I can't say I am that excited about this as I have already been lured in by Blood Ties, but who knows it might turn out to be ok? Is anyone else planning to watch it?

moonlight

I plan to try it out (don't tell James) mainly because in a special show previewing the new CBS shows, Sophia looked ... WoW!

The story and dialog seemed a little flimsy however -- but it's difficult to make a reliable judgement after a few minutes of random fragments?

Upfronts thread

I see we`ve already had the Sophia discussion. ;)

:lol:

i will have a look, we will see how it goes after 2/3 episodes :unsure:

Without spoiling it for me, how does Alex O'Loughlin in this square up to his part in The Shield? (Haven't seen the last few eps of that yet.)

Moonlight actually looks a bit crummy and he looks a lot geekier in it than he does in The Shield (which has been having a blinding Season 6 btw).

I have just updated the url in my first post as they have give moonlight a snazzy page. It starts on the 28th september.

Moonlight: "Pilot" Advance review

That was fun! :thumbsup: Fast moving. And stylish.

But not perfect. :( (Hear that James?)

It opened with a lot of promise with a wry attitude, rich colors and imaginative visuals. Then it got down into business and, in the process, left some of the original tone behind so that it could follow the usual route to the inevitable frantic ending.

What really rises about the ordinary is Alex O'Laughlin. I'm not familiar with him but from what I saw in this premiere, this should make him a star. Sophia Myles is filmed in loving soft focus which is very flattering for her. It's going to be fun ogling her. Like McKidd in JOURNEYMAN, she struggles in places getting the lines to sound natural (altho, any American who isn't familiar with her would assume she was American). On the other hand, O'Loughlin, like so many other Austrailians, is pitch perfect, capable of expressing subtleties in American.

Since the pilot ended a half-hour ago, I don't know what the ratings are, but I'm gonna bet that they won't make JERICHO fans happy.

PS: It's not the dark and gothic vampire milieu. This guy's Angel without the brooding.

Ep 2 wasn't bad, really. It was just tired. I could almost quote the next line.

What happened to that light-hearted tone of the first part of the first show? It disappeared so quickly. Before the end of the first half. When it began to take itself seriously.

That's what it did in Ep 2. Took itself seriously. As an actioner. Pulling out situations and dialog from the "actioner kit" and fitting them into the template.

The only things that kept me tuned in were the direction and photography (still very stylish) and the two leads. They had a good actor for villain, too.

If Ep 3 is as pitiful, I'm going to send CBS some peanuts.

And offer Sophia my shoulder to cry on.

I saw the first episode but haven't got around to the second yet. The first episode was better than I hoped it might be. It started off pretty slowly but got better the longer the episode went on. Far from perfect, but equally far from being a trainwreck either. The story itself isn't a million miles away from similar shows, albeit with a few subtle differences, but the winning combination of the two leads are what kept me interested.

Personally, I still think the show's on a hiding to nothing. It's far too similar a concept to Angel, which for me, this has no chance of topping, or, in truth, of getting anywhere near. I doubt the numbers will be disastrous, so this will probably hang around until mid-season at the earliest, which means that Jericho probably won't resurface until the new year. I can wait :lol:

According to MediaWeek.com, the second episode of MOONLIGHT (8.25 million) edged out the premiere of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (6.5 million) for top spot in the 9 pm timeslot -- but FNL tied for the 18-49 demographic. (Note: the numbers are not finals.)

These ratings were very modest. The overall audience on Friday seem to be slipping away. :ponder:

The thing that I've never understood with the scheduling of Friday Night Lights, surely a certain proportion of those that would be attracted to such a show would be otherwise engaged in actually playing football! :shrug:

Another reason to dislike Moonlight, edging out Friday Night Lights..... :mad: :lol:

Ep 3 brings relief and contentment. B)

Not a great episode but my favorite so far by far. It's a just a variation on the vampire theme still, but this one delineates the clever rules and infrastructure that has evolved in vamp society in order to keep their presence hidden.

This one moves fast with lotsa action as Mick and Beth team up to chase down a rogue vamp. So Sophia gets a lot of screen time.

I bet the producers and/or cameramen and/or directors are in love with her. She gets a lot of gaze-worthy closeups. And, this time I felt that she was comfortable in the role -- coming across to me as 100% American.

It's taken quite a hit in the ratings this week John. Down to 7.30 million & 2.0/6. Only third in its key demo as well.

A worrying week for the show. A similar decline next week and I'd start preparing yourself for the worst! :ponder:

The ratings hit may be due to the premiere of THE WOMEN'S MURDER CLUB opposite -- viewers were trying it out. Some analyst noting the declining Friday night audience predicts that it will be a good night for shows with female leads. MURDER CLUB has 4 of 'em. :ponder:

A cross between CSI and Sex & The City - That was always going to get good numbers, for its first episode at least. It'll be interesting to see what the dropoff is for the second episode.

It probably helps that WOMEN'S MURDER CLUB's creator is popular mystery writer James Patterson. It's premeire ratings were a cool 10 million -- very good numbers for a Friday.

Also helping bury MOONLIGHT and FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS is the fact that we're entering the baseball championships. While the games were complete by 9 pm here on the West coast, they were probably still being played during the 9 pm hour on the East coast. While their numbers are modest (around 7 million) they are a drain on the audience, especially the 18-49 group.

FNL took a hefty hit this last Friday. It's not looking good for that show, which is a shame, I enjoy it. Perhaps a move back to Thursday night would help it out.

I gotta agree with you for the most part. I still haven't watched the second ep. yet. It just feels tired to me and I Looove Vampires but I kept thinking to myself what would Angel do here. The writing and dialog for the show is just not popping! Probably the only thing that's going to keep this show around for awhile is the fact that it's paired with Jenny love on Fridays. But maybe not.

Enjoyed Ep 4 "Fever". Nothing new in the story but worked alright as a whodunnit.

As usual, the chemistry between the actors works really well. I'm usually put-off by the introduction of an old boyfriend or spouse as a way of pulling the potential lovers apart -- but I think Jordan Belfi as Beth's (Sophia Myles) boyfriend -- fits right in. And Sophia makes Beth's feelings towards both believable.

--- update ---
I forgot to give credit to the guest actress Vanessa Lengies who gave a superb performance as the young witness in need of protection. I was surprised to learn that she was from Quebec -- but evidently not French-Canadian.

I have finally managed to catch the first episode of this, I wasn't that keen on the guy playing the lead, which never bodes well. However it might just be a pilot thing and I might watch a few more episodes before I decide not to bother with it.

I think this goes out the same night as Blood Ties and I have been paying far more attention to the outcome of that show as quite a few fans aren't very optimistic about the shows future. Its almost like Roswell again with the amount of devotion fans have to the show, they have been bombarding the network with postcards and flyers to show their is an audience for it. I have also noticed they are offering these episodes on itunes. I don't know if Moonlight are doing this also? Seems to be a good idea though. I don't have an ipod but I would be quite happy to pay for a show I was heavily into if I had one.

Hi Viv. IMO, this is a show that depends on the actors cuz the show doesn't offer much new in terms of concept. I also like the high-key look of the thing -- which runs counter to the usual dark and moody goth fashion.

It's doubtful I will be seeing any more of Moonlight unless by some chance a tv network over here picks it up. The place where I got it from (TV Links) has been shut down and the site ownser arrested for having links to tons of tv shows and movies.

Can you not get it from Filesoup or Demonoid?

I have just managed to watch it. The second episode that is. I quite like the story for this as it deals with the guy released from prison. Nothing supernatural except for the vampire character. Is this how the rest of the season eps are looking?

And it was bugging me where I had seen Sophia Myles before, Dr Who!! One of my favourite episodes: The Girl In The Fireplace.

I foget if you liked or despised UNDERWORLD, Viv, but that's where I first noticed Sophia.

As for the second eppy -- if my tastebuds are any indication, the second is very different from 3 & 4 -- becuz I didn't like episode 2 (I can't even remember the story) but I liked episodes 3 & 4.

:guitar: I say to-may-to, you say to-mah-to...

CBS has ordered 4 more episodes of MOONLIGHT. However, the speculation goes, is that becuz they like its prospects -- or is CBS just trying to get some scripts done before the writers' strike?

Ratings for week 4 were okay. They were beat out by WOMEN'S MURDER CLUB but they may have won the 18-49 demo.

[corrected] Eps 6 stayed at the same level as 3 & 4 -- which means I enjoyed them. Ep 5 (about the teenage vampire) wasn't so hot.

Episode 6 had two special treats. One was Sophia turning on the charm (what a beautiful smile she has :wub: ) and, at one point, sauntering across the street in a short & clingy back dress ( :drool: worth recording, guys). The other treat was an actress called Holly Valance. Aussi by way of England, as I understand it. (If she was in NEIGHBOURS did she work with Jesse Spencer?) Holly got to use an accent -- but it was a very indeterminate one to my ears.

The IMDb webpage for MOONLIGHT has a forum which includes a thread on the accents of the Aussi & British leads. These Americans are spotting things I didn't spot and are possibly splitting hairs a little finer than I would. I do agree with a couple posters who think that O'Laughlin's seems more Northeastern (his voice is throaty and his words are formed more forward in the mouth). But they all seem to agree that most of the slip-ups were in the pilot and have practically disappeared.

I think Holly Valance was after Jesse Spencer's time on Neighbours John. She's been in Prison Break as well, and something else which escapes me right now. Entourage perhaps?

The character of Flick played by Valance appeared in 1999, Billy Kennedy played by Jesse Spence left in 2000. Apparanty she has also been in CSI: NY too.

I enjoyed Episode 7 as well despite the dialog being overpopulated with moldy clichés.

It includes the appearance of someone I feared would not be good. In her brief appearances in flashbacks, Shannyn Sossamon, as Mick's late wife (who had turned him into a vampire), seemed to be an inadequate actress. In this episode, she has a large guest role as a woman who is a dead ringer for his ex.

This part-Hawaiian actress has striking, dark looks which pairs nicely with Sophia on screen. And she performs well enuf.

After the clichés, my worse complaint regarding the episode is some bad Photoshopping amid the typically pleasing visuals. Otherwise, it was a effortless, predictable ride.

With episodes 8 & 9, MOONLIGHT continues to frustrate and delight me.

Ep 8 was a mixed bag with a bad actor (but strong presence) as the big villain and a really good actress as the vulnerable young woman, some good scary moments and good dramatic moments.

Ep 9, stole the premise and some scenes directly from Gene Hackman's THE CONVERSATION. The last half of the episode was an improvement, but what captured my attention thru out it was this Shannyn Sossamon as the ex-wife's lookalike. Unlike O'Laughlin and Myles, she doesn't have to concentrate on a new accent, yet she only just registers as a personality. But she is wonderful to look at. Reminicent of Teri Hatcher when she was young. And she worked really well with O'Laughlin as she was teamed with him as Myles' character went off on an investigation on her own.

MOONLIGHT is still one of my favorite shows for visuals. And it has a cool stylishness. Yet it has the most pedestrian dialog around. Why don't they pay for a good scriptwriter?

Moonlight finds itself in an interesting situation. Its numbers place it firmly on the bubble, but its demographics may well save it. It took a hit on the numbers this week, but to be fair, this week's an oddity anyway, the numbers are down across the board during the holidays.

I was reading on another forum that this has been picked up for a second season. I don't know how true that is?

The last I heard they ordered 4 more episodes -- that was before the writers strike. No word of filling out the season or renewal for a new season. But, since it's possible that there may not be a "rest of the season", some speculators may be thinking ahead.

Fact is, the ratings weren't strong -- however, it did better than the competition in grabbing the 18-49 year olds.

And, as someone has pointed out, this cast is probably cheaper then a well-known cast (ie, it could still be pulling in a profit despite its smaller ratings).

According to TV GUIDE (U.S.), O'Laughlin and Holly Valance have been a couple for a year and a half now.

Hmmm. I wonder if Holly tried for the lead role that Sophia got.

I was watching the episode in which she appeared, it took a while for me to twig it was her. I keep expecting her to use her Australian accent. This show is warming on me, after seeing Fleur De Lys, the next episode is going to be interesting.

Yawn yawn...I was waiting to see what was going to happen with the Coraline plt, but I had to watch the whole episode before the obvious happened. The only part that was minorly interesting was when the nurse was checking her vitals and Coraline produced fangs when she saw the nurses neck.

Ep 10 "Sleeping Beauty" was not the best episode of MOONLIGHT.

I checked TV.COM to find out how many episodes left and when they'll air -- and I got spoiled! Not a bad spoil but be careful about reading the descriptions to the last two if you don't like spoilage.

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