Even though NBC’s “new boot” of Night Court is in its third season, star and EP Melissa Rauch still cannot believe she gets to step into that iconic courtroom. As a fan of the original series, Rauch still feels “genuine nostalgia and excitement” on set every day as she plays Judge Abby Stone, the daughter of Harry Anderson’s Judge Harry Stone. “Abby’s enthusiasm for being at night court is very much my enthusiasm for being on Night Court,” said Rauch with a laugh. It is Rauch’s love of the series that enabled her bring the new iteration of the iconic comedy to the screen, with help from Emmy winner John Larroquette. “I love working with John so much,” gushed Rauch. “Our characters have established this surrogate father daughter relationship, and we as actors have done the same.”
While Abby’s and Dan’s relationship remains the heart of the series, Season 3 will also see Dan having to deal with Abby’s appointment of his former stalker, now ex-con Julianne (played by the legendary Wendie Mialick) as the court’s prosecutor. “We were very, very excited to get Wendie Malick to join us for season 3,” said Rauch. “When she guest starred in the first 2 seasons, she brought this unbelievable electricity to the character and the set.” Rauch understands that fans might be wondering, “how does a woman freshly out of prison become a prosecutor?” However unlikely that scenario, Rauch promises a “seamless transition.” “She’s on a nice cocktail of meds that keep her stable,” explained Rauch.
Mialick isn’t the only famous face appearing in the court for Season 3. Original series star Marsha Warfield will reprise her iconic role as Roz Russell for a few more episodes. “I love getting to work with her so much,” gushed Rauch. “Whenever she speaks to you, it feels like it’s coming directly from her heart right into yours.” Another exciting guest star fans can look forward to is Rauch’s The Big Bang Theory pal, Mayim Bialik. “She actually plays a bizarro, very heightened psychotic version of herself,” teased Rauch.
Rauch stopped by the Decider studio to talk about the upcoming season, her incredible cast mates, and what the series’ iconic courtroom doors symbolize.
DECIDER: Season 3 kicks off with something very exciting! Wendie Malick joining the main cast as the prosecutor. How long has that been in the works?
MELISSA RAUCH: We were very, very excited to get Wendie Malick to join us for season 3. I have been such a fan of hers over the years. When she guest starred in the first two seasons, she brought this unbelievable electricity to the character and the set. She had good chemistry right off the bat with everyone. For her to become a series regular in season three was nothing short of a dream come true.
You may wonder how a woman freshly out of prison becomes a prosecutor.The writers have created a seamless transition for her. She’s on a nice cocktail of meds that keep her stable, so she’s able to prosecute. Since it’s Night Court, there are some delicious craziness that pops up from time to time. Also, Wendie and John have such great chemistry.
Wendie’s character Julianne has an interesting history with Dan Fielding, to say the least. How will that come into play this season?
Dan is nothing short of shocked to see that Julianne is going to be arguing across from him. Little by little, we’ll see their relationship grow throughout the season amid sparks and landmines. It’s really fun to see the two of them playing opposite each other.
Your comedic chemistry with John Larroquette is unmatched. How has your dynamic changed over time?
I love working with John so much. We started developing this early incarnation of the show together years ago. Our characters have established this surrogate father daughter relationship, and we as actors have done the same. He has a special place in my heart.
It was interesting to see Abby become jealous of Jake, played by the hilarious Ryan Hansen, for his closeness with Dan in the season premiere. Was it fun to fight over John Larroquette?
It was fun. I love working with Ryan Hansen. He is a wonderful scene partner and a great guy. Season 2 ended on a cliffhanger:Is Jake Dan’s son. We were all over the moon to get to explore the ramifications of that question on Abby’s relationship with Jake and her relationship with Dan. The uncertainty was a wonderful story generator with a lot of different layers into play.
The supporting cast of Night Court is part of the reason viewers keep coming back season after season. Lacretta as Gurgs continues to impress. Do you find that the writers are inspired by her character’s larger than life personality ?
Absolutely. I’ll never forget Lacretta’s audition for this show. We had looked at so many people for the role of the Bailiff. Lacretta was living in New York at time and doing Broadway. My brother actually saw her and thought she was amazing. Her reading at the audition, highlighted by the way she said “fingering potatoes,” was so spectacular. We knew then that this over the top role was hers. She has also a become a dear friend.
Nyambi Nyambi is just hilarious as Wyatt the clerk. What makes him the perfect addition to the court?
I met Nyambi years ago when I was working on Big Bang Theory. He was working right next door on Mike And Molly. We would pull up to work together and would often stand by our cars and talk for as long as we could before we had to go in. He is the warmest, loveliest person. He would even come to Big Bang tapings and bring his family. Before Night Court, we never had the chance to be on set together as actors. When he joined the cast in season two, he just inhabited the role immediately.
I’ll never forget the first time that we got to do a scene together in front of the live audience. I was so excited to finally get the chance to work with him in that capacity, and he hit it out of the park. He’s another wonderful friend. Our entire cast loves spending time together. We’re texting when we’re not on set.
It felt important to bring back Marsha Warfield and even Brent Spiner and Annie O’Donnell as the Wheelers for Season 2. Are there any other plans to bring back other legends or iconic bit players from the original series?
Marsha Warfield is back again this season for a few episodes. I love getting to work with her so much. She’s a comedic laser. Her timing is pitch perfect and nuanced and impeccable. Whenever she speaks to you, it feels like it’s coming directly from her heart right into yours. Brent Spiner and Annie O’Donnell have come back again this season too. We have a hilarious Wheeler episode with Kate Micucci back as their daughter. We will also meet an additional Wheeler, which is super fun. We’ve got another whole season full of great guest stars.
I loved seeing Kunal Naayer pop up last season on Night Court. Are there any plans for another of your fellow Big Bang Theory alums to make appearances?
Yes, we were so excited to have Kunal last year. This year, we have Mayim Bialik coming on playing a bizarro, very heightened psychotic version of herself. It was borne out of the idea that I, as Melissa, was a huge Blossom fan growing up. When I first met Maya at a Big Bang table read, I thought: “Do I tell her how much I love her? Like, at what point will I scare her away?” There are pictures of me on Halloween dressed as Blossom! I did eventually tell her I was a super fan, so it felt natural to make Abby a Blossom super fan.
Our wonderful writers did a perfect, phenomenal job turning the tables on this situation. They made Mayim this crazy stalker, and she did a terrific job. I was so excited for everyone to see her. A cool, fun fact is that she played John Larroquette’s daughter on The John Larroquette Show many years ago. It was a nice reunion for John and Mayim as well.
Are there other interests of yours that have seeped into Abby over the course of the show?
Abby’s enthusiasm for being at night court is very much my enthusiasm for being on Night Court [laughs]. There was genuine nostalgia and excitement for Abby walking into that courthouse knowing that this is where her father worked for so many years. As a fan of the original, it was very much the same for me. I remember the first time that I got to walk into chambers. I just couldn’t believe that I was going to be sitting at Harry Anderson’s desk. Sitting on the chairs in the cafeteria was a trip! Those are the original chairs from the first incarnation of the show, which had the tallest cast in TV. My feet are always dangling because of that.
The OG Night Court theme song is one of the greatest TV theme songs of all time. Can you talk a little bit about the revamped version for the new iteration of the show?
When were developing the pilot with John, he sent me a text message with an audio file and wrote: “My son Ben just noodled around with this. What do you think?” It was so amazing. Ben Larroquette is a brilliant musician. He took the original beloved theme song and very symbolically revamped it just like we have done with the show. The construct and the template and the DNA are all the same, but it’s got this new fresh vibe to it. I’m in awe of that song. The first time I heard it was the first time that this project seemed real. Ben’s amazing and does all the music for our show now.
Night Court is the first show on which you have gotten to be at the head of the table. How has that experience evolved as the show’s progressed?
It has been such a huge learning experience. It’s the first time on a TV show that I been in front of and behind the camera. I’ve done both on a feature, but not in a TV space. I’m still learning on a daily basis. I particularly have had lessons in time management and work/life balance. project is a thrill for me because with a multi-camera sitcom, you’re essentially doing a play every week. I come from a theater background and love this real feeling of getting a show up off the ground at the beginning of the week and ending it with a live taping on Friday night. I hope that being involved in all aspects of a production is something that I get to do for years to come.
What can you tease about the rest of the season?
We have a musical episode coming up this season, which was so fun to do. Richard Kind guest stars in that one. Night Court:The Musical! It’s one of my favorite episodes. The cavalcade of guest stars that we have coming through those courtroom doors is also really thrilling.
When we were first developing the pilot, John shared with us that Reinhold Weege, the original creator of Night Court, said that those courtroom doors are everything because you never know what stories could come in through them. We have kept that template in mind from week to week because it creates this wonderful sense that anything can happen.
Night Court airs Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c on NBC