‘Night Court’ – ‘Hot to Trot’ Postmortem Interview with Julia Duffy

NIGHT COURT -- "313" Episode Hot to Trot -- Pictured: (l-r) Melissa Rauch as Abby Stone, Julia Duffy as Susan -- (Photo by: Nicole Weingart/NBC)

​One of the best aspects of the newboot of Night Court on NBC, is that television legends, pop up often on the show. In part through the primary cast itself, but also through the show’s guest stars. In fact, Julia Duffy, who has graced some incredible television franchises in her illustrious career, dropped by once more to play Susan and we had the chance to sit down with Julia to discuss her work on last night’s episode.
John Betancourt: I would love to start by getting to know when you found out that there was going to be another opportunity to play, Susan.
 
Julia Duffy: Oh, when I found that out, I don't remember. It's been a busy year. I was kind of expecting it. I guess you already would see her again. I didn't know it was because they had Abby and Jake break up. I found that out on the day because, you know, it hadn't started airing at that point. They were just shooting, and I had been not there and then they had me come back, and I realized that, my having a party and inviting her and him, and Jake brings his girlfriend, was the whole setup. I thought it was just a great way to do it. I don't remember when I found that out. I mean, I don't remember the time frame exactly, but I was surprised that Ryan (Hansen) hadn't been there, that I didn't know that they'd broken up, because the show hadn't aired yet.
 
John Betancourt: Now the last time we talked, you spoke about a lot of joy that this role has brought you and that you had a great time working on the show every time that you're on set. So, what did it mean to you personally to be able to come back again and play Susan once more?
 
Julia Duffy: Well, I knew I got to do really broad comedy, because they do that. There you get a little bit of those vaudeville sketches and the things they do. I'd love to have a scene in the crazy courtroom, but I don't know if that will ever happen. Though, Susan could get called in for things… she can get, she's pretty wild. But anyway, I just love occasionally being able to do broader comedy like that. The characters are so strong and so different from each other. It's really fun.
 
John Betancourt: Speaking of that, you really get to just let loose in this tale and lean into what you love. What did it mean to you to be able to just lean into the comedy?
 
Julia Duffy: Well, it means, let's see… that I'm not too old for those parts anymore. I can play these over-the-top women, which is nice, because I don't know, there's just something so fun about somebody who doesn't have any idea that she's being too much. She just doesn't get it. She just lives her life. I think we'd all kind of like to be like that. So, it's very freeing.
 
John Betancourt: Obviously, comedy is something that I mean, it's, it's a word you're synonymous with. It is what you do, where you thrive. And I'm just curious, what is it about comedy that continues to call to you as an actor?
 
Julia Duffy: Well, it's just as much emotional underpinning. At least it is for me most of the time. I usually play quite emotional characters, and to add in the comedy and the comic timing with it, I dunno, it sort of feels like you get to do it all.
 
John Betancourt: Now, your talents go to every corner of acting as it is. Something that I really enjoyed about this episode was that even though Susan, you know, plays this little trick and does all these things, there's a real beautiful, kind of endearing moment that she shares in that with Jake, because she's trying to really get him back with Abby, and really kind of connect two people that have that spark. And I'm just curious, as an actor, how you found that authenticity, because that really felt like a beautiful motherly moment that I think a lot of us have endured in some capacity.
 
Julia Duffy: Well, I think if you do any kind of a scene like that with Ryan, you're going to easily have that feeling, because he's an extremely, I don't know how you could say… he's an extremely available person, very open hearted, just very, very sweet, really, one of the sweetest people I've ever worked with. He’s just kind of a ray of sunshine all the time, and just so kind and interested in everybody. So, that was just so easy to do that with him, to be that way with him, to be his mother, was so easy. Because, of course, you can't help but love him.
 
John Betancourt: Well, that’s so sweet and so lovely, and that does make sense when it comes to Ryan. I’ve spoken with him a few times now, and he is indeed always so gracious. And another great piece about you playing this role, is you mentioned last time, that there was a little bit of some improv in the hospital scene. And I'm curious here, what kind of freedom did you get to kind of really just lean into Susan a bit more, and her wild nature.
 
Julia Duffy: Well, it was just so fun to be playing somebody for Abby to react to that's, you know, more unrestrained than the people she's usually around with. I mean, she sees the crazy people in the courtroom, but now she has to, like, deal with one that she has sort of a relationship with. And I just really enjoyed being someone who didn't have any kind of a filter. She just goes through life the way she goes through life. And I think I have plenty of filters. So, it's very freeing to play someone like that, and then to give her (Abby) something to react to.
 
John Betancourt: Oh, it's wonderful. Again. I appreciate these insights. It's so incredible to learn them. And I mean, obviously we talk a lot about, you know, the joy of Susan in general. What is it that you've enjoyed the most about playing this character over these past few episodes?
 
Julia Duffy: Well, I guess just the freedom, because she's so unselfconscious. And I mean, I would love to be like that, quite frankly, that's the most enjoyable part.
 
John Betancourt: You've turned in some great work here. I mean, every single episode that Susan has been in has been impactful, has been moving, has been just so wonderfully beautiful and funny. What are you most proud of when it comes to what you put into this character?
 
Julia Duffy: Probably the second slap in the hospital scene in the first episode, because Melissa (Rauch) and I said to each other, first of all, the audience, we had a wild, wonderful audience, and you just wanted to give them something more. So, when we did another take, she and I kind of said to each other, “You know what? Since I'm supposed to be so hopped up on post-surgery drugs and everything, I think another slap should just come out of nowhere.” And it took everyone by surprise in the second take, everyone on the floor, everyone in the audience, and it was, I mean, we were just waiting and waiting for the laughter to stop. It was very gratifying.
 
John Betancourt: The last question that I have for you today, again, you get to do so many wonderful, freeing things in this episode. There are so many hilarious moments. What was your favorite moment from this particular episode?
 
Julia Duffy: I think I just remember when I had the scene with Abby in her office, and the fact that, you know, I made her uncomfortable and then invited her to my party, and all of that. I don't know. It's just kind of generally fun to be the one who was deciding how the conversation would go and what we were going to do. And it's just that being unrestrained, which is not me, but it was really fun being her.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.