Wonder Drugs (7 Mar. 1984)

Lana starts acting crazy after overdosing on some medications.

Director:

Asaad Kelada

Writers:

Stu Kreisman (story), Howard Ostroff

Stars:

Harry Anderson, Karen Austin, Selma Diamond

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Harry Anderson	...	Judge Harry T. Stone
Karen Austin	...	Lana Wagner
Selma Diamond	...	Bailiff Selma Hacker
Richard Moll	...	Nostradamus 'Bull' Shannon
John Larroquette	...	Dan Fielding
Paula Kelly	...	Public Defender Liz Williams
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ron Feinberg	...	Man in Dress
Arva Holt
Sandy Martin
Jack Riley	...	Emil Dutton
Lionel Mark Smith	...	Steven Bostwick (as Lionel Smith)

Storyline

Lana starts acting crazy after overdosing on some medications.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Release Date:

7 March 1984 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actor Jack Riley was featured on the show over the years as five different characters: As Emil Dutton in episode #1.9, "Wonder Drugs", in episode #2.10, "The Blizzard" as Warren Wilson, a gay man who hits on Dan, in episodes #4.5-6, Dan's Operation", as Dr. Flick, in episode #6.12-13, "Clip Show", as Beepo, a psychotic clown, and in episode 8.19, "To Sleep No More", as Jim Wimberly, a cereal contest coordinator; 'Timothy Stack' (three times) and Keye Luke (twice), among others, were also featured as different characters.

User Reviews

Wonder Drugs

Interesting that Karen Austin's final episode of Night Court would be an all-out, take-no-prisoners, tour-de-force performance where she lets it all hang out after her court clerk, Lana Wagner, takes medicine for a virus and suffers the many side effects, such as bouts of depression mingled with euphoria and a startling release of her inhibitions (she lays a kiss on Harry!). She scales the library bookcase like a monkey in Harry's chambers, becomes emotionally distraught when she believes Harry "led her on" with their kiss, leads Harry throughout the courtroom, ranting and raving about being betrayed, even at one point breaking out in song! Fans of Jack Riley (of The Bob Newhart Show) should get a kick out of his jerk clown, a repulsive creep who appears before the court after several charges including disorderly conduct. To say Riley is foul would be putting it lightly. "Wonder Drugs" is mostly all Austin, as she just cuts loose. I'm not sure why she left the show, but this was quite a close for her character on Night Court! This episode further hinted at the possibilities of romance, with a never seen fiancé named Emerson mentioned often (rather unenthusiastically) by Austin's character as a reason they couldn't be involved, between Harry and Lana, never to be. Ron Feinberg in drag allows Harry a funny line about matching gloves.