Moonlighting (TV series)

Format innovations

Moonlighting was one of the first successful examples of "dramedy". The show made use of fast-paced, overlapping dialogue between the two leads hearkening back to classic screwball comedy films, such as those of director Howard Hawks, but which also led to chronic delays in writing production during the series' five-year, off and on run.

Related Topics:
Dramedy - Screwball comedy - Howard Hawks

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One of the innovations Moonlighting brought to television was a technique called breaking the fourth wall. Fourth wall refers to the conventions separating the contrivances of a television program and its real audience, usually meaning that, at least within the confines of the show, the events and characters being presented are "real." Moonlighting broke with this convention, with many episodes including dialogue which made direct references to the scriptwriters, the audience, the network, or the series itself.

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Although a few TV series had broken the "fourth wall" before, usually by airing a short segment at the beginning or the end of an episode so the stars could wish the audience a Merry Christmas or announce a milestone episode, Moonlighting was the first television series to weave self-referential dialogue directly into the show itself.

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The series also embraced fantasy; the episode "Atomic Shakespeare" featured the cast performing a variation of Taming of the Shrew, complete with Shakespearean costumes. The episode was wrapped by segments featuring a teenager imagining the episode's proceedings because his mother forced him to do his homework instead of watching Moonlighting.

Related Topics:
Taming of the Shrew - Shakespearean - Wrapped

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