Dan v. Dating

So, I've been watching the Night Court reboot, having been a big fan of the original. A lot of things are misfires. For instance, it makes more sense for Dan to be the judge and for Harry's daughter to be the Markie Post-esque public defender. So far, that's exactly who her character acts like, with a few lines the writers seem to have lifted from Harry in the original series.

This is also a show that wants to have its cake and eat it, too. For instance, Dan's overt lust and sexism have been neutered, to the degree he now mostly serves as straight man for everyone else's jokes. But then the show doesn't go all in tonight.

Take tonight's joke on Dan. He thinks (of course) a woman is hitting on him when she then tells him (of course) she just wants directions somewhere. He then tells her he's having a bad day and she (sort of) blasts him for being a privileged, upper middle class White male (the implication being what problems could he have?) and putting Dan in his place. Sort of, because immediately after, she gushes about how she's really attracted to him and wants to ask him out.

So, what is it? The toxic, privileged White male used to getting what he wants in society and being smug about it or the privileged White male who is entitled to his privilege because women want him?

According to this milquetoast version, it's both.

The other characters are pretty poor drawn. One bailiff is round and has screaming blond hair, so I guess that's supposed to make anything she says funny. The other is a bony, pointy Anna Kendrick type, so I guess that's supposed to make anything she says funny. Another is an Asian beta male (because, you know, stereotypes), so I guess putting him down all the time is supposed to be funny.

The jokes are thin and the fact each episode seems like it's only about 17 minutes makes the show feels sandwiched between commercials. I don't know how long this show will last -- it seems like mediocrity in reboots like The Connors helps to guarantee that they stay on -- but this is a shell of the original. And that's sad, not funny.

Finally the show displayed some ability to make me laugh. Okay, more like a "chuckle." The date scene at the restaurant legitimately made me smile at times. Gurgs actually seemed a little likeable too for the first time, instead of just a neurotic mess.

The show has a long way to go to achieve any kind of longevity. Hopefully this is just the first step of many in that direction. The first three episodes were completely devoid of laughs, and most of the characters have been dead weight.

If I recall correctly, this is the first time they showed anything outside the courthouse. Maybe that's the key?

Abby encourages Dan to go dating. Especially when a woman called Julianne expresses an interest in Dan. Both of them have a lot in common.

Only Dan has been out of the dating game for some years. Also women now are more upfront about what they want.

In fact Dan is all up for Julianne when Abby tells him that all she wants is a brief fling.

Only when Dan tells his sad story, it turns out he inadvertently walked into a revenge plot.

The main plot regarding Dan was mildly amusing. The sub plot with Olivia looking for a quiet space to work went nowhere. It was just filler.

Also Olivia has never heard of Die Hard!

This Is a review for season 1, Episode 4 of the Night Court revival titled Dan v. Dating.

This episode boasts sharper writing than the three that preceded it. Note that I say sharper, not good.

The main positives for this episode are the performance of John Laroquette retaining some qualities of the old Dan here , the maintaining of the show's lavish sets, and the reliability of the good ol' laugh track.

Also a minor positive is a mild improvement to Abby's characterization, making her more endearing and less of a dramatic buffoon. The highlight of the episode is when Dan gets a date and the group goes "oooooooh" at him , like he is a ladies man.

Lacretta as Gurgs and India de Beaufort as Olivia - aka the two annoying members of the ensemble - still don't work. And poor Neil, played by Kapil Talwalkar and so well characterized in the first three episodes, is given nothing to do here.

To sum it up, weak (but better) writing doesn't do anyone any favors.

Join me next time when I will be reviewing episode 5 of this incarnation The Apartment. Stay Tuned!