Summary

  • Richard Moll's beloved role as Bull Shannon in the Night Court revival may not see a return due to the actor's reluctance and personal issues behind the scenes.
  • Moll's character, Bull Shannon, evolved from a hardened lawman to an eccentric daydreamer, which captured audience interest and even inspired a ventriloquist doll based on his likeness.
  • While the possibility of Moll returning to Night Court is small, it is not entirely ruled out, given the limited options for returning cast and the absence of any remaining personal grudges.

The 2023 What Roz's Return Means For Night Court Reboot Season 2

Why Richard Moll Likely Won't Return To Cast Of Night Court

Night Court Richard Moll Harry Anderson John Larroquette Season 9 DVD Cover Cropped

While Richard Moll may have found mainstream success with his role on Night Court, he was reportedly far from happy behind the scenes. After the original Night Court ended after nine seasons, Moll was openly opposed to the idea of appearing in any kind of Night Court revival or reunion special or reviving his Bull Shannon character. Indeed, Moll stated (via TMZ) that he would "run in the other direction" if approached about a return to Night Court. The reason for Richard Moll's reluctance to return as Bull Shannon may lie in his statement that "I love show business. It's the people I can't stand."Rumors persisted following the end of the original Night Court that Moll did not get along with some of his co-stars, though no reason was given for the enmity. It is suspected the classically trained Moll (who first found acclaim for playing Abraham Lincoln in a stage production of the famous Lincoln/Douglas debates) had issues with the more improvisational style favored by the rest of the cast. Whatever the reason, Moll has made it clear he's uninterested in returning as Bull Shannon.

Bringing Bull Shannon Back In Night Court 2023 Isn't Worth It

Night Court Bull Abducted By Aliens In Season 9 Finale

Beyond Richard Moll's reluctance to return, there are too many questions the Night Court reboot must answer if Bull Shannon returns to the series, even for a brief cameo. The original Night Court finale ended with Bull Shannon being abducted by aliens from the planet Jupiter, who needed a tall guy to reach the things on their highest shelves. This was a ludicrous turn of events, even by the standards of the final season of Night Court, making it just as unlikely that the revival producers would want to remind viewers of the original series' disastrous finale as it is that Richard Moll would return as Bull Shannon.While the chances of Richard Moll returning to the cast of Night Court is small, it is always a possibility. There are not many faces left that can return to the show, even if for a guest role. The series opened with Abby going to Dan to ask him to return, and the entire opening of the first season is about Harry's death, honoring the actor and character. Both Selma Diamond and Florence Halop died while actively in the show's cast. Markie Post, who played the original DA Christine died in 2021. If Moll's problems on Night Court were personal, with Larroquette leaving to become a judge in Louisiana, there is no one left that he might hold a grudge against.