Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Night Court season 3, episode 4.Season 3, episode 4 of Night Court, titled “Feliz NaviDead”, features a number of reputable guest stars and sees Abby receive a holiday-themed threat. A vacuum salesman on trial is thought to be the culprit, but he refuses to give the police any information to work with. Fred believes he’s in a murder mystery game, prompting Abby to entertain the idea in the hopes he will confess. “Murder in Malibu” takes a shocking turn when Andy Daly’s character drops dead from a candy-cane-inflicted stab wound during dinner.
In the first of several plot twists, Dan admits that he arranged the entire spectacle as a Christmas gift for Abby. However, the judge had been one step ahead of him the entire time. Abby shares that she discovered his plan early in the episode and immediately turned the tables. Fred rises from the dead, and the police disclose themselves as hired actors. The final surprise occurs when Fred and Kratz (Joe Lo Truglio, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) return to heaven, revealing they are actually angels.
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ScreenRant participates in a round table with Wendie Malick, who discusses Julianne’s new role & why she’s absent from Night Court season 3 episodes.
ScreenRant interviews Truglio about his role as Detective Kratz, Night Court’s multiple plot twists, and what Charles Boyle might do in a Brooklyn Nine-Nine crossover.
Truglio Has Been A Fan Of John Larroquette Since His Texas Chainsaw Massacre Voiceover
“It was such a thrill to work with him. I’ve been such a fan of his for so long.”
ScreenRant: I was so excited to find out you’d be back with NBC for Night Court.
Joe Lo Truglio: It was really wonderful being on that show because the reboot is terrific, but of course, I’m just such a fan of the earlier show that I grew up on, and it was such a treat to be in that world. Melissa is fantastic, and John Larroquette, who I’ve been a fan of since his voiceover on Texas Chainsaw Massacre, as well as the old show, it was such a thrill to work with him as well. I’ve been such a fan of his for so long.
Your character was so funny to me because you are an actor who played a detective in the NYPD, and this time around, you were playing an actor playing a detective in the NYPD.
Joe Lo Truglio: Yeah, it’s funny. I seem to be cast in so many roles of law enforcement and it’s been the bulk of my career, which is terrific. I love to work, and there’s nothing wrong with those roles, but in terms of this role for Night Court, it was strange being an actor playing a detective. It’s all pretend, so I just had a fun time doing it all around.
You’re obviously a seasoned sitcom pro, but was there anything about this character that felt new and exciting to you?
Joe Lo Truglio: Yeah, what was fun about Detective Kratz is that since the character is actually an actor, it was fun to kind of play a bad actor playing a detective in this murder mystery in the show. So really kind of leaning into a lot of the over-the-top performances and line performances of this actor trying to play a detective was very fun because I was able to really be cheesy and melodramatic about the performance, which was very fun to do.
Night Court Season 3’s Holiday Episode Originally Had A Different Ending
“It was something that wasn’t particularly a great button from what I remember.”
The twist on the murder mystery reminded me of the ending of a Brooklyn Nine-Nine heist. Did you feel the same at all?
Joe Lo Truglio: Yeah, a little bit. The Halloween heists that we did in Brooklyn Nine-Nine were always so much fun to do, and it was a little reminiscent of, in the end, everything’s revealed. What’s fun about those episodes, and in this case, on Night Court, is that they’re great ensemble episodes, and they’re great stories to get all the characters involved, which was fun for me just to be able to interact with most of the cast there. So there was a little tinge of, “And now the big reveal,” that’s always very fun to do in those shows.
When I spoke to Andy Daly, he actually mentioned that there was a different ending before you two were revealed to be angels.
Joe Lo Truglio: Oh, yes. I completely forgot about that. I thought it was so much fun that they decided to do that ending. I don’t know which ending they used, but us being angels I loved. It was such a unique and original and outside-the-box type of ending for a very traditional sitcom. I say that in a very positive way. I love that it turned out we were angels.
And just having the special effects of us just kind of disappearing reminded me of It’s a Wonderful Life or any of those old holiday movies and shows where the angel appears and then disappears. I think we filmed two different endings. I think we had two different versions that we ended up doing. I think we went to go get some liquor [laughs]. I think we went to go like, “All right, let’s go get a drink or something.” It was something that wasn’t particularly a great button from what I remember. I think the two actors were just like, “Let’s go get a beer,” or something somewhat reminiscent of that.
Truglio Says Night Court Would Up Its Culinary Game With Charles Boyle In Attendance
“He would know of all the late-night takeout restaurants where they can get some good food.”
I was thinking…Night Court takes place in New York on NBC, Brooklyn Nine-Nine took place in New York on NBC…
Joe Lo Truglio: Thought about that crossover, right?
Yes! Charles was a detective, but if he ended up at night court, what do you think the reason would be?
Joe Lo Truglio: Well, they would have a lot of good craft service and food that Charles would make sure that they had. He would know of all the late-night takeout restaurants where they can get some good food. I think the cuisine and the snacks, the pantry there at Night Court would up its game if Charles Boyle ended up working there for whatever reason.
Outpost was your first time directing and writing a horror film. Are you hoping to get back into that?
Joe Lo Truglio: Yeah. The state of independent filmmaking is in such a challenging period of time in the business. I have a couple of scripts that I’m currently trying to get funded and money for, and I can’t wait to jump back in. It is a horror movie, and I am determined to get it out there and make it again.
So, yes. Nothing is slated to shoot yet, but I’m currently getting funds together for another horror. This one will be a creature feature. Money is always the big hurdle—to find the money to make these movies. But the quest for the funds is happening for sure.
About Night Court Season 3
In her quest to bring order and dignity to the court and reign in its colorful crew of oddballs, Abby enlists former night court district attorney Dan Fielding (John Larroquette) to serve as the court’s public defender. Still exceedingly self-confident, Fielding must adjust to a new boss and a new job – defending the downtrodden. And, beneath his arrogant demeanor, there is an empathetic side to Fielding that Abby is determined to unearth.
Check out our other Night Court season 3 interviews:
Night Court season 3 returns Tuesday, January 14 at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
Night Court was a TV comedy that ran for nine seasons between 1984 and 1992. The series centers around Harry Anderson’s character, Harry T. Stone, a presiding judge who works at the night court in Manhattan. In 2023, the series was brought back by NBC, this time starring Melissa Rauch as Manhattan Municipal Court’s new Judge. While the revival hasn’t been as critically praised as its predecessor, it has garnered attention for bringing back John Larroquette, who played Dan Fielding in the original series.
- Release Date
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January 17, 2023
- Cast
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Melissa Rauch
, India de Beaufort
, Kapil Talwalkar
, Dan Rubin
, John Larroquette - Seasons
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3
- Writers
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Dan Rubin
- Directors
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Dan Rubin
- Showrunner
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Dan Rubin