Bruce Willis' '80s Detective Comedy Show is Now on Prime for the First Time Ever

Summary

• Before he became famous in Die Hard, Bruce Willis found popularity in the TV series Moonlighting.
• Until recently, the show was only available on physical media.
• Now, however, it is finally available for streaming, rental, or purchase.

Despite his retirement from acting, Bruce Willis is still one of the most beloved and talented stars in Hollywood. But did you know that his career did not begin with Die Hard, and that he made his name not on the big screen, but on television? Before taking on the iconic role of John McClane, Willis starred in ABC's Moonlighting. Even by today's standards, it seems quite original, but at the time it was The Show that influenced almost the entire format of television, offering for the first time a romantic story outside the melodrama of soap operas and mixing it with a detective procedural.

Unfortunately, despite its influence, the series has been half-forgotten until now, being available only on VHS and DVD. But starting today, anyone can buy or rent the series in digital format, including on Prime Video.

One of the Most Influential Dramedies of the '80s

Created by Glenn Gordon Caron, this comedy-drama with mystery and detective elements aired on ABC from 1985 to 1989, during which it received an incredible number of prestigious awards and nominations. Over the course of its five seasons, Moonlighting won several Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards, People's Choice Awards and Directors Guild of America Awards. The eponymous theme song, performed by jazz icon Al Jarreau, was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1988.

What is the secret of the show's success? First, as mentioned above, Caron provided a unique genre mix for the time, striking the perfect balance between straight drama and comedy.

In the story, Maddie Hayes, played by Cybill Shepherd, is a bankrupt New York City model who discovers she has a detective agency that exists only as a tax write-off. At the agency, she meets the sarcastic and incredibly charismatic, despite his constant nonsense, David Addison (Bruce Willis), who convinces her to keep the agency open by working with him as a detective. Thus begins the crazy story of Maddie and David's criminal investigations, full of romantic tension and love-hate.

The unique thing about the show is its experimental nature. The scriptwriters were not afraid to break the fourth wall: for example, in the last episode, shown on TV after the news of the cancellation of the series due to falling ratings, the protagonists met in the closing agency and tried to persuade the producers to continue the show.

All Watch Options, Including Prime

From the time of the show's cancellation until recently, all five seasons were never digitized. The reason was that the songs used in the show, especially the theme song by Al Jarreau, were too expensive to license.

However, Disney ( remember that ABC, on which the series aired, is now owned by them) managed to get it done, and from October 10, 2023, the show is available for streaming on Hulu, Disney's subsidiary service. After the 7-day free trial, the cost will be $7.99 per month for the ad-supported plan and $17.99 per month for the ad-free plan.

But while Hulu has a lot of great movies and shows to stream, not everyone wants to buy a subscription just for a particular show. That's why a new update from Disney is coming to the rescue, making Moonlighting available for rent or purchase starting today, January 16.

All 67 episodes have been digitally remastered and are available in HD quality. For the first time, you can buy or rent the series on several major platforms. First and foremost is Prime Video, but Moonlighting is also available on Apple TV and Vudu.