Moonlighting

Babies Piggy, Skeeter, and Gonzo as the cast of Moonlighting

Moonlighting is a detective series which ran on ABC from 1985 to 1989. It starred Cybil Shepherd and Bruce Willis as, respectively, former model Maddie Hayes and wisecracking private eye David Addison, who together ran the Blue Moon Detective Agency. The show often focused less on their cases than on comedy and the pair's romantic tension, as well as frequent fourth wall breaking gags.

References

• In the fifth season Muppet Babies episode "Bug-Busting Babies," Baby Piggy imagines herself as a beautiful detective, taking the Maddie Hayes role. Baby Gonzo plays Gonzo Weirdison of the Blue Nose Detective Agency. He says "Do bears bear? Do bees bee?", a line first spoken by Addison in the second episode and repeated or reworked occasionally later. Skeeter takes the role of receptionist Agnes, answering the phone in rhyme. Parodying the comedic tension between the leads, Piggy and Gonzo engage in yelling and door-slamming matches.

• In the Creature Shop-effects film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, when April O'Neil and Casey Jones argue and slam doors, Donatello says "Gosh, it's kind of like Moonlighting, isn't it?"

Mentions

• In the season four episode "Maddie Hayes Got Married," David's paramour Terri suggests having dessert, enticing him with the likes of "Cookie Monster's Swirl."

Connections

• Richard Belzer played Leonard in "Twas the Episode Before Christmas" (1985)
• Ray Charles played himself in "A Trip to the Moon" (1987)
• Debra Frank wrote seven episodes (1985-1988) and was a story editor during the second season
• Whoopi Goldberg played Camille Brand in "Camille" (1986)
• John Goodman played Donald Chase in "Come Back Little Skiksa" (1987)
• Al Jarreau sang and co-wrote the theme song
• Judith Kahan wrote the teleplay for "Tracks of My Tears" (1988)
• Richard Libertini played Albert in "It's a Wonderful Job" (1986)
• Mark Linn-Baker played Phil West in "Atlas Breached" (1985)
• Will Mackenzie directed four episodes (1985-1986)
• Edie McClurg played a beauty salon customer in "Camille" (1986)
• Sam McMurray played Moe Hyman in "Blonde on Blonde" (1987)
• Virginia Madsen played Annie Charnock (3 episodes, 1989)
• Demi Moore made a cameo in "When Girls Collide" (1989)
• Tim Robbins played Fremmer in "Gunfight at the So-So Corral" (1985)
• Jennifer Tilly played Saundra in "Plastic Fantastic Lovers" (1989)
• Orson Welles played himself in "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice" (1985)
• Bruce Willis played David Addison
• Rita Wilson played Carla McCabe in "Those Lips, Those Lies" (1989)