Night Court not a classic???? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Night Court Fan · 02-24-2004, 12:40 PM

In the latest TV Guide there is an article about Must-See TV through the years. The writer wrote that Night Court is
not a quite a classic. Not a classic?????
That is the most stupid thing I have *ever* read.
Of course Night Court is a classic!
It's the best show ever! Much better than Seinfeld!

nitcrt1 · 02-25-2004, 07:34 PM

I read that article and was disgusted that the writer could deem "Night Court" as a "turkey". First of all. Jerry Seinfeld should kiss the proverbial butt of "Night Court" because without it as a lead in, it tanked. Seinfeld couldn't even do well when Jerry cried to NBC to switch timeslots with NC. No one watched "Seinfeld" but "Night Court" did just fine. Just because a show does not follow the traditional sitcom format doesn't mean that it isn't worthy of being a "classic". "Night Court" was a classic BECAUSE it didn't follow a traditional sitcom format. "Night Court" was so enjoyable because it wasn't reality. Why does a sitcom have to adhere to realistic expectations? Isn't there enough reality in the world? A comedy shouldn't have to be real. I think a comedy is more original when it isn't real. This is what made "Night Court" so special. Since "Night Court" there has been no successful COURTROOM comedy! Additionally, most sitcoms follow the same format, ultimately taking away from some of the entertainment value. "Night Court" was a slapstick farce, but that's what made it so appealing. This is what made it "Must See TV". I'm so sick and tired of critics and people in general of not giving "Night Court" any credit. "Night Court" must have done something right if it stayed on nine years and survived several time slot changes. Oh, and did I mention that it won its time slot everytime. So to critics of this show...why don't you try looking at "Night Court's" stats as an award winning sitcom that dared to be different...a concept from which we've seemed to escape.

Night Court Fan · 02-26-2004, 04:11 PM

In my opinion, that "writer" is a turkey not Night Court!

nitcrt1 · 02-27-2004, 07:01 PM

Not only do I agree that the writer is a turkey but so are the people who have the guts to criticize the show.

Night Court Fan · 02-28-2004, 11:14 AM

Last night on "Joan Of Arcadia" someone said
"Critics are clueless." That is so true!!!

barwars · 03-09-2004, 10:29 PM

Although I happen to think that Seinfeld is just as good if not better....
I definately think that Night Court is a classic.
Much more so than Friends IMO.

Dr. Jazz · 03-10-2004, 12:04 AM

Night Court is indeed a classic. I too took offense to that writer's comments. If Night Court was such a "turkey" then how did it last 9 seasons? The only turkey is that writer and the fact that this classic show isn't on DVD yet. Enjoying it on the Biography Channel though.

Mr. Television · 03-10-2004, 12:39 AM

I read that and was angry too. It seems Night Court never gets respect but it was one of the best shows of the 1980's. Its better than most of the shows that NBC tries to pass for comedy these days.

nitcrt1 · 03-13-2004, 02:45 PM

"Night Court" also became a classic in the eighties because it was the first real sitcom to walk the FCC tight rope. Think about it. "Night Court" was the first real sitcom to introduce sexual innuendo and mild language issues. That's what made it gritty. Of couse, what "Night Court" did back in the eighties is mild compared to what is on the airwaves today. What you had to be careful of back then is now common practice on sitcoms right now. You never really saw anything on "Night Court". It was just suggested. Now, you see a lot of it on today's sitcoms. That's another reason why I think "Night Court" is a classic, because you didn't have to see it in order for it to be funny. Just hearing about it made you laugh. Today, we'd been seeing all of Dan Feilding's escapades. Personally, I would and did enjoy hearing about them more than I would have wanted to see them.

Night Court Fan · 03-14-2004, 02:21 PM

I totally agree with you!

badbrainsfan · 07-29-2005, 02:05 AM

Night Court is so classic. I don't care what the critics think, at least this show was so much better than Newhart. Night Court may be underrated, but they still should have put this up with Family Ties, Cheers, and The Cosby Show.

McFly121 · 07-29-2005, 02:58 AM

Sorry, guys, I love NC but wouldn't call it a classic. It's like, most people know it if you say "bald bailiff" or "sitcom in a courtroom", but because of it's underrated place, I don't think it's deemed classic. Even back then it was like 3rd or 4th every week, but because it wasn't "conventional", Cheers, Family Ties and stinkin' Cosby got the accolades. Plus in re-run longevity it hasn't done much. It's not quoted or referred to or featured on many lists. Which is why I hope TV Land finds it a new audience of like today's teens and college kids who can build a new fanbase along with us.

Because I'm stunned like on these boards, the amount of teens who found Cheers or Three's Company and worship it all these years later.

badbrainsfan · 08-04-2005, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McFly121

Sorry, guys, I love NC but wouldn't call it a classic. It's like, most people know it if you say "bald bailiff" or "sitcom in a courtroom", but because of it's underrated place, I don't think it's deemed classic. Even back then it was like 3rd or 4th every week, but because it wasn't "conventional", Cheers, Family Ties and stinkin' Cosby got the accolades. Plus in re-run longevity it hasn't done much. It's not quoted or referred to or featured on many lists. Which is why I hope TV Land finds it a new audience of like today's teens and college kids who can build a new fanbase along with us.

Because I'm stunned like on these boards, the amount of teens who found Cheers or Three's Company and worship it all these years later.

Well at least this show was more classic than CBS's Newhart.

megamanj2004 · 08-04-2005, 01:49 PM

Just like Barney miller, this show also had a great theme, not to mention the fact that most of the staff who worked on Barney Miller, also worked on Night Court.

I don't understand why it doesn't get its due that those other 1980s NBC sitcoms get!

BTW, I just wanna know how well in the rankings Night Court did during its original NBC run? Did it rank in the Top 25, b/c I read somewhere that Night Court actually did rank in the top 25.

Mr. Television · 08-04-2005, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megamanj2004

Just like Barney miller, this show also had a great theme, not to mention the fact that most of the staff who worked on Barney Miller, also worked on Night Court.

I don't understand why it doesn't get its due that those other 1980s NBC sitcoms get!

BTW, I just wanna know how well in the rankings Night Court did during its original NBC run? Did it rank in the Top 25, b/c I read somewhere that Night Court actually did rank in the top 25.

1985 #20, 1986 #11, 1987 #7, 1988 #7, 1989 #21, 1990 #29.

02-24-2004, 12:40 PM	#1
Night Court Fan Night Court Fan Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Posts: 205	Night Court not a classic???? In the latest TV Guide there is an article about Must-See TV through the years. The writer wrote that Night Court is not a quite a classic. Not a classic????? That is the most stupid thing I have ever read. Of course Night Court is a classic! It's the best show ever! Much better than Seinfeld!
	__________________ NCF

03-10-2004, 12:39 AM	#8
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I read that and was angry too. It seems Night Court never gets respect but it was one of the best shows of the 1980's. Its better than most of the shows that NBC tries to pass for comedy these days.
	__________________ Sonny

03-13-2004, 02:45 PM	#9
nitcrt1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2003 Posts: 482	Classic "Night Court" "Night Court" also became a classic in the eighties because it was the first real sitcom to walk the FCC tight rope. Think about it. "Night Court" was the first real sitcom to introduce sexual innuendo and mild language issues. That's what made it gritty. Of couse, what "Night Court" did back in the eighties is mild compared to what is on the airwaves today. What you had to be careful of back then is now common practice on sitcoms right now. You never really saw anything on "Night Court". It was just suggested. Now, you see a lot of it on today's sitcoms. That's another reason why I think "Night Court" is a classic, because you didn't have to see it in order for it to be funny. Just hearing about it made you laugh. Today, we'd been seeing all of Dan Feilding's escapades. Personally, I would and did enjoy hearing about them more than I would have wanted to see them.

03-14-2004, 02:21 PM	#10
Night Court Fan Night Court Fan Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Posts: 205	re: Classic Night Cour I totally agree with you!

07-29-2005, 02:58 AM	#12
McFly121 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: calif Posts: 812	Sorry, guys, I love NC but wouldn't call it a classic. It's like, most people know it if you say "bald bailiff" or "sitcom in a courtroom", but because of it's underrated place, I don't think it's deemed classic. Even back then it was like 3rd or 4th every week, but because it wasn't "conventional", Cheers, Family Ties and stinkin' Cosby got the accolades. Plus in re-run longevity it hasn't done much. It's not quoted or referred to or featured on many lists. Which is why I hope TV Land finds it a new audience of like today's teens and college kids who can build a new fanbase along with us. Because I'm stunned like on these boards, the amount of teens who found Cheers or Three's Company and worship it all these years later.
	__________________ "That was Bob's donut!"

02-25-2004, 07:34 PM	#2
nitcrt1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2003 Posts: 482	"Night Court" A Classic Sitcom I read that article and was disgusted that the writer could deem "Night Court" as a "turkey". First of all. Jerry Seinfeld should kiss the proverbial butt of "Night Court" because without it as a lead in, it tanked. Seinfeld couldn't even do well when Jerry cried to NBC to switch timeslots with NC. No one watched "Seinfeld" but "Night Court" did just fine. Just because a show does not follow the traditional sitcom format doesn't mean that it isn't worthy of being a "classic". "Night Court" was a classic BECAUSE it didn't follow a traditional sitcom format. "Night Court" was so enjoyable because it wasn't reality. Why does a sitcom have to adhere to realistic expectations? Isn't there enough reality in the world? A comedy shouldn't have to be real. I think a comedy is more original when it isn't real. This is what made "Night Court" so special. Since "Night Court" there has been no successful COURTROOM comedy! Additionally, most sitcoms follow the same format, ultimately taking away from some of the entertainment value. "Night Court" was a slapstick farce, but that's what made it so appealing. This is what made it "Must See TV". I'm so sick and tired of critics and people in general of not giving "Night Court" any credit. "Night Court" must have done something right if it stayed on nine years and survived several time slot changes. Oh, and did I mention that it won its time slot everytime. So to critics of this show...why don't you try looking at "Night Court's" stats as an award winning sitcom that dared to be different...a concept from which we've seemed to escape.

02-26-2004, 04:11 PM	#3
Night Court Fan Night Court Fan Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Posts: 205	In my opinion, that "writer" is a turkey not Night Court!

02-27-2004, 07:01 PM	#4
nitcrt1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2003 Posts: 482	Not only do I agree that the writer is a turkey but so are the people who have the guts to criticize the show.

02-28-2004, 11:14 AM	#5
Night Court Fan Night Court Fan Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Posts: 205	Last night on "Joan Of Arcadia" someone said "Critics are clueless." That is so true!!!

03-09-2004, 10:29 PM	#6
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	Although I happen to think that Seinfeld is just as good if not better.... I definately think that Night Court is a classic. Much more so than Friends IMO.

03-10-2004, 12:04 AM	#7
Dr. Jazz The Evil Empire. . . . Forum Star Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Posts: 11,118	Night Court is indeed a classic. I too took offense to that writer's comments. If Night Court was such a "turkey" then how did it last 9 seasons? The only turkey is that writer and the fact that this classic show isn't on DVD yet. Enjoying it on the Biography Channel though.

07-29-2005, 02:05 AM	#11
badbrainsfan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 19, 2005 Posts: 129	Night Court is so classic. I don't care what the critics think, at least this show was so much better than Newhart. Night Court may be underrated, but they still should have put this up with Family Ties, Cheers, and The Cosby Show.

08-04-2005, 01:49 PM	#14
megamanj2004 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2004 Posts: 2,361	Just like Barney miller, this show also had a great theme, not to mention the fact that most of the staff who worked on Barney Miller, also worked on Night Court. I don't understand why it doesn't get its due that those other 1980s NBC sitcoms get! BTW, I just wanna know how well in the rankings Night Court did during its original NBC run? Did it rank in the Top 25, b/c I read somewhere that Night Court actually did rank in the top 25.
	__________________ 10 AND A HALF YEARS GOING STRONG!!!