Ep 19. Paternity

Harry Anderson stars in Night Court season 4 episode 19, entitled Paternity. In this episode, a man named Howard Hunter (played by Ed Begley Jr.) arrives in the courtroom claiming to be the biological father of Dan Fielding's (played by John Larroquette) son. Dan is understandably upset and doesn't believe the man's claims, but Howard has a paternity test to back up his case.

Meanwhile, Judge Stone (played by Harry Anderson) deals with a case involving a woman who is suing her ex-boyfriend for not returning her copy of The Bridges of Madison County. The woman, who is a huge fan of the book, claims that the ex-boyfriend is trying to use the book as leverage to get her back. The ex-boyfriend, however, denies this and claims the book is rightfully his.

Back to the paternity case, Dan starts to spiral as he learns more about Howard Hunter. Howard is wealthy and successful, and Dan can't help but feel like he's been cheated out of the life he thinks he deserves. His jealousy and anger begin to cloud his judgment, and Stone has to step in to try to keep him calm.

The case takes a surprising twist as Howard reveals that he's not actually the father of Dan's son after all. He faked the paternity test to get revenge on Dan for a past transgression. Dan is relieved, but also embarrassed that he fell for the ruse so easily.

In the end, Stone delivers his trademark bit of wisdom to Dan. He reminds him that being a father is about more than just biology. "It's about being there for your kid, even when it's hard," he says.

As for the Bridges of Madison County case, it's ultimately resolved when the ex-boyfriend agrees to return the book in exchange for the woman going out on a date with him. It's a silly resolution, but it's a reminder that sometimes the simplest solutions are the best ones.

Overall, Night Court season 4 episode 19, Paternity, is a fun and lighthearted episode that still manages to touch on some deeper themes. It's a reminder that family isn't always just about blood, and that sometimes the things we think are important to us aren't really that important after all. The episode is a fitting addition to the show's legacy of blending humor with heart.