That Gay Episode: ‘Night Court’ Reveals How The Patriarchy Fuels Homophobia

There are nuances to homophobia that are hard to see (or just plain irrelevant) when you’re on the receiving end of oppression. But there’s a spectrum of different homophobic shades, all united as one hate-hued rainbow. Working on That Gay Episode has exposed me to a few different shades, like the homophobia that stems from ignorance (Blanche in The Golden Girls), insecurity (Barney Miller’s Wojo), and panic (oh, Chandler Bing). Then there’s the kind that’s specific to men, the kind that’s supercharged by the patriarchy. Hey Dan Fielding–I’ve found the shade of homophobia that makes you look sickening.

For those not up on NBC’s proto-Must See TV lineup, Dan Fielding was the pompous and lecherous prosecutor played to acclaim by John Larroquette on Night Court from 1984 to 1992. When Night Court did their first gay episode in December 1984, Dan was the obvious choice for homophobe-of-the-week. “The Blizzard,” written by Reinhold Weege and directed by Jeff Melman, shoves the sharply dressed and physically imposing Dan into close quarters with a curmudgeonly gay played by the low-key Jack Riley–and we watch Dan shrink down into a fearful ball of anxiety.

What could cause Dan, six-feet-four-inches of suit and coif, to keep his distance from Riley’s mild-mannered Warren Wilson? The episode sets it up with the court case that brings Warren to the NYC municipal court during a massive blizzard. Warren and the plaintiff enter with their dogs: Warren and his prize-winning, bow-wearing poodle stand accused by Frank Hayes and his big dog Garth. Warren’s in trouble because he beat Frank up with a rubber dog bone after Garth got busy with the poodle, Simone. Frank, an owner as gruff as his dog, defends Garth’s actions by placing on the blame on Simone: “She keeps coming by, tempting him with those fancy ribbons in her hair, that exotic perfume, and that coquettish little trot of hers.” Garth, a big macho dog, had no control over his desires because Simone, a little poof of white curls and pink ribbon, was asking for it.

You get the parallel here, right? This is a “disproven cliche” (as Ellen Foley’s public defender Billie calls it in the episode) that men tell themselves to justify everything from leering to catcalling to sexual assault and worse. The blame is shifted from the man (the aggressor) to the woman (the victim) because they were just being too attractive. This line of patriarchal thinking, that men turn into rampaging sex Hulks as soon as they see something they like, fuels the kind of homophobia that overwhelms the lascivious Dan: he’s afraid that gay men (like Warren) will treat him how he treats women.

Judge Harry Stone (Harry Anderson) rules in favor of the plaintiff (Warren did beat Frank with a dog toy). Accepting his defeat, Warren approaches Dan and says he harbors no ill will. Warren then goes for it, hard, telling Dan, “I find you very attractive.” That suit, that scarf, that wave of salt and pepper hair–how could Warren resist? Dan tenses up, his stiff arms jutting backwards as they literally rip his briefcase in half. Face to face with a man that finds him attractive (danger!), Dan hunches over with his hands awkwardly affixed to his waist.

I have respect for Warren for just going for it like that. Dan, however, doesn’t shut up about it and prioritizes his brief encounter with a homosexual above the blizzard that’s trapped them in the courthouse. Because Dan so obviously has a lesson to learn, the situation comedy fates trap him in an elevator with Warren.

Dan’s totally disgusted and ignorant and in a panic, but it’s all channeled through fear–the fear that a man is going to harass him this time. Warren asks Mr. Fielding what his first name is, and he replies, “Dan, but my friends call me Killer.” Dan then keeps as much distance from Warren as possible, which–in a super spacious sitcom elevator–is about seven feet. Dan is suddenly the victim in the very setup he regularly reaps pleasure from. Except Dan has nothing to be afraid of, because men aren’t sex Hulks. Someone else’s ribbons or tailored suit don’t give men permission to pounce; men have to be held responsible for their actions.

As they’re trapped in the elevator, Dan learns more about Warren–and what he learns is really upsetting when you devote 1000+ words of analysis to this episode. First we learn that Warren is a veteran (“Special Forces, Advanced Infantry, Airborne”), meaning he served during a time when his entire career would have been thrown away if he was outed. Warren offers his overcoat to a shivering Dan and reluctantly reveals that it belonged to his partner of ten years–a partner that’s also dead.

Warren is a widowed veteran, one that doesn’t like talking about it, and one that’s trying hard to make a connection again. You get the impression that Warren isn’t a love’em and leave’em lothario. He just wants to meet someone, and he has to do so in an era where gay dating “apps” were handkerchiefs, earrings, and glances.

Warren–and honestly just the casting of Jack Riley in this role–undercuts a lot of stereotypes. As with every role he played, Riley brings a sense of curmudgeonly exasperation to this gay role. Warren only breeds poodles because it makes him bank ($140,000 in a year!), and he gets in a zingers about Dan’s cheap cologne. This is a gay one-off that’s on equal footing with the series regulars. And Riley’s been in Larroquette’s shoes before; he played the grouchy homophobe Eliot Carlin in The Bob Newhart Show’s gay episode (1976’s “Some of My Best Friends Are…”).

It’s always important to look at how these episodes frame the homophobia and the homophobe. The first one’s pretty clear: no one else cares about Dan’s “problem.” After all, there’s a historic blizzard going down that’s trapped everyone in the courthouse! And when Billie (Foley) recounts the events to Selma the bailiff, she flat out calls Dan reaction to Warren crazy.

Dan’s also not a character viewers are supposed to emulate. He’s not beloved like Blanche or a cool dude like Wojo–he’s Night Court’s rakish blowhard. And unlike that Barney Miller episode that let Woj off the hook, Dan actually learns something (well, for this episode at least).

After getting a peek at Warren’s life and wearing his overcoat for warmth, Dan admits that he felt threatened by Warren and that made him get overly sarcastic (I guess “sarcastic” is code for “hateful”?). Warren understands, because he gets the same way when he’s threatened. What threatens him?

So Warren’s at home, alone, getting sarcastic with invading spiders. How did Warren, sarcastic spider slayer, not get a spinoff?

Even though it comes totally out of nowhere, the two of them bond of their mutual hatred of spiders and end on a firm handshake. When the power is restored and the rest of the cast pries the elevator doors open, they find Dan slouched over, napping on Warren’s shoulder. In a choice move, Warren gets the last joke in this storyline:

This episode smartly analyzes how privileged dude thought backfires and drives some straight men to homophobia. But while Dan learns that at least one gay is okay, he doesn’t go further than that. Dan stays the same old Dan when it comes to women, and doesn’t learn that he’s spinning in a cycle that tells men they have no control (when they really do) and devalues others (who are only asking for it when they are literally asking for it, #consent). When it comes to the way men treat other people, they gotta be better than Garth the dog.

Where to watch Night Court