Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for Night Court season 1, episode 3, “Just Tuesday.”The revelation that Judge Abby Stone is a recovering alcoholic in the Night Court revival seems to parallel the real life experiences of actor John Larroquette. The Night Court episode “Just Tuesday” centered around Abby Stone (Melissa Rauch) struggling to find her footing in her new position, serving in the same criminal arraignment court over which her father once presided. The episode featured a touching scene in which her father’s friend, Dan Fielding (John Larroquette), offered his support, showcasing how his character found redemption following the original Night Court.
While the classic Night Court is best remembered as a comedy, the show often took dramatic turns and tackled social issues inspired by real world events. The concept of Night Court was inspired by a true story of one mayor who packed the courts with inexperienced and unqualified judges on their last day in office, to make things more difficult for the incoming mayor. Given that, the new Night Court revealing that Stone has struggled with addiction is not surprising, particularly when John Laroquette is a producer in the revival and has previously discussed the potential help that incorporating his real life experiences into his work could provide others.
Night Court Has Ties To John Larroquette’s Real Life
John Larroquette is frankly open about his alcoholic past, having quit cold turkey in 1981. After Night Court, he starred in a new sitcom, The John Larroquette Show, in which he played a recovering alcoholic employed as the night manager of a bus station. Larroquette claims this was a coincidence, however, and showrunner Don Reo pitched the idea to NBC before he was tied to the project.
Despite this, the four consecutive Emmy winner John Larroquette has done charity work for non-profit recovery organizations like Arapahoe House, noting in a 2012 interview with Westword that he felt he could help other people overcome their addictions by sharing his story. “The idea that one can relate one’s story and provide absolute empirical evidence that there is a way to live without it is important,” claims Larroquette. “I think it is perhaps helpful to share that story.”
How Night Court Revival Draws On John Larroquette’s Experience
The Night Court revival episode “Just Tuesday” finds Abby Stone conflicted, wondering if she should repress her cheerful personality at work and try to be a more traditional judge. Her sudden lack of sympathy in the courtroom frightens her coworkers, particularly when she throws the book at a live-action role-player facing charges of public drunkenness. When Defense Attorney Dan Fielding calls her out on her behavior, she finds him in contempt and sends him to jail, saying he can take the time to work on his “defects of character.”
The use of those specific words in the Night Court revival strikes a cord with Dan, who recognizes them from an Alcoholics Anonymous pamphlet. This leads him to conclude that Abby is a recovering alcoholic and to reach out to her, talking about his late wife Sarah and her own struggles with alcoholism. While it is unknown how much influence John Larroquette has over the Night Court writers’ room as a producer, it seems likely this storyline may have drawn from real life experiences.
