Steven Helmer Publications

One thing I've always found interesting is how easily it is to become emotionally invested in characters on a television series. You know they aren't real, but when that show goes off the air, you still feel as though you've lost friends. I think this is a big part of the reason spin-offs are so popular. I feel that way about The Big Bang Theory which, with the debut of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe tonight, will have its third spin-off series (though one is technically a spin-off of a prequel) and will emphasize some of the secondary characters that helped make that show great.  As I think about the original series while debating if I'll watch the new spin-off tonight or tomorrow morning, I find myself contemplating each of the seven main characters and how they all changed at some point during the show, some more than others. While those changes were over the course of the full series, I was able to pinpoint the moments I think had the biggest impact for each of...

I had my share of doubts about the reboot of one of my favorite series, Night Court , but the Melissa Rauch -led series did pleasantly surprise me. So, I was very disappointed when I learned NBC chose to cancel the show after just three seasons and end it on a cliffhanger.  While I'll be the first to admit the series reboot had its share of issues, including multiple cast changes, I think the show ultimately fell victim to what I've seen in other series, impatience. In 1987 (when the original Night Court was in its third season), Star Trek: The Next Generation began airing in syndication and many believed the popularity of the original series and movies would result in a quick cancellation. While this almost came to fruition, TNG both survived the first season and went on to six more, followed by multiple movies of its own and other spinoffs.  In a way, Night Court was in a similar situation. The only difference is both NBC and the showrunners seemed to give up on the show ...

I will admit, I had a lot of doubts when I heard they were going to reboot one of my favorite series from my childhood. And I will also admit, the new Night Court has exceeded my expectations and has become one of my favorite must-watches. However, with the show's first season in the books and a second season likely delayed due to a writer's strike, I am going to pose the question about the lone holdover from the original series. Is it time to say goodbye to attorney Dan Fielding ( John Larroquette )? The relationship between Fielding and Judge Abby Stone ( Melissa Rauch) , the daughter of his long-time and deceased friend Harry Stone (the late Harry Anderson ) was one of the pleasant surprises from the reboot. The newer version of Fielding is less of a chauvinist and more of a father figure both to Abby and the rest of the main characters while providing a connection to the original series. However, his presence has always (at least in my opinion) felt a little bit forced. I t...

I am a person who has always believed a television series can be made stronger by having a good nemesis for a beloved character. House, MD , for example, finally hit its stride for me when the series introduced Edward Vogler ( Chi McBride ) and wasn't as enjoyable when they wrote him off the show. Even the original episodes of this series had their share of recurring villains, ranging from sleezy journalist Al Craven ( Terry Kiser ) to Dan Fielding's ( John Larroquette ) boss, Vincent Daniels ( Daniel Frishman ) that added an element of suspense to a comedy series. This is why I feel the decision to make podcaster Remecca ( Stephnie Weir ) just a one-and-done character in last night's episode was a mistake. Remecca reminded me a lot of Al Craven, who was a thorn in Harry Stone's ( Harry Anderson ) side because he was always working to portray things in a negative light. This included everything from finding out about Harry's criminal record to finding out confidenti...

Even though the jury is still out regarding the Melissa Rauch -led Night Court reboot I do think the fledgling series has shown potential by modernizing the stories while still honoring the original that went off the air in 1992. So far, the show has focused solely on Abby Stone's (Rauch) relationship with her deceased father, Harry ( Harry Anderson ) and a now-elderly Dan Fielding ( John Larroquette ) and it still needs to give the supporting cast a little more depth. However, there is an opportunity for the reboot to bring closure to a few storylines from the original series: What happened to Bob and June Wheeler? Bob and June ( Brent Spiner and Annie O'Donnell ) were frequent and popular guest characters on the series and their hard-luck stories were some of the funniest moments on the show. Their last appearance was in Season 4, when they purchased the courthouse concession stand for $250,000 only to watch it fail because they had to raise the prices to obscene amounts. Th...

I still find myself a bit undecided about the fledgling Night Court reboot, which still is trying to fill the big shoes of the original. However, the show took a big step in that direction by showing us the human side of Abby Stone ( Melissa Rauch ) by revealing she is a recovering alcoholic. Comedy series don't always need to be funny. In fact, the 80s/90s version of this series had more than its share of heartbreaking moments. Sometimes a little seriousness goes a long way toward making the characters a lot more believable and relatable. Stone's revelation about her problem and how it was a big part of the reason she wants to honor her dad by helping people was a perfect example. I think the thing that impressed me most was how the reveal was done a lot more subtly than a lot of other series might have done it. She didn't make a big announcement or fall off the wagon. Instead, Dan Fielding's ( John Larroquette ) own history with a recovering spouse allowed him to see...

When I saw NBC was rebooting the show Night Court , I had some mixed feelings. The original series was (and still is) one of my favorites and a show I missed until I found it on Amazon Prime. However, while I liked Melissa Rauch from The Big Bang Theory and thought she was the right choice to play Harry Stone's ( Harry Anderson ) daughter, I wasn't convinced it would be able to live in such big footprints. While I won't cast a final judgement after just two episodes, the reboot hasn't done much to convince me it is able to stand on its own two feet. Even more concerning is it doesn't seem to be trying to do that. Whenever you reboot a series, comparisons to the original are going to be inevitable. And, while it might seem like a good idea, reminding people of the original only makes the problem worse. This starts with the decision to bring back John Larroquette as Dan Fielding. Not only does his return to the courtroom seem forced (and possibly illegal), but his ...

Synopsis: After an injury ended her gymnastics career early, former bronze medalist Hope Ann Greggory has been exploiting her local celebrity status while living with her dad and stealing money from the back of his mail truck. When her former coach kills herself, Hope receives a letter bequeathing her $500,000. However, to receive the money, she must train an up-and-coming local gymnast for the Olympics. Who's in it? The movie stars Melissa Rauch , Gary Cole , Haley Lu Richardson , Cecily Strong and Thomas Middleditch . Review: This movie was mentioned in a book I recently read about the television show The Big Bang Theory . I am familiar with Melissa Rauch and the trailer made it seem funny, so I checked it out from our local library earlier today. My wife and I watched it tonight and, while it wasn't as funny as I thought it would be, I didn't hate it. I think the movie might be wrongly classified as a comedy. If anything, it seemed a lot more like a drama about a for...

Synopsis: This non-fiction book uses interviews with cast members and various others to tell the inside story of The Big Bang Theory , an unexpected hit series that ran for 12 seasons. Review: Even though I didn't first watch it until after it was off the air, The Big Bang Theory has become one of my all-time favorite television shows and I don't think I've gone a week without watching at least one re-run. When I saw this book advertised, I wound up requesting it through my local library as a result. Overall, I have to say I was happy with that decision. The book wasn't what I was expecting it to be. I figured it would just be your normal non-fiction book that tells the story with the occasional cast member quote thrown in. Instead, the author lets the people who were involved with the series tell the story for her. The end result is a book that reveals a lot of intimate details and some funny anecdotes you may not otherwise have gotten. For example, the book spends ...

My wife and I are currently binge-watching the show The Big Bang Theory (first time for her, second time for me) and, as we watch/re-watch the episodes, we find ourselves comparing the series to another favorite, Friends .  While I do think the former has a slight edge overall, partly because the material isn't as dated as the 90s sitcom now is, there were also some things Friends  did better, making me want to attempt some comparisons. After some thought, I decided to start with the shows' couples. For simplicity purposes, I am focusing solely on the primary pairings. In the case of Big Bang Theory , it would be the seven starring characters, and, with Friends , I am using the show's couples at the end of the series.   Ross and Rachel ( Friends ) versus Leonard and Penny ( Big Bang Theory ) At first glance, there are a lot of similarities between these two couples. Both Ross and Leonard had crushes on their future romantic partners long before the romantic interest was ...