The news of one major change to Night Court season 3’s cast just made me even more excited about the sitcom revival’s return. I was glad to see Night Court return in 2023 even though the sitcom’s revival couldn’t quite recapture the tone of the original show. As Night Court season 3’s release approaches, I’m increasingly confident that the sitcom will be able to strike the right balance between nostalgic callbacks to the classic ‘90s series and fresh new storylines. Night Court season 2’s cliffhanger ending certainly left me curious about the show’s future.

While the original show focused on Harry Stone, the magistrate of Manhattan Criminal Court’s night shift, the revival centers on his daughter, Judge Abby Stone. Melissa Rauch’s heroine takes on her father’s old job and works alongside her clerk Neil, her bailiff Gurgs, and Dan Fielding, the assistant DA who also starred in the original series. Although John Larroquette’s charismatic antihero has settled down since the ‘90s, his history has followed him into the revival. He is now a public defender and, in Night Court‘s first two seasons, India de Beaufort’s Olivia was the assistant DA assigned to Abby’s court.

Wendie Malick’s Return To Night Court Is Exactly What I Hoped For

The Sitcom Legend Was Perfect In Her Season 2 Guest Appearance

However, de Beaufort left Night Court after the end of season 2, meaning there is a vacancy in the show’s titular setting. TVLine recently announced that sitcom legend Wendie Malick will fill this role, returning to her recurring supporting role as Julianne Walters. Walters is a sharp-witted DA who was once a career criminal. She has been desperate to get revenge on Larroquette’s Dan ever since he put her behind bars decades ago. Walters has appeared on Night Court twice before and both of her guest spots gained positive buzz from critics and viewers. This makes her casting perfect.

While Night Court season 2’s Big Bang Theory reunion was fun, Walters was the character I needed to see more from when season 2 wrapped up. I can’t wait to see how Dan handles regular showdowns with Walters, who considers herself his nemesis and is determined to ruin his life one way or another. Furthermore, Malick’s incredibly impressive career makes her an exciting addition to the cast. I loved her work in Just Shoot Me, Young Sheldon, and Hot in Cleveland, but she also surprised me with her dramatic range in some of Bojack Horseman’s best episodes.

What Wendie Malick’s Return Means For Night Court Season 3

Malick’s Ruthless Prosecutor Won’t Give Dan An Inch

Viewers can be certain that Malick’s Walters will do all she can to take down Dan in season 3, and this could drive a wedge between Abby and her mentor. Meanwhile, the acerbic Walters replacing the sunnier Olivia means that the eponymous court is likely to become a more hostile working environment with plenty of conflict and intrigue to go around. One of the primary problems with Night Court seasons 1 and 2 was that the show’s tone was too schmaltzy, and its stakes were almost non-existent. Wendie Malick’s promotion to a series regular should solve this Night Court shortcoming.