Moonlighting

"Moonlighting", with a mix of mystery, sharp dialogue, and sexual tension introduced Bruce Willis to the world and brought Cybill Shepherd back into the spotlight after nearly a decade-long absence. The characters were first introduced in a two-hour TV movie which preceded the show. The story begins with the reversal of fortune of a former model, Maddie Hayes, who finds herself bankrupt after her accountant embezzles all of her liquid assets. She is left saddled with several failing businesses formerly maintained as tax write-offs, one of which is the City of Angels Detective Agency, helmed by the carefree David Addison. Between the pilot episode and first episode, he persuades Hayes to keep the business and run it in partnership with him. The detective agency is renamed "Blue Moon Investigations" because Hayes was most famous as the spokesmodel for the Blue Moon Shampoo company. The show itself was a refreshing break from the cop shows that viewers are used to -- over the top acting was one of the show's great strengths with both Bruce and Cybill playing each scene in a camp, tongue in cheek sort of a way. The snappy, intense, banter-laden battles make for great television.

Moonlighting first aired on ABC from 1985 to 1989 with a total of 66 episodes. The show's theme song is performed by popular jazz singer Al Jarreau and became a minor hit.

The series revolved around cases investigated by Blue Moon Detective Agency and its two partners, Madolyn 'Maddie' Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) and David Addison (Bruce Willis). The show also starred Allyce Beasley as Agnes DiPesto, the firm's quirky receptionist who regularly answered the phone in rhyming couplets, a la Dr. Seuss. In later seasons, Curtis Armstrong joined the cast as Herbert Viola, a temporary employee turned Blue Moon investigator and a love interest for Agnes.

Some walk by night,
Some fly by day,
Nothing could change you,
Set and sure of the way.

Charming and bright,
Laughing and gay.
I'm just a stranger,
Love the Blues and the Braves.

There is the sun and moon,
Facing their old, sweet tune,
Watch them when dawn is due,
Sharing one space.

Some walk by night,
And some will fly by day,
Something is sweeter,
When you meet 'long the way.

So come walk the night,
Come fly by day,
Something is sweeter,
'Cause we met on the way.

We'll walk the night,
We'll fly by day,
Moonlighting strangers
Who just met on the way,
Who just met on the way
Who just met on the way.