DVD Release Date: February 28, 2006 (Warner Bros. Home Video)
Color
MSRP: $9.97
Number of Discs: 1
Number of Episodes: 6
Running Time: Approx. 144 minutes
Languages, Subtitles, Closed Captioning: English;
English, Spanish, and French Subtitles; Closed
Captioned
Special Features: None
Introduction:
All rise! Manhattan Criminal Court Part 2 is now in
session. The honorable, and now on DVD, Harold T.
Stone presiding. Yes, Judge Stone, Christine
Sullivan, Dan Fielding, Bull Shannon, Mac Robinson,
Roz Russell and the rest are on DVD from Warner Home
Video on a “TV Favorites” set—featuring six of the
most memorable episodes of the series.
While this is not the first Night Court DVD release,
it is an important one. WHV tells us the complete
first reason released last year didn’t sell too well
for them. So, here is your chance to help the series
out by buying a best-of type set with six excellent
episodes from various seasons. And if you have not
already, buy season one on DVD. I personally didn’t
like the first two seasons much, but I will sacrifice.
Fans will be happy that 5 of the 6 episodes on this
set feature the sexy Markie Post as Christine
Sullivan. That alone should make everyone buy this
set.
Night Court stars Harry Anderson, Markie Post, Karen
Austin, John Larroquette, Charles Robinson, Paula
Kelly, Richard Moll, Selma Diamond, and Marsha
Warfield.
Episodes Included:
This set includes 6 episodes from the series.
Desperate Housewives’ Teri Hatcher guest stars as sexy
Kitty trying to get it on with Dan, but Dan has to
resist since that is his boss’ niece. Here is the
list:
#1 “All You Need is Love” (Pilot) (Season 1)
Harold T. Stone becomes a night court judge and
settles a dispute involving a woman threatening her
husband with gunfire.
Written by Reinhold Weege and Directed by James
Burrows.
#78 “Her Honor Part 1” and #79 “Her Honor Part 2”
(Season 4)
Part 1: Dan thinks he will become a new judge, but
Christine is awarded the position. However, Harry
discovers that his name is not on the judge
reappointment list. Meanwhile the Wheelers, the hick
couple from West Virginia, become the proprietors of
the concession stand.
Part 2: Upon learning that he will not be reappointed
as a judge, Harry disappears to perform an outrageous
stunt. But he doesn't realize that Christine, who has
taken over the night court, has gotten his job back. K
Callan guest stars.
Written by Linwood Boomer and Directed by Jeff Melman.
#82 “Death of a Bailiff” (Season 5)
Bull decides to give away all his worldly goods after
hearing God's voice when he's struck by lightning on
the roof of the courthouse.
Written by Bob Underwood and Directed by Jeff Melman.
#86 “Who Was That Mashed Man?” (Season 5)
Dan's sadistic boss asks him to look out for his very
attractive niece while Harry tries to prevent a TV
hero of yesteryear from killing himself. Teri Hatcher
guest stars.
Teleplay by Tom Straw, Story by R.J. Colleary & Tom
Straw, and Directed by Jeff Melman.
#104 “Fire” (Season 6)
A fire breaks out in the building so everyone is
forced to retreat to the morgue for safety, but this
doesn't stop Dan from watching the election results
for his race for the state assembly.
Written by Bob Underwood and Directed by Jeff Melman.
Packaging:
The packaging is an Amaray movie-style case—sort of a
snap case. The front cover features the Night Court
logo in gold, with a photo of the cast (Bull, Harry,
Mac, Dan, Christine, Roz) inside a TV set. You will
notice a power button, volume up and down, and channel
up and down on the TV set. The back cover has a small
photo of Christine & Harry and another one has a shot
from the pilot episode. There is a short summary of
the set, and the episodes are listed as well. The
outer edges of the case are clear plastic and the
background is a nice dark blue animated sky, a la
Bewitched. Inside the case, there are additional four
small photos. The episode titles with the writing and
directing credits are listed on the left side. I think
it would have been nice for them to include short
summaries of the episodes as well as the guest stars
and original airdates. The single disc features the
Night Court logo and Bull tapping his head with the
animated New York City skyline at night in the
background.
Menu Design and Navigation:
The main menu has the theme song playing in the
background (and it loops, too). The background is
that NYC animated skyline at nighttime with a small
photo of the cast on the top right. There are 3
options on the menu: Play, Episodes, and Languages.
The Play option will play all 6 episodes on the disc,
running 2 hours, 23 minutes and 46 seconds. When you
select Episodes, it takes you to a sub-menu which has
a photo. The episode titles are listed vertically.
When you highlight an episode, it is highlighted by a
little gravel. The languages option gives you the
option of choosing English, Spanish, or French
subtitles. And it states that the spoken language is
English. The languages sub-menu also has a photo in
the corner. Thankfully, WHV placed chapter stops for
each episode. This was a concern for their last wave
of TV Favorites, as sets like Chico and the Man were
chapter-less.
Video and Audio Quality:
Since the pilot was already on the first season DVD,
you all should know how the video and audio quality is
on that. The rest of the episodes are on par, if not
better, since they are newer episode. I found no real
problems in audio or video for these six episodes.
All the episodes are unedited (see run times below).
For some reason they didn’t include parts 3 and 4 of
“Her Honor.” I guess because parts one and two were
for season four and parts three & four were the season
premiere for season five.
1. All You Need is Love (Pilot) (24:05)
78. Her Honor Part 1 (23:36)
79. Her Honor Part 2 (24:46)
82. Death of a Bailiff (23:40)
86. Who Was That Mashed Man? (23:43)
104. Fire (23:52)
Special Features:
No special features on this set. Just the 6 episodes
are included. If they have plans for any future
releases, it would be nice to have interviews with the
cast, and some commentaries, too. Harry Anderson,
Markie Post, Richard Moll, John Larroquette and Marsha
Warfield especially.
Final Comments:
Fans might not be happy that there is no strong word
yet if this series will continue yet or not in season
sets, but you all have to realize that this set will
make a big difference in that happening. So, go out
and buy this set. It is affordable and you will get a
preview of what is to come, if we get future season
sets. All six episodes are truly great and will have
you laughing until it hurts. It is just hilarious how
Dan is trying to resist Kitty in “Who is that Mashed
Man?” You’ll see what he does in the bathroom after
she leaves. A classic Dan moment!
