VIDEO Flashback: "Moonlighting"

Here is now again last month's video post revealing how one of the prime-time shows in 1988 ended the season early acknowledging the very strike that shut its production down.

ABC's romantic drama "Moonlighting" (1985-1989) which launched the career of movie superstar Bruce Willis and made Cybill Shepherd a top TV star was often plagued by costly production delays and had never actually had a full 22-episode season although it lasted for over 4 years. In the spring of 1988 however, the show came to a halt for a different reason.

Possibly one of the first 'dramedies' on television, "Moonlighting" was known for its irreverent tone, format innovation and a practice of 'breaking the fourth wall', that is, talking to the audience and acknowledging being a TV show.

In the spring 1988, the show was about to conclude an underwhelming 4th season which disappointed the fans because the show stars Shepherd (who just gave birth to twins) and Willis (who just filmed "Die Hard" and was eager to begin a big movie career) were rarely seen although their characters consummated their relationship after three years of romantic tension at the end of season 3.

The lackluster penultimate season was however brought to an abrupt close when the writers' strike shut down production on a number of prime-time series. Here is how "Moonlighting" dealt with the strike in the final, 14th episode of the season (aired March 22, 1988).

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