The Pop Culture Pundit

What? Huh? How??? WHAT??? If those questions ran through your mind watching last night’s Night Court season finale (entitled “A Decent Proposal”), you’re not alone. The show, following judge Abby Stone (Melissa Rauch) on the New York City night court circuit, has always had a wacky sense of humor (Abby’s full name is Abracadabra, for starters). But the particular twist at the end of the episode isn’t just crazy – it’s a game changer. 

The last few episodes of Night Court have largely served as a set up to reunite Abby with her ex, Jake (the always welcome Ryan Hansen). Meeting last year in season 2, they began dating, but broke up early in season 3 when Abby lied to him. Over the rest of the season, however, it was clear that Abby was never really over him–and Jake admitted the same to her. They agreed they shared strong feelings for each other, with Jake wanting to take things to the next level by getting engaged. 

Everything seemed like it was going for a happy ending–Abby admitted to Jake she wanted to be together for a long time, Jake found his engagement ring after previously losing it–and attorney Dan Fielding (John Laroquette) basically spilled the beans to Abby that Jake was going to propose that night within the courtroom itself. 

As Abby prepared to take the next step, she heard a knock on the door in her judges’ chambers. Thinking it was Jake, she turned around with a smile on her face–but that turned to surprise when she saw who it really was. Standing there was none other than Simon Helberg, Rauch’s co-star on The Big Bang Theory. While there have been other Big Bang Theory reunions through the duration of Night Court, this one is particularly special as Helberg and Rauch played Howard and Bernadette, the OG married couple on the show. 

Entering Abby’s office chewing gum and rocking a decidedly not Howard-approved outfit (no dickie, no garish belt buckle, slightly ruffled hair), my curiosity grew as to who Helberg was playing as he planted a kiss on Abby…at the same moment Jake came into her room to propose. 

“Who’s this guy?” Jake says, asking aloud the question on our minds.

“I’m her husband,” Helberg casually announces as a “to be continued” flashes across the screen. 

WAIT….WHAT???? 

They were married on The Big Bang Theory…AND THEY’RE MARRIED HERE TOO????

EVEN THOUGH ABBY HAD NEVER EVEN MENTIONED SHE HAD A HUSBAND BEFORE??? EVEN WHEN SHE WAS PREVIOUSLY ENGAGED TO ANOTHER MAN IN SEASON 1???

WHAT?

HUH??

HOW???

WHAT????

This cliffhanger is absolutely insane, and if NBC cancels the show I will send a million neckties (Abby’s favorite accessory) in protest. 

While this shock ending surely came as a ratings ploy–who wouldn’t love to see Howard and Bernadette from The Big Bang Theory reuinte–I have some big bang theories as to what might happen next. In an interview, Rauch stated that Helberg would be back next season (if it’s renewed) for an arc to resolve this storyline (please renew it, NBC). So, what would be the resolution? I have some ideas: 

1. The Marriage Adds Drama to Abby and Jake’s Romance–But it all Works Out  

The biggest possibility here is what I like to call “the inconvenient marriage.” This seems to be a popular device in TV shows when they are looking for a), ratings, b), a way to drag out a romantic arc to create more drama, and/or c), are desperate for ideas. 

We’ve seen this in many shows: Cece almost married Shivrang in New Girl, even though Schmidt was her clear end-game, before Taylor Swift appeared in a thirty-second cameo to announce her love for “Shivvy”; April and Axl got married in season 8 of The Middle for what didn’t seem like a particular reason except the writers ran out of ideas; and Amy was married to Adam in Superstore for YEARS even though viewers knew she’d end up with Jonah.

Whatever the case, it is most likely that Abby is married to Spencer* to inconvenience her impending engagement to Jake. The fact that her marriage was never mentioned before also seems to support this theory. In all likelihood, Abby and her apparent husband will get divorced, hopefully leading to a romantic future for Abby and Jake–Ryan Hansen has great chemistry with not only Rauch but the rest of the cast, so I would love to see him join as a series regular for future installments. 

*Helberg’s character’s name is never mentioned in the episode, but Spencer is what it says on IMDb! 

2. It Leads to Abby and Jake Breaking Up, again

Of course, there is a less happy ending in this scenario. Even if Abby and Spencer divorce, Jake could once again break up with Abby for lying–or rather, not telling him the full truth. Wanting to get engaged implies you are single–or at the very least you’ve told your future fiancé if you’re previously married and will get a divorce!!! It would be sad if Hansen once again left the cast–but that leaves you with a good excuse to go watch the very underrated Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television. 

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3. It Was a Joke

What if Abby hired someone to play her fake husband? In the previous episode, Abby was accused of being a boring judge, comparing herself to “fun judge” Toby Nulman (Michael Urie). What if she’s trying to switch things up by pulling a prank to prove to Jake she is indeed fun?? 

4. They Newhart Us

In the 90s TV show Newhart, standup comedian Bob Newhart played Dick Louden, a man who ran a quaint hotel in Vermont….except in the series finale, the entire show was revealed to be a dream had by Bob Hartley, a character Newhart played on his previous TV show The Bob Newhart Show. What if we cut to Bernadette from The Big Bang Theory waking up from a dream, with Howard by her side? This could easily be written in: Bernadette is a microbiologist who has been quarantined for exposure to deadly disease before; Night Court could be a coma-induced fever dream (it would explain a lot of Night Court’s nonsensical plots). However, this is probably highly unlikely, especially considering it’s a planned arc with Helberg and not a one-off appearance, but maybe Night Court will decide to break the fourth wall and have them at least acknowledge their former characters.

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Now that I’ve speculated what could happen next, I’d also like to throw out my theories for WHY Spencer and Abby married in the first place (assuming it is neither a joke nor a dream), and WHY he decided to re-appear at the most inconvenient time:

• Their marriage was a mistake made years ago–they pulled a Ross and Rachel and eloped in Vegas while extremely intoxicated–and Spencer is now sober (like Abby) and wants to move on from that time in his life (this would be a poignant way to address a serious topic that has appeared on Night Court before)
• Spencer has fallen in love with someone else and popped in Abby’s court for a divorce (this would be convenient considering Abby is also in love with someone else and a judge who could help with this matter)
• There will be yet another crossover moment with The Big Bang Theory universe–Georgie and Mandy from Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage stop by Abby’s court to explain the many pitfalls of marriage, leading to a swift divorce with Spencer and happy resolution for Abby and Jake (Jabby? Ake? What are we thinking for ‘ship names?)

As we can see, there are many possibilities for what could happen next. We won’t know though unless NBC renews it, so TV execs, please make it happen! In a show with a legal setting as its background, this feels like the justice it deserves.