Well, you know what they say: sequels are never as good as the original. As I was making this Frankenstine edit, it occurred to me that what happened to Moonlighting was pretty emblematic of what happened to fur fashion in media in the late 1980s. So, let’s take a look at the burning wreckage of one of the two greatest fur fashion “decades” of all time.
Moonlighting – The Show
Probably purely coincidence, the only fur in the 3rd season coincided with the beginning of the show’s rather troubled decision to bring the “will they or won’t they” romance of the two main characters to the forefront of the show. Then, repeatedly bash the increasingly less loyal viewership in the face with “they won’t.”
Moonlighting – Season 3, Episode 11: “Blonde on Blonde”
Airing the fateful year of 1987, the episode opens with the entirely enjoyable sight of Donna Dixon in a very large full-length coyote. Keep your eyes glued to the screen, because it’s only visible for a grand total of 9 seconds.
And that is a wrap for season 3.
Moonlighting – Season 5, Episode 11: “Those Lips, Those Lies”
Fur would return one more time to the show, in 1989 of all years. By this point, the nearly vertical downward trajectory of visible fur in media was all but complete. To rub salt in the wounds, it conceded with numerous characters on popular shows signaling their virtuous abhorrence of wearing real fur. The final fur was a gift, though, an all-but classic 80s mega fox. Not only that, yes, it is worn by a hooker. This scene could not have been more “80s.”
If one generously includes things I usually would not, I will charitably say the fur is on screen for about one minute. It sadly departs the shoulders of actress Debra Stipe after only about 30 seconds, though.
And that was it. Basically, 2/3s of a fur per season 3-5 of Moonlighting. By 1989, that huge white fox was essentially a white whale on network television. If anything, Moonlighting was something of a canary in the coal mine as other shows had not quite so quickly eliminated their furs in early 1987. That would change by the end of the summer season and the beginning of fall 1987 when the very steep downward spiral began.
Fur Fashion Gallery – Moonlighting, 1976
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