NBC’s revival of the classic TV series Night Court has been a success for the network with new episodes airing most Tuesday nights at 8PM ET/PT. The show follows Judge Abby Stone (played by The Big Bang Theory’s Melissa Rauch) as she deals with the eccentric characters coming in and out of the courthouse that her character’s father, Judge Harry Stone, presided over several decades ago.
John Larroquette reprises his original Night Court role as Dan Fielding, and original series actor Marsha Warfield has also made appearances on the new show, but most of Abby’s coworkers this time around are new. After all, most workplaces don’t have the same folks around nearly 40 years later. These new characters add to the legacy of this TV classic, and with Season 2, the roster has only gotten stronger.
India de Beaufort was a part of the new Night Court from the first season as Olivia Moore, the driven assistant district attorney. Born in London, de Beaufort first became known to American TV audiences for roles on series such as One Tree Hill and Jane by Design. She was a part of the fantastic and way-too-short-lived Kevin (Probably) Saves the World on ABC and among her other many credits was a recurring role on the Netflix/Pop update of One Day at a Time which starred her real-life husband, Todd Grinnell, as Schneider.
The original Night Court took a few years to perfect its cast line-up and just like the original, the 2020’s incarnation made some changes. Nyambi Nyambi joined the cast this year as the show’s new court clerk, Wyatt Shaw, who balances this crazy new job with many other responsibilities. Nyambi Nyambi was “Samuel” on Mike & Molly and also had a recurring role over several seasons of The Good Fight; he also has quite a few DC Comics-related credits to his name, including playing “Freedom Beast” on Titans and voicing icons such as the Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern John Stewart.
At the recent NBC portion of the Television Critics Association Press Tour, KSiteTV’s Craig Byrne spoke with both actors about being part of the Night Court legacy as well as several aspects of the show’s second season. As there is no new episode tonight (February 27), it is a perfect excuse to still spend some time within the world and the mood of the night court.
KSITETV’s CRAIG BYRNE: Can you talk about what Wyatt has brought to the show as a father, and did that prepare him for the crazy people he has to deal with?
NYAMBI NYAMBI: Oh, yeah. The fact that I have so much to take on… I want to be a lawyer, right? So I have to go to law school and do all of that, but at the same time, I have to make ends meet, and take care of my two daughters, and I’m divorcing, and I’m in the middle of that… so there’s so much chaos out there, right? So when I come to this courtroom and I see the chaos of the courtroom, in some ways, I’m at home. I feel at peace. Because as chaotic as with them in the courtroom, it’s not as chaotic as home.
Is it possible to have peace in a room with Dan Fielding in it?
NYAMBI: He’s trying to find it!
For India: Nyambi has mentioned he had watched 9 seasons of Night Court. Had you been familiar with the original Night Court as well?
INDIA de BEAUFORT: I was not! I’m English, so we didn’t have Night Court, so I had to do my homework. We have the Wheelers on [filming] this week. Anyone who watched the original show would know they are an integral part of the show. It’s been kind of incredible, because you can still watch the original Night Court on Amazon Prime, and then you can watch our new one now [on Peacock], and it’s kind of like time travel.
Did you compare any notes with your husband Todd Grinnell about being in a reboot of a classic show?
INDIA: [LAUGHS] I did. And the minute I said to him “oh, I’m testing for this show Night Court,” he almost fell off his chair! I didn’t have the sense of how loved the show was, and for him, he grew up watching it and loving it. We live in a reboot household. We both are very well aware of paying respect to the original while finding a new flavor.
Do you have a favorite character from the original Night Court?
NYAMBI: I mean, listen. I love Dan Fielding. But Charlie Robinson [as Mac], what he brought to that show was so important. I loved the way he listened, and then at the same time, he felt like a foil to Dan Fielding. He was always trying to get under Dan Fielding’s skin. So, Mac and Dan Fielding… they were my favorites.
My favorite as a kid, though, was Marsha Warfield as Roz. She was my favorite character.
Are you excited to get to work with her, because you weren’t in the episodes she was in before?
NYAMBI: I’m excited that she’ll be back… coming back [just] for me, just kidding! But I’m excited.
Are they going to edit together new opening titles to put Wyatt in too?
NYAMBI: I hope so. I want to be a part of the title [sequence].
What is your favorite thing about Olivia?
INDIA: Her clothes! No question. Molly [Grundman] who is our costume designer is so good. I think it’s that, and also getting to say and do things that I otherwise would never say or do.
Did you know that you are the second TV character named Olivia Moore?
INDIA: I did know that, because when it first happened, people on Twitter said to me that iZombie had the original Olivia Moore! I was a few different names before I was Olivia Moore, but then one day I showed up on set and it was Olivia.
NYAMBI: I have an Olivia Moore from iZombie statue!
Do you have a specific episode coming up that you’re really excited for fans to see?
INDIA: The one we are doing right now. People have waited so long to see the Wheelers… that’s going to fulfill something for them.
NYAMBI: I kiss someone!
INDIA: Yes, you do.
NYAMBI: I didn’t say who, but I kiss someone! That’s all I can say. Which I have not done on television.
How does it feel to have that studio audience?
NYAMBI: It’s electrifying. It’s the best feeling. I used to visit the Big Bang Theory set, but also be in the audience [when I was on Mike & Molly]… I loved to sit in there and listen to Mark Sweet, the warm-up guy… I heard the same jokes every time, and I’d laugh every time… but having this shared experience with this audience, and then knowing that we’re a part of history…. for us as actors, we feed off of that. It’s such an awesome feeling.
New episodes of Night Court air Tuesdays on NBC and stream soon after on Peacock. The next new episode “Chips Ahoy” is scheduled to air on Tuesday, March 5.
