Moonbeam City

• Dazzle Novak (Rob Lowe): Protagonist and Moonbeam City P.D. detective, despite being especially unqualified for the job due to poor impulse control, horrendous reasoning skills, ridiculous libido, and ego, and (often) even worse aim. He gets sidetracked from assignments to tend to anything he finds far superior. Any success is normally due to luck or the assistance of others (usually his junior partner, Chrysalis). Has an odd talent for invention and design, and is the son of stuntman Razzle Novak. Dazzle's mother died from cancer when he was a child. He has personal animosity towards Rad in his attempts to outdo him as a cop, even embarrassing him on a personal level.
• Pizzaz Miller (Elizabeth Banks): Police chief, and Dazzle's irascible supervisor. Though she is sometimes at odds with Dazzle due to his shoddy police work and defiance of authority, she fails to harshly discipline him for even the most severe infractions due to an intense mutual attraction and affection between the two.{{cite web|title=Moonbeam City Season 1|url=http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/moonbeam-city-cop-con/EP018603210008|website=Zap2it|access-date=October 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123182927/http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/moonbeam-city-cop-con/EP018603210008|archive-date=November 23, 2015|url-status=dead}} It is later learned that Pizzaz is an heiress (and eventual sole inheritor) to Moonbeam City's founder, laser prospecting mega-millionaire, Vector Azimuth Miller. Pizzaz also has four abusive and conniving sisters: Charisma, Panache, Sophistica, and Accoutrement.{{cite episode |series=Moonbeam City |title=Lasers and Liars |minutes=11}} When passionate or angry, Pizzaz narrows her eyes and a slanted window blind-like shadow appears over her face and body, regardless of the location and ambient lighting.
• Chrysalis Zirconia Tate{{cite episode |series=Moonbeam City |title=Quest for Aquatica |minutes=18}} (Kate Mara): Dazzle's rookie colleague. A former lab tech, Chrysalis is the polar opposite of Dazzle (competent, level-headed, responsible), and often the unintentional victim of his irresponsibility and poor impulse control. Chrysalis' job usually entails the detective work and technical aspects of the job, and she is often blamed by Pizzaz for Dazzle and Rad's inept behavior. Chrysalis is the daughter of eccentric Naval Commander Blade H. Tate.{{cite episode |series=Moonbeam City |title=Quest for Aquatica |minutes=2}}
• Radward "Rad" Cunningham/Manning (born: Gregory Manning) (Will Forte): Dazzle's equally incompetent, yet even stupider childish rival/teammate from Canada{{cite episode |series=Moonbeam City |title=Mall Hath No Fury |first=Pizzaz |last=Miller |minutes=9}}{{cite episode |series=Moonbeam City |title=The Strike Visualizer Strikes Again |first=Rad |last=Cunningham |minutes=7}} in the Moonbeam PD. He fears authority more than Dazzle, and is prone to even greater lapses of judgment, usually when trying to outdo or outsmart Dazzle. While initially seeming fierce and threatening in the Pilot episode, Rad is eventually shown to be incredibly cowardly and immature, though not without moments of unexpected (and ill-timed) bravery. The series finale reveals (through Chrysalis' detective work) that Rad is the biological son of the billionaire computer founders of Canadian computer company Flamingo Computers, but was kidnapped as a toddler by the con artist couple who raised him (he later changes his name to "Radward Manning" to distance himself from them). He has a unique condition called "Mono-Toeism" which causes his right foot to have only one giant toe.{{cite episode |series=Moonbeam City |title=The Wedding of Rad (Lie) |first=Rad |last=Cunningham |minutes=15}} He is shown to be very poor as well as perverted.
• Genesis Jones (Scott Gairdner): News anchor who appears in every episode. He often acts as more of a shameless announcer or sensationalist rather than a real journalist.
• Mayor Eo Jaxxon (Powers Boothe): Mayor of Moonbeam City who acts as a lecherous tyrant. He speaks in a slow raspy register. He has an especially dark infatuation with Chief Pizzaz Miller. He uses his authority to continuously threaten to shut down the Police Department, and move the employees into the far more competent and successful Fire Department, to extort Pizzaz into having sex with him. He has a foot fetish and always travels with a pair of leopards (which he says can tell when people are lying). He has at least one son, who becomes addicted to the designer drug "Glitzotrene". His name is a reference to the 1986 short film Captain EO and its lead actor, American pop singer Michael Jackson.

A parody of 1980s cop shows such as Miami Vice{{cite web |last1=Hale |first1=Mike |title=Review: Comedy Central's 'Moonbeam City' Recalls the World of 'Miami Vice' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/16/arts/television/review-comedy-centrals-moonbeam-city-recalls-the-world-of-miami-vice.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=24 March 2023 |date=15 September 2015}} and City Hunter{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}, the show was sponsored by the Canadian government and animated by Toronto-based studio Solis Animation using Adobe After Effects software. Moonbeam City features a distinctive 80s-influenced retro-futuristic visual style with heavy use of neon lighting, inspired by media such as Tron; character designs are similar to the style of the artist Patrick Nagel who famously designed the cover for Duran Duran's Rio.{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Liz Shannon |title='Moonbeam City' Creator Scott Gairdner Reached For the Stars, and Got Rob Lowe |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/09/moonbeam-city-creator-scott-gairdner-reached-for-the-stars-and-got-rob-lowe-58107/ |website=IndieWire |publisher=Penske Business Media, LLC. |access-date=10 June 2021 |language=en |date=2015-09-16}} A synthwave soundtrack was performed by Night Club.{{cite web | url=http://www.cartoonbrew.com/tv/comedy-central-teases-1980s-crime-parody-moonbeam-city-102291.html | title=Watch: Comedy Central Teases 1980s Crime Show Parody 'Moonbeam City'| publisher=Cartoon Brew | access-date=30 July 2014 | author=Edwards, C.| date=30 July 2014}}

{{Episode table |background=#ff51ff |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |prodcode= |viewers= |country=US |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = Mall Hath No Fury

|DirectedBy = Mark Brooks

|WrittenBy = Scott Gairdner

|ShortSummary = An incompetent police detective named Dazzle Novak promotes a shopping mall singing sensation, while a petty thief Dazzle let slip through his fingers creates a cocaine empire and proceeds to overrun Moonbeam City, a crime-ridden beach city based on Miami in the 1980s. Guest starring Nick Corirossi and Cree Summer.

|ProdCode = 101

|Viewers =0.61{{cite web|title=Wednesday Cable Ratings: CNN's Republican Debate Tops Night + 'Anderson Cooper 360' 'House Hunters', 'Little Women LA', 'Property Brothers' & More|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/09/17/wednesday-cable-ratings-cnns-republican-debate-tops-night-anderson-cooper-360-house-hunters-little-women-la-property-brothers-more/468026/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919233659/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/09/17/wednesday-cable-ratings-cnns-republican-debate-tops-night-anderson-cooper-360-house-hunters-little-women-la-property-brothers-more/468026/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 19, 2015|website=TV by the Numbers|last=Dixon|first=Dani|access-date=September 17, 2015}}

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|9|16}}

|LineColor = ff51ff

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = Lights! Camera! Re-enaction!

|DirectedBy = Mark Brooks

|WrittenBy = Ryan Perez

|ShortSummary = While DJing for a mandatory month underage rave, Dazzle becomes famous for stopping a juvenile bike thief and creates an over-the-top re-enactment segment for Crimezappers, Moonbeam City's premier crime show. Guest starring John O'Hurley and Allison Janney.

|ProdCode = 104

|Viewers = 0.52{{cite web|title=Wednesday Cable Ratings: 'South Park' Tops Night + 'Worst Cooks in America', 'Pardon the Interruption', 'The League' & More|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/09/24/wednesday-cable-ratings-south-park-tops-night-worst-cooks-in-america-pardon-the-interruption-the-league-more/471196/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925100850/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/09/24/wednesday-cable-ratings-south-park-tops-night-worst-cooks-in-america-pardon-the-interruption-the-league-more/471196/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 25, 2015|website=TV by the Numbers|last=Kondolojy|first=Amanda|access-date=September 24, 2015}}

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|9|23}}

|LineColor = ff51ff

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = The Strike Visualizer Strikes Again

|DirectedBy = Juno Lee

|WrittenBy = Tommy Blacha

|ShortSummary = Dazzle, Chrysalis, and Rad track down the murderous "Moonbeam Maniac", while Dazzle confronts a childhood hero. Guest voices include Peter Serafinowicz and Cree Summer.

|ProdCode = 105

|Viewers =

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|9|30}}

|LineColor = ff51ff

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = Quest for Aquatica

|DirectedBy = Mark Brooks

|WrittenBy = Scott Gairdner

|ShortSummary = Dazzle is tasked by Chrysalis' father with finding a missing dolphin, but falls in love with one named "Splasha". Guest starring Patrick Warburton.

|ProdCode = 102

|Viewers = 0.53{{cite web|title=Wednesday cable ratings: 'American Horror Story' and MLB lead, plus 'South Park,' 'Teen Mom II'|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/10/15/wednesday-cable-ratings-oct-14-2015/478836/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017113317/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/10/15/wednesday-cable-ratings-oct-14-2015/478836/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 17, 2015|website=TV by the Numbers|last=Porter|first=Rick|access-date=October 15, 2015}}

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|10|14}}

|LineColor = ff51ff

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = Glitzotrene: One Town’s Seduction

|DirectedBy = Juno Lee

|WrittenBy = Andrew Weinberg

|ShortSummary = To prevent Mayor Eo Jaxxon from dismantling Moonbeam City's police department, the police hook the entire city on the synthetic drug "Glitzotrene", creating a drug epidemic. Guest starring Powers Boothe, Trace Adkins, and Carlos Alazraqui.

|ProdCode = 107

|Viewers =

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|10|21}}

|LineColor = ff51ff

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = Lasers and Liars

|DirectedBy = Juno Lee

|WrittenBy = Andrew Weinberg

|ShortSummary = When the team gears up for the Laser Ball, Dazzle and Pizzaz become entangled with her hyper-wealthy (and despicable) family, while Rad's lies become increasingly ridiculous while trying to join a yacht club. Guest starring Kate McKinnon, Paget Brewster, and Kevin McDonald.

|ProdCode = 103

|Viewers =

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|10|28}}

|LineColor = ff51ff

}}{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 7

|Title = Cop Con

|DirectedBy = Mark Brooks

|WrittenBy = Ryan Perez

|ShortSummary = At the 3-day "Cop Con" event, Dazzle and Pizzaz enjoy their annual passionate tryst. Meanwhile, Chrysalis avoids an obsessed fan, a frustrated Rad starts "Rad Con", and a cop-free Moonbeam City undergoes a community renaissance. Guest starring John O'Hurley, Allison Janney, Cree Summer, and Nick Corirossi.{{cite web|title=Moonbeam City Season 1 ep 7|url=http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/moonbeam-city-cop-con/EP018603210008|website=Zap2it|access-date=October 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123182927/http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/moonbeam-city-cop-con/EP018603210008|archive-date=November 23, 2015|url-status=dead}}

|ProdCode = 106

|Viewers =

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|11|11}}

|LineColor = ff51ff

}}{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 8

|Title = Stuntstravaganza

|DirectedBy = Mark Brooks

|WrittenBy = Scott Gairdner

|ShortSummary = Bitter in defeat from a racing challenge, Dazzle seeks out his estranged father to help him perfect a car stunt. Meanwhile, Rad faces the consequences of misplacing his parking validation card. Guest starring Adam West, Paul F. Tompkins, and Nick Mundy.

|ProdCode = 108

|Viewers =

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|11|18}}

|LineColor = ff51ff

}}{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 9

|Title = The Legend Of Circuit Lake

|DirectedBy = Juno Lee

|WrittenBy = Tommy Blacha & Ryan Perez

|ShortSummary = To get revenge, Rad attempts to dig up embarrassing footage of Dazzle from the police records room. But things go awry, rendering Rad trapped in its virtual reality computer system. Dazzle ends up being accused and convicted of Rad's presumed murder, gets sent to prison, and ends up having relations with its computerized artificially intelligent security system. Guest starring Tom Kenny, Susan Sarandon, and Molly Shannon.{{cite web|title=Moonbeam City Season 1 ep 9|url=http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/moonbeam-city-the-legend-of-circuit-lake/EP018603210010|website=Zap2it|access-date=December 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208074621/http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/moonbeam-city-the-legend-of-circuit-lake/EP018603210010|archive-date=December 8, 2015|url-status=dead}}

|ProdCode = 109

|Viewers =

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|12|02}}

|LineColor = ff51ff

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 10

|Title = The Wedding of Rad (Lie)

|DirectedBy = Mark Brooks

|WrittenBy = Scott Gairdner

|ShortSummary = In the series finale, Dazzle hooks up with the daughter of a crime lord. Meanwhile, Rad's family coerces him into a bizarre arranged marriage to con the entire Moonbeam City police department. Guest starring Kate McKinnon, Catherine O'Hara, and Andy Richter.{{cite web|title=Moonbeam City Season 1 ep 10|url=http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/moonbeam-city-the-wedding-of-rad-lie/EP018603210011|website=Zap2it|access-date=December 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208044851/http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/tv/moonbeam-city-the-wedding-of-rad-lie/EP018603210011|archive-date=December 8, 2015|url-status=dead}}

|ProdCode = 110

|Viewers =

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|12|09}}

|LineColor = ff51ff

}}

}}

Internationally, the series premiered in Australia on November 15, 2015, on The Comedy Channel.{{cite web|publisher=The Green Room|first=Charles|last=Purcell|url=http://community.foxtel.com.au/t5/Foxtel-Blog/New-This-Week-Nov-9-Mr-Robot-Nashville-Legends-Rousey-v-Holm-and/ba-p/98704|title=New This Week (Nov 9): Mr. Robot, Nashville, Legends, Rousey v Holm and live sport|date=6 November 2015|access-date=7 November 2015|archive-date=7 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107072649/http://community.foxtel.com.au/t5/Foxtel-Blog/New-This-Week-Nov-9-Mr-Robot-Nashville-Legends-Rousey-v-Holm-and/ba-p/98704}}

On December 1, 2015, Moonbeam City was nominated for an Annie Award for Best General Audience Animated TV/Broadcast Production, but lost to The Simpsons.{{cite web|title=43rd Annual Annie Awards Nominees|publisher=Annie Awards|url=http://annieawards.org/nominees|access-date=1 December 2015}}

The first season holds a 29% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 14 reviews. Its consensus states: "Moonbeam City wildly overestimates the effectiveness of its attempts at over-the-top humor, leaving viewers with little more than a derivative disappointment".{{Cite web | url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/moonbeam_city/s01 | title=Moonbeam City | website=Rotten Tomatoes }} On Metacritic, the series holds a 52% indicating mixed or average reviews.{{Cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/moonbeam-city | title=Moonbeam City | website=Metacritic }}

Mike Hale of The New York Times stated that "the look of Moonbeam City may catch your eye, but after a while, you may be tempted to say, I will bury you so deep the world's smartest worms couldn't find you". He also stated that the pop-culture references and satire were forced and the dialogue "tries so hard you can see it sweat".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/16/arts/television/review-comedy-centrals-moonbeam-city-recalls-the-world-of-miami-vice.html?_r=0|title=Review: Comedy Central's 'Moonbeam City' Recalls the World of 'Miami Vice'|website=The New York Times| date=15 September 2015 | last1=Hale | first1=Mike }} Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter claimed that the show would be able to stand "in a world without Archer" and called it thin and with limited potential.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/moonbeam-city-tv-review-823248|title='Moonbeam City': TV Review|website=The Hollywood Reporter| date=15 September 2015 }} Bob Sassone of The A.V. Club gave it a C+, calling it "more clever than funny with Archer vibes".{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/review/moonbeam-city-has-archer-vibes-and-rob-lowe-its-mo-225040|title=Moonbeam City has Archer vibes and Rob Lowe, but it's more clever than funny|first=Bob|last=Sassone|website=The A.V. Club|date=16 September 2015 }} Brian Lowry of Variety claims that the show settles more for being puerile than clever, making it "less than dazzling".{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/reviews/moonbeam-city-review-rob-lowe-comedy-central-animated-comedy-1201593287/|title=TV Review: 'Moonbeam City'|first=Brian|last=Lowry|date=15 September 2015}} Katy Waldman of Slate{{'}}s review was scathing, stating that the series "is so willfully dumb that it might make you wonder if it is meta-dumb".{{cite journal|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/television/2015/09/moonbeam_city_on_comedy_central_starring_rob_lowe_kate_mara_and_elizabeth.html|title=Moonbeam City|first=Katy|last=Waldman|date=16 September 2015|journal=Slate}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{wikiquote}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{IMDb title|3906560}}

{{Comedy Central programming}}

{{Comedy Central animation}}

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