Wendie Malick teases how Julianne becomes the new prosecutor on Night Court

Wendie Malick teases how Julianne becomes the new prosecutor on Night Court

As a dedicated fan of Night Court since its original run in the 1980s and early 1990s, I have to admit that I was taken aback by the recent announcement that Wendie Malick’s character, Julianne Walters, will be returning as a series regular for the new season. The twist of her transformation from a convicted arsonist to a prosecutor seems far-fetched and raises questions about the logic of employing someone with such a volatile past in a courthouse.


The new prosecutor on “Night Court” is played by Wendie Malick as Julianne Walters. However, fans are puzzled by the sudden shift from her previous role as a criminal to becoming a lawyer. It’s unclear how this transformation is taking place. Here’s what we currently understand about the situation!

As a dedicated gamer and avid fan of NBC’s programming, I can confidently say that the new comedy series has been an absolute triumph since its debut in early 2023. This sequel to the classic 1984-1992 show, where Harry Anderson brilliantly portrayed Harry Stone, the Manhattan courthouse judge, has left us entertained and engrossed with each episode.

As an avid fan, I’m thrilled to share that in the latest series, Melissa Rauch plays the role of Abby, Harry’s daughter, who is stepping into his shoes as a judge. It’s fascinating to watch how she’s learning from him. Plus, Dan is back in the picture, now serving as the public defender and imparting his valuable insights to help guide Abby through her judicial journey. In the first two seasons, we saw some intense courtroom confrontations between Dan and Olivia, portrayed by India de Beaufort.

De Beaufort announced her departure from the show, and it’s unexpected who will fill her shoes – Wendie Malick is stepping up as a regular cast member. In the past, Malick portrayed a lawyer with a dark past. She went on a date with Dan in season 1 but sought revenge for his role in sending her to prison three decades ago. However, upon seeing Dan’s sorry state of life, she abandoned her vendetta.

In the second season, Julianne made an appearance again after developing a connection with Dan prior to her arrest for her history of setting fires to former boyfriends’ homes. It will be entertaining to see her in season 3, but this raises an intriguing question: How does a woman with a past as a pyromaniac and ex-convict secure a position as a courthouse prosecutor? Fortunately, Julianne herself provides the explanation.

How is Julianne coming back to Night Court?

TVLine was among those wondering how a courthouse could hire Julianne, a query that Malick tackled during NBC’s summer press tour with a touch of amusement.

The magic of television! No, the way we’re explaining it is: There was a program called Operation Second Chance, and the only judge that applied for it was Abby. If your record has been expunged, you can go back to whatever you did before, and apparently, I was a lawyer before I was sent to the slammer… So as long as I’m on my meds, I can practice law. But…I’m not going to be able to stay on my meds forever.

An unexpected move, but there’s a method to it: Abby, true to form, is granting Julianne another opportunity. Dan will undoubtedly be taken aback by this development, as he’s aware of Julianne’s unpredictable nature. The duration of her tenure in this position is uncertain, especially given the courthouse’s peculiarities.

Instead, having Malick, an experienced TV comedian, join “Night Court” and act alongside Dan is certain to bring joy to viewers and enhance the excitement of season 3.

Night Court season 3 premieres Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 8:30/7:30c.

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2024-07-17 22:23