Moonlighting - Season Five DVD Review - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJ · 03-05-2007, 01:52 AM

And that's all folks! The fifth season of Moonlighting is now on DVD, and by this point, the writing is on the wall. The ratings suffered a marked decline, forcing ABC to put the show on hiatus, before burning it off on Sundays in the Spring of 1989 (before ABC Sunday was destination television) and canceling it forever. Near the end the writing was on the wall, and the tone of the show began to shift towards closure. The last scene of the series is one of the more unique endings in television – it doesn't reveal the show to be a Tommy Westphall dream or anything, but it's still quite different, and yet consistent with the show itself--more on that in a bit. This season is, in my opinion, markedly better than season 4, even if the ratings didn't reflect that. They try as best they can to move on with the show, and you get 13 largely entertaining episodes – it was just too late by this point.

Read our review here:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/moonlig...dvdreview.html

Post any questions or comments about this set.

CyBr · 03-05-2007, 07:46 AM

It's a shame that neither Bruce nor Cybill did a commentary this time. It would have been a nice gesture to the fans who stuck with the show until the end.

Luar · 03-05-2007, 01:40 PM

I agree with you CyBr, it's like a second lunar eclips...
A disappointed End!

Chelsea · 03-05-2007, 02:17 PM

The entire set felt as though Lionsgate just wanted to get the set out, move the product they could, and just move on - little effort was put into it, aside from the animated main menu - but nice menus have always been a Lionsgate staple so they would never drop the bar there. They even resorted to cheaper black boxes rather than the packaging used for 1-4.

moonlighting · 03-06-2007, 12:40 AM

I noticed on your description for season range was 1987-88. It is actually 1988-89.

I am going to need this DVD set after studying for my final tomorrow.

kismet · 03-06-2007, 11:34 AM

Season 4 was difficult to find in my area, so I assume season 5 will be elusive as well.
If someone buys it today, please post where you found it so that I can try that particular store first. My local Wal-Marts did not carry season 4.

Ro35 · 03-06-2007, 11:42 AM

Sundays flyer for Best Buy has it on sale for 22.00. Also i bought mine last thursday at FYE fir 26.99. I would try those stores if i were you. Good Luck!

moonlighting · 03-06-2007, 04:34 PM

I was glancing through the episode Perfetc...I noticed the beginning music sequence is shorter than my memory remembers it.

moonlighting · 03-06-2007, 04:39 PM

It brought back memories to see episodes from this season. I enjoyed Jay Daniel's contribution to the audio commentary, as he added information I was searching for, like some the ratings info of the show. I still don't know why the network moved Moonlighting to Sundays. You already had Family Ties and Murder She Wrote in the same time period. I think the last season the network wanted to cut costs and the drama associated with the show. Per Jay's commentary he said the ratings were #13, #16, #20, #25 and #40 (after a several week hiatus). Did the ratings justify the move?

Just a thought.

dreams200377 · 03-07-2007, 11:27 AM

and didn't jay daniel work on rosanne too? how upsetting (for me) that roseanne ended up taking ML's tuesday time slot.

moonlighting · 03-07-2007, 11:45 PM

He also worked on the first two seasons of Cybill too....

dreams200377 · 03-08-2007, 03:17 PM

oh, right, he did.

btw, got my set at best buy on tuesday. good luck, kismet.

MulberryGal · 03-21-2007, 08:21 AM

I was also rather disappointed the Bruce or Cybill weren't involved this time. Got to say that I'd forgotten how good some of the early Season 5 episodes were tho! Cool!

Mul

dreams200377 · 03-21-2007, 09:38 AM

I know, it would have been nice if they did at least one commentary together. i feel the same way about some of season 5, i'm actually liking these much better than season 4. this is the first set i've actually watched in order. since i haven't seen these as much as earlier ones, it's like seeing them for the first time---sort of.

03-06-2007, 12:40 AM	#5
moonlighting Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 21, 2002 Posts: 11	Great review... I noticed on your description for season range was 1987-88. It is actually 1988-89. I am going to need this DVD set after studying for my final tomorrow.

03-06-2007, 11:34 AM	#6
kismet I'm addicted too! Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 1,239	Season 4 was difficult to find in my area, so I assume season 5 will be elusive as well. If someone buys it today, please post where you found it so that I can try that particular store first. My local Wal-Marts did not carry season 4.
	__________________ "....being crazy 'bout a woman like HER is ALWAYS the right thing to do." -- TLPS "The only thing new under the sun is the truth you don't know." -- BW "What a babe. What a dish!" -- BW re CS

03-06-2007, 11:42 AM	#7
Ro35 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 23, 2005 Posts: 188	Sundays flyer for Best Buy has it on sale for 22.00. Also i bought mine last thursday at FYE fir 26.99. I would try those stores if i were you. Good Luck!
	__________________ ~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.

03-06-2007, 04:34 PM	#8
moonlighting Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 21, 2002 Posts: 11	Episodes cut? I was glancing through the episode Perfetc...I noticed the beginning music sequence is shorter than my memory remembers it.

03-06-2007, 04:39 PM	#9
moonlighting Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 21, 2002 Posts: 11	Season 5 opinion.... It brought back memories to see episodes from this season. I enjoyed Jay Daniel's contribution to the audio commentary, as he added information I was searching for, like some the ratings info of the show. I still don't know why the network moved Moonlighting to Sundays. You already had Family Ties and Murder She Wrote in the same time period. I think the last season the network wanted to cut costs and the drama associated with the show. Per Jay's commentary he said the ratings were #13, #16, #20, #25 and #40 (after a several week hiatus). Did the ratings justify the move? Just a thought.

03-05-2007, 01:52 AM	#1
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,681	Moonlighting - Season Five DVD Review And that's all folks! The fifth season of Moonlighting is now on DVD, and by this point, the writing is on the wall. The ratings suffered a marked decline, forcing ABC to put the show on hiatus, before burning it off on Sundays in the Spring of 1989 (before ABC Sunday was destination television) and canceling it forever. Near the end the writing was on the wall, and the tone of the show began to shift towards closure. The last scene of the series is one of the more unique endings in television – it doesn't reveal the show to be a Tommy Westphall dream or anything, but it's still quite different, and yet consistent with the show itself--more on that in a bit. This season is, in my opinion, markedly better than season 4, even if the ratings didn't reflect that. They try as best they can to move on with the show, and you get 13 largely entertaining episodes – it was just too late by this point. Read our review here: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/moonlig...dvdreview.html Post any questions or comments about this set.

03-05-2007, 07:46 AM	#2
CyBr Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 17, 2004 Posts: 515	It's a shame that neither Bruce nor Cybill did a commentary this time. It would have been a nice gesture to the fans who stuck with the show until the end.

03-05-2007, 01:40 PM	#3
Luar Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 06, 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 75	I agree with you CyBr, it's like a second lunar eclips... A disappointed End!

03-05-2007, 02:17 PM	#4
Chelsea Semi-retired Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Washington Posts: 5,727	The entire set felt as though Lionsgate just wanted to get the set out, move the product they could, and just move on - little effort was put into it, aside from the animated main menu - but nice menus have always been a Lionsgate staple so they would never drop the bar there. They even resorted to cheaper black boxes rather than the packaging used for 1-4.
	__________________ Chelsea Former Administrator, 2005-2012 Former Member, DVD Review Team, 2004-2010.

03-07-2007, 11:27 AM	#10
dreams200377 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 08, 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 336	and didn't jay daniel work on rosanne too? how upsetting (for me) that roseanne ended up taking ML's tuesday time slot.

03-07-2007, 11:45 PM	#11
moonlighting Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 21, 2002 Posts: 11	Jay Daniel... He also worked on the first two seasons of Cybill too....

03-08-2007, 03:17 PM	#12
dreams200377 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 08, 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 336	oh, right, he did. btw, got my set at best buy on tuesday. good luck, kismet.

03-21-2007, 08:21 AM	#13
MulberryGal Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 04, 2004 Location: England Posts: 333	I was also rather disappointed the Bruce or Cybill weren't involved this time. Got to say that I'd forgotten how good some of the early Season 5 episodes were tho! Cool! 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.

03-21-2007, 09:38 AM	#14
dreams200377 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 08, 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 336	I know, it would have been nice if they did at least one commentary together. i feel the same way about some of season 5, i'm actually liking these much better than season 4. this is the first set i've actually watched in order. since i haven't seen these as much as earlier ones, it's like seeing them for the first time---sort of.