They Can't All Be Gems: Night Court Of Life Lessons Chapter Ten

They Can't All Be Gems

Okay, I'm gonna admit something that isn't all that easy to say  for me; Night Court may have had some moments that were less than perfect, that is all I will allow.  Yes, the best TV show of all times has left me shaking my head at times.

So, I have been re-watching the show through Amazon with as many episodes as they have per season and have now reached season three.  Already, I have mourned the loss of Selma, once more, some thirty odd years later after her death, as I watched an episode that aired just days before she passed.  They must have known, she was probably already in hospice with death close to approaching, can you imagine that they had to go out and act while knowing that?   In addition, I have fallen hard over Ellen Foley as Billie Young only to watch her magically disappear as Markie Post re-emerged as Christine Sullivan, bittersweet all around, because as much as I love Markie as Christine, I equally adored Ellen as Billie.  Couldn't we have found someway to have both?  But, alas, the past is past and when all is said in done, at least in the reruns, we can have them both.

Anyway, I digress....I digress so hard because I gulp to explain my thoughts.   This is hard to admit, that the TV show that has brought me such joy, peace, and healing had moments that were less than par, or at least, left me scratching my head wondering why...

Yet, even in that, a valuable lesson is shown to me through these minor, and I mean MINOR, imperfections.  

So, the first episode, I want to hold up as less than ideal is from season two, episode six entitled, "Bull Gets A Kid" in which Bull Shannon becomes a surrogate father to a child, like a "Big Brother" type thing.  The kid appears and plays off as if to be a boy, complete with short, cropped hair and boyish clothes, and Bull is over the moon with the connection.  Yet, when this child needs to use the bathroom, the truth is revealed...he is really a she and she masqueraded as a boy because boys are the majority picked for the program of surrogate fathers.  Bull is devastated with the news, acting as if majorly betrayed and acting as if he cannot relate to the child as a girl.  

Now, I know this was the eighties, just a mere thirty years outside of the fifties, and that the notion of gender was more strict and restricted than is today, but I still found an issue with this.  As a child, I don't recall having such issue, yes, but still I may not have actually seen this episode back then or just may not have fully understood ( I was a kid after all).  What bothered me was Bull's acting with such betrayal and horror at being mislead, at treating her as if she was somehow different because of her gender, as if nothing they had shared mattered, even to dejectedly hand her the football he purchased saying, "maybe you can make it a doll", wait, a girl cannot toss around a football, Bull? Later, he finally makes up with her and they continue their father/daughter type connection with her showing up in a dress and them heading off to the opera...so, why does the activity have to change?  

In very truth, some seasons later this show would challenge the notion of sexuality and gender in a way that was un-seen anywhere else back then, such as when Dan Fieldings high school jock buddy shows up as a woman, but still this episode, "Bull gets a kid" did not sit well with me.   For even though I am full cis-gender chic, I believe that that doesn't stop me from enjoying activities and indulging in arenas that may seem more male and believe that all should have this luxury, no matter how they identify.  

Yet, this will not stop me from calling Night Court the best TV show,  well basically, my favorite TV show of all time.

Next, the other night, I watched season three, episode five, "Halloween, Too", in which Harry falls hard for a woman who ends up being a practicing witch, of which he finds out after she is arrested and brought before him for disrupting the peace because of a ritual in Central Park.  Okay, the issue with her being a witch is not the issue, it's how they decided to follow through with the story, which I find as more lazy than discriminatory towards any form of religion.  

Through the interactions between Harry and his other colleagues, it is made known that the relationship between him and his witch girlfriend would cause a major scandal and possibly affect the ability for him to keep his job.  I was confused by this but wanted to offer the benefit of the doubt, it was the eighties, this could have been normal, right? My partner, a man in his sixties, shook his head no, not even in the eighties.  

So, am I pissed at Night Court for some kind of weird alternative religious discrimination?  No, I'm not pissed at all in fact, but kinda relieved.  See, I feel that this story line specifically was kinda lazy on behalf of the writers.  It would appear as if because Harry couldn't maintain this relationship past this episode they had to find a way to end it, break his heart because I guess they enjoyed hurting the poor guy (them bastards), and, hey, it's a Halloween episode so why not make her a witch and...yeah, lazy writing.***

But, no, I'm not pissed.  Like, I said, I'm relieved.  Because as a creator myself, in so many ways influenced by Night Court itself, it's a relief to see that the show that was and is my foundation didn't always knock it out of the ballpark and, you know, that's okay.  

So, I take that to heart when what I create and put out in the world doesn't make the hugest of splashes or brings about some criticism, all the greats have their moments, right, they can't all be gems. 

No matter, keep creating, keep following the path.

And I won't let you get me down

I'll keep gettin' up when I hit the ground

Oh, never give up, no, never give up no, no, oh

I won't let you get me down

I'll keep gettin' up when I hit the ground

Oh, never give up, no, never give up no, no, oh

I'll find my way, find my way home, oh, oh, oh

I'll find my way, find my way home, oh, oh, oh

I'll find my way, find my way home, oh, oh, oh

I'll find my way, find my way home, oh, oh, oh

Never Give Up

***Watching the show today, I never realized how often Harry was a dude checking out a girl or trying to date her, I must have overlooked that as a child, and I'll admit as someone who admired him as an ideal father figure, this is kinda awkward for me.  

We Are All Connected; Soul Contracts: Night Court Of Life Lessons Chapter Nine

 

We Are All Connected; Soul Contracts

Over the last several years, I have been deep diving into all variety of spiritual and philosophical text for my  personal desire deep within to learn, to understand.  Of those texts, I have come upon the belief of soul contracts, which is the notion that before we incarnate into our lifetimes, we make agreements with ourselves and others about the purpose we will be on the planet within and without.  Furthermore, the relationships we form have been bonded by a contract before our time began.  

Okay, I know that sounds very woo but for me it bears further study as it affords me a degree of comfort within which infuses a sense of peace for all of my life's doings and interactions, positive and negative.  Thus, I believe that all that I have done and all who I have met, I established a contract with each before incarnating here and these connections serve as lessons to help our soul's evolution.  Many who share this belief see it as a contract with those within our inner circle, such as family of origin, school friends, or work colleagues.

Bear with me now, I believe that one could take this belief further and state that others that have affected us on a deeply profound level however the connection have made a soul contract with us.   For me, above, the cast of Night Court (of all seasons) shares this distinction, nor do I think myself alone the sole proprietor of such contract.  In the last several months, I have had the opportunity to witness as many share their heartfelt connection with Night Court, from one who was inspired to become an actress to another who felt a strong connection to Richard Moll as ideal father and a myriad of others in between.  Thus, if nothing else the contracts agreed upon with the cast of Night Court fulfilled the purpose of uniting myself and these fellow Night Court fan souls together.

Now, I don't mean to say that it's just this show of which holds a special spiritual connection. My podcast, FanGirlHour, holds space for all people to share their special connection with their fave fandom and how it personally has made a difference in their life.  However, this blog series is detailing the lessons gleaned from Night Court, so thus the focus is with those soul contracts therein.

The moment that each castmember signed their actor contract with the network for their run on Night Court, so to the contract agreed upon before coming down to earth found its fulfillment and eventual fruition.  That isn't to say that Night Court alone was their one contract made before incarnation, of course not, but that agreement was not made for me or with me so it bears no real significance upon me.

However, as mentioned above, the amount of souls I have come across recently who, like myself, have been deeply and profoundly touched, impacted by these particular souls, these actors, who brought us joy, taught us the lessons of life through TV storytelling, and who broke our hearts as we mourn their passing.  These individuals' have shaped our innermost world and influenced our lives with such degree.

Perhaps, it may be more comfortable to refer to it in other terms, such as parasocial relationships:

Parasocial relationships are one-sided relationships, where one person extends emotional energy, interest and time, and the other party, the persona, is completely unaware of the other's existence.

Whatever your belief, whatever wordings used, I believe similar lessons are reached.  For my part, personally, I choose to dwell with the belief of soul contracts with all those who have impacted one's life, as that seems so much more meaningful and deeply impactual on a grander level beyond this lifetime.  

However, either way you shake it, it is completely healthy, normal, and above all, a part of the human condition to make such an agreement and connection.  Let none say otherwise.

For all souls on this earth from every moment, every time have their purpose and all are connected.

The Rainbow Connection

What's so amazing
That keeps us star gazing
And what do we think we might see
Someday we'll find it
That Rainbow Connection
The lovers the dreamers and me
All of us under its spell
We know that it's probably magic

Dreams Don't Just Happen: Night Court Of Life Lessons Chapter Eight

Hard Work Pays Off, Just Ask Dan

Say what you want about him, love him or hate him or even both, Dan Fielding is a hard worker, diligently doing what he has to elevate his position.  Along the way, it may appear as if his soul has been lost but it's only momentarily mired in the mud of the endless pursuit, for when it is necessary, once again it emerges prevailing doing what's right.

As we learn throughout the seasons, Dan is a self-made man, building himself by his own blood, sweat, and tears having literally come up from being dirt poor.  That's right, his father was a dirt farmer, who never could really amount to anything or get anything growing on his property.  However, unsuccessful his parents were at running a farm, they were successful at child-rearing because they gave all they had to help start Dan out, from there every gain he has received has been with every effort of his own.  Yet, with such focus he found great success and gain.

It's an old trope, "hard work pays off" especially in western cultures, that of hard work is rewarded and laziness is considered a weakness leading to failure.  "You never fail if you just try", another quips.  Furthermore, dreams don't come true merely by imagining, but those imaginings are what propel us ever forward to take each step necessary to reach our ambitions.  At times, the road seems fraught with peril and we are want to throw in the towel, feeling as if no end is in sight to reach our desired destinations.

Currently, I find myself in that frame of mind, having sat here at this computer, working steadily on various content projects feeling as if I can never quite move forward far enough, yet at the same time that my intentions seem not so far off simultanously it feels as if they keep moving just a little bit farther the closer I get to it.  Maddeningly at times, truly.  

Yet, as I write this, hilariously I am finding strength by looking at the character of Dan Fielding, who came up from dirt and pulled himself by his own bootstraps to pursue his career ambitions.  So, too, I could look at John Larroquette, the man who has inspired my acting ambitions, has worked steadily for over forty years, pursuing his dreams as an actor, one job after the next, successfully killing it along the way (sometimes not, remember the talk show debacle).  

So, my friend, when you find yourself downtrodden, discouraged, turn on Night Court season one and episode one, follow Dan Fieldings  journey throughout the years and see how a lot of striving and scheming was truly driven by an unwavering belief in reaching his desired destination.

Every step I'm taking

Every move I make feels

Lost with no direction

My faith is shaking

But I, I gotta keep trying

Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb

The Climb

Write Funny: Night Court Of Life Lessons Chapter Seven

 

How To Write Funny

As I have been reflecting upon the different lessons gleaned from my Night Court fandom by re-watching the series from start to finish, I now realize how much of my creativity, in this instance 'script-writing', has been affected by the comedic writing of Night Court.  The rapid fire back and forth dialogue that never missed a beat, the absurd twists and turns that never failed to surprise as the story unfolded, all have shaped how I express my wordings in the telling of my stories.

Over the last few years, I have been busily working in the post-production land editing video content for my continuing Doctor Who fan-fiction series, TimeSick.  Truth be told, this is quite a daunting task and one of which in the past I have often found myself wondering why I am the one always to do such heavy duty.  However, over the  last few years, I have felt an immense sense of gratitude for this work  has enabled me to learn and develop new skills as well as to realize my talent.  

TimeSick follows the time-lords and time-ladies of Gallifrey upon their home planet and beyond as they seek to either rule the universe entirely or stop others from doing just that.  As each character pursues this journey, they meet some interesting side characters along the way that simultanously encourage and detract them from receiving their purposes through methods that leave them shaking their heads while the audience laughs along.  As I listen to the actors portray my characters and say the lines, I marvel at how natural my comedic understanding is and how strong the influence from my younger years watching Night Court after school in my parents' basement.  I used to credit the actors for infusing their natural comedic timing within the context of my story, which is valid, but the problem was I never allowed myself to value my input and truly embrace my self worth.

TimeKeys Fan Fiction

Nate&Laura&HowTheyMet

In addition to TimeSick, I wrote the first season of the original webseries, "Nate & Laura & How They Met", in which the rough draft was written a little everyday before heading to work.  The impetus to write that was based on watching Netflix sitcoms as well as building on the relationship woes between myself and my friends.   From that, we have two seasons under our belt and are now at work writing, editing, re-writing season three.  I marvel in wonderment at the progression of my sweet little story but once again am blown away by my comedic sensibilities within storytelling.  

Once again, the infamous song lyric comes to mind: 

"Everything comes back to you (Night Court)".

You're still the one I run to

The one that I belong to

You're still the one I want for life

(You're still the one)

You're still the one that I love

The only one I dream of

You're Still The One

Journaling Through The Years: Episode 19: Why are guys so creepy?

Hey, it's episode 19! In this episode, I share a script from my high school's new show, which I was one of the anchors (compensating for the lack of theatre classes in my school), read a hilarious foul language poem about love (adult language warning, blah blah blah), then read this long winding prose thing that details a walk I went on where there are a bunch of people running around in red shirts, not a Nazi youth meeting, men whistling at me, and maybe, just, maybe I go off with one. This all makes me ask the question, why are guys so creepy?

Right Place, Right Time: Night Court Of Life Lessons Chapter Six

 

Right Here, Right Now

When viewers first watched (or watch in reruns) Night Court, they marveled at how such a young person, early thirties, at the time could become a judge.  Furthermore, the other characters within Night Court when Harry became judge were equally as perplexed and concerned as to who this maverick was and how he received the appointment.  Antics ensued as they tried to question his authority and find ways to have him removed because he didn't abide by the rules of the court.  Yet, throwing out the book was the gift Harry brought to the courtroom and what helped bring true resolution to the cases brought before him, as those opposed to him quickly surmised and began to trust him.

As that first episode of season one comes to a close, Harry confides in Lana just how he got the job, explaining that they had a long list of available judges that they called on that day, Harry happened to be home, answered the home, and so he got the job.  "But," he reiterated, "I was on the list."

The notion of Harry's 'right place, right time' approach to getting employed is more mystical than pure luck or coincidence.  One of the reasons Harold T. Stone was loved was for his child-like exuberance he brought to each situation, placing real interest in the people before him, whoever they may be, and bringing in the flair of magic in all his interactions.  Although there were times when he became downtrodden and depressed, ultimately he bounced back, returning to his child-like, magical view at life, that brought hope and encouragement to all he met.  

Why is that? I conjecture because the character, Harold T. Stone, lived his life as much as in the moment as could possibly be, letting circumstances unfold and occur as they happened, without judgment but instead with wonder and curiousity.  Thus, in that state of presence, he found himself repeatedly in the right place at the right time, not, mind you, through any act of his control, but because he allowed the unfolding to occur in its own magical course.

What I am writing about here is that sense of flow.  

Flow is defined as "a state of mind in which a person becomes fully immersed in an activity. Positive psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi describes flow as a state of complete immersion in an activity. While in this mental state, people are completely involved and focused on what they are doing. "The ego falls away."

As the ego relinquishes control, a person is able to release his or her own demands for life and circumstances to occur as they direct and truly to enjoy the fullness of joy that life has to offer. 

There is no other place I want to be
Right here, right now
Watching the world wake up from history

Right Here, Right Now

Always Hope: Night Court Of Life Lessons Chapter Five

 

There Is Always Hope

When pondering this entry on the lessons found in Night Court, it became strange to me that I would write about such while sharing a photo of someone I greatly admired, always wished to share how much he meant to me as a youngster, and never got that opportunity, something I don't know if I will ever feel that recovered.  However, as I then scanned through the photos of Night Court castmembers searching for photos of Harry that would give that resounding warmth of hope (and when does he not, just look at those loving blue eyes with the youthful twinkle), my eyes kept falling upon not just him but the other castmembers who we have recently lost, namely Markie Post and Charles Robinson.  Thus, I began to feel that that feeling of hope was not an overall theme of the stories of Night Court, but is something that I have found pertinent throughout my own life. 

Within the context of Night Court, there are many instances where the characters struggle to maintain a sense of hope amidst the nightly rigors of a work environment that may seem bleak and without at times.  Throughout each episode, the characters find relief in their circumstances by the camradie of their colleagues, whose encouragement shows the true power of  'laughter is indeed the best medicine' and by staying true to your core the solution will reveal itself.  

However, sometimes the situations seem to dire, the answers seem unreachable and amongst the shadowy mist in a place of shadowy vision, and in those moments where the character finds himself feeling the most alone, dejected, confused, lost.  Such as, Bull's unceasing desire to be a parent yet cannot be fulfilled, Harry's feeling dejected after a child is shot as if all he has ever done doesn't matter, Dan's slow, mental breakdown after losing job opportunities and pursued wealth which leaves him feeling unable to move, yet beneath it all each character slowly emerges from their cocoon of darkness through the patient support of their faithful friends.  These loving faithful prove that despite difficulties inwardly they truly never give up the flame of hope, a torch which can help re-ignite another's who has gone out in despair.  This is such the case in season three, episode two, "The Hostage", where a man claiming to be from Saturn holds the court at gunpoint until he is able to return to his home planet, as the show reaches his conclusion, the man is safely taken into custody of a psychiatric hospital, he turns to Harry with the sad news of the doom of Earth by the abuses of its people yet Harry remarks that 'no matter how dark things seem to get, he can't find a way to give up on the hope of a better tomorrow' (paraphrase).  It's a poignant moment that the other characters and audience take in, only to be broken by the insane laughter from the Saturn man. 

Harry remarks that he 'no matter how dark things seem to get, 

he can't find a way to give up on the hope of a better tomorrow' (paraphrase). 

As a child growing up in circumstances not altogether positive, hearing this promise of a better future infused itself within me, without my truly knowing that it had.  As the years have passed, that clear message shared to me through the TV screen in my parents basement on a TV station not clearly visible, has remained a firm sticking point despite the dark recesses of my mind dragging me downwards.  No matter how far I fell, I always always found my way out and upwards.  

The beauty of it all is that this TV show that brought such relief in my formidable years has seemingly returned to me in a time of such intense healing and trauma work.  It's as if in the journey of my life, the ups and downs, has brought me right back to my core, the place where true healing is done and the power of hope discovered.  While I indulge in watching old reruns now, I feel the little girl inside of me releasing in the warmth of being safe, cherished, and free to be truly herself.  It is not something that is often truly admitted openly but what I have discovered is that those favorite TV shows, films, or bands are the sources of our greatest strength, healing, and in that discovery the true reality that hope never dies.   As the feeling of the ache of heartbreak engulfs me as these beloved actors breathe their last and head onwards to the great courtroom in the sky (making God laugh, no doubt), I am swept over by a nearness like none felt when they walked this earth, no longer is there any separation, the understanding that their most powerful role was as spirit guide, as in life through a TV screen, so, too, in death, helping to lift up, encourage, showing that life is to be taken less seriously, and the answers we seek will always be found when we let go, we find hope.

Behind your eyes
Are endless blue skies
You travel places i want to come, too
Each breath that you breathe
Is a brush stroke that leads me to you

So sleep
Fall into nights indigo hue
Believe me, its true
Theres nothing that I would not do
For my dream is sweet dreams for you

It seems far away
But there once was a day
It was grey in a world without you
To this heart like a dove from above
The miracle of your love found me

Sweet Dreams