new to Moonlighting, plus a question - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dean Winchester · 12-03-2005, 08:33 PM

yesterday I decided to pick the seasons 1/2 set on sale at Target. Outside of "Atomic Shakespeare" on N@N a few months ago, I have never watched the show Moonlighting. I was a kid when it aired and grew up in a household where NBC was where it was at, and we didn't even turn to ABC until Roseanne premiered. I figured since I have always enjoyed "Remington Steele" (which has been likened with Moonlighting) and plus there's a lot of Bruce Willis movies I liked, to check it out.

I watched the pilot and immediately loved it. Unlike some shows from the period (like I love Steele and have seasons 1 and 2 on DVD, but the episodes are a little too slow-paced to really watch a lot of in a sitting), the show never got boring and Bruce and Cybill were both fantastic, and I cannot wait till I sit and watch more episodes, and maybe get season 3 when it comes out.

However, one thing I noticed about the show were the short episode orders per season. What was the cause of that? 67 episodes over 4 1/2 seasons just seems so small (Remington Steele also ran 4 1/2 seasons and had over 90), especially when other shows were cranking out 26 episodes a season at the time. The show looks great, but it will be kinda sad that there were so few episodes in the long run. I know Bruce had become a fairly big movie star in the last season or two of Moonlighting, was that part of the episode shortage so he could have more flexible time to make Die Hard, etc...?

All in all, I am looking forward to digging deeper into the Moonlighting experience, judging from the pilot this looks like a fantastic series.

Mr. Television · 12-03-2005, 08:38 PM

Moonlighting had a lot of backstage turmoil ( Bruce, Cybil, and the creator had a lot of altercations), plus the scripts were always late coming in. I remember some ads in the tv guides wouldn't even announce what the episode was about. They said it was harder to film because they had a lot of overlapping dialogue.

Ro35 · 12-03-2005, 09:55 PM

Hi! Welcome! If you love season 1 and 2 you will have to get season 3 which is the best season of all. And like the previous post stated there were problems galore for the show between actors and writers,etc unfortunately but all in all it is one of the best shows ever. Bruce and Cybill's chemistry is what made the show. Also love your former name. I was a diehard Buffy/Angel fan also.

gypsygem81 · 12-04-2005, 06:15 AM

hi there to both of you, it's great that you have joined us! I'm so glad that you have discoverd Moonlighting and enjoyed it so much. Yes, I believe what DallasCowboysFanatic said about problems with the actors and writers was partly to blame for the inconsistancy of the number of episodes in the season. But I think it was also partly due to the fact that Glenn was new to the buisness and he often didn't realise about or care for things like deadlines and budgets. I think in one of the commentaries on the DVD he talks about how the ABC executives were always giving him rows and says to Cybill that at the time she was the most expeienced person there.

Love Gem

MulberryGal · 12-04-2005, 11:24 AM

Welcome to the board!

Gem is right, the reason for the inconsistent number of episodes is often down to Glenn Caron just not being able to physically do that many with the huge amount of dialogue (overlapping and otherwise!), as well as him just not knowing about the business. I think ABC expected 22 episodes a season! Ha!

Another point to note is that Season 1 (from Gunfight at the So-So Corral to The Murder's in the Mail) was what they called a mid-season pick up and it was only half a season anyway.

Mul

Dean Winchester · 12-04-2005, 03:57 PM

I also watched Gunfight At The So-So Corral last night, pretty good episode though I wonder if looking back, they should've made Tim Robbins the main villian instead of the other guy. It's a shame Cybill and Bruce have had such a feud since the show went off because I think they gelled very well.

I also applaud Lion's Gate (which is a shock, LG is known as being one of the worst DVD companies period besides this show) for remastering the prints so well. Just look at the ABC pilot promos on the disc and then look at the episodes on the DVD, you can tell they spent a lot of time cleaning it up.

Dean Winchester · 12-05-2005, 03:23 PM

okay, I have watched episodes 2 and 3 as well, and think they're great too. You could tell from the earliest episodes that Bruce Willis was going to be too big a star to stay on television.

From reading responces on various message boards, is season 3 the logical place to stop with the series? I have not read one positive mark given to the fourth and especially fifth seasons.

Also, I read Pierce Brosnan guest stars in a season 3 episode as his Remington Steele character (might've not been too dificult for them to manage since Glenn Gordon Caron wrote for RS in it's first year), was it just a brief cameo or did Steele actually team up with David and Maddie for a case? in many ways the two shows are alike (all the way down to Brosnan and Zimbalist hating each other for years) and seeing the two shows cross must've been gold for those who like both.

Ro35 · 12-05-2005, 04:32 PM

Hey! Pierce Brosnon was only in a cameo scene in the episode The Straight Poop. He is on screen by himself.
As for seasons 4 and 5 there are some great episodes and some not great episodes.The first 3 seasons are the best. Unfortunately the show series finale is not what us fans wanted to happen.

Mr. Television · 12-05-2005, 08:56 PM

The problem with season 3 was that Bruce and Cybil weren't on screen together a lot of the time especially early in the season. She was pregnant and then he was busy filming Die Hard. I think they both lost interest in the show ,although their was still some good episodes left during the next 2 years , the show did become uneven.

Ro35 · 12-05-2005, 09:27 PM

Actually Bruce and Cybill weren't on screen together during most of Season 4 not season 3. Season 3 was the best season and they were in just about every scene and show together.

Mr. Television · 12-05-2005, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ro35

Actually Bruce and Cybill weren't on screen together during most of Season 4 not season 3. Season 3 was the best season and they were in just about every scene and show together.

It was a typo on my part. I meant season 4.

colin72 · 12-06-2005, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUNG UP!

From reading responces on various message boards, is season 3 the logical place to stop with the series? I have not read one positive mark given to the fourth and especially fifth seasons.

If you are satisfied with the story after season 3, you may be better off not watching 4 and 5 because you will almost certainly be disappointed and frustrated.

Moonlighting absolutely self-destructs in the 4th and 5th seasons. The decisions the writers made were incredibly horrible. The way Moonlighting ends will rip out your heart and stomp on it... repeatedly.

MulberryGal · 12-06-2005, 12:26 PM

I think Rose sums it up well about seasons 4 and 5. It's very uneven. There are some flashes of greatness, but ultimately it becomes a different show altogether. I think its worth watching all of the episodes really, as there are some very moving/funny/silly scenes that you'd miss out on otherwise...

Mul

KissMyGrits · 01-11-2006, 03:14 PM

I totally agree with the other posts about season 3. It is by far my favorite season!! Between "It's a Wonderful Job" and "Atomic Shakesphere" You can't beat it!! Seasons 4 and 5 are definite dissapointments. There are some good episodes, not many but some! Season 5 is by far the most disappointing! Not at all what the fans of the show wanted or expected! I still can't watch "Lunar Eclipse" without seeing red!! LOL!!

neon000 · 01-11-2006, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueMoonFan

I still can't watch "Lunar Eclipse" without seeing red!! LOL!!

I can't watch it. Period.

12-03-2005, 08:33 PM	#1
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	new to Moonlighting, plus a question yesterday I decided to pick the seasons 1/2 set on sale at Target. Outside of "Atomic Shakespeare" on N@N a few months ago, I have never watched the show Moonlighting. I was a kid when it aired and grew up in a household where NBC was where it was at, and we didn't even turn to ABC until Roseanne premiered. I figured since I have always enjoyed "Remington Steele" (which has been likened with Moonlighting) and plus there's a lot of Bruce Willis movies I liked, to check it out. I watched the pilot and immediately loved it. Unlike some shows from the period (like I love Steele and have seasons 1 and 2 on DVD, but the episodes are a little too slow-paced to really watch a lot of in a sitting), the show never got boring and Bruce and Cybill were both fantastic, and I cannot wait till I sit and watch more episodes, and maybe get season 3 when it comes out. However, one thing I noticed about the show were the short episode orders per season. What was the cause of that? 67 episodes over 4 1/2 seasons just seems so small (Remington Steele also ran 4 1/2 seasons and had over 90), especially when other shows were cranking out 26 episodes a season at the time. The show looks great, but it will be kinda sad that there were so few episodes in the long run. I know Bruce had become a fairly big movie star in the last season or two of Moonlighting, was that part of the episode shortage so he could have more flexible time to make Die Hard, etc...? All in all, I am looking forward to digging deeper into the Moonlighting experience, judging from the pilot this looks like a fantastic series.

12-03-2005, 08:38 PM	#2
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,133	Moonlighting had a lot of backstage turmoil ( Bruce, Cybil, and the creator had a lot of altercations), plus the scripts were always late coming in. I remember some ads in the tv guides wouldn't even announce what the episode was about. They said it was harder to film because they had a lot of overlapping dialogue.
	__________________ Sonny

12-03-2005, 09:55 PM	#3
Ro35 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 23, 2005 Posts: 188	Hi! Welcome! If you love season 1 and 2 you will have to get season 3 which is the best season of all. And like the previous post stated there were problems galore for the show between actors and writers,etc unfortunately but all in all it is one of the best shows ever. Bruce and Cybill's chemistry is what made the show. Also love your former name. I was a diehard Buffy/Angel fan also.
	__________________ ~ROSE~ Maddie : I wouldn't want you losing any more sleep over me. David : Believe me, if and when I ever find myself over you, the last thing I'll be thinking about is sleeping.

12-04-2005, 11:24 AM	#5
MulberryGal Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 04, 2004 Location: England Posts: 333	Welcome to the board! Gem is right, the reason for the inconsistent number of episodes is often down to Glenn Caron just not being able to physically do that many with the huge amount of dialogue (overlapping and otherwise!), as well as him just not knowing about the business. I think ABC expected 22 episodes a season! Ha! Another point to note is that Season 1 (from Gunfight at the So-So Corral to The Murder's in the Mail) was what they called a mid-season pick up and it was only half a season anyway. Mul
	__________________ You can lead a horse to water but that doesn't make him a duck Maddie Hayes: I wouldn't want you losing any more sleep over me. David Addison : Believe me, if and when I ever find myself over you, the last thing I'll be thinking about is sleeping.

01-11-2006, 03:14 PM	#14
KissMyGrits HEGM! Senior Member Join Date: Jul 01, 2004 Location: Las Vegas Baby! Posts: 2,135	I totally agree with the other posts about season 3. It is by far my favorite season!! Between "It's a Wonderful Job" and "Atomic Shakesphere" You can't beat it!! Seasons 4 and 5 are definite dissapointments. There are some good episodes, not many but some! Season 5 is by far the most disappointing! Not at all what the fans of the show wanted or expected! I still can't watch "Lunar Eclipse" without seeing red!! LOL!!
	__________________ check out my blog.... some ficcies, some about me and a whole lotta fun!! http://catniprules.livejournal.com/

12-04-2005, 06:15 AM	#4
gypsygem81 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 27, 2005 Posts: 427	hi there to both of you, it's great that you have joined us! I'm so glad that you have discoverd Moonlighting and enjoyed it so much. Yes, I believe what DallasCowboysFanatic said about problems with the actors and writers was partly to blame for the inconsistancy of the number of episodes in the season. But I think it was also partly due to the fact that Glenn was new to the buisness and he often didn't realise about or care for things like deadlines and budgets. I think in one of the commentaries on the DVD he talks about how the ABC executives were always giving him rows and says to Cybill that at the time she was the most expeienced person there. Love Gem

12-04-2005, 03:57 PM	#6
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	I also watched Gunfight At The So-So Corral last night, pretty good episode though I wonder if looking back, they should've made Tim Robbins the main villian instead of the other guy. It's a shame Cybill and Bruce have had such a feud since the show went off because I think they gelled very well. I also applaud Lion's Gate (which is a shock, LG is known as being one of the worst DVD companies period besides this show) for remastering the prints so well. Just look at the ABC pilot promos on the disc and then look at the episodes on the DVD, you can tell they spent a lot of time cleaning it up.

12-05-2005, 03:23 PM	#7
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	okay, I have watched episodes 2 and 3 as well, and think they're great too. You could tell from the earliest episodes that Bruce Willis was going to be too big a star to stay on television. From reading responces on various message boards, is season 3 the logical place to stop with the series? I have not read one positive mark given to the fourth and especially fifth seasons. Also, I read Pierce Brosnan guest stars in a season 3 episode as his Remington Steele character (might've not been too dificult for them to manage since Glenn Gordon Caron wrote for RS in it's first year), was it just a brief cameo or did Steele actually team up with David and Maddie for a case? in many ways the two shows are alike (all the way down to Brosnan and Zimbalist hating each other for years) and seeing the two shows cross must've been gold for those who like both.

12-05-2005, 04:32 PM	#8
Ro35 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 23, 2005 Posts: 188	Hey! Pierce Brosnon was only in a cameo scene in the episode The Straight Poop. He is on screen by himself. As for seasons 4 and 5 there are some great episodes and some not great episodes.The first 3 seasons are the best. Unfortunately the show series finale is not what us fans wanted to happen.

12-05-2005, 08:56 PM	#9
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,133	The problem with season 3 was that Bruce and Cybil weren't on screen together a lot of the time especially early in the season. She was pregnant and then he was busy filming Die Hard. I think they both lost interest in the show ,although their was still some good episodes left during the next 2 years , the show did become uneven.

12-05-2005, 09:27 PM	#10
Ro35 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 23, 2005 Posts: 188	Actually Bruce and Cybill weren't on screen together during most of Season 4 not season 3. Season 3 was the best season and they were in just about every scene and show together.

12-06-2005, 12:26 PM	#13
MulberryGal Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 04, 2004 Location: England Posts: 333	I think Rose sums it up well about seasons 4 and 5. It's very uneven. There are some flashes of greatness, but ultimately it becomes a different show altogether. I think its worth watching all of the episodes really, as there are some very moving/funny/silly scenes that you'd miss out on otherwise... Mul