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» » Moonlighting The Next Murder You Hear (1985–1989)

Short summary

Paul McCain reigns over late night AM talk radio, KRKD 1040. During the 2:00 to 6:00 o'clock a.m. time slot, listeners could call "The Heartbreak Hotline" at 555-HART to pour out their fears, hopes and dreams. One night, in the midst of a live broadcast, loud, violent staccatos of gunfire burst out across the air, stopping the voice of Paul McCain in mid-sentence. The resulting investigation receives attention and front page headlines; David immediately sees dollar signs; all Maddie sees is they have no client and she turns up her nose at the idea of lonely people calling a stranger on the radio. David insists Blue Moon pursue the case, so the pair visits KRKD. General Manager, Sonny Brezner, tells a story of McCain as a very talented man who was also a loner, a man who received many lucrative job offers but chose to work the night shift. Brezner said McCain could have had the prime daytime slot, but he preferred the dark. Brezner alluded most married men work during the day, their ...

In speaking of innovation, Addison says Mr. Kleenex looked at his sleeve and said I have a better idea. Disposable tissue paper for runny noses was well known in 17th century Japan. But Kleenex, the fluffy soft tissue paper, was first marketed in the US by Kimberly-Clark in 1924 purely as a means of removing make-up and cold cream. Customers were using them as disposable snot rags long before such use was noted by the manufacturers.

A still drunk Addison refers to Maddie as a wanton woman, a scarlet pimpernel. He is conflating two novels. 'The Scarlet Letter' is about a Puritan colonialist woman who comitts adultery, becomes an unwed mother, and is punished. 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' is about an English fop who trains himself into a formidable adventurer and goes on secret missions to France to rescue aristocrats from the post revolution Reign of Terror.

McCain says he disappeared better than anyone else in radio, Orson Welles couldn't do any better. While today Welles is best known for his many commercials shilling for everything from airlines to indifferent wines, he was once a highly respected and very promising writer, actor, and producer of early radio dramas. Welles died in October 1985, six months after this episode aired.

User reviews


  • comment
    • Author: Rarranere
    To me, this is the first real classic episode. It starts with a neo-noiresque opening of a radio host, sharing a story about love on his nightly show. We see several people who can't sleep for various reasons(work, being homeless, loneliness, boredom). The host then begins to answer callers questions, but is rudely interrupted by a violent intruder...

    In this episode, we see David and Maddie really showing a lot of emotions for the first time. They both start to know each other quite well, but despite that, they can't seem to channel that into something positive yet. They disagree about "the case" they may or may not have, thanks to said radio host and he becomes a source of quarrel, even though from beyond the grave...

    We've some beautiful shots of L.A. at night, Maddie driving around while she can't sleep, Dave getting drunk in a bar, being in a very vulnerable and pitiful situation and eventually, Maddie having an eye-opening encounter in the night and rain.

    The final conclusion is a bit disappointing, compared to the superb set-up and seems a bit trivial, but the whole atmosphere, the dynamic of Maddie and Dave, the insight into their mind and emotions in this episode is amazing and makes this episode a 9/10 for me. This is the kind of episode you best watch snuggled up in bed or under a blanket on your couch while it's raining outside.
  • Episode complete credited cast:
    Cybill Shepherd Cybill Shepherd - Maddie Hayes
    Bruce Willis Bruce Willis - David Addison Jr.
    Allyce Beasley Allyce Beasley - Agnes DiPesto
    Gregg Henry Gregg Henry - Paul McCain
    Barbara Stock Barbara Stock - Laura Boyd
    James Sloyan James Sloyan - Sonny Brezner
    Nora Gaye Nora Gaye - Caller
    Joan Ryan Joan Ryan - Blue Moon Employee
    Ross Evans Ross Evans - Caller
    Richard Epcar Richard Epcar - Blue Moon Employee
    Frantz Turner Frantz Turner - Blue Moon Employee
    Michael E. Dawdy Michael E. Dawdy - Blue Moon Employee
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