Is Night Court a Classic? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Night Court Fan · 02-24-2004, 12:46 PM

Would you consider Night Court to be a classic?

barwars · 03-09-2004, 10:26 PM

Definately.

A "forgotten classic".
that definately deserves more attention.

Mr. Television · 03-10-2004, 12:55 AM

Yes

Rhiannon · 03-29-2004, 05:23 PM

not quite

LasVegasMichael · 04-30-2004, 10:21 AM

Definately! Not quite as strong as Sledge Hammer, but a decent second.

Night Court Fan · 07-08-2004, 03:09 PM

Of course it's a classic!
I love that show!!!

720p · 07-10-2004, 05:22 PM

Absolutely! It's the best sitcom ever IMO.

nitcrt1 · 07-12-2004, 05:59 PM

Absolutely a classic. "Night Court" I think has been the only successful courtroom COMEDY. It was original, quirky and did not adhere to the standard "rules" of sitcoms. It was a classic because there was nothing else like it, and there still isn't. It has been the most overlooked, underrated sitcom. I don't think anybody really realized the impact it had on television until it wasn't on the airwaves anymore. Yes, it wasn't a "Friends" or a "Cheers" but it was a comedy that dared to be different and unusual. This, in my eyes, makes it a classic.

badbrainsfan · 08-02-2005, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LasVegasMichael

Definately! Not quite as strong as Sledge Hammer, but a decent second.

What! You got to be kidding me. How many episodes of Sledge Hammer where they?

I thought you were about to say the other shows like Starman or Sidekicks, which aired on the crappy date of September 19, 1986.

Mikado · 08-02-2005, 09:39 PM

not Quite....well, maybe the pre-Christine seasons, but once she joined, the show went down in both laughs and quality
( Im NOT blaming Markie Post here, its the writing that became too predictable, not her character that brought the show to a lower level )

McFly121 · 08-03-2005, 02:31 AM

What?? The show hit its peak *after* Markie showed up. The first couple seasons were tame compared to about late 85 to 90. Dan came into his own, and the show started pushing the envelopes of average sitcoms.

And I love NC but no, I don't think it's classic. It's rerun longevity has been weak and is never mentioned on any top TV lists. It was underrated and underappreciated in its day and now.

badbrainsfan · 08-03-2005, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McFly121

What?? The show hit its peak *after* Markie showed up. The first couple seasons were tame compared to about late 85 to 90. Dan came into his own, and the show started pushing the envelopes of average sitcoms.

And I love NC but no, I don't think it's classic. It's rerun longevity has been weak and is never mentioned on any top TV lists. It was underrated and underappreciated in its day and now.

What was it doing on the must see TV line-up & how come it aired for 9 years if it's not a hit?

Zions Mother · 08-03-2005, 05:17 AM

Not quite.

nitcrt1 · 08-03-2005, 08:45 PM

I still feel "Night Court" is an underrated classic. If you look at television schedules these days, you're seeing more dramas and less comedies. Most of the new comedies never even make it to a full season, because there's nothing original enough. "Night Court" was a departure from reality and was just so damn entertaining because of it. 99.9% of the time it dessimated its time slot competition. It lasted nine years and is considered the show that helped establish "Seinfeld". And, as someone mentioned, it was part of the original Must See-TV line Up. The late Brandon Tartikoff loved the show so much he even appeared on it. It garnered 29 Emmy nominations including nominations for best comedy series. Although it never won, it must have been doing something right even to be nominated. But I guess the real question here is, how would one define a classic sitcom? What are the criteria? I don't necessarily think the amount of awards accumulated make a sitcom a classic. It's like saying just because you can play the piano amazingly, you can be a great choral teacher. One really doesn't justify the other. It's the person's own ability to do the job well. Even though "Night Court" didn't win for best comedy series, it didn't make it less memorable.

McFly121 · 08-04-2005, 01:58 AM

Badbrainsfan, nowhere in that post did I say it was not a hit. I was saying I didn't consider it classic.

To answer nitcrt1, I think a classic is defined on it's lasting impression on society. People constantly referance Cheers, Lucy, Three's Company. Because on most boards or people I talk to go "Eh, I remember that show, it was ok", I consider Night Court as you say, an "underrated" classic. You say bald bailiff or sitcom in court and people know it. But they don't fondly drool over it like Seinfeld or Cheers. I'm just reeeeeally hoping it finds a new audience with the TV Land run to give it some clout.

The one good thing of the nominations was Larroquette's dominance of the best supp. emmy award for four years. Who knows what would've happened if he hadn't pulled himself from the running, he may have won more. Harry was also nominated, along with the writing and whatnot. But just giving John the award, to me, is like saying "Yeah he's great, the rest of the show isn't worth it and sucks".

View Poll Results: Is Night Court a classic
Yes!	21	80.77%
Not Quite	4	15.38%
No Way Jose!	1	3.85%
Voters: 26. You may not vote on this poll

02-24-2004, 12:46 PM	#1
Night Court Fan Night Court Fan Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Posts: 205	Is Night Court a Classic? Would you consider Night Court to be a classic?

03-10-2004, 12:55 AM	#3
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Yes
	__________________ Sonny

03-29-2004, 05:23 PM	#4
Rhiannon oh, snap! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: middle of nowhere Posts: 11,097	not quite
	__________________ Nothing better the feeling is so fine Simply put I saw your love stream flow

07-12-2004, 05:59 PM	#8
nitcrt1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2003 Posts: 482	"Night Court" a classic? Absolutely a classic. "Night Court" I think has been the only successful courtroom COMEDY. It was original, quirky and did not adhere to the standard "rules" of sitcoms. It was a classic because there was nothing else like it, and there still isn't. It has been the most overlooked, underrated sitcom. I don't think anybody really realized the impact it had on television until it wasn't on the airwaves anymore. Yes, it wasn't a "Friends" or a "Cheers" but it was a comedy that dared to be different and unusual. This, in my eyes, makes it a classic.

03-09-2004, 10:26 PM	#2
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	Definately. A "forgotten classic". that definately deserves more attention.

04-30-2004, 10:21 AM	#5
LasVegasMichael Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Apr 30, 2004 Posts: 3	Definately! Not quite as strong as Sledge Hammer, but a decent second.

07-08-2004, 03:09 PM	#6
Night Court Fan Night Court Fan Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Posts: 205	Of course it's a classic! I love that show!!!

07-10-2004, 05:22 PM	#7
720p Kerry/Edwards '04 Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 10, 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6	Absolutely! It's the best sitcom ever IMO.

08-02-2005, 09:39 PM	#10
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	not Quite....well, maybe the pre-Christine seasons, but once she joined, the show went down in both laughs and quality ( Im NOT blaming Markie Post here, its the writing that became too predictable, not her character that brought the show to a lower level )

08-03-2005, 02:31 AM	#11
McFly121 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: calif Posts: 812	What?? The show hit its peak after Markie showed up. The first couple seasons were tame compared to about late 85 to 90. Dan came into his own, and the show started pushing the envelopes of average sitcoms. And I love NC but no, I don't think it's classic. It's rerun longevity has been weak and is never mentioned on any top TV lists. It was underrated and underappreciated in its day and now.
	__________________ "That was Bob's donut!"

08-03-2005, 05:17 AM	#13
Zions Mother Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Posts: 423	Not quite.

08-03-2005, 08:45 PM	#14
nitcrt1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2003 Posts: 482	I still feel "Night Court" is an underrated classic. If you look at television schedules these days, you're seeing more dramas and less comedies. Most of the new comedies never even make it to a full season, because there's nothing original enough. "Night Court" was a departure from reality and was just so damn entertaining because of it. 99.9% of the time it dessimated its time slot competition. It lasted nine years and is considered the show that helped establish "Seinfeld". And, as someone mentioned, it was part of the original Must See-TV line Up. The late Brandon Tartikoff loved the show so much he even appeared on it. It garnered 29 Emmy nominations including nominations for best comedy series. Although it never won, it must have been doing something right even to be nominated. But I guess the real question here is, how would one define a classic sitcom? What are the criteria? I don't necessarily think the amount of awards accumulated make a sitcom a classic. It's like saying just because you can play the piano amazingly, you can be a great choral teacher. One really doesn't justify the other. It's the person's own ability to do the job well. Even though "Night Court" didn't win for best comedy series, it didn't make it less memorable.

08-04-2005, 01:58 AM	#15
McFly121 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: calif Posts: 812	Badbrainsfan, nowhere in that post did I say it was not a hit. I was saying I didn't consider it classic. To answer nitcrt1, I think a classic is defined on it's lasting impression on society. People constantly referance Cheers, Lucy, Three's Company. Because on most boards or people I talk to go "Eh, I remember that show, it was ok", I consider Night Court as you say, an "underrated" classic. You say bald bailiff or sitcom in court and people know it. But they don't fondly drool over it like Seinfeld or Cheers. I'm just reeeeeally hoping it finds a new audience with the TV Land run to give it some clout. The one good thing of the nominations was Larroquette's dominance of the best supp. emmy award for four years. Who knows what would've happened if he hadn't pulled himself from the running, he may have won more. Harry was also nominated, along with the writing and whatnot. But just giving John the award, to me, is like saying "Yeah he's great, the rest of the show isn't worth it and sucks".