INDIANAPOLIS — Court is back in session for the third season of NBC's "Night Court" revival.
The sitcom, originally airing on NBC for nine seasons from 1984-1992, took place during the night shift of a New York criminal court, presided over by Judge Harry Stone (Harry Anderson).
"We come into Season 3 following up on a cliffhanger during the end of Season 2, where we find out if Jake, who is dating Abby, is Dan Fielding's son," said Melissa Rauch ("The Big Bang Theory," "The Bronze"), who plays Judge Abby Stone, daughter of the late Judge Harry Stone.
In the original run, John Larroquette ("The Practice," "Boston Legal") won four consecutive Emmys for his role as prosecutor Dan Fielding. However, in the revival, Fielding is the public defender, after the assigned public defender quit on Abby's first day.
"He's a lousy defense lawyer. He was a very good prosecutor. He lost very few cases. There's not too many he wins as a 'free lawyer,' as he calls himself," Larroquette said of his character. "It's still fun. It is what it is. It's fine. He's becoming more comfortable in that role of defending people who he doesn't really like that much anyways, but he finds ways to get through the day and try to help them."
With 31 years between the end of the original "Night Court" to the premiere of the revival, it's a joy to see Larroquette back on TV screens in this iconic comedic role.
"I was reluctant at first when I heard about it. The idea about being compared to oneself 30 years ago is I don't think a pretty sight," Larroquette said. "The more I talked to Melissa, the more I realized there was life left in him to figure out what he had done during the ensuing 30 years from the last time we saw him, what did his life become and where he is still funny?"
Rauch, who serves as executive producer, was essential in bringing "Night Court" back to primetime television.
"It really was this idea, selfishly, of being a fan of the original and wanting to see it on TV again," Rauch said. "The structure of 'Night Court,' the inherent DNA of what the show is and the architecture of how stories come in and out of the courtroom is such a great story generator."
A show format like "Night Court," where new cases are presented in front of the judge each episode, gives ample opportunity for guest stars, with this season including Mayim Bialik ("The Big Bang Theory"), Andrew Rannells ("The Book of Mormon"), Nico Santos ("Superstore"), Andy Daly ("Review"), Jo Lo Truglio ("Brooklyn Nine-Nine"), as well as actors from the original "Night Court."
"Every week, there's someone else that you just can't believe you get the good fortune of getting to work with," Rauch said.
New episodes of "Night Court" air Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC and are available to stream the following day on Peacock.