Melissa Rauch mourns ‘Night Court’ after failing to find show ‘another home’

Night Court star Melissa Rauch is finally ready to say goodbye.

One month after NBC announced that the comedy would not return for a fourth season, Rauch posted a lengthy farewell message to the show on her Instagram.

“I have held off on posting anything about Night Court not continuing until I knew we did everything in our power to find another home for it,” she wrote. “Perhaps it was being raised on The Goonies ‘Never Say Die’ motto or straight up denial that I didn’t want this incredibly special experience to come to an end. That said, after turning over all the stones there were to be turned over, we’ve learned that it is officially the hour to say ‘farewell.’ Or at least, ‘Until next time.’” 

The post, which was accompanied by a slideshow of behind-the-scenes photos from the set, continued, “I was told that the original creator of Night Court, the great Reinhold Weege, said that the courtroom doors were key to the show’s engine as they ushered in endless stories. And I like to think that’s how Night Court carries on. Just as it did in the 30 years between the first incarnation ending and us beginning. The evergreen revolving door of oddballs and cynics populating that Manhattan arraignment court in the wee hours of the night and at the center of it all a workplace family that will forever be… until next time.”

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Premiering in 2023, Night Court served as a “sequel series” to the original, which ran from 1984-1992 on NBC. Rauch starred as Judge Abby Stone, the daughter of the late Judge Harry Stone (played by Harry Anderson), who oversaw the night shift at Manhattan’s Criminal Court. John Laroquette reprised his role as obnoxious attorney Dan Fielding, the former Assistant District Attorney who agreed to return to court as public defender after Abby’s heartfelt plea.

Over the course of Night Court‘s three seasons, Rauch — who also served as an executive producer — cast several of her former Big Bang Theory co-stars in guest roles, including Mayim Bialik, Simon Helberg, and Kunal Nayyar.