Ep 3. The Former Harry Stone

The episode "The Former Harry Stone" is the third installment of the first season of the hit comedy series "Night Court." It originally aired on January 20, 1984, on NBC.

The episode revolves around Judge Harry T. Stone (played by Harry Anderson), who happens to be the newest judge in the Night Court. As he begins to settle into his new job, he is surprised by a visit from someone very unexpected – a man named Harry Stone!

This other Harry Stone (played by John Astin) is a former judge who resembles the present judge and is in need of some help. He has fallen on hard times and has resorted to living out of his car. The other characters in the show, including Public Defender Liz Williams (played by Paula Kelly), Court Clerk Mac Robinson (played by Charles Robinson), and Bailiff Selma Hacker (played by Selma Diamond), cannot believe that he shares the same name as their judge.

Harry Stone, the present judge, feels a sense of duty to help his predecessor, despite the fact that the two men are complete strangers. Throughout the episode, he works to help the other Harry Stone find some stability in his life. However, he soon finds out that his counterpart may not be entirely trustworthy.

Throughout the episode, the two Harry Stones develop an interesting friendship, as they learn more about each other's lives and experiences. The present day Harry Stone offers his former counterpart a place to stay and tries to help him find employment. However, the other Harry Stone's behavior soon reveals that he may not be entirely on the up-and-up.

As the episode progresses, the actions of the other Harry Stone become more suspicious. He becomes involved in a number of shady activities, including pickpocketing and trying to scam someone out of their suit. Meanwhile, the present day Harry Stone becomes increasingly frustrated with his own naivete in trusting the other Harry Stone.

In the end, it is revealed that the other Harry Stone was actually an imposter, who had stolen the real Harry Stone's identity. This revelation leaves the present day Harry Stone feeling betrayed and embarrassed. However, he takes the situation in stride and decides to use it as a learning experience.

Overall, "The Former Harry Stone" is a lighthearted and entertaining episode of "Night Court." It showcases the comedic talents of Harry Anderson, who was a beloved presence on the show. The storyline is engaging and features a number of unexpected twists and turns. Viewers are sure to enjoy this episode, as it exemplifies the clever writing and memorable characters that made "Night Court" such a beloved series.