Before Star Trek's Data, Brent Spiner Had A Recurring Role On This Hit '80s Sitcom

The year 1987 was pivotal for actor Brent Spiner. After a string of guest-starring roles on some of the most popular shows of the 1980s, he'd land a career-changing role as the golden-eyed android Data on "Star Trek: The Next Generation." But before he'd take his spot alongside Captain Picard on the USS Enterprise-D, he was busy driving Judge Harold Stone completely bonkers in a Manhattan municipal courtroom.

Airing on NBC for a total of nine seasons, "Night Court" was a zany courtroom sitcom centered on the eccentric night shift crew presided over by Judge Stone (Harry Anderson). The cast also included John Larroquette as the conniving prosecutor Dan Fielding, and Richard Moll as the towering bailiff Bull Shannon. The court was not without its rotating gallery of colorful defendants, including Spiner, who took on a memorable recurring role as Bob Wheeler, a perpetually unlucky hillbilly prone to getting himself and his wife, June (Annie O'Donnell), into absurd legal troubles. Spiner appeared in seven episodes of the original series between 1985 and 1987. But little did he know, the Wheelers would be summoned back to the courtroom for two more episodes in the 2023 "Night Court" revival series. 

During an interview with Nerds That Geek, Spiner expressed nothing but affection for the stuck-in-time character. "I don't think the Wheelers have actually changed much since the old days," Spiner said. "I think that's the beauty of the Wheelers, is they never change."

Returning to the courtroom 37 years later proved to be a surreal time warp for the actor. Similar to what he had already experienced when he returned to the Enterprise-D bridge on "Star Trek: Picard," an uncanny déjà vu came over Spiner when he returned to the impeccably recreated Manhattan Municipal Court. "I'm walking on that set again, and it's identical," he told Nerds That Geek. "So, it's really amazing that these guys can pull it off so perfectly." Spiner also weighed in on why the timeless '80s sitcom maintains such longevity decades after its debut. "I think 'Night Court' is surreal, and I think that's the best thing about it," he shared. "... It's at its best when it's off the wall, zany, surreal, which is what it's always been." 

When the reboot was first announced, Spiner told ScreenRant that he was "hoping against hope" that he would be reunited with the actress who played his fictional other half, Annie O'Donnell, which ended up panning out. As for seamlessly easing back into the role, that was like second nature. "Bob Wheeler always exists inside of me," he said. "I didn't really have to do much research." Spiner added that Bob was based on a "hick" character he's done since his Texas childhood.

After his turn on the original "Night Court" ended, Spiner went on to play Data for four decades and counting, including all seven seasons of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," four feature films, and guest spots on modern shows like "Star Trek: Lower Decks."