Season 3 of Night Court has gotten off to a rough start, which has arguably impacted some of the early storylines surrounding the characters in Night Court season 3. For example, Judge Abby Stone’s (Melissa Rauch) determination to seek the truth regarding whether she and her boyfriend Jake (Ryan Hansen) are half-siblings and the question of whether John Larroquette’s public defender Dan Fielding is Jake’s father were wrapped up too quickly during the first two episodes.
The absence of prosecutor India de Beaufort’s Olivia Moore in Night Court season 3 is also evident, considering her comedic timing and repertoire with the protagonists during the first two seasons. However, Rauch’s The Big Bang Theory co-star, Mayim Bialik, will guest star in Night Court season 3, episode 5, “Mayim Worst Enemy,” likely giving the show a much-needed boost of star power to elevate its ratings. Bialik will star as herself as a defendant in court who becomes friends with Stone, but is more than she seems.
Night Court Season 3’s Ratings Are Significantly Down
The Third Season Lacks The Punch Of The First Two
So far, the ratings for Night Court season 3 are significantly lower than previous seasons. The low ratings may be a result of the change in time slot to 8:30pm from the 8pm time of the first two seasons. The show in front of Night Court this season, St. Denis Medical, has also been a bigger comedic hit on NBC, stealing some of the thunder from the court show. As a result, the third season of Night Court is only four episodes in, but it appears to have lost some traction. It has been a challenge to follow up the revival’s previous two seasons, which were stronger in combining comedy with heartfelt connections between the characters.
The revival, inspired by the beloved original series of the same name, started with Judge Stone trying to convince Fielding to return to the Night Court as a public defender due to his previous friendship with Abby’s father, the late Judge Harry Stone. Throughout the course of the new show, Abby and Dan have developed a father-daughter-type relationship with funny banter and sentimental moments where they support each other during various conflicts.
While season 3 started with the dilemma surrounding Dan and Jake’s potential father-son lineage, and Abby getting caught in the middle of it, the storyline deserved more time this season instead of being wrapped up in two episodes. Some funny but over-the-top plotlines came afterward, such as the giant hole in the courthouse in association with a sanitation workers’ strike, and a murder mystery on Christmas concerning a death threat to Abby. While Wendie Malick’s Julianne fits in as a Night Court regular after Olivia’s departure, her relationship with Dan and the will they/won’t they storyline may be wearing thin at this point. It makes Bialik’s appearance even more welcome.
Mayim Bialik’s TBBT Reunion With Melissa Rauch Could Boost Night Court Season 3’s Viewership
A Bialik And Rouch Reunion May Be What Night Court Needs
In a potential ratings boost, Mayim Bialik will guest star in Night Court season 3, episode 5 as herself alongside her Big Bang Theory co-star Melissa Rauch. Bialik and Rauch both starred as friendly scientists Amy Fowler and Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz, respectively, on the hit CBS comedy series from seasons 4 through 12 (after recurring appearances in season 3). This reunion will mark the first time Rauch and Bialik will share the screen since The Big Bang Theory ended in 2019.
Bialik’s Night Court appearance may contain nostalgic references to The Big Bang Theory, to relive her joyous chemistry with Rauch from the CBS sitcom. It seems there will even be references to Bialik’s other sitcom, the 1990s comedy Blossom, which Abby is a major fan of. In the episode promo, the stars also recreate the iconic pose from the main title sequence of Blossom, along with some funny dance moves and wardrobe choices to poke fun at their old characters. Despite their chemistry, Bialik’s version of herself in Night Court will be villainously funny as she intends to stalk Abby for unspecified reasons.
Night Court Season 2 Already Proved That TBBT-Reunion Episodes Are Good For Its Ratings
The Big Bang Theory Stars Are Good Luck For Night Court
Bialik’s guest-starring role in Night Court isn’t the first time a former Big Bang Theory cast member has made an appearance on the NBC show. Kunal Nayyar, who played astrophysicist Rajesh Koothrappali in the CBS sitcom, guest starred in season 2 of Night Court as British fashion designer Martini Todd Wallace (who became a love interest to Abby). Nayyar’s reunion with Rauch helped boost ratings for Night Court (via Programming Insider) thanks to their comedic rapport.
The reunion of Bialik and Rauch could give Night Court not only a rise in viewership ratings but also a funny storyline that’s worth caring about to save its season.
Sometimes reunions with old cast members on new shows are a sign of forced propositions to elevate viewership and popularity, but in the case of Rauch and her Big Bang Theory co-stars, their natural chemistry produces nostalgic laughter and joy. The reunion of Bialik and Rauch could give Night Court not only a rise in viewership ratings but also a funny storyline that’s worth caring about to save its season.
