Why don't more shows do this kind of episode?

[Cindy]

This was a killer episode and got a lot of notice at the time. It continues to be the one episode that most people remember. We get tons of requests from teachers wanting episode copies or info.

It was smart, sassy and a lot of fun. But it was also just great television. I wonder why more series don't take as big of risks as this to put out a quality episode.

See, it doesn't take big guests stars or special effects to make an episode "must see."

Why don't they make TV like this anymore??

[queensgirl]

It's too intelligent. ;D

Me and a whole generation of English majors wrote enough essays about this one to depopulate a major forest. Precisely because of its combination of the show's cleverness and its cache among the younger set, along with the sophisticated topic, it was actual assigned viewing for plenty of classes--something which in no small measure helped the already considerable third season buildup.

The selection of this play has everything to do with the nature of the series' characters themselves. It is presented as an analogue to the bickering pair in 1980s Los Angeles. There are some shows today which do bother to give us in-depth examinations of the characters...but then again, perhaps not enough, and not to the degree which we got to know these people. It is exactly like the two of them, which is why it's funny.

I personally think they could have done with another one toward the end. Perhaps not in period-piece setting, but in a modern adaptation. Othello. Would have dovetailed perfectly with the theme of infidelity, and been drawn from far better writing than the actual ending... but I'm getting ahead of myself here.

Maybe people today think the audience isn't as smart. Or they wouldn't enjoy stories which are serious on one level and funny on another. Stepping into the past could be another issue for some of them. People associate Shakespeare and other great literature with school, and unfortunately, a lot of people don't like to read in or out of school. All of these things are a shame, because I think people can get interested when you do it right, but I think it's a different atmosphere today and even doing the unusual is done in the usual way.

So it's become a chance they're not going to take.

More's the pity.

[bluemooner]

In college, I had to read The Taming of the Shrew, so of course, I had to include Moonlighting in my paper.

I wasn't sure how the professor would react, but he liked it.

[elvira]

I was actually able to see this episode recently—it's one of the few on tape that I could find. Great episode. I can hardly wait for the DVD to come out!

Incidentally, the BBC recently did a "retelling" of four Shakespeare plays, in Shakespeare Retold. I really loved it. (You have to order the DVD from the UK, however. I hope they eventually make a Region One DVD available!) One of the plays they adapted is "Shew." I won't say that it is as hilarious as the Moonlighting version (it's way too different), but I thought it was very funny. As were all the other plays. A worthwhile effort, in my opinion.

[Johanna]

i just got the soundtrack (can you beliveve that a swedish store imported it just for me?) and I love Good love. it has to be my favourite song at this moment! I´m just a little bit sad that "Be my baby" isn´t on it..

[Veronica]

I Love this episode! It's absolutely wonderful!

Posted by jkalen on Jan 23, 2006, 6:09am
i just got the soundtrack (can you beliveve that a swedish store imported it just for me?) and I love Good love. it has to be my favourite song at this moment! I´m just a little bit sad that "Be my baby" isn´t on it..

I love Good Lovin' too:) Bruce has fantastic voice

[babyhayes]

The BBC also retold The Canterbury Tales - The Wife Of Bath, The Miller's Tale etc. They were really good, but that is the BBC doing that as a series on its own. Guess it would take a brave and rather clever person to do a 're-telling' episode in the middle of a series. Can't see them doing that to Lost or Grey's Anatomy............

[Maddie Addison]

I couldn't agree more. Why the tv shows aren't anymore like moonlighting? I miss this kind of sillyness. Especially with them talk with the camera and stuff like that.

This episode is perfect. Two of my favorites things mixed in once. Moonlighting and Shakespeare.

Gonna loving David/Petruchio sun glasses in a 1600 age. So funny.

[Frontier]

I have to agree with the above posts, today TV shows do not rely on people's intelligence (maybe we're not as intelligent as we used to be), but most of it comes that today's TV is only about making profit, not something that stands out and entertains the crowd.

That's why most TV shows - including recent 'hits' like Lost - are either overly unreal and overrated or plain cheap.

This is TV nowadays, on a global scale. Sad.