By John Lindstrom
Publisher
Posted: April 19, 2018 12:55 PM

Comedian and actor Harry Anderson was found dead in his home this week at age 65. He built a legendary following for his role as Judge Harry Stone on the 1980s NBC sitcom, “Night Court.”

In many ways his character was like himself, according to his friends and colleagues, a goofy guy who was also a magician, fond of hats and loud ties, who adored the music of Mel Torme. Of which much was made in the popular show.

Mr. Anderson’s co-stars, friends and fans took to the contemporary manner expressing grief, i.e. Twitter, to, well, express their grief. John Larroquette, who played prosecutor Dan Fielding on the show, said Mr. Anderson was “wicked smart,” and “wicked funny” with a big heart and the ability to “eat a hamster like no one I ever knew.”

John Ratzenberger, who played postman Cliff Clavin on “Cheers” (where Mr. Anderson first gained attention for a guest role as “Harry the Hat”) said of Mr. Anderson, “See you later pal.”

And then, there was this remembrance from Michigan Supreme Court Justice Bridget McCormack. No, no, no, no, no, she did not appear on “Night Court.” Nor for that matter did her sister, actress Mary McCormack.

But she had a night court memory which sort of related to “Night Court.”

Tweeted she: “My first lawyer job was a public defender in Manhattan, where we had 24-hour arraignments. I worked the overnight shift (midnight to 8 a.m.) whenever I could, because it paid extra and because, well, what’s more interesting than Night Court really.”

Ms. McCormack did not further tweet as to what some of those experiences may have been. However, anyone who has had an overnight adventure in Manhattan can anticipate that such court experiences had to have included drunkenness, lewdness and doppyness (in whatever way one choose to define doppyness).

She was asked who her “Bull” was, referring the massive bailiff in the show played by actor Richard Moll. “Billy was his name,” she replied.

Still, whatever those experiences in the real night court Ms. McCormack … enjoyed, perhaps, it’s hard to imagine they could have topped this: