Exclusive Interview: How Nyambi Nyambi Uses Spirit Animals and Subtext to Bring Wyatt to Life in ‘Night Court’

Nyambi Nyambi is no stranger to bringing depth and nuance to his characters, and in Night Court, his creative process is on full display. Known for building rich backstories—even from the smallest details—Nyambi takes an inventive approach to Wyatt, drawing inspiration from unexpected places, including spirit animals. Describing Wyatt as a mix between a red fox and a ruby-throated hummingbird, he seamlessly balances the character’s cool exterior with his nonstop, fast-moving mind.

Pop Culturalist spoke with Nyambi about how this unique creative process shapes Wyatt’s journey in Night Court Season 3. He shares the biggest discovery he made about the character, the previous roles that helped prepare him for the sitcom’s energy, and the guest star he’d love to see join the fun. Plus, he reveals the moment that made him embrace the melodrama even more this season.

PC: You’re an actor who builds a rich backstory for your character, often based on a single line from the writers. What’s the biggest discovery you made about Wyatt this season by reading between the lines?
Nyambi: Funny enough, that discovery actually happened last season. I was reading the script and thought, “Wow, Wyatt really loves gossip and drama.” If you watch closely, anytime someone was spilling tea, I’d be right there—with a juice box in hand. It was such a fun trait to play with, and this season, we got to lean into it even more, especially in the episode where Gurgs is trying to get Julianne to stop smoking. Wyatt is the kind of guy who just knows the most random facts, and in that moment, he casually drops, “Tom Cruise’s smile might be a little different than you expect.” [laughs] It’s little moments like that where I really got to embrace his melodramatic side.

PC: As part of your creative process, you enjoy exploring your character’s spirit animal. In Season 2, you described Wyatt as being somewhere between a red fox and a ruby-throated hummingbird. Have you found that he’s leaned more toward one direction in Season 3? How does that influence the way he interacts with the other characters?
Nyambi: It’s interesting—I still feel both. Hummingbirds have this frenetic energy, but Wyatt carries the veneer of a red fox—cool and composed on the surface while constantly moving underneath. He doesn’t have everything together, but he’s always trying to put out fires, whether at home or in the courtroom. He’s the one keeping everything running smoothly.
I’d say he still embodies both, but in a more seamless way this season. Before, those traits existed more on a subconscious level, something I was working with based on the writing. Now, they feel more integrated. Wyatt takes on so many different roles, sometimes within a single episode, so I always have to be the fastest-moving person while still being fully present. Hummingbirds are present with each flower before quickly moving on—that’s Wyatt. But as a fox, he also has to absorb and process everything strategically. It’s been fun to explore those elements and trust that they’re there.

PC: You’ve mentioned in previous interviews that you take something away from each project you’ve worked on. With Wyatt being a jack of all trades, which of your prior roles has prepared you the most to play him and be part of the Night Court family?
Nyambi: I’d say Mike & Molly, since it was a sitcom. That experience became the foundation for everything I’ve done since. But I’d also include The Good Fight, which—while a drama—had its own comedic elements. They hired a lot of comedic actors for that show, and a big part of the challenge was finding humor in tough, dramatic situations.

Both of those projects were the perfect segue into Night Court, where the cases are zany and over-the-top, but the characters are anchored in something real. I’ve learned how to ground Wyatt so that no matter how far off the beaten path I go, you never lose sight of who he is. My experiences on both shows have absolutely shaped the way I approach playing him.

PC: There have been so many fantastic guest stars who have come and gone. Who’s someone you’ve worked with in the past that you’d love to see make an appearance on Night Court, and why?
Nyambi: Ben Vereen was incredible to work with. The week we filmed his episode on The Good Fight, he showed up early in the morning—even though he didn’t have a scene until later that night. When he arrived on set, he was just like, “How is everybody? What’s going on?” His energy was so infectious, and it completely lifted the mood of everyone around him. I remember thinking, I need to bring that level of energy to every project I work on. He’d be such a fantastic addition to Night Court.

To keep up with Nyambi, follow him on X and Instagram. Catch new episodes of Night Court every Tuesday at 8:30/7:30c on NBC and on Peacock the next day!