Marsha Warfield returns to ‘Night Court’
Roz is back in “Night Court.”
Fans of the original Emmy-winning comedy were thrilled to see tough-talking bailiff Roz Russell (Marsha Warfield) make a surprise appearance on the NBC sitcom revival’s May season finale, alongside her former court colleague Dan Fielding (John Larroquette).
The reunion, more than 30 years after the beloved original series ended in 1992, continues with Warfield’s follow-up appearance on the new “Night Court” Season 2 premiere Tuesday (8 EST/PST). Warfield, 69, says she and Larroquette, 76, stepped right back into session for the episode, “The Roz Affair.”
“It was as easy as running into a dear old friend at an airport that you’re really happy to see,” Warfield says. “It’s almost not work, because it’s a family kind of relationship.”
Warfield discussed her “Night Court” return.
Harry Anderson, Markie Post are part of the ‘Night Court’ fabric
Warfield says most reunions with Larroquette in recent years have not been for happy reasons. “Unfortunately, most of the times we’ve seen each other were at the memorial service for a cast member,” she says.
Harry Anderson, who starred as quirky “Night Court” Judge Harry Stone, died in 2018 at 65. “His memorial had a lot of tears, but Harry was always a bit of a scamp, so there was a lot of humor and hugs,” says Warfield.
Markie Post, who played public defender Christine Sullivan, died at 70 in 2021. “Everybody remembered Markie as this nurturing, loving spirit at her memorial. It was filled with love,” she says.
Charles Robinson, who played the court clerk Mac Robinson, died at 75 in 2021. And Richard Moll, the towering bald bailiff “Bull” Shannon, died at 80 in October.
Despite the years and a newly rebuilt “Night Court” set, Warfield says she felt her past co-stars’ presence during her show return. “You can’t walk on a ‘Night Court’ set without the ghosts of Harry, Charlie and Markie being there,” says Warfield. “They’re there. They’re part of the ‘Night Court’ fabric. You have to acknowledge the people who have gone on. But there are fond memories of working together.”
How did Roz’s ‘Night Court’ appearance happen?
Larroquette has always wanted to bring Warfield to the new “Night Court,” where the bearded Fielding – the sole returning regular cast member – now works as a public defender with Judge Abby Stone (Melissa Rauch), Harry’s daughter. The right moment came when Fielding accepted a dream job working as a New Orleans judge.
“The fans had always been advocating for Roz to make an appearance,” says Warfield. “And the producers called for the cameo. And then they asked me to come back.”
In the May appearance, Judge Fielding was shocked to find Roz, working as an investigator in New York, standing before him at the bench as a defendant after her New Orleans bachelorette party went out of control. Roz was just as taken aback to see Fielding as a judge.
In the Season 2 premiere, Fielding visits the jailed Roz, and after she’s released, helps her determine whether her soon-to-be wife is cheating.
Warfield, who came out as gay in 2017, was “pleasantly surprised” to see how “Night Court” featured the same-sex relationship. “Roz being in a relationship with a woman is treated as the most natural thing in the world,” says Warfield. “The comedy comes from outside of that. So I’m really happy about the way they handled it.”
Roz’s return is scheduled just for the two episodes. But Warfield says she’s “available for duty if they need me. We’ll see how it develops.”