As you might expect from the title "Hello, Goodbye" cast changes are the focus of this episode of Nigh Court. The saddest of the exits was that of Selma Diamond who played bailiff Selma Hacker. The 64 year old died after season two had finished shooting and the actors as well as the fictional characters they portrayed clearly missed her and it shows in their performances. The Salty Selma had been involved in comedy since the days of radio when she was a writer for "The Big Show". Her sort of breakout movie role was on "Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (give or take a mad) though only her voice was heard. She appeared in a number of other films, often as more than a telephone voice, and made quite a few TV appearances. Aside from Night Court she was probably best known for her "Tonight Show" appearances. The other exit was that of Ellen Foley as Public Defender. The talented Foley was simply fired. The talented songstress, "Paradise by the Dashboard Light", and Broadway actress was pushed out because Markie Post became available. Post was allegedly the actress that producer Reinhold Weege had wanted from the very first, but she was working on "The Fall Guy" when Night Court debuted. While Foley did a nice job, it was the addition of Post that solidified the series. It didn't hurt that she was rapidly becoming an American Heart Throb and is still known to her fans simply as The Goddess. For those of you actually interested in the episode, hey I didn't forget about it, the show focused on Bull's reaction to Selma's passing and the hiring of a new bailiff. There are a number of lovely jokes the best being when a completely inebriated Bull had a wonderful scene with some circus folk. Eventually the big lug finds a new mother figure in Florence Kleiner, played by Florence Halop, who is hired to be Selma's replacement. As she castigates him for drinking, a new relationship is born.
3 Reviews
Heartwarming tribute and proper send-off for Selma
metalrox_200027 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Addressing the real life passing of a cast member is tough handle, how does one craft the proper tribute. Especially when it comes to a show more know for comedy. This episode of Night Court provides perfect the best example.
To understand Bull grief over the loss of co-worker Selma, one has to understand their relationship. They were more than co-workers, whereas Bull saw Selma as a friend, Selma took on the role of providing Bull a mother figure, one that could keep him in line, steer him away from danger, albeit with a little tough love. On the outside, Bull looks like a tough, menacing figure, but in reality, he's childlike with a heart of gold. And to that end, is why Selma becomes very protective of him.
Bull always took his role seriously, but the death of Selma has him reeling. In an uncharacteristic move, Bull spends the night getting drunk, and creating havoc. His co-workers, who essentially serve as a surrogate family, staged an intervention. After yelling at Christine, the new public defender, Bull finally breaks down. He's angry at the seemingly quick and easy way everyone else is moving on in replacing Selma, saying "Roses are red, violets are blue, get sick and die, we'll replace you too." Finally, in a cathartic moment, Bull screams, "I want answers, and I want them now!"
Soon, Flo, who is looking to apply for the open position, pops into the office. Seeing how much Flo reminds him of Selma, and suddenly happy Bull runs over to her, turns to Harry, and with a childlike wide smile, ask "Can I Keep her?" Harry sees that Flo is just like Selma, and should be able to fit right in. And once again, everything is right in Bull's world.
One thing that needs to be kept in mind about this episode is the performance of Richard Mull. Usually, Bull is played for laughs, the but of the joke. However, here, Richard Mull takes over the screen, and produces one of the best dramatic performances the show would ever see during its run. The closing scene with Bull mourning Selma is also a window to the dramatic skills Richard Mull had, but sadly, was never given many chances to display. All in all, Hello, Goodbye is rightfully regarded as one of Night Court's best episodes, and serves as the proper send off not only for the character Selma, but the actress, Selma Diamond as well.
To understand Bull grief over the loss of co-worker Selma, one has to understand their relationship. They were more than co-workers, whereas Bull saw Selma as a friend, Selma took on the role of providing Bull a mother figure, one that could keep him in line, steer him away from danger, albeit with a little tough love. On the outside, Bull looks like a tough, menacing figure, but in reality, he's childlike with a heart of gold. And to that end, is why Selma becomes very protective of him.
Bull always took his role seriously, but the death of Selma has him reeling. In an uncharacteristic move, Bull spends the night getting drunk, and creating havoc. His co-workers, who essentially serve as a surrogate family, staged an intervention. After yelling at Christine, the new public defender, Bull finally breaks down. He's angry at the seemingly quick and easy way everyone else is moving on in replacing Selma, saying "Roses are red, violets are blue, get sick and die, we'll replace you too." Finally, in a cathartic moment, Bull screams, "I want answers, and I want them now!"
Soon, Flo, who is looking to apply for the open position, pops into the office. Seeing how much Flo reminds him of Selma, and suddenly happy Bull runs over to her, turns to Harry, and with a childlike wide smile, ask "Can I Keep her?" Harry sees that Flo is just like Selma, and should be able to fit right in. And once again, everything is right in Bull's world.
One thing that needs to be kept in mind about this episode is the performance of Richard Mull. Usually, Bull is played for laughs, the but of the joke. However, here, Richard Mull takes over the screen, and produces one of the best dramatic performances the show would ever see during its run. The closing scene with Bull mourning Selma is also a window to the dramatic skills Richard Mull had, but sadly, was never given many chances to display. All in all, Hello, Goodbye is rightfully regarded as one of Night Court's best episodes, and serves as the proper send off not only for the character Selma, but the actress, Selma Diamond as well.
Off the Wall and Heartfelt
eric-652071 June 2022
Night Court had a way of being completely zany and off the.wall, then unexpectedly switching the tone to something rather deep and meaningful. Only Night Court could do that. Seasons 1 through 5 are the best in television history, especially Seasons 3 and 4. Seasons 6 and 7 are also very good. Seasons 8 and 9 are NOT good (all the best writers and producers had left the show); do not judge Night Court by Seasons 8 and 9; they are not "Night Court."
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