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What Happened to Moonlighting (1985-1989)?

posted 2 years ago by TMC-4 (20160)
6 replies | jump to latest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiMScZxuk08

With Bruce Willis’ recent, tragic frontotemporal dementia diagnosis revealed, we here at JoBlo thought the time was right to celebrate the show that made him a star, Moonlighting, in which he co-starred with Cybill Shepherd. At the time, Willis was a complete unknown, with only a one-episode guest starring role as a bad guy on Miami Vice to show for his early years in Hollywood. All that changed when the creators of Moonlighting were looking for a fresh face to play a wisecracking private eye named David Addison. On the show, he would be paired with Cybill Shepherd, who was then already a pretty big star thanks to a run of movies in the seventies that included The Last Picture Show and Taxi Driver. In this, she would play a former model who, after having her fortune embezzled, discovers she owns a low-rent detective agency run by Willis’ Addison.

There are a lot of reasons Moonlighting took off in the eighties, but the primary one was the “will they or won’t they” sexual tension between the two leads. While they notoriously feuded off-camera, on the small screen, they were electric. Willis’ affable, wise-guy personality also made him a sex symbol, the guy all women wanted to be with and all guys wanted to be. It would lead to him being cast in the film that made him a superstar, Die Hard, and looking back at Moonlighting, and it’s amazing to see how fully formed he was when the show began.

In this episode of Gone But Not Forgotten, which is written by Jessica Dwyer, edited by Cesar Gabriel, narrated by Travis Hopson and produced by Dave Arroyo, we dig into Moonlighting’s best moments (such as the famous “Atomic Shakespeare” episode) and reveal why it’s so hard to find on streaming services.

Do you remember Moonlighting?

[–] Destinata (3349) 2 years ago

Lived through it the first time around.

I personally didn't care if they would or they wouldn't. I tuned in to hear Willis crack wise.

Oh, the minds of Hollywood thought the success of Moonlighting meant Willis was best suited to romantic comedies, at first -- or at least comedies where he made divas look good. His first big movie outing was Blind Date, which was just awful. Not having enough punishment, Blake Edwards cast him again as Tom Mix. A city kid with a Jersey accent to play an Oklahoma cowboy, is obvious miscasting.

But THEN he got into Die Hard, and a star was born.

[–] nyctc7 (43648) 2 years ago

Perhaps the best insight is in this interesting interview with the creator, Glenn Gordon Caron. Scroll down to see the different topics, especially the link in chapter 5 about leaving. Note that in some clips the sync is off.
https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/glenn-gordon-caron#interview-clips

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

They were both spoiled rotten talents that got greedy beyond belief.
There was no shame. Sacrifice was laughed at in the 80's.
EVERYTHING was based on wealth and how fast you could acquired it. It hasn't changed.
These two sharks ruined a great show with total disregard to their fellow actors let alone the others wrapped up in the production.
It didn't stop there.
Willis commanded every production he's in and did not take direction well.
Shepard had another hit show and did the same thing. She was out performed by everyone on her show and ended up quitting/caneling the series.
My favorite character was Miss Dipesto.

[–] BKB (9982) a year ago

I loved MOONLIGHTING, especially the Soundtrack from Al Jarreau.. The last of the great adult sitcoms and a young Bruce with hair!! The show basically ended because Cybil Shepherd and Bruce Willis didn't get along behind the scenes as she was jealous of his then DIE HARD fame

[–] smidget28 (800) 10 months ago

Loved it, still do, and watched it the original time (1985+)

[–] [deleted] 10 months ago

The show got more expensive, mainly because of demands from the actors, while the ratings declined a bit. Willis became an A lister after Die Hard, though I don't recall if that came after the end of Moonlighting or not.