Phil Sanders is a fictional character portrayed by William Utay in the TV series Night Court.
In the first episode they appeared in, titled Pick a Number (season 2), they were 37 years old.
They appear in 35 episodes out of a total of 193 aired and have accumulated 27 positive votes.
The character of Phil Sanders is mainly associated with Dan Fielding.
Episodes35
Pick a Number
episode S2.E4 october 1984A humble man with a $3 million lottery ticket wants Harry to give it away to the most worthy person.
Married Alive
episode S2.E19 february 1985Dan becomes engaged to an ugly duckling heiress, but everyone is surprised to hear him swear his feelings are genuine.
Hello, Goodbye
episode S3.E1 september 1985Christine Sullivan is permanently assigned as the court's public defender; grieving Selma's death, Bull goes on an all-night bender with a group of circus performers and arrives the next day drunk-and-disorderly.
Best of Friends
episode S3.E6 november 1985Dan looks forward to a reunion with his old college buddy, but is shocked to find that he has undergone a transgender operation.
Wheels of Justice: Part 1
episode S3.E9 december 1985A budget crisis in the state legislature freezes the paychecks of all city employees, including the court staff. Harry faces his own crisis when the law forces him to side with a sleazy landlord against a poor cleaning lady and her unstable son. When the son is shot during an attempted armed robbery, Harry quits.
Walk Away, Renee
episode S3.E11 december 1985Bull is deeply in love with his new girlfriend, Renee. No one wants to be the one to tell him that she is actually a prostitute.
The Night Off
episode S3.E13 january 1986Some crazy substitute judge puts Dan and Mac in jail and appoints a wino and Florence as the court attorneys.
Leon, We Hardly Knew Ye
episode S3.E16 february 1986Leon threatens to run away again when Juvenile Services attempts to take him from Harry and place him with a pair of geeky foster parents. Harry is so preoccupied that he misses a visit by Mel Torme, his idol.
The Mugger
episode S3.E17 february 1986After being mugged, Christine becomes belligerent and mistrustful, and unable to do her job as a public defender. She has to rediscover her compassion when her mugger is trapped in the cafeteria and threatens hostages with a grenade. Meanwhile, Phil gets a hot stock tip from an old Wall Street buddy, and Dan nearly bankrupts himself trying to wheedle it out of him.
Giving Thanks
episode S4.E2 october 1986Dan saves Christine from choking in the cafeteria. Convinced that she owes him her life, Christine asks how she can repay him. His answer is simple: sleep with him.
Dan's Operation: Part 1
episode S4.E5 november 1986Dan is hospitalized for surgery on a minor ulcer, but refuses to stay in the hospital. Insisting on returning to work, he eventually collapses and must return to the hospital in an even more serious condition. After foolishly attempting relations with Sheila while in his hospital bed, he falls into a coma.
Dan's Operation: Part 2
episode S4.E6 november 1986Dan awakens from his coma, and Harry confronts him about his selfish and self-destructive behavior.
Danny Got His Gun: Part 1
episode S5.E22 may 1988It is revealed in this episode that Dan is a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves. When ordered to report for duty, he is terrified that he is being sent to a war zone, and goes to absurd lengths to get out of it. When he finds out his assignment is on a Caribbean island with a buxom female officer, he changes his mind, but all his tricks catch up with him and as punishment he is reassigned to the Arctic Circle. A few days later, the court receives a message that his plane has crashed in Alaska, and he is presumed dead.
Danny Got His Gun: Part 2
episode S6.E1 october 1988Dan has been rescued by an Eskimo family, but is cut off from the outside world. Back in New York, the court staff reads his will and tries to cope with his death. When Dan accidentally shoots down a small plane trying to signal it with a flare gun, the doctor inside breaks both hands, leaving Dan as the only one who can operate on a young Eskimo woman who has come down with appendicitis.
Danny Got His Gun: Part 3
episode S6.E2 october 1988Dan operates on Kista, and after a tense night of waiting, finds that she has survived. At the same time, radio contact is made, and Dan is on his way home. He arrives, disguised by his beard, winter clothes, and scruffy appearance, in time to attend his own funeral.
Fire
episode S6.E3 november 1988On election night, Dan is running as a candidate for the state assembly. Christine is furious to learn that Harry has voted for him, touching off a fierce argument between them about what she sees as sexism. Then a fire consumes an upper floor of the courthouse, driving the staff to the basement morgue.
The Last Temptation of Mac
episode S6.E6 november 1988An attractive classmate of Mac's goes after him and Christine does too much preparing Thanksgiving dinner for the courthouse.
Strange Bedfellows
episode S6.E17 march 1989On election night for the state assembly race, Dan, to his own surprise, has a passionate affair with his opponent, Joan Hobson.
Blue Suede Bull
episode S7.E5 november 1989Dan gets more than he bargained for when he foolishly agrees to take Bull to a private singles club.
For Love or Money
episode S7.E6 november 1989Buddy, Harry's dad, meets a wealthy widow who was in Harry's court. At the time he's wearing a captain's outfit, which he does not explain is his work uniform. They start dating and soon Buddy tells Harry he proposed to her and wants him to marry them. Concerned that she doesn't know enough about Buddy, Harry talks to her, but she says she knows everything. But just before the wedding Christine realizes that she does not. Meanwhile, Dan has been living in his office after going broke because of a failed business deal. but the office manager finds out and gives him until the end of the day to find somewhere else or he'll be moved to a much less desirable location.
Branded: Part 1
episode S7.E9 november 1989Dan receives a job offer from the most prestigious law firm in New York, and, as a favor to the hiring partner, arranges an early hearing for the senior partner's son, who is appearing on a shoplifting charge. Dan later finds out that the boy is a repeat offender, and the job offer was a scam. Dan brings a bribery charge against the hiring partner's son, but ends up facing disbarment for blackmail.
Branded: Part 2
episode S7.E10 december 1989Dan is suspended from work while preparing for his disbarment hearing. Broke, he is forced to take a job waiting tables in a French restaurant under an assumed name. He has lost the will to defend himself, but his friends go to the hearing to stick up for him. Meanwhile, Roz and Christine's co-dieting is causing some weird behavior in both of them.
Razing Bull
episode S7.E13 january 1990An old vaudeville theater that Harry and Bull both remember fondly is targeted for demolition; Bull takes the extreme route and shackles himself to the front doors, while Harry tries to organize a benefit concert with the theater's old performers. In doing so, it is revealed that Mac used to be one of the Starlites.
Can't Buy Me Love
episode S8.E4 october 1990Dan is won at a bachelor auction by a lecherous old woman and Christine has doubts about her marriage.
A Night Court at the Opera
episode S8.E9 november 1990Dan has a date at the opera and some weirdos think that Bull is their god.
Presumed Insolvent
episode S8.E14 january 1991Phil the wino saves someone left penniless from the S&L scandals.
To Sleep, No More
episode S8.E19 march 1991Dan suffers major guilt pains over how he is using the money in the Phil Foundation.
Where There's a Will, There's a Tony: Part 1
episode S8.E23 may 1991Tony tries to win Christine back while Dan goes though a transformation while running the Phil Foundation.
Where There's a Will, There's a Tony: Part 2
episode S8.E24 may 1991Tony tries to win Christine back while Dan goes though a transformation while running the Phil Foundation.
A Guy Named Phantom: Part 2
episode S9.E2 september 1991While Harry and Christine try to sort out their feelings, Dan kidnaps her.
Pop Goes the Question
episode S9.E5 october 1991Bull feels that he must perform a miracle before he marries Wanda.
Looking for Mr. Shannon
episode S9.E7 november 1991Bull's bachelor party includes no money, no transportation and no Bull.
Shave and a Haircut
episode S9.E12 january 1992Harry finally becomes buddies with Mel Torme by convincing him to appear as "Man of the Year" at an annual dinner. When he learns that the "Man of the Year" is actually meant to be the victim of a hazing at a public rally, he desperately tries to talk Mel out of it. Dan is employing Will as a bounty hunter and raking in reward money, but bites off more than he can chew when he sends Will after "Eddie the Machete." Bull gets a Walkman and listens to books on tape around court.
Opportunity Knock Knocks: Part 1
episode S9.E20 may 1992Harry considers his future - Columbia Law School or touring with his idol, Mel Torme. Christine faces Election Day. Bull is being followed.
Opportunity Knock Knocks: Part 2
episode S9.E21 may 1992Christine is elected to Congress; Bull sets a trap for the aliens following him; Harry turns down the education job offer.
- Pick a Number
- Married Alive
- Hello, Goodbye
- Best of Friends
- Wheels of Justice: Part 1
- Walk Away, Renee
- The Night Off
- Leon, We Hardly Knew Ye
- The Mugger
- Giving Thanks
- Dan's Operation: Part 1
- Dan's Operation: Part 2
- Danny Got His Gun: Part 1
- Danny Got His Gun: Part 2
- Danny Got His Gun: Part 3
- Fire
- The Last Temptation of Mac
- Strange Bedfellows
- Blue Suede Bull
- For Love or Money
- Branded: Part 1
- Branded: Part 2
- Razing Bull
- Can't Buy Me Love
- A Night Court at the Opera
- Presumed Insolvent
- To Sleep, No More
- Where There's a Will, There's a Tony: Part 1
- Where There's a Will, There's a Tony: Part 2
- A Guy Named Phantom: Part 2
- Pop Goes the Question
- Looking for Mr. Shannon
- Shave and a Haircut
- Opportunity Knock Knocks: Part 1
- Opportunity Knock Knocks: Part 2
Best moments5
- Phil the wino saves someone left penniless from the S&L scandals.
- Some crazy substitute judge puts Dan and Mac in jail and appoints a wino and Florence as the court attorneys.
- Harry finally becomes buddies with Mel Torme by convincing him to appear as "Man of the Year" at an annual dinner. When he learns that the "Man of the Year" is actually meant to be the victim of a hazing at a public rally, he desperately tries to talk Mel out of it. Dan is employing Will as a bounty hunter and raking in reward money, but bites off more than he can chew when he sends Will after "Eddie the Machete." Bull gets a Walkman and listens to books on tape around court.
- Tony tries to win Christine back while Dan goes though a transformation while running the Phil Foundation.
- Dan suffers major guilt pains over how he is using the money in the Phil Foundation.
- Presumed Insolvent
- The Night Off
- Shave and a Haircut
- Where There's a Will, There's a Tony: Part 1
- To Sleep, No More