A show like Night Court carries with it the weight of legacy. In the O.G. series, only Harry Anderson, John Larroquette and Richard Moll appeared in more episodes than Charles Robinson, who played Mac, the court clerk who made sure everything ran on time and in order. Fast forward to 2025: Nyambi Nyambi plays the court clerk, Wyatt, entrusted with the smooth operation of Judge Abby Stone’s courtroom.
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Geek Girl Authority was ecstatic at the chance to speak with Nyambi over Zoom for a recent press junket. Together with Heather Hurt of The NRW, we asked about his personal connection with the show and the growth of his character since joining the cast.
Disclaimer: The following transcript has been edited for clarity.
Night Court, Then and Now
Diana Keng: Did you watch the original series, and how did it feel to be a part of the new version?
Nyambi Nyambi: So I watched the original series growing up. It’s interesting cause I was young, and I thought Marsha Warfield was there from the beginning. But then, when I went back and did a rewatch, I’m like, “Oh, wow, she joined in Season 4.” I was a huge fan of the show. I was a huge fan of Marsha Warfield. Getting a chance to be on this “new-boot” has been incredible.
Then, getting to watch this series back from the beginning and seeing the growth of Dan Fielding (John Larroquette) from Episode 1 all the way through Season 9. And then, of course, who he is now by comparison has been incredible. Really a masterclass in watching him have fun on the screen, [and] then working with him to see how much fun he’s having off-screen.
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Nyambi Nyambi
Heather Hurt (The NRW): How does it feel to grow as an actor and as a character along with these notable figures?
NN: It’s been amazing. In doing the rewatch, seeing the evolution of the court clerk, watching Charles Robinson’s growth throughout his time on the show and then being able to celebrate him … Unfortunately, most of that cast is gone. Harry Anderson, Markie Post, Charles Robinson and then Richard Moll, of course, Florence Halop. When you go back and watch the original, all of them are gone. So, it’s like, how do we celebrate them? And then take what they brought and then bring our own love and spin to it.
I think, ultimately, in watching John Larroquette — who IS Night Court — watching him work is that permission to just play. He said early on, “Everyone is good at their job.” Right? And really, everything that’s zany and crazy is all the cases that come in. It’s how we respond to those zany cases, how the craziness of Night Court influences our decisions and how we interact with one another. It’s fun and amazing to celebrate the old guard and also bring in our own joy by influence from the old guard.
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Embracing the Fun
DK: After long character runs on The Good Fight and Mike and Molly, how was it for you to find Wyatt as you stepped into that role?
NN: It was great. They threw everything at the wall when it came to me. I wrote everything down and said, “Okay, this week I’m this. This week, y’know, I’m this, this, this, this, and that.” And then the next week, it’d be slightly different. I’m like, well, then I’m this, this, this, and that. Sometimes, it’ll contradict. But I would never be like, “Hey, last week you said I was this, and now I’m this?” I was like, y’know what? We’re complicated human beings, so I’m this and this, okay?
Being able to say yes to all those things [led me] to where, [in] Season 3, I’ve been able to let go and have so much fun. I know who this guy is at his core, and I can take this anywhere I want, and I know that I won’t go so far because I have the truth of who he is anchored within me. It’s been fun being able to try to surprise not only the audiences that come and see our show but also the other actors that are in the scene with me. I try to be playful and bring something new every take. And that’s again a testament to watching John Larroquette.
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Learning About Wyatt
HH: What has been your favorite thing you’ve gotten to learn about Wyatt during your tenure with the show?
NN: My favorite thing I’ve learned so far — because there’s, of course, all the facets like I’m a father, I have two daughters, I’m in law school, I’m studying to be a lawyer — [was] learning that I was a germaphobe. Because then, how I touch things suddenly becomes that much more real to me. They feel different knowing that. So that was a fun detail and a fun episode to work on. And from then on, I think of things through that prism.
Also, the other thing that I loved is the fact that I love gossip and I love tea. For all of Season 2, whenever there was tea being spilled, I had a juice box. So that was my tea, the juice box. And I love a straw. I don’t know; there’s something silly about a straw. You just can’t be super tough and masculine when you’re drinking through a straw.
New episodes of Night Court air on NBC Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c and stream the next day on Peacock.
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