An Interview with Gary Anthony Williams from ‘Night Court’

NIGHT COURT -- "Rebound and Down" Episode 307 -- Pictured: (l-r) Gary Anthony Williams as Flobert, John Larroquette as Dan Fielding -- (Photo by: Nicole Weingart/NBC)

Gary Anthony Williams is a truly talented comedian and actor that has appeared in a mountain of films and television shows, and you can hear his distinct voice in a host of animated works as well. Currently he stars as Flobert on the hit NBC series, Night Court, and we recently had the honor of sitting down with Gary to discuss his work on the show.
 
John Betancourt: I'd like to start by getting to know what it means to be part of such an iconic franchise.
 
Gary Anthony Williams: Dude. I watched this show religiously as a kid, and to step on that set, it's like, I'm stepping into the television. Because they really tried to keep that vibe going, like, from, from a lot of the original set pieces on there, and they wanted to make it look like, you know, things have not changed in all this time, like it's still that slow moving court system in New York. It's amazing. Like I worked with John Larroquette in the past on Boston Legal. So that was good to work with him, just to be able to work with him again. But then Melissa Rauch is one of the kindest human beings ever invented. If they invented people, she's definitely one of the kindest ever. And Wendie Malick, come on, she's too nice. Legally. Somebody has to stop it. Then you got Lacretta and Nyambi Nyambi, who are just talented human beings by every measure you know. So, it's fantastic stepping back into that, like becoming part of becoming part of my childhood, and still having that flavor. I love it. I absolutely 100% love it.
 
John Betancourt: I'm also curious too, because the comedy this year is just so, I mean, it's always been good, but it's so next level this year, so amazing. And I'm just curious how you as an actor have found the zany essence of Flobert.
 
Gary Anthony Williams: The beauty of it. And I tell all my buddies, that is, the show gets to do a lot of stupid stuff. Flobert. He gets to do the stupidest stuff. He's the only guy on there that there are no rails for him. Like he's been a judge, he's been a lawyer, he's been a clerk, he sold sodas, like he's done everything. Sold real estate, apparently, he's been involved in rap battles in the past. There's there are no limits to what he can do and who he can be and who he has been. So, every time I get a script, it's a joy. It's like me doing this (Gary gleefully rubs his hands together), as my son calls it, “Smithering” my hands, going, “What is Flobert up to this week?” Because there is absolutely no telling. I don't have to abide by any rules as Flobert.
 
John Betancourt That is so true. I mean, him being in a trash can is probably one of the highlights of that.
 
(Laughter from Gary)
 
Gary Anthony Williams: So silly, and this this season, we have a huge musical number, that song and dance number, and that, you know, I get to do some singing and dancing alongside Broadway star Lacretta. So, yeah, she is… she has the pipes brother. Also. Hold on. I see Brent Spiner over your shoulder, and he will be back! He's going to be back on an episode.
 
John Betancourt: Oh, that makes me so happy. It was such a joy to have him on the show again last season. So, we’ve got your Broadway number coming up. We've got Brent Spiner coming back. What else are you super excited for fans to experience in this back half of the season?
 
Gary Anthony Williams: Well, I always, you know, when they bring back characters from the past, like Marsha Warfield, she's going to be coming in, in a terrific episode. And then just the, just the guest cast that gets to come in, like Kate Micucci, who is one of my favorite people in the world. Um, definitely, definitely that musical number, obviously, is just one of the finest things. But you got people like Lauren Lapkus coming in to do some stuff, who I just did this space movie with her. They the guest cast that they have coming in, and I tell all my buddies who are funny. I was like, “Sooner or later, you're going to be on the show.” They never bring anybody in who can't knock it out of the park. And that's the fun like, how are they going to knock it out of the park? And my good buddy Ryan Hansen, who is plays the love interest as of late on there with Melissa Rauch’s character, so there's some good stuff coming up with him as well.
 
John Betancourt: That's so much good stuff coming up. You kidding me? I was already excited about the first two things. Now we get all these other great guest stars. Like, wow.
 
Gary Anthony Williams: By the way, so I was such a fan of Brent Spiner’s, and I had never met him, ever. Like, you know, I've worked with Shatner, you know, and everybody, also, just in his realm, I've worked with most of those people. I had never met him, and he kills it number one, as funny a human being as you can be, and then he's like, “Oh, by the way, I have this album.” So, I downloaded this album of him singing like these old tunes. It's so fantastic.
 
John Betancourt: So, I know he did an album with the cast of The Next Generation. Is it “Ol’ Yellow Eyes Is Back?” Or is it something new?
 
Gary Anthony Williams: This is just him and, no, this is him and a female, singing.
 
John Betancourt: Yeah, I'm in. Because he's a crooner, plain and simple.
 
Gary Anthony Williams: Also, that episode is ridiculously funny. Like, if you're asking me, like, like, you know which episodes that is definitely one with him, his wife and Kate Micucci as his daughter, that is stupid funny.
 
John Betancourt: That leads me to my next question then obviously the excitement in your voices is beyond palpable. What have you enjoyed the most about just being part of this experience?
 
Gary Anthony Williams: Literally, you just answered it. It is being part of this experience. It is so much like family when you show up. Everybody cares about everybody. Melissa Rauch is… she seriously is one of the five kindest people I've ever met in Hollywood, and she… they're so loyal to the people that they bring in, and they want them to do well, and they want them to do their thing, just literally being a part of a show like that, that takes care of you, and the writers get the idea of what you can do, and they keep pushing it further… like, I can't ask for much more than that in a career to, like, look forward to. The new script and the changes and what's gonna happen. And I get to do it this again this week. Nothing better.
 
John Betancourt: Last question I have for you today, if you had to describe this back half of the season in one single word, what would that word be?
 
Gary Anthony Williams: It's a hyphenated word, okay, the hyphenated word is… it-just-keeps-getting-stupider-and-better. That's the hyphenated word.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.