Moonlighting (TV series)

Moonlighting
Genre
Created byGlenn Gordon Caron
Starring
Theme music composer
Opening theme"Moonlighting",
performed by Al Jarreau
ComposerAlf Clausen
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes67 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerGlenn Gordon Caron
Running time45–49 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseMarch 3, 1985 (1985-03-03) –
May 14, 1989 (1989-05-14)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Moonlighting is an American comedy drama television series that aired on ABC from March 3, 1985, to May 14, 1989. The network aired a total of 67 episodes.[1] Starring Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis as private detectives, Allyce Beasley as their quirky receptionist, and Curtis Armstrong as a temp worker (and later junior detective), the show was a mixture of drama, comedy, mystery, and romance, and was considered to be one of the first successful and influential examples of comedy drama, or "dramedy", emerging as a distinct television genre.[2] The show's theme song was co-written and performed by jazz singer Al Jarreau and became a hit. The show is also credited with making Willis a star and relaunching Shepherd's career after a string of lackluster projects.[3][4] In 1997, the episode "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice" was ranked number 34 on TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time.[5] In 2007, the series was listed as one of Time magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All-Time".[6] The relationship between the characters David and Maddie was included in TV Guide's list of the best TV couples of all time.[7]

  1. ^ In syndication, the pilot is split into two episodes, making a total of 67 for the series.
  2. ^ "Moonlighting". Museum of Broadcast Communications. Archived from the original on 4 December 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  3. ^ Stanley, John (November 17, 1985). "Why 'Moonlighting' has ratings magic". The San Francisco Chronicle. p. 47. Cybill Shepherd was finally living down the old Hollywood saw that the only reason she had made it into the business was because she had once been Peter Bogdanovich's girl. After years of empty, meaningless roles, she was doing something good, something that tapped her charms and natural talent.
  4. ^ Terry, Cliff (November 19, 1985). "Why 'Moonlighting' is suddenly the talk of TV". Chicago Tribune. p. 5. Shepherd ... deserves the Comeback of the Year Award for rebounding from such career disasters as 'Daisy Miller', and Peter Bogdanovich ...
  5. ^ "Special Collectors' Issue: 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time". TV Guide. June 28 – July 4, 1997.
  6. ^ Poniewozik, James (September 6, 2009). "The 100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME". Time. Archived from the original on January 19, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
  7. ^ "Couples Pictures, Moonlighting Photos - Photo Gallery: The Best TV Couples of All Time". TV Guide. Archived from the original on September 25, 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2012.