Why The TV Show Moonlight Matters

Why The TV Show Moonlight Matters

The vampire cult hit that was ahead of its time is back from the dead for your binge-watching pleasure.

Posted on May 13, 2019 02:45pm

By Nate Millado

Before he became Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett on Hawaii Five-0, star Alex O’Loughlin played brooding bloodsucker Mick St. John in CBS’ Moonlight (2007–2008).

The vampire detective drama won the People’s Choice Award—over the more zeitgeisty Gossip Girl—for Favorite New TV Drama.

Alex O'Loughlin stars as Mick St. John, a captivating, charming, and immortal private investigator.

So it was somewhat surprising that after 16 episodes, it was canceled—driving a stake through the hearts of its 7.5 million viewers. But over the last decade, Moonlight has developed quite the cult following and was recently made available by The CW on its streaming service, CW Seed. We pay respects to the dearly beloved one-season wonder.

Vamps Redefined

The first 90 seconds of the pilot perfectly set up its premise—and in turn debunked some old wives’ tales about vampires. During a dream sequence with an offscreen interviewer, the undead private eye says he sleeps in a freezer (not a coffin); doesn’t hurt women, children, or innocents; and is relatively unfazed by sunlight, holy water, and crucifixes. (“And while we’re on the subject, garlic is tasty on pizza,” he quips.)

Alex O'Loughlin gets vamped up in Moonlight.

A Star Is Born

Alex O’Loughlin was easy on the eyes, cracked wise with a dry sense of humor, and did many of his own stunts. So while Moonlight didn’t work out, CBS knew they had a bona fide leading man in the Aussie actor. The network offered him Hawaii Five-0.

Beth (Sophia Myles) and Mick St. John (Alex O'Loughlin) face the ultimate consequence of a relationship between mortal and immortal when a vampire kills a human in the heat of passion.

Beauty and a Beast

Sure, it was a supernatural series with an occasional case-of-the-week. But at its core, Moonlight was a romance between Mick and investigative reporter Beth Turner (Sophia Myles)—who wasn’t your typical damsel in distress. Their star-crossed storyline highlighted themes of mortality (Mick is 85 years old but forever 30) and commitment issues (could a human and a vamp really be together?).

Mick St. John (Alex O'Loughlin) defies the traditional blood-sucking norms of his vampire tendencies by using his wit and powerful supernatural abilities to help the living in Moonlight.

O’Loughlin delivered swoon-worthy lines like, “Ever since I met you, I’ve stopped using the word never,” without the slightest bit of irony, and also exhibited undeniable chemistry with co-stars Jason Dohring (Mick’s mentor and friend Josef) and Shannyn Sossamon (his vampire ex-wife/sire, Coraline). The ensemble was just hitting its stride when film and television writers began a three-month strike in November 2007, forcing the show into hiatus only 12 episodes in. The show returned in April and aired a final four episodes.

Former vampire couple Coraline (Shannyn Sossmon) and Mick St. John (Alex O'Loughlin).

Fang Girls and Boys

Moonlight diehards were willing to give their own blood to save their show from cancellation. Partnering with the American Red Cross, more than 3,000 fans donated a pint of blood in a nationwide campaign to get the network’s attention.

STREAM: All 16 episodes Of Moonlight On CW Seed

Gone Too Soon?

Moonlight aired its final episode on May 16, 2008—missing the vampire craze by mere months! True Blood and Twilight blew up in the fall, while The CW’s The Vampire Diaries premiered a year later. “We sort of felt like we were the beginning of this new phase,” O’Loughlin said in a 2010 interview. Had the timing been right—who knows? Fun fact: Moonlight’s working title during pilot season—Twilight.

Originally published in Watch! Magazine, March-April 2019.

Photo Credits: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

https://www.cbs.com/shows/watch_magazine/archive/1009236/why-the-tv-show-moonlight-mattered/

Alex O'Loughlin Letter to Fans

This is from Alex O'Loughlin's only authentic blog - his official MySpace before he closed it concerning Moonlight's cancellation... it's good to read (again) 

Alex O'Loughlin as Mick St John in Moonlight ep12 'The Mortal Cure'

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 10:47am

Current mood: Shocked and sad

Dear Friends, Family and wonderful, wonderful Fans of MOONLIGHT.

Well, where to start....?

The decision to cancel MOONLIGHT... my MOONLIGHT... our MOONLIGHT, is as much of a shock and gut wrenching surprise to me as it is to all of you.

Really, I don't even know where to begin.

I sit here at my computer, still slack jawed even 24 hours after receiving the news that my services are no longer required on the set of this show. A show we have all come to know and love deeply, and it hurts more than I can possibly tell you.

Since i got THE CALL I have not read anything online or otherwise, I have not been following blogs or forums, I have not been reading the trades or opinion polls and I have not been calling around to get information.

"Why are you not fighting for your show?!" I hear you all scream!! The truth is my friends, I never STOPPED fighting for it.

From the very beginning when I was told time and again that i wasn't the man for the job, having to prove myself to everyone with tests and screen tests, to a complete re-casting of the show, through 5 different show runners at the helm with 5 different artistic visions, to a Writer's strike that took 5 episodes away from us...... oh how the list goes on.

But through all of that, i am proud to say that not once did I bow down and allow someone else to come in and do with MOONLIGHT as they

please. And along the way, if I needed a break and wanted to do that, I don't think I could have anyway because, well, I suppose it's just not in my nature! ;)

This is all still so fresh for me and I am going to need a little time to process this whole thing before i can digest what has actually happened, let alone move on.

Honestly. I really feel lost for words.

I will say however, that never, never in my life have I experienced first hand a level of support from a group of people like that of you all who are reading this now, and who 'loved this show to life' alongside me. It has been overwhelming to say the least.

I am grateful to you all.

I am extremely proud to be associated with this piece of television.

And I am so, so sorry to my very core, to lose MOONLIGHT.

All my love,

Alex O'Loughlin x

CBS Boss Weighs In On ‘Moonlight’s Possible Resurrection

CBS Boss Weighs In On ‘Moonlight’s Possible Resurrection

by Matt Webb Mitovich - Jan 9th, 2010

Will CBS jump on the bloodsucking bandwagon and bring ‘Moonlight‘ back to life?

Sources tell Fancast that one of the former vampire drama’s producers and a few original cast members have been approached by CBS and producer Warner Bros. TV about making another go of it.

And really, who could blame CBS for now second-guessing its decision to snuff the series two years ago, given the success of the ‘Twilight’ movies, HBO’s ‘True Blood‘ and now The CW’s ‘Vampire Diaries‘?

Fancast asked CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler about the latest buzz, and whether ‘Moonlight 2.0′ could serve as a means to keep the very popular Alex O’Loughlin on the network’s payroll.

“I just want to say one thing – who was out there first with vampires?” she at first responded. “Who was out there first?”

So…? Might Mick St. John resurface for another “bite”?

“['Moonlight' executive producer] Joel Silver and I were talking about it the other day – but we talk about a lot of things,’ Tassler told us. Any possible ‘Moonlight’ rebirth would be a ways down the line, however, seeing as “we’re about to pick up all of our [2010-11 season] pilots,” Tassler stressed.

One way or another, CBS is determined to find a new project for Alex O’Loughlin, whose ‘Three Rivers’ has been canceled, Tassler confirmed on Saturday.

“We love [Alex] and want him to stay around for a long time,” she said.

As for why the organ donation-themed medical drama failed to draw an adequate audience despite the Aussie actor’s ardent and vocal following, she offered, “‘Moonlight’ was a much more [O'Loughlin]-centric show, whereas ‘Three Rivers’ was more of an ensemble.” She then added, “Some shows find their legs earlier than others.”

http://xfinitytv.comcast.net/blogs/2010/tv-news/cbs-boss-weighs-in-on-moonlights-possible-resurrection/ 

Moonlight TV Writer Kira Snyder talks about what might have happened between Mick and Beth

Author and TV Writer Kira Snyder Interview

Kira Snyder

Interview by Amber Topping and Autumn Topping
October 18, 2013

Writer: Kira Snyder

Books: The Parish Mail Series

We are super excited to have author, game designer, playwright and TV Writer Kira Snyder here today to discuss her new YA urban fantasy book series The Parish Mail. Some of her work you may be familiar with include TV Shows Moonlight, Eureka, Alphas and the upcoming CW series The 100 on top of the Electronic Arts online game Majestic. So let's get right to it!

We have to ask. You co-wrote what turned out to be the series finale of Moonlight(no secret this is one of our favorite shows here and we miss it). Can you talk a little about your experience on Moonlight and also that final scene between Mick and Beth? What do you think would have happened next?

I’m always so thrilled and touched to hear how much people love Moonlight -- I do too. It was my first TV writing job, and holds a special place in my heart. I’m still friends with people I worked with on the show. It was such a gift, getting to be in a writers’ room for the first time, and then head across the Warner Brothers lot to where the show filmed and see the stories come to life. (inside scoop for fans: scenes from Moonlight were shot not just on our sets but also the sets of Cold Case, Pushing Daisies, and The Sarah Connor Chronicles.)

Ah, what happened after Beth’s apartment door closed at the end of the finale… feel free to use your imagination! We certainly did. We always figured that at some point Mick would turn Beth, but there would have been many escapades before and after that. 

For example, the list of names that Benjamin Talbot receives was from an ancient society of vampire hunters who want to recruit him. Trouble for Mick!

Ethan Erwin, my co-writer on the finale, and I always liked one particular sequence for the very end of the series if it had gone on longer:  Mick and Beth are having one of their sweet, bantery scenes at sunset on his rooftop, when suddenly a hovercar races by in midair, chased by a cop-hovercar, sirens wailing… We realize that we’re in the far future, and that Beth’s now a vampire too.  The immortal pair leap off the building into nighttime Los Angeles, off to save (or drain)  lives, on an endless adventure together.

Read the rest of the interview here: SilverPetticoat Blog

http://www.silverpetticoatreview.com/2013/10/18/author-and-tv-writer-kira-snyder-interview/

Our Mick and Beth Top 15 Romantic Moments