| "The Eye of the Beholder" | |
|---|---|
| Season 1, Episode 5 #5 in series (193 episodes) | |
 Prosector Dan presents the defendant, a porn filmmaker (Stanley Brock) and his buxom blonde "star" (Jennifer Richards), with the only real evidence a porn tape, shot in Central Park as Dan wants to "sample" the evidence in Harry's chambers in "Eye of the Beholder" in Season 1 (ep.#5). | |
| Series: | Night Court |
| Network/Country: | NBC-TV / United States |
| Air date | February 8, 1984 |
| Production code | 185363 |
| Written by: | Reinhold Weege |
| Directed by: | Larry Balmagia |
| Guest stars: | Al Ruscio Stanley Brock Jennifer Richards Philip Sterling Michael Alaimo |
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The Eye of the Beholder |
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''The Eye of the Beholder was the fifth episode of Night Court, also the fourth overall series episode. Written by series creator and executive producer Reinhold Weege, the episode was directed by Larry Balmagia. The episode, which aired on NBC-TV, first aired on February 8, 1984.
| "The Eye of the Beholder" | ||
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Synopsis[]
Bull feels misunderstood and quits in anger after being rejected by a big-brother child mentoring association who thinks his size and appearance is imposing and intimdating to kids... Meanwhile, a blind shoplifter awaiting trial keeps trying to give his police handler the slip.
Plot Summary[]
Bull, who feels cheated because of his intimidating size wants to mentor a kid and a certain foundation (one of those "big brother" types) feels that Bull was too menacing/imposing to children. The rest of the episode follows his depression which soon turns to anger, as Bull then threatens the courtroom, yelling, "Why won't you all just leave me alone!" "I'm not an animal! I'm a human being!", as Bull storms out of the court proceeding as he then contemplates quitting, moving away from the human race, maybe to Canada to be a lumberjack (?) or the North Pole.
Anyway, Bull goes on the building's roof to mull things over scaring his peers who, at first, believe he might be contemplating jumping! Of course he answers "Are you nuts?!" ,as he tells Harry that's the place where he always goes to think, when Harry asks him about the idea of jumping.
Anyway, alternating stories include an obscenity charge against a porn filmmaker, Vincent Frago (Stanley Brock) and his "star", a buxom blonde named Iris Keller (Jennifer Richards), with the only real evidence being a porn tape, shot in Central Park, which a man named Leonard Blum (Philip Sterling) claimed to have seen being filmed, as Dan wants to "sample" the evidence!
While all the other drama regarding Bull and a one Ralph Foley, a blind man (played effectively by Al Ruscio) who is brought into court after getting arrested on a shoplifting charge, keeps getting away from the bailiff who was charged with watching him. Judge Stone eventually allows Bull to have temporary custody over Ralph, this while Dan is totally "swept away" in the viewing of the porn "evidence"! This is fun stuff with lots of jokes regarding Bull played to the hilt, along with the obvious influx of blind gags/zingers from and centered around Ralph Foley, actor Al Ruscio's character.
The final scene as Selma warns Bull never to worry or disrespect her again is a delight (she is so diminutive next to Bull, yet points that finger into his belly with conviction, fully in control and sincere in what she's saying). This is a strong episode for Bull, tailor made comedy exploiting his size and physical presence, not to mention his gifted facial talents and the ability to play even the most absurd dialogue with perfect straightness.
Cast (in credits order)[]
Starring[]
- Harry Anderson as Harold T. Stone
- Karen Austin as Lana Wagner
- John Larroquette as Dan Fielding
- Paula Kelly as Liz Williams
- Richard Moll as Bull Shannon
- Selma Diamond as Selma Hacker
Guest stars/Recurring charactes/cast[]
- Al Ruscio as Ralph Foley
- Stanley Brock as Vincent Frago
- Jennifer Richards as Iris Keller
- Philip Sterling as Leonard Blum
- Michael Alaimo as Police Officer