This web page will attempt to answer a frequently asked question – “How can I obtain a copy of a particular Moonlighting episode?” – with as much detail as I know.
Please note: This page is not meant to be an exhaustive list of "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) about Moonlighting. It only intends to answer questions about how to obtain Moonlighting episodes and similar merchandise. Please see Diane DeMelo's Moonlighting FAQ for a much more comprehensive list of Moonlighting information.
The principal intent of this section is to discuss the purchasing of Moonlighting episodes on video. But while we're at it, we'll also discuss other Moonlighting merchandise still available for purchase.
We'll cover these topics as follows:
Anchor Bay Entertainment released the pilot episode on DVD and VHS on January 25th, 2000. Both formats include Bruce Willis's original screen tests, and the DVD format includes a (nearly) full-length audio commentary by Willis and Glenn Gordon Caron.
This disc is not regionally coded so those of you outside North America should be able to view this DVD.
I have received no information about purchasing Moonlighting episodes in any other parts of the world.
If you know of any other sources for this video, please send me email.
Moonlighting fans have been waiting for a home video release of Moonlighting for nearly twenty years. (Not only hasn't it been available on DVD in all that time, but it wasn't available on VHS either!)
Now at long last the wait is over. To our great delight, Lions Gate Entertainment has released all five seasons, starting on May 31st, 2005, and concluding with the final season on March 6th, 2007.
Yes, there are a couple of goofs, but fans who have reviewed these DVD's have responded pretty universally with delight that the picture and sound are clearer than they've ever been, even when they were on television the first time, and that scenes which were cut in syndication on Lifetime and Bravo are back now, just the way we remember them. Even some of the episode promos are included, which is a very happy bonus.
(Goofs, you ask? What goofs? The most surprising one is that the score to The Lady in the Iron Mask, including the use of the William Tell Overture, has been entirely replaced with music that none of us recognize or remember.)
Incidentally, TVShowsOnDVD.com is a good place to learn about what's happening with just about every television show you've ever heard of. The whole history of Moonlighting's journey to DVD is here.
And finally, I'd like to shout out to the devoted fans at the Moonlighting DVD Campaign. For many years, they have worked tirelessly and enthusiastically to encourage the production of Moonlighting episodes for sale. I believe they can rightfully take credit for making the home video industry aware of the number of fans who have been anxiously awaiting this series on DVD.
Moonlighting was out of print for a while, but is now available for purchase again, both as a box set of eight VHS episodes and as a single DVD containing three episodes.
(Here's a complete list of Moonlighting titles from BlackStar, some of which are out of print.)
The videos of Moonlighting are still [July, 2000] sold in Japan. All videos are VHS, NTSC, English sound with Japanese sub-titles. There are seven volumes:
A "Best of Moonlighting" collection was released for sale many years ago. It consisted of two parts, each containing two tapes.
I have received no information about purchasing Moonlighting episodes in any other parts of the world.
Okay, so you can't purchase Moonlighting episodes besides the pilot. What else is there that you can purchase that's Moonlighting-related? Actually there's quite a bit. In this section we'll discuss books, scripts, the soundtrack album, and other merchandise
I am only aware of one book about Moonlighting, and that is Cybill & Bruce: Moonlighting Magic (St. Martin's Press, 1987), by Barbara Siegel and Scott Siegel.
The book is long out of print. Look for it in your local used bookstore. One little-known secret for finding used books on the Internet is the Advanced Book Exchange. When I first wrote this section of this page, there were several copies of this book available from this source, but I haven't seen one there in a long time.
Another possibility is to look for it at auction, such as on eBay or similar sites.
I am unaware of any other books about Moonlighting. If you know of any, please let me know, and I'll include information about it here. Also if you know about any books or articles which make reference to Moonlighting in any way, please let me know about them too.
One source for Moonlighting scripts is The Script Shop. I haven't actually had any dealings with them – I haven't bought any Moonlighting scripts from them, nor do I know anyone who has – and so I can't personally vouch for them. If you are reading this, and you do buy anything from them, please let me know what you think of them so I can include that information here.
Additionally, a member of the Moonlighting mailing list reports several more [I have removed episode titles from his report, because I expect that the offerings for these places have changed significantly in the meantime – bcm]:
I had recently done a mailing of various script selling places I knew of and these are the most reputable and most friendly places I've found who got back to me in a timely manner and had very nice sales people. Hope this helps. I had done this mailing in March of 1998...so lists may have changed slightly, but for the most part...just call or write to these places and you should get the most up-to-date lists. :)
BOOK CITY COLLECTABLES
All scripts $7.50 each except the Pilot which is $15.00. You can contact them at: (213) 466-0120 or write them at: 6631 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028
COLLECTORS BOOK STORE
c/o Mr. Jim Shepard. They have these 5 original scripts for $25.00 each. You can call Jim at : (213) 467-3296 or write him at: 1708 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, CA 90028
STILL THINGS
All scripts are $10 except for the Pilot which is $15. usually a deal....buy 3 for $25.00. You can write them at: 13622 Henny Avenue, Sylmar, CA 91342
SCRIPT CITY
All scripts are $14.95 except the Pilot which is $19.95. You can call them at: (213) 871-0707 fax them at: (213)871-9260 or write them at: 8033 Sunset Blvd., Suite 1500, Hollywood, CA 90046
I have a web page that's devoted to the Moonlighting soundtrack album, which includes information about purchasing it. Please see that web page for more details.
I have heard stories from people who have bought Moonlighting merchandise of all sorts, including autographs, posters, and (most interestingly, to me) the "Bugaloo Brown" boxing robe that Maddie wore in Symphony in Knocked Flat. I don't currently have good sources for this sort of thing, but when I do, I will add it to this page.
If your favorite episode isn't available for purchase, then is it possible to copy a broadcast of the episode? The answer to that question depends a lot on where you live.
Moonlighting has been shown in syndication on cable television sporadically since it went off the air. In the early 1990's it ran for several years on Lifetime Television. In the late 1990's it ran for a while on a cable network in Canada. In the first few years of this decade it ran frequently on Bravo. Unfortunately, at the present time it's not running anywhere in North America to my knowledge. Based on prior history, I suspect that it will again, and when it does, I'll put information about that here.
In Brazil:
A member of the Moonlighting mailing list in Brazil reported in August, 1998 that it is airing there, and that its name in Portuguese is "A Gata e o Rato", which is "The Cat and the Rat" in English.
Elsewhere:
Moonlighting fans in Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela report that on Tuesday, October 31, 2000, the Sony Entertainment Television Latin America cable channel began airing Moonlighting every Tuesday at 12:00 (Venezuela time), repeated on Saturday at 15:00 (Venezuela time), in English with Spanish subtitles.
That channel began airing the episodes starting with Season Five. If I understand the situation correctly, this is apparently because Moonlighting was dubbed into Spanish several years ago, but only the first four seasons; the fifth and final season was never dubbed, and never aired. Consequently, it appears that Sony Entertainment Television chose to pick up the series where the Spanish-language broadcast left off.
Over the last several years, I have received word that Moonlighting is airing or has aired in several countries in Europe, including:
England, which showed Moonlighting on Carlton Select, on Cable. The pilot episode was shown on Tuesday, August 3rd, 1999. Later, Paramount Comedy Channel showed Moonlighting starting Sep 1st, 2001.
Finland, where it aired in English with Finnish subtitles.
France, where it was translated into French; if I understand correctly, it is called "Claire de Lune".
Germany, where it was translated into German as "Das Model und der Schnüffler", which is "The model and the snoop" when translated back into English. A German fan has created a fan page.
Italy, where it is called "Agenzia Luna Blu" which is "Blue Moon Agency" in English. However, only the first three seasons – up through To Heiress Human – were shown there.
The Netherlands
Russia, in 1995-1996, where it was called "Detektivnoe aganstvo Lunny svet," or "Moonlighting detective agency." It was aired on ORT.
Estonia, where it is called "Partnerid" which is the Estonian word for the English word "Partners".
Except as indicated above, I do not have any information about whether any of these countries are airing Moonlighting at the present time.
In Japan:
I received this report 27 Apr 2000:
In Japan, Sky perfecTV(CS) is now airing Moonlighting episodes.
A Japanese fan has created a fan page.
In Singapore:
In the summer of 2001, I was informed that Singapore is airing Moonlighting. One report said they were airing once a week on Sunday nights. Another report stated
Channel 5 of Mediacorp, a Singapore TV station, has just finished its broadcast of Moonlighting's third season re-runs last week (8 July 2001). The third season had been shown on every Monday morning at 1:30am (an ungoldly hour for a wonderful show I must say). Re-runs of the two previous seasons had been shown on Tuesday and Thursday noons at 1:00pm since last year (2000).
I received this report 10 Dec 1998:
The series was orginally broadcast in the 1980's, then this year a cable channel (Optus Vision) reran it. A few months ago I know it was shown on Toronto TV early in the morning.
I received this report 25 Nov 2000:
Moonlighting is currently screening on Australian TV on the Fox cable channel TV1 twice a week.
I have no details about Moonlighting in any other parts of the world. If you have any more information about any of this, please let me know.
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Date of last change: 23 March 2007
Contributions and suggestions are invited and encouraged.
This page is copyright © 1995-2008 by Brian Madsen.