NBC’s sequel to its 1980s comedy, Night Court, has found its lead. Deadline reports Melissa Rauch (The Big Band Theory, Ode to Joy) the executive producer of the series, has joined the show in the lead role. Rauch will join original cast member John Larroquette (Richie Rich, McBride) in the reboot.
According to Deadline, Rauch brought the show idea to Warner Bros. Television as long-time fan of the original series created by Reinhold Weege (Park Place, M.A.S.H.). For nine seasons, Night Court followed the comical shenanigans of a Manhattan municipal court’s night shift staff. The small collective of petty crooks, bailiffs, and attorneys was led by late actor Harry Anderson’s character, the Honorable Harold “Harry” T. Stone. As a new unorthodox judge, his liberal ways usually butt heads with other court officials, most notably Larroquette’s prosecutor, Dan Fielding.
Rauch will play Stone’s daughter in the reboot, according to Deadline. Following her father’s footsteps, she sets her sights on being a beacon of new justice in the court system. This will be Rauch’s first role after being a series regular on CBS’ record-breaking sitcom, The Big Bang Theory.
According to Deadline, Rauch will remain an executive producer along with husband and partner, Winston Rauch (The Condom Killer, The Bronze). The two will produce under their After January production company. The series will be written by fellow executive producer Dan Rubin (Happy Endings, Men at Work). The show will be housed under the original studio, Warner Bros. TV.
Night Court aired from 1984 to 1992, according to Deadline. Anderson and Larroquette starred alongside a cast that included Richard Moll (Scary Movie 2, Jingle All the Way) as Bull Shannon, Markie Post (Hearts Afire, There’s Something About Mary) as Christine Sullivan, Charles Robinson (The Guest Book, Love & War) as Macintosh Robinson, and Marsha Warfield (Empty Nest, The Richard Pryor Show) as Rosalind Russell. The series scored three Emmy nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series. All its Emmy wins were secured by Larroquette’s four consecutive awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. There has been no word if any other original cast members will appear in the series revival.