Night Court: Season 1 DVD | Classic Legal Comedy TV Series | Perfect for Home Entertainment & Nostalgic Viewing

Anyone who is a fan of Cop/Court shows will love this show. Anyone who just want to watch a well written comedy MUST purchase this. I owned this season twice. Once it was a gift back when they released season one originally, then a second time when I had to replace the season after I gave it away. Why did I give it away? Because it was taking way way too long for season two. I was worried they would do the same thing they did with Barney Miller (putting it in complete series packaging by a third party). So I was uncertain of the future of the series and how I may end up buying it. Luckily season one is cheaply priced so it was no big deal purchasing it a second time.First, I want to say this series looks great, and I want to thank them for using dual layered dvds. I hate when they use single layer and condense the show so much that I actually miss watching it on my old 80s 13" black and white tv. This time the compression is fine and the shows are as funny today as they were originally. if not more so. I like watching series in order, and will try (if possible) to watch it continuously over a period of time so I can watch it chronologically and uninterrupted. It does look as if this series is coming out fast enough now. Since I am playing catch up anyway it works out better for me.Like Barney Miller, the writing focuses on the pitfalls of life in the criminal justice system. This is an ensemble piece with a strong central character (Harry Anderson) and equally strong supporting players (John Larroquette and Richard Moll..as well as others). Due to the changing of characters within the first three season it actually had a feel of a job with a high turnaround rate. I have never worked in criminal justice, but in my job I see so many people come and go and there usually is a core group of people who stay for the duration...and this show seems realistic in that sense. Not sure how intentional that was, as part of the reason is due to untimely deaths of key characters. But, instead of crippling the show it actually is made into a strength.Reinhold Weege is at the top of his game. Everyone seems to know their characters and interact perfectly and hit their marks flawlessly. Sure the first season has t he usual growing pains and moments that seem out of step with the series as a whole, but once they hit their stride, they just kept going. The end result is a timeless classic with jokes that are still as funny today as they were then. The chemistry is unbelievable at times, as it seems like these actors ARE their characters, but that's just the joy of having such a talented ensemble cast.I've always liked Harry Anderson, his character on Cheers never failed to make me laugh and it seems like all of his strenghts in acting/comedy are on display here. And Larroquette (though not as fleshed out as he will in the subsequent seasons) seems to be equally at ease with the nuances of his character. The female characters are great in their parts too, but as they are not permanent I did not wish to go too far into their characters. But, I will say they are great, and add to the overall chemistry.One minor gripe, but this is more aimed at the studio who put it out. The packaging is fine (O-Ring spine holds both cds in a single dvd case. So that works. But, why do companies not track their episodes? I do not need chapters really, but it would be nice to have th e option of watching the opening jokes then skip the theme and go to the next scene. I've noticed this missing on lots of series. AS it's only a sitcom and only about 22 mins it's not a huge thing to concern yourself with. Just saying my personal preference.But, anyone picking this up will not be disappointed. The writing/directing is top notch and you couldn't ask for a better cast to deliver the lines and the presentation here looks great (especially considering how old the show is and how it was filmed). They are over the top at times, but in a very disciplined way. You'll find yourself laughing without even realising this is an OLDER show, as it will seem as fresh and energetic as anything out there today. There are a few references here and there that are dated but all shows have that problem. But this is a classic comedy from the classic/golden era of television. The original "Must-See" tv...when executives cared more about content and quality than instant commercial success. This show is one in a million so pick it up and enjoy.