According to Deadline, Kapil Talwalkar (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, The Loud House) will not be back for season two of Night Court when it returns on January 2. Talwalkar portrayed the court clerk, Neil Valluri, in season one of the show. It’s reported he left the series due to the new creative direction.
Talwalkar leaving the series further complicates the direction of the series due to the assumption that his character was going to be romantically involved with Judge Abby Stone, portrayed by Melissa Rauch (Big Bang Theory, True Blood).
While doing press before the debut of season one of the series, Rauch described the reboot of the series and her character to Deadline.
“She’s very much a country girl and a country mouse who is now trying to become a city mouse. That is not a comparison to my size, though accurate. She’s in this relationship with Rand, which is a part of her life before she comes [to NY] and she’s really trying to hold on to that. We hear her talk about him a lot. But as she’s finally finding her footing in New York and realizing what she wants, she’s also coming to terms with what she wants in her relationship, too. And it also sets up a sort of love triangle with Neil and what the potential there could be in his feelings for her—which we will discover down the line and see how that unfolds,” she teased.
No comments from the production or the cast have made about Talwalkar departure at this time.
According to Deadline, season two will be more in the tradition of the original Night Court, which showcased different personalities, characters and perspectives, sources close to production reveal. Season one is currently available to stream via Peacock.
According to Deadline, TV Line was first to report the casting change.