NBC’s Night Court returns for its third season, and it looks to be another chaotic session at Manhattan’s arraignment court. In the premiere, “The Judge’s Boyfriend’s Dad,” Judge Abby Stone (Melissa Rauch) stumbles upon a potentially awkward family secret: her colleague, the irascible Dan Fielding (John Larroquette), might just be her boyfriend’s father. How she arrived at this conclusion, we can only guess, but it’s a safe bet it’ll involve some classic Night Court shenanigans.
The episode’s title certainly points to some uncomfortable family reunions, paternity tests, and probably more than a few cringe-worthy moments. Abby’s likely to investigate this bombshell in her own way, adding more chaos to the already unpredictable courtroom proceedings. While the writers could easily turn this into a tired sitcom trope, the potential for genuine laughs is there. Let’s be upfront, it all hinges on the chemistry between Rauch and Larroquette, which thankfully has been a high point of the series so far.
As if Abby’s potential family drama wasn’t enough, a blast from Dan’s past is set to arrive as the new prosecutor. Considering Dan’s, shall we say, colorful history, this new addition seems destined to cause friction and potentially shift the dynamics of the courtroom crew.
The rest of the ensemble, including public defender Olivia (India de Beaufort), court clerk Donna “Gurgs” Gurganous (Lacretta), and court bailiff Neil (Nyambi Nyambi), are all back for more late-night legal wrangling. Hopefully, the writers will give them more to do than just react to Abby and Dan’s antics.
Night Court airs Tuesdays at 8:30 PM ET/PT on NBC.
