Bruce Willis Moonlighting Screen Test [including alternate actor] 

Bruce is 10x better! His natural charisma, facial expressions and delivery can't be beat!!!

Bruce was born to play David. He brought all that he had--and that was a lot-to the role.

Bruce was born to play that part

Both are excellent but Bruce brings a sweetness, a playfulness and a vulnerability to his delivery that exposes an innocent little boy curiosity- DEPTH of character.

It's amazing how a total unknown Willis had this part down so well from jump. Producer Glen Gordon Caron knew Bruce was David Addison from the first audition. This screen test was to convince ABC.

Such an amazing screen test, Bruce Willis is amazing here and I’m sad to hear about his early retirement due to aphasia.

Bruce Willis, was David Addison himself! Sensor of mood, charm and a sinic smile, all in a natural way. There was no way the character could be that of another actor.😍

It's interesting how Bruce adds that playfulness to the role, yet the other guy had better chemistry with this actress. Makes a big difference on who plays Maddie Hayes. The pacing and energy is so much better with Cybil and Bruce. Plus, you can tell the camera just loves Bruce more. It's like you're in on the joke but Maddie isn't or is resisting. Cybil plays playful angry better, which works better with Bruce's style. Harley and Mary are good but the show would've been slower and more calm. That's better for a soap opera or drama, maybe a TV movie of the week. Moonlighting needed more star power.

I think Cybil Sheppard & Bruce Willis had chemistry the same way Robert wagner and Stephanie Powers had on Hart to hart .

So interesting watching the auditions side by side. Harley's audition was good, but his 'David' gave off total frat boy predator vibes. Gaves you the shivers watching it now vs 1985.

Met Bruce Willis at a nightclub called Donzis-- Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, he was making the movie striking distance. He came over and said hello and was a very nice person. Awm

Other guy was stiff didn’t look natural Bruce Willis performance was fluid while using his natural charm to make the audition look like a actual scene.

The star quality was there in spades from the start . What a sexy and talented man

It's all in the casting, isn't it? Moonlighting would have bombed with the 2nd couple.

I don’t know Harley Venton. But nobody in the world could be David Addison but Bruce Willis. Period.

Bruce added the feel of a Cary Grant/Clark Gable, 1940'ish wise guy vibe. Spencer Tracy/Kathryn Hepburn type chemistry.

Bruce is such a natural and sooo charming. Not to be mean, but the other guy seemed passively angry and arrogant. TOTALLY different versions of Addison. It was a no-brainer.

Bruce was born to play David Addison. The only other two I could think of who could've ever done it had Moonlighting been made earlier are James Garner and Bill Murray.

Barring Maddie running away, it is fascinating how much of a distillation of the entire show this screen test encapsulates.

The actress is Mary-Margaret Humes who later went on to become Dawson's mum in Dawson's Creek.

The other guy is actually quite good but is more of a typical, suave 80s lead. Bruce is cool but adds roguish charm. The only other actor I can think of who pulled off that combination as well as Bruce was James Garner.

The other guy is good too! However Bruce won my heart cause of his charm for some reason.

He freaking killed it wow

This also shows how great the chemistry between Bruce Andd Cybil Sheppard was. Maddie played by any other woman was never going to work!!

September 1984 . He filmed the episode " No Exit" of Miami Vice in that same month 😎

He was so natural and charismatic. I loved him in that show. He was such a good actor. It’s heartbreaking what is happening to him now.

The other guy seems good but he just doesn't embody the character of David the ways Bruce does. The beat, tempo and spacing out of his words feels all wrong. I think the parts we love most about David are the pieces of himself that Bruce injected into the character.

He’s so cute🥺

Harley Venton comes off more like a soap opera leading man of the time...good performance but a bit smarmy. Bruce Willis was much better at balancing the charm and humor the role called for...he was born to play David Addison. - Chris

Bruce Willis had so much inherent sex appeal.

Harley seems like he’s rushing his performance, Like he’s scared he’s going to forget his lines if he doesn’t get them all out quickly

ABC wanted a handsome leading man type. Glen Gordon Caron wanted a normal looking guy.

I had a big crush on Bruce Willis back in the 1980"s.

"Young john mclane" works for this role. Harley...aside from being creepy just sounds wrong talking about cracking cases. The role needed someone who could believably do the hijinks he's describing.

Harley reminded me of Chris Sarandon in Fright Night!

The other guy is rubbish, arms crossed in a defensive manner trying to convince a chick of a good time, Bruce all the way!

wow bruce willis was the man he made it along with cybil of course

Bruce all the way! I read ABC wanted Tim Matheson

He's sooo much like Malcom Crowe in SIXTH SENSE here; he freaks her out by "appearing" in her kitchen, and only she can hear their conversation, apparently there's another guy "the geek," in another room who is passed out.

Bruce un Pedazo d actor D Lujo con una Carrerá envidiable y muy Muy guapo y Atractivo un Actor Espectacular un Hombre q todas estábamos enamoradas d el un Sex Symbol q marquo una época dorada

I thought both actors were great: Bruce and Harley - each in their own way. I find it interesting how Harley somewhat resembles Jim Carrey when he was younger.

When I was working in the UK for 2 years ('85 - '87), my favorite shows on BBC2 were Miami Vice, Moonlighting, and The A Team - - in that order. Miami Vice was "cool," Moonlighting was funny as hell and fun to watch, and The A Team was pure "brainless escapist action fun." I looked forward to all 3 of them every week.

Harley was good, but looked too preppy for the character. Bruce had a way of looking GQ while also looking a bit disheveled. Plus who could beat his smirk....

Harley Venton is more handsome but Bruce has more confidence which makes him 10 times sexier.

Such a great example of ease, fun, humor and charm. Bruce had it all! And it's fascinating to compare to Harley who comes off as condescending and smarmy.

Harley's movements are more like a model than an actor. Kind of stiff and weird. His speech and laughter also seem forced and fake. So glad Bruce got it.

Magic!!!!

I couldn't even watch the second guy.. Bruce Willis had it in the bag. So sad what's happened to him.

" Cybil Shepherd and the network wanted Harley,", and I wonder if Cybil changed her mind later on? ......BTW, who's the woman in this screen test (she is BEAUTIFUL).

Hah, the smirk starting from 4:33 - that's what makes a difference)

Bruce was the Greatest. But, the other actor is Wonderful. Two different interpretations.

There's only one David Addison & only one John McClane btw 😉Best Wishes Bruce Willis 👍

OMG that’s Miriam from History of the World: Part 1!! 😍

Based on interviews with the shows creator, the actresses were hired only for the screen tests, and they knew it. They were already settled on Cybil, but she wouldn't do a screen test, until later.

If I could come up with a reason out of the bat why Willis is better is basically cause the other actor was too aloof and light and soft. Bruce had more of a an edge and had that masculin energy for the role. The other guy that girl was yapping at him and took it like it was nothing but with Bruce it was a fight, a genuine argument that he didn't want to lose. Which is what Moonlighting should be about. That back and forth between the man and woman.

Bruce Willis is f*cking awesome!

.........that's ACTING !!!!!👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍☝️☝️

Bruce was a total hottie...

Definitely Bruce Willis. I did not care for Harley in the role. Although the role of David Addison tends to be a rather aggravating, there was something underneath in Bruce Willis' portrayal that was likeable which i did not see in Harley in that role. When Harley said Maddie needed him to live/ to show her HOW to really live, it just sounded arrogant. I would have been more angry after that, had I been Maddie. When Bruce said it, I believed him. The look in his face said he knows how to have fun and enjoy life. To me that was the start of what made the show as great as it was, imo. The tension between them. Maddie kept trying to push him away and run away from him, but underneath I think she really knew he was right. That she needed him to teach her how to live, to let go and relax into what they could have, be more spontaneous and enjoy her life more. She did keep trying to run, but she weakened more as time went by.

I have the Moonlighting DVD and only Bruce Willis' screen test is included but not that of Harley Venton. Is the latter availble on the VHS but not on the DVD?

Moonlighting Audition Reel

Is the other guy auditioning for American Psycho? He nailed Patrick Bateman.

It's easy to see why Bruce Willis got the job.

Okay, only Cybill and Bruce. The other two are total zeros.

Oh yeah, they had to think it over for a really long time to figure out which one was best. No brainer!

The great beging

Harley is a little effeminate. Bruce is a guys guy.

The other guy's voice is boring.

Must be great the excuse given when Willis found out that Cybil didnt want him.

I wonder what happened to this chick? So close, yet so far away.

Who is the actress?

I like Harley. But cybill made the show

Who is this actress? She's good.

Bruce - way better. This other guy is competent in a blandly generic sort of way but nothing special.

Would anyone know the exact date of this screen test?

1 is acting the other is reacting. I'll let you guess who's who

You put this guy on after Bruce? Good grief!!

I KNOW WHERE HE GO THAT CHARACTER FROM !!!!! ..... TIM MATTHISON FROM ANIMAL HOUSE .... TIM MATTHISON COULD HAVE PLAYED THAT PART ....

Rest In Peace Bruce 🙏🏽

So Harley didn't get the part, drove himself out to the desert, blew his brains out?

Meglio Cybill Shepherd

This woman is a much better actor (and less grating) than the one-dimensional Cybill, though Cybill and Bruce did have chemistry.

Getting passed over for Bruce Willis had to suck for Harvey Denton. If only he knew to channel and rip off Bill Murray's schtick, like Willis did, maybe he would have got the part instead.

They are awful. Cybill only.❤

Who's the actress?