A rare visit to the Family Channel for this tape, and an episode of Moonlighting. The first episode is Brother Can You Spare A Blonde? It starts with a Miami Vice-style drugs bust, but when the dealer dumps the briefcase of cash under the bonnet of an old car in a car park, the poundng synth music is replaced by a cheesy song, as it’s owned by Richard Addison – David’s not very successful brother, hawking a diet drink to an almost empty, all bored audience.
The next episode is one of the classics. Camille stars Whoopi Goldberg as a scam artist, being pursued by seedy cop Judd Nelson. It’s stylish to the point of parody, and a little beyond. Camille accidentally saves a senator from being shot, and becomes a hero, so Maddie and David decide to hire her to drum up business, but Nelson tracks her down, then, to resolve the plot, the cast run straight out of the set they’re in, and have a chase across the studio backlots – featuring a cameo from Billy Barty
and what looks like a cameo from John Ratzenberger
It’s all very silly, but frankly that’s what we really want from Moonlighting, isn’t it?
There’s a bit of the end credits of Trivial Pursuit (sound the Slatterywatch klaxon) before the next episode. And a slight presentation glitch. I wonder who Richard was.
The next episode is another classic, Atomic Shakespeare, which I have looked at on a previous tape. Not much to add, except here’s a Colm Meany appearance.
Following this episode, the recording continues, and we’re treated to an episode of Lou Grant. It’s interesting to watch this now – it’s an incredibly preachy show, but it’s heart is in the right place.
This episode covers things like the Freedom of Information act, and the McCarthy blacklist, as well as a doctor’s advice column giving frank sexual advice to teenagers, and upsetting their parents.
Plus, a blink and you’ll miss it appearance by Lance Guest off of The Last Starfighter.
Then the tape finishes with part of an episode of Rhoda, the show that first showed us what a great comic actress Julie Kavner is.
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