Last night, I watched the pilot episode of "Night Court" ("All You Need Is Love") on DVD, and I wondered how the character of legal aid attorney Sheila Gardiner would've evolved had she remained on the series a little longer (or perhaps for the remainder of its inaugural season).

Veteran character actress Gail Strickland portrayed Sheila Gardiner in "All You Need Is Love" before she was abruptly replaced by Paula Kelly--as public defender Elizabeth "Liz" Williams--in episode two. Strickland's overall performance in the pilot was uneven, to say the least...apparently, creator-writer-executive producer Reinhold Weege was still tinkering with the format even as "All You Need Is Love" was being videotaped in the summer of 1983 ("Night Court" premiered in January of '84, as a midseason replacement).

My overall verdict is that Strickland would've been the straight woman to John Larroquette's (as lecherous prosecutor Dan Fielding) on-screen antics had she remained on "Night Court" beyond the pilot. Strickland is a capable character actress, but she was totally out of place being surrounded by the wacky shenanigans that occurred every night in Harry's courtroom.

What is your opinion of Gail Strickland's performance as legal aid attorney Sheila Gardiner? Drop me a line...I'd love to hear from all of you.

Enjoy your evening, folks!