Some reboots are definitely worth watching and the reboot of Night Court is definitely one of those shows. If you were a little hesitant to watch the show, I would tell you don’t be. And that is definitely hard to say.
I am definitely one that doesn’t really love a reboot. Especially reboots of a show that mean something to me. The original Night Court definitely meant something – it still does. Night Court was appointment television. It wasn’t always the most appropriate thing for a kid, but it didn’t matter. I remember watching my Mom laugh and well, I can remember her explaining to me what a prostitute was because of the show.
Turning back on the show – even though it is a reboot – felt like a return to being younger. It felt like a good time where I could feel the nostalgia reign supreme. And one reason that this show is so good? Well that would be Lacretta.
I first remember seeing Lacretta in Second Act. It’s one of my favorite rom-coms. The actress plays ‘Donna “Gurgs” Gurganous’, the court’s bailiff, who takes her job very seriously. However, watching Gurgs, I would argue that she’s the heart of the courtroom keeping everyone together. She’s a glue. But what makes her special?
Lacretta has an answer for that, “I think because of that, because of her heart, because of how protective she are– sorry, I’m a little tired, because how protected she is of her coworkers. Then also, she wants to know them on a personal level so there’s not just work and then we all go home and we’re separate, and we just work and we go home and we’re separate. She wants to have a good time at work as well, within reason, within the confines of what court is. I think that’s what makes her special is because she is that pulse in the entire building. She knows a little bit about everybody. I think that makes people feel special when you do that.”
You can tell that Lacretta is passionate about her role in Night Court. She has a gleam in her eye and excitement to talk about her character and her role in the show. I know that she’s a disciplined actor – she’s done a lot of theater and that is very hard. A lot of work.
You can tell by talking to Lacretta and seeing her in her roles, that she takes her craft seriously. She learns from every role that she’s in and those around her. Because of Gurgs and the way that she is – no nonsense and also filled with her heart – I had to wonder, what has she learned from joining an iconic television show and playing such an essential character.
She said, “Sometimes as performers, we don’t trust ourselves. What I’m dealing with from week to week and from event to event is that I’ve worked hard to get to where I am. Sometimes people use the word deserve and I have a hard time with deserve, but I also have a hard time with earn, [laughs] even though I work so hard to get to where I am right now. I have to trust myself to say, “I have a right to be here. I work this hard to be here and it’s okay for me to occupy this space.” I have a tendency to shrink away, especially on red carpet things or I get a little shy when we have these amazing guest stars that I’ve watched my entire life on television and now here they are in the flesh and they’re looking at me and I don’t know what to say.”
And then she continued, “I have this flood of emotion and memories and I know how much they shaped me as an artist. I feel like the words that I have are inadequate, and we shouldn’t do that. Thank you is enough, hi is enough, you are enough, and you have worked hard to be here, therefore you have a right to be here. That’s what I’ve been learning over these past couple of seasons is to step into it because this is what you worked so hard for. I never said I wanted anything specific. I just prayed for success. I want to be able to pay my bills, to be able to buy a couple of video games and to have health insurance and maybe a little bit of extra money.”
I understand exactly what she’s saying and her enthusiasm is definitely contagious. She’s always thinking ahead, but she’s also living in the moment. Appreciating everything that comes her way.
She then added, “Here I am looking back and being like, “Oh, I can pay my bills, I can buy some video games, and I have health insurance for the whole year, and I have a little bit of extra that I can treat myself to because I know what I’ve lost along the way.” That’s when it really gets overwhelming. Then I’m stepping into a role that I watched as I was growing up. That was a part of my funny that is today. It’s a beautiful thing to get to do it here because I already know it so well. It’s been a delightful journey [laughs].”
The journey is an important part of the process and appreciating it – that’s the most important and beautiful way to live. We’re reminded of that talking to Lacretta.