When God Was on Sitcoms

Townhall.com ^ | April 23, 2018 | Larry Provost

[Kaslin]

The late Harry Anderson and his appearances as the youthful Judge Harry T. Stone on Night Court and elsewhere in the 1980’s were funny and often magical. It should not be surprising as magic was Harry’s passion. He was a special guy and will be missed and the show that defines him, Night Court, which ran from January 1984 to May 1992, was a unique show. Night Court was never popular in the way The Cosby Show, Family Ties, or Cheers were. Perhaps this is because Night Court had strong slapstick comedy. Night Court also had a more than a few very strong moments of seriousness that were never pushed in the “very special episode” way of reaching the audience.

In its early days Night Court was considered a realistic portrayal of a New York City court and could tell a powerful story such as the episode where a kid, played by a young Michael J. Fox, who was angry at the world and ended up crying in the arms of Judge Stone. But nowhere were Night Court’s moments more powerful than in this sitcom’s several references to God.

Perhaps the strongest Night Court reference to God came in the October 1987 episode entitled “Death of a Bailiff” the ending of which can be seen here.

The bailiff named Bull was struck by lightning and during the time he was critically injured Bull thought he heard the voice of God telling him to give away all his life savings to the needy. Bull gave away all of his money to everyone who needed it, except for the narcissistic prosecutor Dan (played by John Larroquette) who hilariously dressed up like a hobo to get his friends’ money.

After giving away his money, Bull found out that it was not God speaking to him but Art, the building maintenance man, who definitely did not tell Bull to give away his money. After finding out he lost his life savings, Bull sat alone in the courtroom. A poor looking man came in the courtroom looking for the man who gave away all his money. Despite having lost his life savings, Bull gave the man his last 100 dollars so the poor man could take a bus to South Carolina to see his son who was coming home from military service. The poor man realized that Bull was the individual who gave away all his money said to Bull “I don’t know what to say. God bless you.” Bull said he would not hold his breath. Judge Stone came in and Bull said he wanted to be left alone. Harry Anderson’s character patted Bull and told him “that my friend is something you will never be.”

Bull talked to God with honesty and told the Lord he was upset about losing the money but then came to the conclusion that “helping other people is the way we get close to you.” After that, a Mayor’s office representative came in and offered Bull a check to not sue the city. The check was the exact amount of Bull’s life savings and signing the check waived his claims against the City, calling it “an act of God.”

Other episodes showed a fully robed Judge Stone sitting in the witness chair in a deserted courtroom talking to God asking him deep questions about life. In a tragic situation, a kid was shot in part because of judicial decision Judge Stone had to make. Of all people it was Dan who cunningly compared Harry to Jesus and asked him to turn some water into wine and cure a few blind men. Dan was not being sacrilegious but he was telling Harry that none of us are God and that bad things will happen that are beyond our control. Dan, who often disagreed with Harry told him, “You were impartial, you were fair…and I admired you.” Harry returned to the bench.

While many religious leaders in the 1980’s and even today would have balked at the idea that Night Court had a religious bent to it, it is also worth noting that no episode like “Death of a Bailiff” would be seen on any of today’s sitcoms. Such a contrast shows the intelligence of Night Court creator Reinhold Weege and also how Hollywood has changed, and not for the better.

Night Court was not an overtly religious show but it certainly was not anti-Christian in the way shows increasingly are today. Even the playboy Dan refused to do the worst things that tempted him on Night Court and came through, like Archie Bunker, when it really counted. Night Court was not the most popular show on television but it certainly is among the most well intelligently written series ever. Humor is too serious a thing to be forgotten in a sitcom. So is God.

[Midwesterner53]

Not a sitcom but the time travel show on NBC, Timeless, a character on the show last week flatly says: There is no God. It’s a show teetering on cancellation already and the extreme political correctness throughout the show will likely do it in once and for all. Deservedly so.

[zot]

Thanks for the ping. I didn’t see this episode of Night Court.

[zencycler]

Agree on most of your post, except that the leftists really can’t “force” an atheistic worldview on our country. If God were still part of the “fabric” of our society, those efforts would go nowhere. So the influence on the leftist atheists only works when too many folks have lost faith and are open to those suggestions. So “swayed” perhaps, but not “forced”.

In other words, as much as I’d like to put all the blame on the leftist atheists, much, if not most of the blame should reside with those who allowed their spirits and minds to be influenced by those teachings.

[Bogey78O]

I watched the Bull episode last week. It was a nice somber moment at the send. Broken at the close by Mac walking in and reading God’s reply on the computer and being confused by the random sentence.

[Boogieman]

You might be subliminally influenced by the fact that the same guy (Jack Elliot) wrote both theme songs.

[Elsie]

My wife and I watch a lot of the old Western many of which often talk about God.

 

Cowboy Poetry

by Bill Jones

 

 

 

Jake, the rancher, went one day
to fix a distant fence.
The wind was cold and gusty
and the clouds rolled gray and dense.

As he pounded the last staples in
and gathered tools to go,
The temperature had fallen,
the wind and snow began to blow.

When he finally reached his pickup,
he felt a heavy heart.
From the sound of that ignition,
he knew it wouldn't start.

So Jake did what most of us
would do if we had been there.
He humbly bowed his balding head
and sent aloft a prayer.

As he turned the key for the last time,
he softly cursed his luck.
They found him three days later,
frozen stiff in that old truck.

Now Jake had been around in life
and done his share of roaming.
But when he saw Heaven, he was shocked --
it looked just like Wyoming!

Of all the saints in Heaven,
his favorite was St. Peter.
(Now, this line ain't needed
but it helps with rhyme and meter)

So they set and talked a minute or two,
or maybe it was three.
Nobody was keeping' score --
in Heaven time is free.

"I've always heard," Jake said to Pete,
"that God will answer prayer,
But one time I asked for help,
well, he just plain wasn't there."

"Does God answer prayers of some,
and ignore the prayers of others?
That don't seem exactly square --
I know all men are brothers."

"Or does he randomly reply,
without good rhyme or reason?
Maybe, it's the time of day,
the weather or the season."

"Now I ain't trying to act smart,
it's just the way I feel.
And I was wondering', could you tell me --
what the heck's the deal?!"

Peter listened very patiently
and when Jake was done,
There were smiles of recognition,
and he said, "So, you're the one!!"

"That day your truck, it wouldn't start,
and you sent your prayer a flying,
You gave us all a real bad time,
with hundreds of us trying."

"A thousand angels rushed,
to check the status of your file,
But you know, Jake, we hadn't heard
from you in quite a long while."

"And though all prayers are answered,
and God ain't got no quota,
He didn't recognize your voice,
and started a truck in Minnesota."

[Kartographer]

A Cowboy’s Prayer

Oh, Dear Lord thanks for hearing my plea;
And from the bonds of sin rescuing me.

Dark was the path that I once did ride;
But now light is my trail with you as my guide.

Thought sometimes off your range I may stray;
But steeped in your word I soon mend my ways.

For uncertain and sad is the road ridden alone;
But certain and glad is my road when I atone.

For who better to guide me than he who made all;
Who could ride with the Lord and not ride tall.

Give us this day, our bacon and beans;
Knowing if the trail gets rough it’s on you we can lean.

And when it comes time for me to return to the ranch;
All I ask is that you would give this old cowboy a chance.

A cot in Heaven’s bunkhouse is all that I seek;
And a chance to ride for your brand forever in peace.

By Jack Cook
© 2015 Jack Cook. All Rights Reserved.

[a fool in paradise]

That episode must’ve affected Bob Dylan, too.

[Rastus]

Kevin James is a devout Catholic and his family goes to Mass on Kevin Can Wait. It’s not a huge part of the show, but it’s there.

[Rastus]

I didn’t watch when I found out Eric Kripke was involved. All of his shows are liberal garbage.

[Rastus]

The Lantern on the Wagon
Red Steagall

I was out on night guard when the storm come rollin’ in
The lead steer got up to his feet and raced into the wind
The air was filled with lightning as it jumped from horn to horn
My night horse took the challenge and we rode into the storm

I tried to turn the leaders but they scattered like the wind
I held onto a hundred head and turned ‘em back again
I rode with no direction as I pushed them thru the night
Then way off in the distance was a tiny point of light

Yes, the lantern on the wagon led me safely thru the storm
A beacon shining brightly, I was lost and all alone
As I wandered in the darkness, was a warm and welcome sight
The lantern on the wagon led me safely thru the night

If your life has no direction and you think you’ve lost your way
I have a friend who’ll help you, all you have to do is pray
It’s the one who’s love is constant, you don’t have to ride alone
All you need to do is ask Him and He’ll lead you safely home

Like the lantern on the wagon, He’ll lead you safely thru the storm
A beacon shining brightly when you’re lost and all alone
If you’re wandering in the darkness, He’s a warm and friendly sight
His light of love will lead you safely thru the darkest night
Yes, His light of love will lead you safely thru the darkest night

[Elsie]

Good one!

[gattaca]

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