An Interview with Wendie Malick from ‘Night Court’

NIGHT COURT -- "The Judge’s Boyfriend’s Dad" Episode 301 -- Pictured: (l-r) Gary Anthony Williams as Flobert, John Larroquette as Dan Fielding, Wendie Malick as Julianne Walters -- (Photo by: Nicole Weingart/NBC)

It is definitely safe to say that Wendie Malick is a true acting legend. For she has been part of countless iconic franchises and is consistently on our television screens, because her talent is simply in demand. Recently, she was promoted to series regular for season three of Night Court on NBC and we here at NTG had the honor of sitting down with Wendie to discuss her full time arrival on the show. 
 
John Betancourt: How did you manage to become involved period as Julianne in the first place in this series? 
 
Wendie Malick: I got asked. (Laughter)
 
John Betancourt: That's perfect. That's a great ask.
 
Wendie Malick: I was invited, and I'm a girl I can't say no, and I had a chance to work with John (Larroquette), who I've always admired and never worked with him before, and met Melissa (Rauch) and immediately fell in love with her. And it's, it's just a very, it's a very, very copacetic group, very nice family to come and be adopted by.
 
John Betancourt: Obviously, it's not your first go round with Night Court, but now as a part of the regular cast, what does it mean you now be series regular?
 
Wendie Malick: I asked the question, “How is it possible for her to come back and be a prosecutor on the show?” and in the fabulous make-believe world of Night Court, I guess you can give everybody a second chance. So, Melissa’s character decided, with Project Second Chance to bring in someone who maybe deserves another try at being a good citizen. So apparently, I was a lawyer in a former life. Besides being an ex-con, I have a law degree. So here I am at Night Court.
 
John Betancourt: I’m also curious too, you are an actor that's been a part of so many iconic franchises and so many amazing TV shows, and I'm wondering if there is any pressure in joining what is so much of an iconic TV show in Night Court, or if it is kind of business as usual for you.
 
Wendie Malick: I never think it's business as usual. It's like you're always just hoping that you can bring something unique to the dance. And these guys have been up and running now for a couple seasons with this new reboot but having been a guest on the show a couple of times, I knew that it would be a very copacetic set. Melissa. She is the captain of a very delightful ship, and everybody brings their best to the dance, and it's a very talented group. So, I figured I was in good company, and it was fun to come back to a multi cam, which I haven't done for years. I've been working in single camera for years now, and I sort of forgot how much fun it can be to do this in front of an audience. 
 
John Betancourt: Was there any challenge in getting back to multi camera? Or was it like putting on an old shoe or riding a bike? 
 
Wendie Malick: The trickiest thing is traffic in the morning when you rehearse every day. Fankly. Because I live in the Santa Monica Mountains, and of course, we have to be here at 930 in the morning, which is when everybody has to be everywhere. But other than that, no, it's pretty familiar, having done this for so many years in the past. 
 
John Betancourt: Something I've always appreciated about Night Court, and you are no exception to this rule, even as a guest star and now as a series regular, but all the characters feel so real, and they feel so relatable in some level along those lines, how did you flesh out Julianne the way that you did? 
 
Wendie Malick: I'm still working on it. (Laughter)
 
John Betancourt: Could have fooled me. 
 
Wendie Malick: Yeah, no, actually, in the episode we're doing now, you learn something about my background, which helps connect the dots. For me, it's always nice when somebody writes your backstory, so you can sort of go, “Oh, that's how I am, the way I am.” And I think the trick when you're playing someone who is unstable and possibly dangerous at times. Is to also uncover the humanity and help you understand why she's the way she is. So, they're throwing me a bone in that department this week. 
 
John Betancourt: Now I'm curious too, since obviously this is, it's a tale of two worlds for you. Because you obviously had to do some building of Julianne as a guest star, and now you get to do more of it as a series regular, is there any difference in how you approach it as an actor in building the character, going from a guest star to a series regular?
 
Wendie Malick: Well, you realize that this is going to probably have legs, and so you want to keep your options open, but also try to build a character that is believable on one level. But knowing this is a very broad farcical show, you can be bigger than life, which, which gives you a lot of room to stretch, you know?
 
John Betancourt: With this being such an iconic series period, I'm curious why you think Night Court’s legacy continues to endure the way that it does?
 
Wendie Malick: Well, I think that now more than ever, people really want a chance to laugh and to find characters that become their friends and follow them into these crazy situations every week. You know, I think sometimes when I… I used to think, “Well, I wish that I was doing something meatier than doing just a television comedy,” and I would have people come up to me in airports saying, “Thank you so much for helping me go to sleep at night,” you know, or for getting them through a rough time. And I think that comedy is serious business in terms of how much we need it. And now I think we need them more than ever.
 
John Betancourt: I agree. They are definitely very important right now, and obviously now you get to be a part of this team and this show. What does it mean to you and your illustrious career be a part of this, this massive show?
 
Wendie Malick: I'm just always… when I get invited to the dance at my stage in life, I'm just so grateful to still be relevant and to get a chance. It's particularly sweet to be able to work from home and not have to go out of town, which so many shows are now shooting in other cities and countries. And I did a series that was shot in Canada, which is beautiful, Vancouver, but I have animals. I live on a ranch. I've got a husband and friends. And as I get older, I really realize that it’s a particular gift, to be able to work in your hometown. And so, this one is particularly sweet for that reason.
 
John Betancourt: I'm also curious too, because something that I've heard a lot, talking to other cast members and guest stars as well, that there's a real interesting vibe that comes out of the live audience portion of it, and it almost kind of fuels you. I'm curious what that does for you as an actor when you get in front of that audience. 
 
Wendie Malick: Oh, no, that's delicious. I mean, that's the other character in the piece, is the audience, and they have die-hard fans on this set. There was somebody I was walking out after a show a couple weeks ago and one of the audience members said, “Thanks so much. It was such a great show” or something. I said, “Well, thank you for coming.” They said, “Oh, we come as often as we can. We're huge fans.” So, they have people who have been actually trying to show up, like, every week, but that's, it's like a dance, and you're just riding the waves of laughter. And you know when the audience is going to, like, catch up to something you're doing or be a little bit ahead of you. And it's lovely. It's like surfing. It's -- I don't surf (Laughter) but, I mean, I assume that's what it's like. It's like surfing away and they get to be part of the show. 
 
John Betancourt: Now we're getting very close now to the release of season three. And I'm curious what you're most excited, without any spoilers, of course, for the audience to experience this year on Night Court.
 
Wendie Malick: I don't even know where to begin, but fabulous guest stars, and Gary Anthony Williams, who is a recurring thing, and is one of the funniest people I've ever met. I never worked with him before, but this cast is very, very strong, and there's some really interesting people who are reprising former characters. And I think people will be very excited to see who shows up. 
 
John Betancourt: I hear the joy in your voice, I see the smile on your face about being part of the show. What have you enjoyed the most about working on this season? 
 
Wendie Malick: I love to go to work and laugh every day and get paid for it. It's like the sweetest job in the world. Yeah, so it's, it's a fabulous crew and staff and it's just fun to be with, with really kind, generous people who are really good at what they do and who hit the ball back. You know, it's like playing tennis with great people. They make you better.
 
John Betancourt: The last question that I have for you today, what are you most excited to get, without any spoilers, the audience, for the audience to experience when it comes to Julianne?
 
Wendie Malick: I think that she'll surprise you in that there's more to her than meets the eye.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. 

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