We broke all the walls. There wasn’t a wall that we left unbroken.

October 10, 2023 10:18 AM

After 34 years, Moonlighting has (finally) come to streaming. Held up because of issues with music rights - with more than 300 songs in only 66 shows - the series featured cameo roles from stars including Whoopi Goldberg within a week of winning an Oscar for The Color Purple, and Orson Welles just days before his death. Interview with show creator Glenn Gordon Caron and some of the cast about the show, and the importance of Bruce Willis to its success.
posted by Mchelly (96 comments total)

My Mom used to let me watch this with her when it was on the air and I've been wanting to rewatch it for quite a while. Exciting!
posted by Captaintripps at 10:22 AM on October 10, 2023 [3 favorites]

Moonlighting, Remington Steele, Mad About You--they just don't make this kind of...lightheartedly entertaining show any more.
posted by gottabefunky at 10:26 AM on October 10, 2023 [18 favorites]

Aw, I was nine when this show premiered, and even though I didn't get the jokes, I loved watching it with my parents.
posted by Kitteh at 10:32 AM on October 10, 2023 [5 favorites]

I watched the first season after the last time it was brought up on Mefi and it was a rough watch. I don't think the casual misogyny thrown at Shepherd's character is considered lighthearted or charming anymore. Like yes I recognize they are an armor that Bruce Willis's character wears to protect his vulnerable heart yadda yadda yadda but like, get over yourself.

On top of that the episodes felt unanchored and floated off into madcap nonsense. Apparently they had constant script problems which seemed evident in the final product.

I'll be interested to see the reaction if it picks up on streaming.
posted by muddgirl at 10:33 AM on October 10, 2023 [9 favorites]

They should include the original commercials with this.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 10:33 AM on October 10, 2023 [3 favorites]

On the one hand, I JUST got rid of my Hulu subscription, on the other, I do remember thinking a. She was WAY out of his league, and b. He was a sometimes-charming putz who was way too mean sometimes.

The show did some creative shit, and the side characters were lots of fun, but I don't know if I could handle that relationship again.
posted by emjaybee at 10:38 AM on October 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

I was a mega fan back in the day...and I will not be at all surprised if it doesn't hold up. But my memories are golden!
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:48 AM on October 10, 2023 [5 favorites]

Part of the effort to get this done, from the show creator:
“As I became aware of Bruce Willis’ illness, it became more urgent for me, because I knew a lot of the world knew him as this guy who carried a gun, but they didn’t know that he was this romantic leading man. They didn’t know that he’s incredibly funny and incredibly verbally dexterous. I would write these eight-page monologues for him at 5:30 a.m., and he’d had them memorized word-perfect by 7:20, largely because he was musical, and he approached everything as a musical proposition,” Caron shares.
I'm glad this is finally happening.
posted by davidmsc at 10:49 AM on October 10, 2023 [36 favorites]

Everyone remembers the Shakespeare episode. (Does bees bee-ith? Do bears bear-ith?)

I didn't really watch it much, but I remember my favorite character being earnest, hard-working secretary Ms. DePesto.
posted by JHarris at 10:50 AM on October 10, 2023 [12 favorites]

Also, let's not forget that Bruce Willis brings a lot to The Fifth Element, which draws on some of the same comedy talent he displayed in Moonlighting.
posted by JHarris at 10:52 AM on October 10, 2023 [20 favorites]

Held up because of issues with music rights - with more than 300 songs in only 66 shows...

Uh huh. Now fix WKRP.
posted by Thorzdad at 10:55 AM on October 10, 2023 [59 favorites]

I'm primed to rewatch. I won't be surprised by things that fall flat, but I also always thought that they worked because he was such a smart ass schlub compared to her very well put together above it all attitude.
posted by drewbage1847 at 10:55 AM on October 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

Also - not a big Billy Joel fan, but the "Big Man On Mulberry Street" scene from the show (the song, the design, everything) is incredible, and has stayed with me since it first aired.

This show was simply amazing - breaking walls, the Grant/Russell patter, the music, the guests - and I am delighted about this.
posted by davidmsc at 10:57 AM on October 10, 2023 [7 favorites]

Atomic Shakespeare! "Knoweth ye what I mean?" "...No-eth..."
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:59 AM on October 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

I picked up the library DVDs not too long ago (which were sadly incomplete). Watching it as a grownup, I was taken by the quality of the writing. They worked fast and trusted in the audience to keep up. And it was refreshingly adult. And so inventive! I loved it! (And yes, not everything has aged well.)
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:00 AM on October 10, 2023 [3 favorites]

Uh huh. Now fix WKRP.

The Shout Factory DVDs did a great job, getting maybe 95% of the music, and being quite faithful with the knockoffs where they couldn't secure the rights. They did as good a job as you will ever get. Don't let that 5% stand in the way -- rewatching the series was a pure delight.
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:03 AM on October 10, 2023 [12 favorites]

I watched the pilot a few years ago, it struck me even then how the dialogue moved so fast, like a patter song, even for one used to modern sitcoms like 30 Rock etc. And I didn't know that the chemistry was real... but that's not surprising!

Sadly, "Cybill" is no longer on streaming, worth it for Christine Baranski alone.
posted by credulous at 11:04 AM on October 10, 2023 [7 favorites]

I don't think the casual misogyny thrown at Shepherd's character is considered lighthearted or charming anymore.

I didn't consider it lighthearted or charming back then. I disliked the show and only saw a few episodes. That said, it's nice that's it's available for those who miss it.
posted by JanetLand at 11:13 AM on October 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

Moonlighting, Remington Steele, Mad About You--they just don't make this kind of...lightheartedly entertaining show any more.

Are you looking for "cozy" crime/mystery shows, the sassy couple that works together and may-or-may-not-be-attracted-to-each-other type of show? Or both?

There are lots of modern examples where the Moonlighting/Steele formula got ripped off and/or expanded. There are more in Europe than the USA (e.g. The Mallorca Files).
posted by JoeZydeco at 11:14 AM on October 10, 2023 [4 favorites]

So exciting!!! I’m looking forward to seeing how it stands up both to today’s norms and to my own memories.
posted by ashbury at 11:16 AM on October 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

The Moonlighting Formula? You mean The Thin Man formula.
posted by seanmpuckett at 11:23 AM on October 10, 2023 [28 favorites]

(Also for another cozy mystery TV show with banter --> Psych. The banter is between two men, but it's definitely banter.)
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:24 AM on October 10, 2023 [13 favorites]

I watched this in high school and am looking forward to rewatching the first three seasons and pretending the last two didn't exist.
posted by kimberussell at 11:24 AM on October 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

until now, it’s been impossible to go back and watch the dramedy starring Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd as a detective and out-of-work model whose will they/won’t they romance helped change relationships on television.

DVDs of all 5 seasons are currently on Amazon, and I'm quite certain there are still some DVDs floating around various public libraries.

I am someone who still buys physical DVDs and CDs, and prefers getting those from my library instead of streaming, just because streaming services are inherently unreliable, and if I'm going to be paying for it, I don't want it to just vanish.

Also, I really wish there were a version of the mechanical license for the use of music in visual storytelling. With songwriting, anyone can legally do a cover of any song at all as long as they pay the statutory rate per copy sold. If something like that existed for video, we would all have much greater access to existing works like Moonlighting and WKRP (agreed that Shout Factory did a fantastic job, but still) and Murphy Brown.

All that said - I'm glad this will be available for more people to watch. I don't remember the show that well, but I enjoyed some bits of it, and I look forward to having the option to see it again.

Thanks for sharing this with us, Mchelly!
posted by kristi at 11:27 AM on October 10, 2023 [3 favorites]

Uh huh. Now fix WKRP.

And ALF.
posted by Servo5678 at 11:29 AM on October 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

You mean The Thin Man formula.

Touché. Too many wine coolers.
posted by JoeZydeco at 11:33 AM on October 10, 2023 [7 favorites]

I watched Atomic Shakespeare, thought it was perfect, and was brutally disappointed to find out that real Taming of the Shrew doesn't end like that. I have spent my life since searching for revamped versions of Shrew that I like better.

I loved this show--the first three seasons (which I have on DVD), anyway. Bruce Willis was AMAZING in this show. SO quick witted, so facile, so smart, so hilariously fast. I really hate that such a fantastic brain turned into (a) Super Stoic Action Hero Guy (sorry, but he was never *fun* like he was on Moonlighting again, I felt like he'd lost 95% of his sense of humor once he became Die Hard Guy in everything), and then (b) got the mental disease he has. That makes me even sadder.

I had some book on the show ages ago--still might have it somewhere but who the hell knows where--that went into both the good and the bad points of the show, including that it went downhill not because Maddie and David badonkadonked, but because they literally weren't around at the same time to film together any more. There is no "Moonlighting" curse in which the show was "ruined" because they finally banged. Plus the showrunner was one of those...interesting... people, and things just got weird.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:47 AM on October 10, 2023 [9 favorites]

(note: I'd have to go looking up by what I mean by "interesting" people because it's been so long since I read the book, but the guy had a lot of idiosyncratic behavior going on. My vague impression is that he was kind of one of those super disorganized guys, rather than "sexual harasser," if that helps any.)
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:48 AM on October 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

On top of that the episodes felt unanchored and floated off into madcap nonsense.

You say that like it's a bad thing?
posted by Mchelly at 11:57 AM on October 10, 2023 [12 favorites]

A great show that's never been released on home media due to music rights is The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd. When I last checked a couple of years ago, all but 2-3 episodes were on YouTube as transfers from low quality home recordings.
posted by neuron at 12:01 PM on October 10, 2023 [9 favorites]

I loved this show--the first three seasons (which I have on DVD), anyway. Bruce Willis was AMAZING in this show. SO quick witted, so facile, so smart, so hilariously fast. I really hate that such a fantastic brain turned into (a) Super Stoic Action Hero Guy (sorry, but he was never *fun* like he was on Moonlighting again, I felt like he'd lost 95% of his sense of humor once he became Die Hard Guy in everything), and then (b) got the mental disease he has. That makes me even sadder.

I feel the same, jenfullmoon. The first Die Hard at least kept Willis’ sense of humor intact but the shift to John-Wayne-ing his career was jarring even then. Maybe he felt typecast after Moonlighting, maybe he just preferred being the stoic protagonist, idk. It still seems like we could have gotten some outstanding comedies out of him.
posted by Eikonaut at 12:21 PM on October 10, 2023 [5 favorites]

Fifth Element Bruce Willis is the One True Bruce Willis.
posted by Rhedyn at 12:34 PM on October 10, 2023 [19 favorites]

Bruce's version of Good Lovin' from Atomic Shakespeare still lives in my head. Happily.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 12:38 PM on October 10, 2023 [3 favorites]

I unfortunately can't ever remember Curtis Armstrong's name and always think "booger."
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 12:39 PM on October 10, 2023 [12 favorites]

I unfortunately can't ever remember Curtis Armstrong's name and always think "booger."

I always think Charles De Mar.
posted by Ickster at 12:45 PM on October 10, 2023 [10 favorites]

"Lane, I've been going to this high school for seven and a half years. I'm no dummy."
posted by Kitteh at 12:53 PM on October 10, 2023 [13 favorites]

I unfortunately can't ever remember Curtis Armstrong's name and always think "booger."

I've been referring to him as "Curtis 'Booger' Armstrong" for decades.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:01 PM on October 10, 2023 [4 favorites]

Hudson Hawk is fun.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:06 PM on October 10, 2023 [19 favorites]

Someone beat me to 'do bears bear? do bees be?' , so...

-would that Moonlighting Rules applied, and every show that ran long enough would inevitably do a Musical Episode, a b&w Noir Episode, and a Shakespeare Episode

- Who Would Win? Agnes DiPesto or Mildred Krebs?

- "okay, that's Bruce's sides for the two-shot. Now let's re-set to shoot Cybil's closeups. Go get me the Maddie Lens. No, not that one; the one with Vaseline all over it"

- the holy grail of unwatchable until they get the music clearances is still Northern Exposure. No?

- Call yer Mom. Put each other on speaker. Watch a couple episodes together.
posted by bartleby at 1:11 PM on October 10, 2023 [3 favorites]

She was WAY out of his league

To be fair, she was out of everybody's league.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 1:15 PM on October 10, 2023 [8 favorites]

- Who Would Win? Agnes DiPesto or Mildred Krebs?

Lucy Moran.
posted by The Tensor at 1:24 PM on October 10, 2023 [5 favorites]

The one scene that I still remember to this day and used to be able to rip off without thinking about it....

Security Officer : I'm sorry, but you're not on the guest list.

David Addison : That's because we're not guests. We're looking for a man with a mole on his nose.

Security Officer : A mole on his nose?

Maddie Hayes : A mole on his nose.

Security Officer : [to Maddie] What kind of clothes?

Maddie Hayes : [to David] What kind of clothes?

David Addison : What kind of clothes do you suppose?

Security Officer : What kind of clothes do I suppose would be worn by a man with a mole on his nose? Who knows?

David Addison : Did I happen to mention, did I bother to disclose, that this man that we're seeking with the mole on his nose? I'm not sure of his clothes or anything else, except he's Chinese, a big clue by itself.

Maddie Hayes : How do you do that?

David Addison : Gotta read a lot of Dr. Seuss.

Security Officer : I'm sorry to say, I'm sad to report, I haven't seen anyone at all of that sort. Not a man who's Chinese with a mole on his nose with some kind of clothes that you can't suppose. So get away from this door and get out of this place, or I'll have to hurt you - put my foot in your face

That's just golden patter.
posted by drewbage1847 at 1:25 PM on October 10, 2023 [41 favorites]

Also - not a big Billy Joel fan, but the "Big Man On Mulberry Street" scene from the show (the song, the design, everything) is incredible, and has stayed with me since it first aired.

Here it is! The lead dancer is Sandahl Bergman.
posted by thomas j wise at 1:29 PM on October 10, 2023 [9 favorites]

Lucy Moran
I see your Lucy Moran, and raise you Janine Melnitz!
posted by bartleby at 1:35 PM on October 10, 2023 [4 favorites]

Metafilter: The Anselmo case remains unsolved.
posted by zaixfeep at 1:43 PM on October 10, 2023 [3 favorites]

I'm fascinated by Willis's career for the films that were never released, like Breakfast of Champions and Broadway Brawler. As for the latter -- not many can cross The Mouse and get two blockbusters for his trouble, rather than a ride on Space Mountain standing up.

I'm trying to think of a non-stinker straight-up comedy movie where he wasn't a cop or tough guy -- I don't remember his performance in Death Becomes Her, and his character in Disney's The Kid was kind of like David Addison without the charisma.

It looks like I have more Bruno homework now:

- The 1st episode of the 80s Twilight Zone (written by Harlan Ellison)
- Nobody's Fool
- His Girl Friday
posted by credulous at 2:07 PM on October 10, 2023

I thought I knew (almost) everything about that show, but didnt realize the noir episode had two distinct B & W looks. Also, Caron talking about the ache in the characters reminds me of the opening of one episode, in which the laid back late night DJ is telling a goofy love story, and we see / hear one or more of his diverse audience. And we learn later Maddie listened to his show too.

My memory of rumored production dynamics is:

1) Scripts were indeed slow a-coming.
2) Plus, Shepherd's pregnancy with twins threw production off in whatever season that was. But most crucially, led to Glenn Caron's horrid storytelling decisions that ruined the show.

3) My impression was Caron was a chauvinistic ass to Shepherd, but of course, she took the most criticism as being "difficult." (My take at the time was he had a bit of Hitchcock leading lady syndrome.)

Someone beat me to mentioning "Northern Exposure." I was so glad when it came along a couple years after "Moonlighting." (And a few years after NE, "Gilmore Girls" combined aspects of those two shows - fast talking in a whimsical town.)
posted by NorthernLite at 2:35 PM on October 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

Touché. Too many wine coolersZimas.

FTFY
posted by Thorzdad at 2:50 PM on October 10, 2023 [4 favorites]

Who Would Win? Agnes DiPesto or Mildred Krebs?
Lucy Moran.
I see your Lucy Moran, and raise you Janine Melnitz!

I feel Carol Kester is being unfairly overlooked.
posted by Greg_Ace at 3:05 PM on October 10, 2023 [4 favorites]

THANK YOU, Thomas J Wise! Holy cow - it still sizzles. What a production - top to bottom!
posted by davidmsc at 3:08 PM on October 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

I'm fascinated by Willis's career for the films that were never released, like Breakfast of Champions....

The Vonnegut novel? NFW! Tell me more!
posted by wenestvedt at 3:11 PM on October 10, 2023 [4 favorites]

Another juicy bit, from the Moonlighting wiki page: "These innovative qualities resulted in its being nominated, for the first time in the 50-year history of the Directors Guild of America, for both Best Drama and Best Comedy in the same year (both in 1985 and 1986)."
posted by davidmsc at 3:12 PM on October 10, 2023 [3 favorites]

Just one more thing: Orson Welles intro to the episode ""The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice"
posted by davidmsc at 3:18 PM on October 10, 2023

Another comment from me: Willis did use his comedy skills as the baby's voice in "Look Who's Talking." ( Which I was just thinking about after watching "Cheers" reruns, and deciding that I had underappreciated Kirstie Alley's skills at the time.)
posted by NorthernLite at 3:51 PM on October 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

Tell me more!

Breakfast of Champions 1999 Alan Rudolph was released on VHS home video. It wasn't awesome, but it was kinda unfairly beat up on by critics. It's a fairly quirky interpretation of Vonnegut's book that doesn't quite come together. For the curious it might be worth a look for Bruce Willis playing a role outside of his usual types.
posted by ovvl at 3:52 PM on October 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

I am HERE for Atomic Shakespeare. My kid will never forgive me, as I will make him watch it, but it will be WORTH IT.

(Also Agnes DiPesto singing “Do You Think I’m Sexy” is one of the best opening sequences ever).
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 3:54 PM on October 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

Mr. Willis' filmography includes good non-cop work in 12 Monkeys, The Siege, The Sixth Sense, and Sin City.

Most of his movies after 2014 are direct-to-video.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:11 PM on October 10, 2023 [3 favorites]

Seconding Hudson Hawk, it's like there's nobody in here who is serious about Bruce Willis comedies
posted by lefty lucky cat at 5:05 PM on October 10, 2023 [14 favorites]

Great! Now do Murphy Brown.
posted by theora55 at 5:11 PM on October 10, 2023 [3 favorites]

Vanity Fair has an oral history of Atomic Shakespeare.
posted by credulous at 5:14 PM on October 10, 2023 [4 favorites]

I've been referring to him as "Curtis 'Booger' Armstrong" for decades

My BFF and I have spent the past 40 years referring to “Noriyuki ‘Pat’ Morita”
posted by tristeza at 5:17 PM on October 10, 2023 [3 favorites]

I was so excited to read this news earlier today! Yes, I'm sure parts of this show won't hold up on re-watch; as someone upthread mentioned, parts of it didn't hold up at the time. But I love shows with banter and chemistry.

And Booger! I had totally forgotten about Booger! (Hey, it's been, what, 30 years?)

Still hoping they can get things sorted to do this with Murphy Brown. Last I checked, you could get the first season on DVD, but not the rest of it.

FWIW, you CAN get the full run of Northern Exposure on Amazon - I snagged it this summer at something like $32; it's now at $27??
posted by cinnamonduff at 5:40 PM on October 10, 2023 [4 favorites]

Just wanted to point out that The Return of Bruno was actually okay, and much better than Don Johnson's Heartbeat (which was actually horrible). Peak 1980s cassette tape albums cut by TV stars.
posted by morspin at 6:36 PM on October 10, 2023 [5 favorites]

I still own BOTH of those albums on cassette.
posted by hippybear at 6:47 PM on October 10, 2023 [7 favorites]

films that were never released, like Breakfast of Champions

It was released in theatres in 1999 - that's where I saw it. It even had an early DVD release in 2000. Tho that release is long out of print.
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:29 PM on October 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

Vanity Fair has an oral history of Atomic Shakespeare.

"in the end, Shakespeare is not very woke." 😄
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:09 PM on October 10, 2023

I was young enough when this was airing to remember absolutely nothing about the plot, characters, or dynamics. What I *do* remember is what I can only call the experience of being imprinted with longing for a gorgeous man, because Willis is stunningly handsome in it. I realized as I got older that too many men I've followed have been simply stand ins for my childhood psychological imprint of this guy.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 9:29 PM on October 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

I was about 7 when I first watched Moonlighting with my mum, and my impression of it from then was vaguely positive. I was paying more attention to ALF at that point to be honest. My wife and I have been re-watching it piecemeal over the last year-ish, and I'd agree with both most of the praise and most of the criticism. When the writing shines it really shines, and the performances and chemistry between the main actors are generally great. The goofy stuff is also a lot of fun - they do a Dr Seuss-ish tongue twister bit somewhere around the end of S1/start of S2 that cracked me up an unreasonable amount. Sometimes the mystery-focused episodes plod, like they filled a week with a thinly reworked Murder She Wrote spec script. It's an 80s 'battle of the sexes' type thing, so there's an unpleasant amount of misogyny all over the place, and the worst of it is quite venomous. Some weird religion vs. atheism stuff gets shoe-horned in later on too which doesn't quite gel, like they were casting around for new kinds of conflict and wrote themselves into a corner. On the flip side, the show appears aware of how gross David is, and Maddie calls him out on his crap consistently, and sometimes to glorious effect. Cybill Shepherd incandescently screaming 'fuck you 80s gender norms' at shit-eating-grin Bruce Willis can be pretty cathartic. It's by no means perfect, and often rubs the wrong way against contemporary mores, but I'd recommend it.
posted by threecheesetrees at 10:15 PM on October 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

Oops, I missed that drewbage1847 quoted the Seuss bit. Golden patter indeed!
posted by threecheesetrees at 10:21 PM on October 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

Uh huh. Now fix WKRP.

As god as my witness, I didn’t think those music rights would be such a problem!”
posted by Ghidorah at 10:48 PM on October 10, 2023 [18 favorites]

I would like to dream of a world in which Hudson Hawk was a smash hit, giving Willis free rein to explore just to what extent we could handle his most bizarre comedic impulses. We need more movies where every single member of the cast just buys all the way in to the absurdity.
posted by Ghidorah at 10:52 PM on October 10, 2023 [11 favorites]

Some of these comments are really interesting to me, because I never ever think of Bruce Willis as a straightforward action tough guy. I was a toddler when Moonlighting came out, but my Bruce Willis was in Die Hard, Hudson Hawk, Blind Date, The Fifth Element, Death Becomes Her, Friends, Look Who's Talking, The Last Boy Scout, The Whole Nine Yards... He was an action star, sure, but he was definitely funny and quirky first and foremost to me.
posted by Saucy Possum at 5:22 AM on October 11, 2023 [3 favorites]

"I told ya I loved ya, now get out!"

The noir episode introduced some stirrings into my nascent pubescent self, I tells ya what.
posted by hearthpig at 5:34 AM on October 11, 2023 [1 favorite]

My wife and I have been using Remington Steele and Murder She Wrote as our background TV while we fart around in the evenings. First thing I noticed was how damned horny 80s tv was. Didn't notice that as a kid. I cannot wait to add this to the rotation.
posted by DigDoug at 5:36 AM on October 11, 2023 [4 favorites]

While Remington Steele is definitely full of the sex yearnings, I really don't remember Jessica Fletcher really being all that much on the make.
posted by hippybear at 5:44 AM on October 11, 2023 [2 favorites]

I really don't remember Jessica Fletcher really being all that much on the make.

Well, between murdering all those people, framing innocent bystanders, and acting all prim and proper about things, lets just say Ms. Fletcher worked up certain...appetites.
posted by Ghidorah at 6:14 AM on October 11, 2023 [3 favorites]

While Remington Steele is definitely full of the sex yearnings, I really don't remember Jessica Fletcher really being all that much on the make.

I didn't either. But Cabot Cove is very horny. And the writer's conventions she goes to are meat markets. And her cousin is constantly getting tail from a new girl. The Sheriff's deputy offers comfort to almost every old lady in the town. Every successful old man tries to convince Jessica to be with him. It's really astounding how I remembered it as doilies and grammas and it turns out all those people have lives and desires too!
posted by DigDoug at 6:39 AM on October 11, 2023 [1 favorite]

...lets just say Ms. Fletcher worked up certain...appetites.

She was a cannibal?!
posted by wenestvedt at 6:50 AM on October 11, 2023 [5 favorites]

A few years ago I bought the 1st Moonlighting set (S1 and S2, I guess?) on DVD and didn't quite make it through the set. I loved the show when I was in high school, but it didn't quite keep my interest today.

I think now that it's on streaming I'll just hit some of the highlights. Aside from Atomic Shakespeare, and The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice, what would be the "must" episodes to watch with my fam?
posted by jzb at 6:52 AM on October 11, 2023 [1 favorite]

@ jenfullmoon: I watched Atomic Shakespeare, thought it was perfect, and was brutally disappointed to find out that real Taming of the Shrew doesn't end like that. I have spent my life since searching for revamped versions of Shrew that I like better.

Look up John Fletcher's play The Woman's Prize, more commonly known as The Tamer Tamed.

This is a sequel to Shrew, written by someone who co-authored plays with Shakespeare and performed by Shakepeare's company. Katherine has passed away, and Petruchio is looking to remarry. However, his new bride is more than his match, and the play ends with a celebration of equality in marriage.

Just goes to show that even in the "bad old days" the attitudes of Taming of the Shrew were by no means universally accepted.
posted by cheshyre at 7:02 AM on October 11, 2023 [6 favorites]

Cybill Shepherd is doing well these days at 73 by all reports, recently starring a Lifetime movie. However, spare a kind thought for 68 year old Bruce Willis, who was recently diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia after a few years of declining facility.
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:05 AM on October 11, 2023 [4 favorites]

The first Die Hard at least kept Willis’ sense of humor intact but the shift to John-Wayne-ing his career was jarring even then. Maybe he felt typecast after Moonlighting, maybe he just preferred being the stoic protagonist, idk. It still seems like we could have gotten some outstanding comedies out of him.

The Whole Nine Yards came out well after Die Hard. And Fifth Element! I'm sure there are others.

I actually have a theory about Die Hard, as a big step forward for feminism. Here you have this guy who is mostly known at the time for Moonlighting and such, as a romantic comedy kind of guy, starring in the Rambo-esque role, but he does all this stuff that isn't action hero-ey, like not confront the bad guys ("Why the fuck didn't you stop 'em, John? 'Cause then you'd be dead too, asshole.") and a major plot arc is about learning to be vulnerable to his wife. They ruined that in the later movies, but it was a great thing to see in an action movie in 1988.
posted by joannemerriam at 7:50 AM on October 11, 2023 [6 favorites]

(Also for another cozy mystery TV show with banter --> Psych. The banter is between two men, but it's definitely banter.)

You know that's right.
posted by adekllny at 7:50 AM on October 11, 2023 [4 favorites]

"Moonlighting" was, essentially, the reason I got to have a 10pm bedtime when I was a kid. My mother was a huge fan. She was running a non-profit at the time and her office staff bought her a lifesize cardboard cut-out of Bruce Willis as a gag birthday gift. My friend Caroline and I used to play in my mother's closet, putting on her blazers and pretending to be Maddie. I was the kind of an old movie obsessed weird kid who had, up to that point, been entirely obsessed with Cary Grant movies (he was one of my first real crushes, pre John Cusack and River Phoenix) and something about "Moonlighting" felt of a piece
posted by thivaia at 8:22 AM on October 11, 2023 [4 favorites]

The Shout! Factory Northern Exposure DVD box set that is selling for under $50 bucks has substitute music. There are non-US region Blu-Rays that have most if not all of the music but (I hear) dubious transfers. Probably your best option is the new version with almost all the original music for $20 a season.
posted by MattD at 8:25 AM on October 11, 2023

Murder, She Wrote: How Many People Were Actually Murdered in Cabot Cove?

Many sources erroneously report the number of Cabot Cove murders in Murder, She Wrote to be 274 murders, but this number instead actually is closer to the total number of murders solved by Jessica Fletcher on the show -- whether they were in Cabot Cove or not. Instead, Jessica actually solved approximately 60 suspicious deaths that occurred in her hometown of Cabot Cove, Maine. Given that Cabot Cove had a population of 3,560 people at the beginning of the series, 60 murders over the course of twelve years, an average of five murders per year, is a significantly high number.
...
While Jessica is associated mainly with Cabot Cove, the majority of the episodes of Murder, She Wrote actually took place elsewhere. Only 54 of the series' 264 episodes take place in Cabot Cove itself, not counting the episodes where Jessica narrated other peoples' adventures and crime-solving from the comfort of her home.

posted by kirkaracha at 11:42 AM on October 11, 2023 [2 favorites]

"I told ya I loved ya, now get out!"

"Gilda" homage.
posted by NorthernLite at 12:10 PM on October 11, 2023 [1 favorite]

Uh huh. Now fix WKRP.

And ALF.

And Sha Na Na.
posted by Melismata at 2:52 PM on October 11, 2023 [1 favorite]

There ought to be a FanFare post about The Bonfire of the Vanities.

Willis follows up Die Hard and Look Who's Talking sequels to do... this?

It was reviewed by the big movie critics of the time (they were generally not fans), there's a whole book about the making-of, there's a 20-minute video about a single shot.

(Free with ads on YouTube, Roku, and Tubi.)
posted by box at 3:19 PM on October 11, 2023 [3 favorites]

I rewatched "Atomic Shakespeare" last night - my favorite bits:

"I must away, as I am off to floss."

"Goest thou to HELLLL!!" (most excellent exuberant delivery)

Western movie "hero" theme music as Petruchio first enters the square on his horse (right after the initial fanfare, ~7:48)

"Pray sir, yea sir, I daresay I did say."
"Yea sir, you do say you did say?"
"Yea I say, but why do you bray? Do not gainsay what I say, that we make headway. I foray this way that I may be home 'ere midday."
"Hooray for this day, and the words that you say! But forgive my display, for I have something to say."
"Then without further delay I say, fire away!"

"Sayeth what??"

IN CASE OF 'SHREW', BREAK GLASS

"Unhand me!"
"I'll try, but I don't think they'll come off."

"Didst thou hear the news today? 40 teenagers arrested at the Bach concert. T'is said if thou playest the 2nd Concerto backwards, thou hearest the voice of Satan."

"Are we married merrily?"
"Yea, verily, we are married merrily! Though at first warily, and unfortunately quite sterilely."

"And if the whole town knoweth, then 'tis possible that Kate knoweth; and if Kate knoweth and knoweth that the whole town knoweth, and knoweth that *we* knoweth that she knoweth, knoweth what that means?"
"...No-eth..."

Entire crowd in the square, as camera pulls back for the final shot: "We hate iambic pentameter!!"
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:17 PM on October 11, 2023 [7 favorites]

Instead, Jessica actually solved approximately 60 suspicious deaths that occurred in her hometown of Cabot Cove, Maine.

Oh, sure. 60 murders where there were bodies to find. When she wanted to be, Ms. Fletcher left no trace, just an empty space in the world, quickly filled in with small talk and other distractions.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:54 PM on October 11, 2023 [6 favorites]

A lingering scent of Werther's Hard Candy and a sense of quiet dread.
posted by MrVisible at 5:07 PM on October 11, 2023 [8 favorites]

"I told ya I loved ya, now get out!"

TURN! TURN! STEP! DIP! FLIP!

(gay Chicago folks, at least of a certain age, will get that.)
posted by dnash at 6:03 PM on October 11, 2023

There ought to be a FanFare post about The Bonfire of the Vanities.

Willis follows up Die Hard and Look Who's Talking sequels to do... this?

It was reviewed by the big movie critics of the time (they were generally not fans), there's a whole book about the making-of, there's a 20-minute video about a single shot.

It was also the subject of season 2 of TCM's podcast The Plot Thickens.
posted by gtrwolf at 9:17 PM on October 11, 2023 [2 favorites]

To be fair, she was out of everybody's league.

She was the first to move to the soft filter universe. Way ahead of the times!
posted by srboisvert at 2:36 PM on October 13, 2023

She was the first to move to the soft filter universe.

Wait, what? There were literally generations of actors being filmed through gauze/soft filters before her! If she supposedly moved to that universe, it was quite well populated long before she got there.
posted by hippybear at 2:44 PM on October 13, 2023 [2 favorites]