Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Night Court, season 3, episode 4.Season 3, Episode 4 of Night Courttitled "Merry NaviDead", it features a number of big-name guest stars and sees Abby receive a Christmas-themed threat. A vacuum cleaner salesman on trial is believed to be the culprit, but he refuses to give the police any information to work with. Fred believes he is in a murder mystery game, which leads Abby to entertain the idea in hopes that he will confess. 'Murder in Malibu' takes a shocking turn when Andy Daly's character falls dead from a stab wound inflicted by a candy cane during dinner.
In the first of several plot twists, Dan admits that he organized the entire spectacle as a Christmas present for Abby. However, the judge was one step ahead of him the entire time. Abby says she discovered his plan at the beginning of the episode and immediately turned the tables. Fred rises from the dead and the police reveal himself as a hired actor. The final surprise occurs when Fred and Kratz (Joe Lo Truglio, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) return to heaven, revealing that they are actually angels.
TelaRant interviews Truglio about his role as Detective Kratz, Night Court multiple plot twists and what Charles Boyle could do in one Brooklyn Nine-Nine crossing.
Truglio has been a fan of John Larroquette since his narration of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre
“It was a great emotion to work with him. I’ve been a fan of his for a long time.”
ScreenRant: I was very excited to find out that you were returning to NBC for Night Court.
Joe Lo Truglio: It was really wonderful to be on that show because the reboot is amazing, but of course, I'm a huge fan of the previous show that I grew up on, and it was a pleasure to be in that world. Melissa is fantastic, and John Larroquette, who I've been a fan of since his narration in Texas Chainsaw Massacre, as well as the old show, was a great thrill to work with too. I've been a fan of his for a long time.
Your character was so funny to me because you're an actor who plays a detective in the NYPD, and this time you were playing an actor who plays a detective in the NYPD.
Joe Lo Truglio: Yeah, it's funny. It seems like I've been cast in a lot of roles in law enforcement and that's been the majority of my career, which is fantastic. I love working and there's nothing wrong with those roles, but in terms of this role for Night Court, it was strange being an actor playing a detective. It's all pretend, so I had fun doing it all.
Obviously you're a seasoned sitcom pro, but was there something about this character that felt new and exciting to you?
Joe Lo Truglio: Yeah, what was fun about Detective Kratz is that because the character is actually an actor, it was fun to play a bad actor playing a detective in this murder mystery series. So really leaning into a lot of the over-the-top performances and lines of this actor trying to play a detective was really fun because I was able to be really cheesy and melodramatic about the performance, which was really fun to do. .
Night Court Season 3's Holiday Episode Originally Had a Different Ending
“It was something that wasn’t a particularly good button, as I recall.”
The twist in the murder mystery reminded me of the end of a Brooklyn Nine-Nine theft. Did you feel the same?
Joe Lo Truglio: Yes, a little. The Halloween heists we did on Brooklyn Nine-Nine were always a lot of fun to do and were a bit of a reminder that, in the end, everything was revealed. What's fun about these episodes, and in this case Night Court, is that they're great ensemble episodes and they're great stories to involve all the characters, which was fun for me just being able to interact with most of the cast there. Then there was a little touch of “And now the big reveal,” which is always really fun to do on these shows.
When I spoke to Andy Daly, he mentioned that there was a different ending before you two were angels.
Joe Lo Truglio: Oh, yeah. I completely forgot about that. I thought it was so fun that they decided to do this ending. I don't know which ending they used, but us being angels I loved it. It was a unique, original, innovative kind of ending to a very traditional sitcom. I say this in a very positive way. I loved that we were angels.
And just having the special effects of us kind of disappearing reminded me of It's a Wonderful Life or any of those old holiday movies and shows where the angel appears and then disappears. I think we shot two different endings. I think we had two different versions that we ended up doing. I think we went to get a drink [laughs]. I think we were like, “Okay, let’s go get a drink or something.” From what I remember, it was something that wasn't a particularly good button. I think the two actors said, “Let’s have a beer” or something similar to that.
Truglio says Night Court would up its culinary game with the presence of Charles Boyle
"He would know of all the late-night takeout restaurants where they can get good food."
I was thinking...Night Court takes place in New York on NBC, Brooklyn Nine-Nine It happened in New York on NBC...
Joe Lo Truglio: You thought about this crossover, right?
Yes! Charles was a detective, but if he ended up in night court, what would be the reason?
Joe Lo Truglio: Well, they would have a lot of good crafts and food services that Charles would make sure they had. He would know of all the late night restaurants where they can get good food. I think the cooking and the snacks, the pantry there at Night Court would be better if Charles Boyle ended up working there for whatever reason.
Outpost it was his first time directing and writing a horror film. Do you hope to get back to that?
Joe Lo Truglio: Yes. The situation of independent cinema is going through a very challenging period in the industry. I have a few scripts that I'm trying to get financing and money for, and I can't wait to get back to it. It's a horror movie and I'm determined to get it out there and do it again.
So yes. Nothing is scheduled to film yet, but I'm currently raising funds for another horror. This will be a creature feature. Money is always the big obstacle – finding the money to make these films. But the search for funds is definitely going on.
About Night Court Season 3
In her quest to bring order and dignity to the courtroom and reign in her colorful group of eccentrics, Abby enlists former night court district attorney Dan Fielding (John Larroquette) to serve as the court's public defender. Still supremely self-confident, Fielding must adapt to a new boss and a new job – standing up for the oppressed. And beneath his arrogant demeanor, there's an empathetic side to Fielding that Abby is determined to uncover.
Check out our others Night Court season 3 interviews:
Night Court Season 3 returns Tuesday, January 14 at 8:30 pm ET on NBC.