Night Courtis officially back in session tonight on NBC asMelissa RauchandJohn Larroquettereturn to the Manhattan arraignment court forSeason 3. The hit NBC comedy, which continues the world created by the classicReinhold Weegesitcom from the ’80s and ’90s, will get in a few episodes of zany courtroom fun before it takes a break over the holidays along with the rest of the network’s schedule. Before episodes begin airing, however, the network has already announced its mid-season premiere dates, confirming that it won’t be a particularly long wait for the series to return to screens. Alongside the freshman comedy,St. Denis Medical, the reboot series is set to return on Tuesdays startingJanuary 14.
Through two seasons thus far, the rebootedNight Courthas followed thegoings on within the Manhattan arraignment courtduring the night shift under Judge Abby Stone (Rauch). Taking on the seat once held by her late father, Harry Stone (Harry Anderson), she recruited sleazy former prosecutor turned wizened public defender Dan Fielding (Larroquette) to join her, alongside the cheerful Bailiff Gurgs (Lacretta) and a shifting lineup of other court personnel take on the many bizarre, kooky cases that come through their doors.Season 2 ended with the weddingof one of Dan’s oldest friends and original series regular Roz Russell (Marsha Warfield) and the reveal that Jake (Ryan Hansen),Abby’s current beau, may actually be Dan’s son, setting up a complicated romantic future for the show.
Season 3 is set to kick off with a two-part storyline continuing from that bombshell finale. Titled “The Judge’s Boyfriend’s Dad, Part 1”, the episode will see Abby do some digging to see if there’s any truth to the notion that Dan could be Jake’s father. In fact, the entire storyline revolves heavily around Dan, asan old nemesis from his past joins the courtroom full-time.Wendie Malickwill be reprising her role as jailbird Julianne Waltersin a series regular capacity, complicating matters for the public defender as she slots into the prosecutor role vacated by the outgoingIndia de Beaufort’s Olivia Moore.
‘Night Court’ Has Big Things Planned for Its Third Season
ThoughNight Courthashad trouble keeping its regulars on board, the addition of Malickshould make for a fun dynamic with Larroquettethroughout Season 3 as they sort through their messy, revenge-fueled relationship now as colleagues. The series also still has both Lacretta andNyambi Nyambion board for some continuity alongside Rauch and Larroquette. One thing to keep viewers tuning in week after week as well will be the continued flow of guest stars. While last season had more than a few big names withRichard Kind,Kunal Nayyar, and the return ofBrent SpinerandAnnie O’Donnellas the Wheelers, this season will welcomeanother of Rauch’sBig Bang Theorycolleagues inMayim Bialik. She’s set to play a fictional version of herself who is one of the many defendants Judge Stone will have to sort through in Season 3.
Night CourtSeason 3 premieres tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET. After a break, the series will then return during the mid-season on January 14.
Night Court
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