Interesting that Karen Austin's final episode of Night Court would be an all-out, take-no-prisoners, tour-de-force performance where she lets it all hang out after her court clerk, Lana Wagner, takes medicine for a virus and suffers the many side effects, such as bouts of depression mingled with euphoria and a startling release of her inhibitions (she lays a kiss on Harry!). She scales the library bookcase like a monkey in Harry's chambers, becomes emotionally distraught when she believes Harry "led her on" with their kiss, leads Harry throughout the courtroom, ranting and raving about being betrayed, even at one point breaking out in song! Fans of Jack Riley (of The Bob Newhart Show) should get a kick out of his jerk clown, a repulsive creep who appears before the court after several charges including disorderly conduct. To say Riley is foul would be putting it lightly. "Wonder Drugs" is mostly all Austin, as she just cuts loose. I'm not sure why she left the show, but this was quite a close for her character on Night Court! This episode further hinted at the possibilities of romance, with a never seen fiancé named Emerson mentioned often (rather unenthusiastically) by Austin's character as a reason they couldn't be involved, between Harry and Lana, never to be. Ron Feinberg in drag allows Harry a funny line about matching gloves.
Review of Wonder Drugs
