate producer (39 episodes, 1988-1990)
Nancy Steen	....	supervising producer / producer (38 episodes, 1988-1990)
Neil Thompson	....	supervising producer / producer (38 episodes, 1988-1990)
Gary Murphy	....	executive producer / producer (35 episodes, 1988-1990)
Larry Strawther	....	executive producer / producer (35 episodes, 1988-1990)
Fred Rubin	....	producer (24 episodes, 1989-1990)
Nat Mauldin	....	producer (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Kevin Kelton	....	producer (22 episodes, 1991-1992)
Bob Stevens	....	producer (17 episodes, 1986-1987)
Tom Straw	....	producer (17 episodes, 1987-1988)
Marsha Posner Williams	....	associate producer (11 episodes, 1984-1985)
Linwood Boomer	....	producer (8 episodes, 1987)
Marica Govons	....	associate producer (7 episodes, 1984)
Jerry Davis	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1987)

Series Cinematography by
Charles L. Barbee		(70 episodes, 1989-1992)
George Spiro Dibie		(30 episodes, 1985-1988)
Héctor R. Figueroa		(15 episodes, 1988-1989)
Robert Berry		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Jerry Davis		(18 episodes, 1984-1987)
John Ward Nielson		(3 episodes, 1984)

Series Casting by
April Webster		(29 episodes, 1987-1989)
Gilda Stratton		(15 episodes, 1984-1986)
Harriet B. Helberg		(13 episodes, 1986-1987)
Eileen Mack Knight		(4 episodes, 1984)
Justine Jacoby		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Thomas Azzari		(5 episodes, 1984)
Ed LaPorta		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Ed LaPorta		(180 episodes, 1984-1992)
Ken Azzari		(2 episodes, 1984)

Series Set Decoration by
Robert C. Furginson		(4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Edward J. McDonald		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Barbara Murphy		(3 episodes, 1984-1985)

Series Makeup Department
Jim Nielsen	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1984-1986)
Brenda Good	....	hair stylist (4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Ariel Bagdadi	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Marina Hart	....	key hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Dodie Warren	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Ken Wensevic	....	hair stylist / makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Layne Sheppard Salter	....	unit manager (11 episodes, 1984)
Avigail Yaacovy	....	unit manager (2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Rikk Greengrass	....	production supervisor (2 episodes, 1984)
Peggy Vargas Phillippi	....	production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Howard Ritter	....	associate director / assistant director (14 episodes, 1986-1987)
Gary Shimokawa	....	associate director / assistant director (13 episodes, 1984-1985)
Thomas Klein	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Art Department
David L. McGuire	....	assistant property master (24 episodes, 1990-1991)
Tim Schultz	....	property master (22 episodes, 1987-1988)
Gilbert Spragg	....	property master (4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Joshua Meltzer	....	property master (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Vic Ortiz	....	boom operator (180 episodes, 1984-1992)
Allen Patapoff	....	sound re-recording mixer / rerecording (5 episodes, 1985-1986)
Craig Porter	....	sound re-recording mixer / rerecording (5 episodes, 1985-1986)
Klaus Landsberg	....	audio (4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Roy Rising	....	audio / sound (2 episodes, 1984)
Christian Santiago	....	sound (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Laura Dash	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Lane Leavitt	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Tom Tcimpidis	....	video controller / video (179 episodes, 1984-1992)
Flor Siqueiros	....	camera operator (34 episodes, 1989-1992)
Rocky Danielson	....	camera operator / cameras (4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Leigh Nicholson	....	camera operator / cameras (4 episodes, 1985-1986)
John Repczynski	....	camera operator / cameras (4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Jeffrey Wheat	....	camera operator / cameras (4 episodes, 1985-1986)
John Appelroth	....	lighting director (2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Bill Pope	....	camera (2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Diane Biederbeck	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Rick Caswell	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
John Lee	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Pat Melton	....	casting associate (4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Paul Bens	....	casting associate (unknown episodes, 1988-1992)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Dan Frank	....	costume supervisor / costumer (30 episodes, 1985-1989)
Molly Harris Campbell	....	costumer (3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bill Blackburn	....	key costumer (unknown episodes)
Julie Starr Dresner	....	key costume supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Michael Gavaldon	....	editor: video (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Jack Elliott	....	composer: theme music (193 episodes, 1984-1992)

Series Other crew
Barbara Roche	....	first stage manager / stage manager (100 episodes, 1984-1988)
Kevin Kennedy	....	assistant to the producer / production staff / ... (79 episodes, 1984-1987)
Tom Reeder	....	executive script consultant / creative consultant (78 episodes, 1984-1989)
Susie Gunter	....	script supervisor (48 episodes, 1984-1989)
Paul Korpal	....	production assistant (46 episodes, 1990-1992)
Linwood Boomer	....	story editor (44 episodes, 1986-1988)
Kevin Charles Sullivan	....	stage manager / dga stage manager (43 episodes, 1984-1989)
Cherie Miller	....	production assistant (41 episodes, 1986-1989)
Chris Cluess	....	story editor (33 episodes, 1984-1985)
Paul Coderko	....	stage manager / production staff (30 episodes, 1985-1989)
Dennis Koenig	....	executive story consultant (28 episodes, 1986-1988)
John Rappaport	....	creative consultant (24 episodes, 1989-1990)
Pixie Wespiser	....	production assistant (24 episodes, 1989-1990)
Jeanie Berry	....	production assistant (24 episodes, 1990-1991)
Kevin Kelton	....	story consultant (24 episodes, 1990-1991)
Christine Reedy	....	production coordinator (23 episodes, 1985-1988)
Bob Stevens	....	story editor (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bob Underwood	....	executive story editor (19 episodes, 1988-1989)
Gary Murphy	....	executive story editor (14 episodes, 1987-1988)
Larry Strawther	....	executive story editor (14 episodes, 1987-1988)
Tom Straw	....	executive story editor (12 episodes, 1986-1987)
Teresa O'Neill	....	story editor (11 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jim Johnson	....	technical director (5 episodes, 1984-1986)
Janice Jackson-Campbell	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Kevin Rodney Sullivan	....	stage manager / assistant to the producer (3 episodes, 1984-1986)
Steven Bortko	....	production staff (3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Grace Lau	....	production staff (3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Sheila Lauder	....	production assistant / production associate (2 episodes, 1984)
Bud Schweich	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1984)
Paula Rosenberg	....	production staff (2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Cherie D. Miller	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1988-1989)
Elaine Aronson	....	story editor (unknown episodes)
Michael Bay	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Robert G. Holmes	....	technical director (unknown episodes)
Lori Margules	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Howard Ritter	....	associate director (unknown episodes)
Carol Scott	....	associate director (unknown episodes)
Paula S. Warner	....	assistant to producer (unknown episodes)
Susan Youngman	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Starry Night Productions
• Warner Bros. Television

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1984-1992) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Cuatro (2006) (Spain) (TV)
• Warner Bros
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (complete second season)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R) (complete fourth season)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (USA) (DVD) (complete third season)
• Warner Home Video (2011) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R) (complete fifth season)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R) (complete seventh season)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R) (complete sixth season)
• Warner Home Video (2013) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R) (complete eighth season)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Compact Video  post-production

Also Known As:

Runtime:

30 min (193 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Stage 9, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Starry Night Productions

Trivia:

After John Larroquette won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series four years in a row, he asked that his name be taken out of consideration. He was also offered a spin-off series based around the character of Dan Fielding, but he turned it down.

Quotes:

Dan Fielding:I have stood next to death, and people liked him better.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: 12 to the Moon (#6.24)" (1994)

wicked sense of humor

"Night Court" was one of the more bizarre shows to come along. The only time I've ever seen a show that featured a lot of slapstick and raunchy gags, unlike any other sitcom. Harry Anderson was Harry Stone, a zany judge who loved magic and silly props, which he would pull outta nowhere a lot of the time. In his court was my all time fave sitcom actor John Larroquette, as smutty Dan Fielding, a womanizing, outspoken district attorney. There was also well meaning but dumber than cotton Bull Shannon, a towering bailiff. These three were really the only ones who were around from the shows first episode. I'd have to say they may have set a record for most cast changes for a sitcom as there were at least 4(!) leading female characters. There was Karen Austin, Ellen Foley for a season, than a series of several replacement actresses for a few weeks before Markie Post finally grounded herself as the main female character. Also along midway through were Charles Robinson as Mac, Florence Hallop, who died shortly after joining the show, and she was replacing Selma Diamond who also passed away. Finally the producers went with a younger choice, Marsha Warfield as no nonsense Roz. Lots of great episodes, of mention the one where Harry's old college friend shows up. Anderson and Larroquette end up on a ledge nude which leads to the shows best line ever when one looks down at the others privates: "So, what's up?" They ended their run in 92 with an extremely disappointing show, which wrapped the characters fates nicely, but lacked any type of laughs at all. But still a terrific bunch of shows midway through the 80s make it one of the best, if edgiest, shows ever.