Comedy Vet Richard Kind Previews His Night Court Guest Spot and (Finally) Working With John Larroquette
If there’s a funny show on TV, it’s a pretty good bet that Richard Kind has appeared on it.
The veteran actor has logged memorable guest appearances on dozens of TV comedies over the years, along with regular stints on Mad About You and Spin City, among others. So it’s no surprise that Kind pops up on this Tuesday’s Night Court (NBC, 8/7c) as unscrupulous Broadway producer Sy, who lands in court after getting caught selling fake theater memorabilia. So did Kind base this character on any Broadway producers he may have worked with?
“I know plenty of them,” Kind tells TVLine, but “I’ve been lucky to work with the best.” He says the closest thing to Sy he’s encountered is actually a fictional role he’s played before: Max Bialystock in The Producers. Sy isn’t “as crass as Max,” Kind notes, but he is “hungry and desperate” in the same way. Plus, this role gave him the opportunity to work with Night Court star John Larroquette, whose work Kind has always admired. While they both appeared on TNT’s The Librarians, they didn’t share any scenes, but “I had a costume fitting, and I wanted to come in and see all the people I wouldn’t be working with,” Kind recalls. “I sat around for a couple minutes and met them all, and that’s when I met John.” Now that they’ve reunited on Night Court, Larroquette “says he remembers me, but he doesn’t remember me,” Kind laughs. “He was very kind about it.”
In the episode, Larroquette’s character Dan Fielding has a long-held grudge against Sy for a failed production Dan invested in years ago, and in one scene, they spar while Sy chows down on a corned beef sandwich. Is eating during a scene a challenge for an actor, though? “Whenever food is involved, it is never a challenge,” Kind contends. In fact, it can be an advantage, he shares: “If you don’t have anything to do with your hands, sometimes they’re just flailing. Using them to eat is a wonderful thing.” Kind wouldn’t mind reprising his role as Sy in a future episode, either: “You are talking to a character actor who begs for work… I would love it. Situation comedy hours are better than bankers’ hours.”
Richard Kind is one of the greats! Can’t wait for the episode
I have loved Richard Kind since I watched him on Spin City. He is awesome. Looking forward to tonight’s episode. I have been enjoying Season 2 immensely.
Yes, Richard Kind is a comedy vet. But has anyone else noticed NBC’s odd promos lately? Like, they’re making a big deal about guest stars who really aren’t BIG stars.
A few weeks ago, there was a TV spot about Wendie Malick on Night Court. Now, I love Malick, but she’s not exactly the kind of star you promote in a TV spot to get butts in seats. She’s just a capable, experienced actress. Isn’t that what EVERYONE should be? It just reminds me of how NBC used to tout a guest appearance, and it would actually be a *STAR*. Their new strategy is promoting character actors. I don’t begrudge these folks the work; it’s just sort of disingenuous to act like these folks are bringing anything outside the norm, plus it feels like NBC is trying to convince the audience otherwise. As Judge Judy’s father once said, “Don’t pee on my leg, and tell me it’s raining”…
Malick’s been a very busy actress for over 40 years with numerous sitcoms under her belt, so yes, she qualifies. TV stardom is a different thing than movie stardom, and the history books are full of actors who never had much of a film career but became legends on the small screen: Betty White, Andy Griffith, Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart, Mark Harmon, Ted Danson, Tom Selleck and Jerry Seinfeld, just to name a few off the top of my head.
Here’s you, as my point flies over your head: I know there are different levels of celebrity, especially when it comes to TV vs Movies. Bill Cosby couldn’t make a good movie to save his life, but folks loved The Cosby Show. My point is, the on air NBC promo said “Guest star Wendie Malick is on an all new Night Court”, and I think you’d agree that that is NEW. Has nothing to do with whether she “deserves” it, but rather that kind of promotion used to be reserved for, maybe, situations when someone from the film world might deign to do a TV episode. Those lines are blurred now, but it would be like seeing a Young Sheldon TV spot, saying “Guest star Wallace Shawn”. Sure, everyone loves Shawn, but he’s not an actor you’re putting marketing dollars behind on a random, one off appearance.
And this is the part when someone chimes in “He was a recurring character on Young Sheldon!” My point still stands…
It does not, because “guest stars” have been promoted since the dawn of broadcasting. You think NBC would have aired an episode of “Wagon Train” without mentioning that Bette Davis was that week’s guest star? Or CBS being mum about Bogart appearing on Jack Benny’s show? Or John Wayne on “I Love Lucy?” If you believe that, I have a casino in Atlantic City you might like to buy.
A guest appearance by Richard Kind is reason enough to check out any show