I think "Once in Love with Harry" solidifies Lana's(Karen Austin) growing feelings for the judge, as a prostitute (many will remember as the hooker found with the husband by the wife in the pilot's first big case conducted by Harry) goes out of her way to impress upon Harry her love for him. You see, Harry doesn't shun those who come before him, and for a hooker, always used, kindness and a smile intending for some trick or sexual favor, Carla B wasn't accustomed to such polite treatment. Jason Bernard, a man of proper posture and seriousness, guest stars as a judge, Robert T Willard who wants Harry to join their "fraternity of judges", although his methods don't exactly follow the model they are known to uphold. The most laughter comes at the expense of Dan Fielding (Larroquette, the gold standard of victimized prosecutors), who is running for City Council, losing, get this, to a dead opponent! All the varying story lines converge when Carla B, awaiting Harry in chambers, is naked under a towel! Embarrassed and humiliated, feeling Harry betrayed her through behavior she misconstrued as potential love, plans to jump out his window! With Willard in Harry chambers, scoffing at his attempt to bring Carla B down from the window, this pompous judge will be put in his place. Harry comes across swell here, a guy so charming and lovable, Carla B, no matter how frustrated, will abandon her hurt and listen to him. Rita Taggart, as Carla B, delivers a sympathetic performance, as a hooker humanized instead of demonized, a rare feat for a crazy sitcom known for its outrageousness. It is also rare to see an intelligent court clerk confront a hooker, in an attempt to dissuade her from the "debacle" of gaining Harry's favor, only to be upstaged by said hooker as the two exchange barbs, Carla B coming away victorious as Lana stands dumbstruck (in regards to the use of the brain and what a man really wants, with how Harry fits in the equation). You know I often look out into the courtroom gallery for all the different kinds of characters present and I do believe I saw one woman knitting! What I always enjoyed about the show was how it seems hobos, pimps, street denizens of all kinds, spend time in the gallery during Harry's night court sessions, probably many of them just getting a break from the cold. Dan losing to a corpse has non-stop comic potential never squandered by the show, his misfortune exploited in funny detail.
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