‘We Have Bad Chemistry’: Night Court’s Wendie Malick And John Larroquette Talk Dan’s Relationship With Julianne As She Becomes A Series Regular

'We Have Bad Chemistry': Night Court's Wendie Malick And John Larroquette Talk Dan's Relationship With Julianne As She Becomes A Series Regular

As a lifelong fan of sitcoms and a connoisseur of comedy, I can confidently say that the return of Night Court is an event I’ve been eagerly anticipating for quite some time. With the addition of Wendie Malick as a series regular, the show promises to deliver even more laughs in its third season.


It’s been nearly eight months since the Season 2 finale of Night Court, and we can finally look forward to its return on the fall 2024 TV schedule! The upcoming season 3 will see Wendie Malick, a previous guest star, reprising her role as Dan’s formidable adversary Julianne. This time, she’ll be a series regular. Malick and John Larroquette have shared some insights on their characters’ dynamic with Julianne’s return, including the “unusual” chemistry between them in classic Night Court fashion.

In the final episode of Season 2 (which can be streamed with a Peacock subscription), Olivia was introduced as Dan’s counterpart in the prosecutor role. India de Beaufort is no longer part of the cast, replaced by Wendie Malick for the upcoming third season. This development presents some tricky circumstances for Dan. However, it seems puzzling how convicted attorney Julianne could practice law again in Abby’s court. During NBC’s press event for Season 3, I queried the former cast member of ‘Shrinking’ about the plot twist and she disclosed:

It was then when I initially expressed my surprise, ‘How can someone who’s criminally insane become a lawyer, specifically in a night court?’ They proposed the concept of Project Second Chance for individuals who have served their time, and Abby concluded that this would be an ideal court setting for me. Initially, I was apprehensive as it had been quite some time since I performed in front of a live audience for a sitcom, but most of my career revolved around just that. As I returned to guest star on this show, I quickly remembered the joy of performing before a live audience when you’re surrounded by talented individuals and have great writing material.

Wendie Malick boasts an impressive history of working with live studio audiences, spanning over seven seasons on “Just Shoot Me!” alongside David Spade, six seasons of “Hot in Cleveland,” and recurring roles on shows like “Frasier” (though she doesn’t anticipate reprising her role for the revival) and “The Ranch.” For Season 3 of “Night Court,” however, she’s stepping up from a guest spot to a more significant role!

Additionally, that’s wonderful news for Malick (and his fans), but it might cause some discomfort in Dan Fielding’s tranquility. During a press interview at the Night Court promotional event, when asked about the Julianne/Dan relationship given their increased daily interaction in the new series, Dan Fielding, now a regular cast member, expressed:

It seems our relationship might not be ideal for health, yet there’s still an undeniable connection. This upcoming season will show a struggle between feelings of love and hate, with a strong bond underlying the danger they both sense in each other.

Poor chemistry” generally isn’t favorable for many characters in most TV series, but it’s far from problematic for Dan and Julianne, especially not on the show “Night Court!” The entertaining back-and-forth between Wendie Mallick and John Larroquette as their characters was delightful even during her guest appearances. Given this, it’s likely that their dynamic will thrive now that she’ll be a regular cast member. Larroquette himself expressed his thoughts, stating:

Wendie Malick, who is now a permanent cast member, previously appeared as a guest star and had an on-screen relationship with Fielding, albeit a strange one. Although they never officially became a couple, there were moments when it seemed like they might, but for the sake of maintaining a balanced dynamic within our family, some of that oddness will need to be toned down in her character. However, she still possesses a sharp wit and has her own unique storyline to develop, which we’ll explore further as the series progresses.

As a gamer, I can’t help but look forward to Julianne’s consistent presence in the show from now on. Her unique charm and unexpected twists, such as Dan channeling Star Trek vibes and Gurgs hinting at a connection with Christopher Meloni, were certainly a rollercoaster ride in the first two episodes. However, I understand that her “insanity” might tone down since she’ll be around more frequently. Yet, I’m confident that Julianne will remain Julianne – unpredictable, entertaining, and keeping us on our toes! Larroquette added:

At the current moment, she and Fielding are effectively partners in their work. They are colleagues, and it seems they may collaborate on secret plans to some extent. The exact extent of this collaboration is unclear. I don’t foresee a romantic relationship developing between them anytime soon, or possibly ever, because it’s important to maintain that possibility as long as feasible.

In summary, it seems unlikely that Julianne would be Dan’s top pick to join the diverse team at the night court. Melissa Rauch, who portrays Abby, hinted that the upcoming episode will feature a significant development with Wendie taking on her new role as the prosecutor.

In Season 2, does Dan find it more preferable to interact with Julianne or the Wheeler family on a daily basis, after the Wheelers came back? This was the query I posed to John Larroquette at NBC’s press conference, and he responded:

It seems like you’ve posed an interesting question. Given that one can consume only a limited amount of pig’s feet, and considering the cooking skills of the Wheelers might be limited to that, I would tend to prefer Julianne for daily meals.

Fortunately, the long-awaited return of Julianne and Dan in their series regular roles is almost here! Catch them on Night Court Season 3, premiering on Tuesday, November 19 at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC after St. Denis Medical. A sneak peek provides a tantalizing glimpse of what’s in store for these characters, making it worth at least one viewing. Check it out:

In the premiere of Season 3, it won’t solely focus on Dan handling Julianne’s introduction as the new prosecutor. Instead, titled “The Judge’s Boyfriend’s Dad,” the first episode airing this fall will see Abby delving into her suspicions that Dan could be Jake’s real father. If you’d like to recall how Season 2 concluded, you can revisit the spring finale streaming on Peacock right now.

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2024-11-19 05:38