The Return of the NBC sitcom Night Court for its second season brought with it a special holiday episode that couldn’t resist taking a jab at Meghan Markle and her controversial exit from the British royal family.
Titled “A Night Court Before Christmas,” the episode saw Marcia Warfield reprise her role as Roz Russell, the no-nonsense bailiff from the original series.
Roz found herself in a New Orleans courtroom where Dan Fielding, played by John Larroquette, now serves as a judge after leaving his public defender role in New York.
However, Roz wasn’t there to maintain order; she was arrested for trespassing and vandalism at a local plantation.
Her explanation?
She claimed to be filming a documentary about her enslaved ancestors.
But as the truth unraveled, it turned out she was actually hired by a tabloid to spy on Meghan Markle, who was staying at the plantation with her husband Prince Harry and their two children.
Although Meghan Markle didn’t make an appearance on screen, she was mentioned multiple times throughout the episode.
The portrayal depicted her as a manipulative and self-centered woman who exploited her royal status for fame and fortune.
The episode also accused her of fabricating her family history, exaggerating her mental health struggles, and misrepresenting her relationship with the royal family.
The episode cleverly referenced Markle’s infamous interview with Oprah Winfrey, where she and Prince Harry explained their decision to step back as senior royals and relocate to the US.
Some of the jokes included Roz claiming that the plantation owners silenced her, preventing her from speaking to the media or using social media.
Dan, skeptical of Roz’s claims, asked for evidence, to which Roz replied that she had emails, diary entries, and receipts.
Roz further revealed that she overheard a conversation between Prince Harry and his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, where they discussed the potential skin color of their son Archie and whether he would be given a royal title.
The episode also humorously suggested that Markle had secured a secret deal with Netflix to produce a documentary about her life titled “The Crown, Meghan’s Story.”
Roz admitted to being envious of Markle, who seemingly had everything she could ever desire: a prince, a palace, and a platform.
As the episode concluded, Roz was found guilty of her charges, and Dan sentenced her to community service at the plantation.
He also ordered her to write a letter of apology to Markle and watch all episodes of “The Crown” on Netflix.
The episode elicited mixed reactions from viewers.
Some found it hilarious, appreciating the return of Warfield and praising her comedic timing and chemistry with Larroquette.
However, others were deeply offended and felt that the show was engaging in bullying and spreading misinformation about Markle and the royal family.
Melissa Rauch and Winston Rauch, the creators of Night Court, defended the episode, clarifying that it was intended as satire rather than a personal attack on Markle.
They explained that they drew inspiration from the subreddit r.StMeghanMarkle, where users mock and criticize Markle’s actions and statements.
The creators also expressed their admiration for Markle’s work on the TV show “Suits” and hoped she would take the episode in good humor.
Night Court will continue its second season on NBC, airing on Tuesdays at 8/7c.
The show stars Melissa Rauch as Abby Stone, the daughter of the late Judge Harry Stone, who presides over the night shift of a Manhattan court.