History YMMV / NightCourt

* OnlyTheCreatorDoesItBest: The show is regarded as going downhill starting with Season 7, the first year without Reinhold Weege.

** Mac creates a student film which quickly evolves into a bizarre and surreal movie that his friends hate and cannot sit through, however, it later becomes a cult phenomenon, with late night showings and fans dressed as the characters spouting catchphrases. [[Film/TheRoom Sound familiar?]]

** While John Larroquette won four consecutive UsefulNotes/{{Emmy Award}}s and Harry Anderson was nominated for three, the rest of the long-running regulars were never nominated, with the odd exceptions of early cast members Paula Kelly and Selma Diamond, once each. This was [[DiscussedTrope discussed]] in the ''30 Rock'' reunion episode, where Markie Post complains that Anderson and Larroquette considered themselves above their castmates because they were the only ones nominated for Emmys: "I would have been nominated for Emmys too, but I was too hot to be taken seriously!"

** Creator/DonCheadle, Creator/TeriHatcher, Creator/DennisHaysbert, Creator/BrentSpiner, and Creator/NanaVisitor appeared on the show early in their careers.

** While John Larroquette won four consecutive UsefulNotes/{{Emmy Award}}s and Harry Anderson was nominated for three, the rest of the long-running regulars were never nominated, withe odd exceptions of early cast members Paula Kelly and Selma Diamond, once each. This was [[DiscussedTrope discussed]] in the ''30 Rock'' reunion episode, where Markie Post complains that Anderson and Larroquette considered themselves above their castmates because they were the only ones nominated for Emmys: "I would have been nominated for Emmys too, but I was too hot to be taken seriously!"

** While John Larroquette won four consecutive UsefulNotes/{{Emmy Award}}s and Harry Anderson was nominated for three, the rest of the long-running regulars were never nominated. This was [[DiscussedTrope discussed]] in the ''30 Rock'' reunion episode, where Markie Post complains that Anderson and Larroquette considered themselves above their castmates because they were the only ones nominated for Emmys: "I would have been nominated for Emmys too, but I was too hot to be taken seriously!"

* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjiWblC_iG8 opening]] sounds like a softer, jazzier version of the ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu_o0k8ow38 Password Plus]]'' theme. It also sounds a little similar to the ''Series/BarneyMiller'' theme, not surprising because both themes were composed by Jack Elliott and both shows were comedies about the criminal justice system.

** A season 4 episode had Dan [[IOweYouMyLife saving Christine's life]] and, in return, demanding that Christine sleep with him. Even though Christine only pretended to accept because she knew [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Dan would never actually go through with it]], no show after TheEighties would have a man do that and still be considered just a {{Jerkass}} rather than a criminal.
** Dan groped Christine and stole her underwear while she was choking. Even if he saved her life, he still committed ''sexual assault'' and would be considered a monster in any modern TV show.
--->'''Christine:''' Dan! You saved my life!!
--->'''Harry:''' ''(exasperated)'': Miss Sullivan, he felt you up!

** Dan's lecherous behavior pushed the limits of acceptability even for the time - even allowing for the exaggerated nature of the show's universe. The only remotely saving grace is that Dan usually ended up punished, hurt, or humiliated for his actions. In modern times, Dan's libido ''might'' have been tolerated (though likely he would've been hit with multiple sexual harassment complaints, along with suspensions and mandatory counselling), but his habit of getting grabby would've gotten him fired with speed (if not arrested).

* EpilepticTrees: One popular theory among fans of ''Night Court'' and ''Series/{{Cheers}}'' is that Harry Stone is an alias for con-man Harry the Hat and the reason for the latter character disappearing from Boston for the better part of a decade was that he was busy running a long-con playing judge in New York City. The ''[=Cheers=]'' writers actually alluded to this when the Harry the Hat character appeared on that show after ''Night Court'' began. Someone asked where he'd been, and he replied, "[[LampshadeHanging I got a night job]].". Of course there's also a theory running in the opposite direction that Harry the Hat is an alias for Judge Harry Stone who is attempting to pull the world's greatest prank by posing as a two-bit con man.

** Dan Fielding. Even though he balanced between being a JerkAss and a JerkWithAHeartOfGold [[UnpopularPopularCharacter (and was downright]] ''[[UnpopularPopularCharacter loathed]]'' [[UnpopularPopularCharacter in universe by almost everyone)]], to date, whenever anyone mentions the show he (as well as actor John Larroquette) are usually the first people that come to mind. Larroquette's portrayal was so good, he won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy for four years straight, and probably only did not win a fifth time because the man was so classy, he removed himself from consideration to give someone else a chance to win.

* BrokenBase: The infamous "Wile E. Coyote" cameo from the season 7 episode "Still Another Day in the Life". Either it's a hilarious throwaway gag that comes part and parcel with a zany show like this or a nonsensical non-joke that doesn't add anything to the episode.

** Season 7 was the first season made with no input from series creator Reinhold Weege, and it went over the top with the surrealism (including the controversial Wile E. Coyote gag) as well as a not-very-well-received story arc where Christine gets married and pregnant.

* TheScrappy: Leon - the boy Harry tried to adopt - was not the most beloved character.

** Creator/MarkiePost's hair and the tailored suits worn by Creator/JohnLarroquette also date the show in the 80s.

** The show is very much based on the [[TheBigRottenApple pre-Giuliani NYC]].
** Markie Post's hair and the tailored suits worn by Creator/JohnLarroquette also date the show in the 80s.

** In one episode, Bull finds Dan [[Film/LiarLiar in the bathroom, beating his head against the tile]].

%% ZCE* CrazyIsCool: Harry.
%%-->'''Harry:''' ''[having trapped a rival prankster judge in a giant balloon]'' Cleaver, you may be younger. You may be faster. You may even be smarter. But you will NEVER, EVER, be crazier... ''[pulls out a giant pin]'' than me.
* EnsembleDarkhorse:

** Watching the entire series is poignant with the recent deaths of Creator/HarryAnderson, Creator/CharlieRobinson and Creator/MarkiePost. May they rest in peace.

** Seeing the entire series is poignant with the recent deaths of Creator/HarryAnderson, Creator/CharlieRobinson and Creator/MarkiePost. May they rest in peace.

** Seeing the entire series is poignant with the recent deaths of Creator/Harry Anderson, Creator/CharlieRobinson and Creator/MarkiePost. May they rest in peace.