Night Court – Abracadabra Alaka-Dan

By: Sammi Turano

Abby (Melissa Rauch) is presiding over a case for Glorivette Sinclair (Sj Mendelson).  As Julianne (Wendie Malick) and Dan (John Larroquette) present the case, a lot of magic tricks take place, including Dan pulling flowers out an umbrella, Julianne pulling scarves and a bra out of her top and Wyatt sneezing out money. It is all the work of Starla the Great (Mo Collins), Harry’s old assistant.

Abby is not happy about this, especially when Starla puts an egg in her mouth. Gurgs (Lacretta) wants a chick to come out of the egg and is thrilled when it actually happens.

Later on, Abby complains about Starla to Dan, saying how Harry would always bail her out and that she thought Starla lived in jail. Starla then comes in and gives Abby some of Harry’s old things she got at a mirage sale. Abby makes it clear that she still doesn’t like Starla, causing her to leave, but not before she gets the chick….which Abby stole.

In the cafeteria, Wyatt (Nyambi Nyambi), Julianne, Gurgs and Flobert (Gary Anthony Williams) talk about magic and the pros and cons of it. Wyatt compares it to how good things also have bad side effects, which is part of his new look on life….being lukewarm. Julianne doesn’t like this and wants him to change.

Abby looks at one of Harry’s old boxes and tries to open it. Dan comes in and despite not wanting to be a part of it, helps her out. He defends Starla and thinks she seems nice, but Abby is still upset because Starla always pulled stunts (such as having her boyfriend smash her birthday cake) and upset her.

The box opens and their arms get stuck together. They go to confront Starla, who says it is a fun box and if they don’t do what she wants, she won’t let them out. It turns out that she wants Harry’s magic box to become a real magician, but Abby was born and ruined those plans.

Abby says she has no idea where the box is, so Starla tells them that they are out of luck and it will get worse when they need to use the bathroom…which now Abby does.

Julianne, Flobert and Gurgs try to help Wyatt get away from his lukewarm ways….with the help of a contortionist and flowers. Flobert is wearing a bullet proof vest and gets shot with a bow and arrow, thanks to the contortionist sneezing due to the flowers.

Dan and Abby try to get out of the box. He wants her to just give Starla the journal and looks for it in the office. He finally finds it in a hidden part of the bookcase. She says she doesn’t want to give it up, but also doesn’t understand what is written in the journal, which might help them get in the box.

Abby presides over another case with Dan by her side. There is a man named Mr. Danielson (Wesley Mann) talking very slowly, so Abby tells him to get to the point, while Julianne explains the case and Dan explains the condition. Abby fines him $50 and sends him on his way.

Dan and Abby continue to try and figure out how to get out of the box, much to Julianne and Gurgs’s amusement. Gurgs compares the half man/half turtle comment Julianne made  about Mr. Danielson to men on dating apps, making Julianne think that Wyatt’s bad vibes are spreading. Wyatt is not amused as Flobert snarks about the situation. All the while, Dan and Abby get more and more frustrated.

Later on, Starla is back with Dan and Abby, this time in handcuffs. They all argue, with Starla still demanding the journal.

Dan is getting annoyed and finally asks Starla if Abby is truly to blame for her stalled career. Starla admits to some bad behavior, while Abby admits she wants the journal because she can’t do magic and the journal is the closest thing she has to him and his magic.

Starla says that Harry always said Abby was the magical thing in his life, which Dan says sounds like Harry. Dan and Abby hold hands and the box opens. Abby agrees to let Starla borrow the journal. Starla tells her that Abby being so magical is why she is named Abracadabra, which Abby snarks on.

Everyone else is in the cafeteria, eating brownies. They are all depressed, with Julianne blaming Wyatt. He tries to make Gurgs feel better by offering to watch her favorite video, but she says it wasn’t what she thought. He also says that he feels something now because he realizes that them helping him means they care.

Julianne tells them that they are eating pot brownies. Wyatt wishes he had asked about the brownies, while Flobert admits he ate seven.

The episode ends with them enjoying the effects of the brownies and Wyatt hooking up with the contortionist.