Title: Moonlighting: An Oral History
Author: Scott Ryan
Genre: Non-Fiction
Published On: June 1, 2021
Publisher: Fayetteville Mafia Press
Source: digital (Netgalley)
Pages: 288
Synopsis:
Once upon a time ABC-TV’s Moonlighting was among the most buzzed-about shows in the country, thanks largely to the bravado of creator Glenn Gordon Caron, who never met a television convention he didn’t want to break, and the sizzling on-screen chemistry between glamorous erstwhile film star Cybill Shepherd and a New Jersey bartender nobody had ever heard of before named Bruce Willis, who bickered and flirted ceaselessly on screen and engaged in epic off-screen battles that all these years later remain the stuff of Hollywood legend.
This combustible blend of creative brilliance produced some of the most acclaimed, audacious, and innovative programming of the eighties, including a black and white tribute to film noir, with an introduction by Orson Welles; a parody of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, written in iambic pentameter; an homage to The Honeymooners; and countless metafictive episodes breaking through the fourth wall — almost unheard of at the time for hourlong comedy-dramas.
Without a doubt, Moonlighting helped pave the way for the era of prestige television we are now all enjoying. The real story of this pioneering television series and the extraordinary behind-the-scenes challenges, battles, and rewards has never been told — until now.
Author Scott Ryan (The Last Days of Letterman, thirtysomething at thirty: an oral history, The Blue Rose, Scott Luck Stories) conducted over twenty interviews with the actors, writers, directors, and producers who made Moonlighting such a dynamic, unforgettable show, delving deep into their thoughts and feelings as they relive this magical moment in pop culture history in this full color oral history.
New Interviews with: Cybill Shepherd (Maddie Hayes); Allyce Beasley (Ms. Dipesto); Curtis Armstrong (Herbert Viola); Glenn Gordon Caron (Creator, Executive Producer, Writer); Jay Daniel (Executive Producer, Director); Roger Director (Writer, Producer, Season 4 Showrunner); Allan Arkush (Director); Bob Butler and more.
My thoughts
(Spoiler free)
Moonlighting: An Oral History is the nostalgic trip down television memory lane that I didn’t know I was wanting!
I had a ridiculously fun time reading this honest and thorough look at the people who were behind and in front of the camera during the tumultuous filming of the hit series Moonlighting. It was a detective show unlike any other that has come before or after it, with slap-stick comedy, exceptional acting and writing, and characters who broke the fourth wall.
But behind the scenes, it was a team effort to get the memorable shows on the air each week, with a writer who often wrote scenes as they were being filmed, a show that had twice as much dialogue as most other shows on television at the time, and two lead actors whose differences eventually led to excruciating animosity.
“Moonlighting: An Oral History is a look at the series through the words of the people who created it, how the series was shaped and cared for and how it finally slipped away from the hearts and minds of the same American audiences who once had catapulted it to the top.”
Scott Ryan, Moonlighting: An Oral History
If you follow much television, you may have heard of the “Moonlighting curse.” It’s even in the urban dictionary. It’s defined as: “When the will-they-won’t-they couple on a TV show finally gets together… and it ruins the show. (Derived from the 1980’s TV show Moonlighting, whose ratings declined to the point of cancellation after the main characters finally resolved their sexual tension)”
Scott Ryan goes to the source, interviewing most of the players who were involved in the show, creating a timeline of events that probably hasn’t ever been done before. And by the end of the book, he decides if the “Moonlighting curse” is valid or not.
I appreciated how Ryan handled what could have become a tell-all, he said/she said ordeal by allowing the interviewees to speak candidly, sharing how they remembered events, even if they contradicted each other. When it comes down to it, it’s not important if anyone was right or wrong, it’s just fascinating to know how all the right (or wrong) things had to fall into place to make some of the most iconic moments of television.
“Memory is better than fact anyway, because it’s created by feelings.”
Scott Ryan, Moonlighting: An Oral History
It’s been years since I’ve seen the show—at least twenty years—but I still remember so many episodes, moments, lines, and songs from the series. I was a child when it originally aired, but thankfully my parents were cool enough to let me watch it with them.
It’s a difficult show to find now—it’s not streaming on any platform and the DVDs are out of print (and terribly expensive to buy used)—mostly because the licensing fees are too expensive these days. But it’s not impossible to find. I won’t say how because I’m terrified it will disappear before I can rewatch it.
If you were a fan of the show, if you still remember the Shakespearean episode that was done in iambic pentameter or the black and white episode introduced by Orson Welles—or the episode that sparked the “Moonlighting curse”—you’ll enjoy this comprehensive look at the series (with photos!) that made Bruce Willis and Cybill Sheppard household names.
Thank you to Fayetteville Mafia Press and Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy.
(All quotes are taken from the advance copy and are subject to change in final print.)
Rating:
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About the Author
In the News
If you’d like a little preview of what you might find in this book, here’s an article from Vanity Fair that has an excerpt from the book about the Shakespeare episode.
A Song For A Book
While Moonlighting is known for its great music, the theme song “Moonlighting” by Al Jarreau is synonymous with the iconic show. In fact, it’s been playing on repeat in my head since I first picked up this book a few weeks ago. And I’m still not sick of it. 😉 And for those of us that want more, I’ll be sharing a Moonlighting playlist—with songs featured throughout the series—below, as well.
…Come walk by night
Come fly by day
Some thing is sweeter
Cause we met along the way
We’ll walk by night,
We’ll fly by day,
Moonlighting strangers
Who just met on the way…
Were you a fan of Moonlighting? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
I hardly ever read non-fiction, but I’m intrigued by this one! Plus, I can’t say no to anything related to Bruce Willis 😍
Yay!! I would love to hear your thoughts if you decide to pick it up. 🙂
I remember loving this show, and you have totally rekindled my interest in watching it again…..if only it were streaming! I’m thinking this might make for a great audiobook read for me!
It would be great in audiobook, but unfortunately it’s not available. I guess because it’s a smaller indie press. But the book does have great color photos. 🙂
I am so happy to see this 5 star review Dedra. I want to read this book. I loved Moonlighting, but it was so long ago, I know I have forgotten more than I remember. I will see if I can find some episodes online.
I hope you get to pick it up! I would love to hear your thoughts on it. It was such a great show. <3