Moonlighting

Moonlighting

Madelyn 'Maddie' Hayes

David Addison Jr.

Herbert Quentin Viola

Episodes were shot in 12 to 14 days, much longer than the usual 7 days for an hour-long series. Dialogue was often written only hours before shooting. Scenes were sometimes filmed days before airing. Because of the delays, the series never reached the usual 26 episodes per season. Only 66 episodes were produced from 1985-89.

Because of the trademark scenes in which two or more characters are talking at length simultaneously, the scripts were typically two to three times as long as a script for a similar hour-long drama.

Robert Blake and Rick Dees were considered for the role of David Addison, Jr. Voice actor and stand-up comedian Maurice LaMarche got three callbacks, but was eliminated before the screen-test phase.

Man: You can't just burst in here like that. David Addison: Oh yeah? Tell that to the writers.

David Addison: This place was great before Miss Hayes came along. Fun times, no rules, no deadlines.

Maddie: If people are meant to be together, they'll find each other, no matter where, no matter what, right? Isn't that right?