Directed by Gilbert G. Perez, Erick Salud and Jerome Chavez Pobocan, it stars Sarah Geronimo, Angelika Dela Cruz, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Amy Austria, Tonton Gutierrez, Ryan Agoncillo, John Prats, Carlo Aquino and Ai-Ai delas Alas.
This was Carlo Aquino's final appearance of the show before moving to its rival network GMA 7 in November whereas Hero Angeles who also moved to the same network when he controversially ended his Star Magic contract in 2005 and Errol Abalayan who did not continue his own acting (both former SCQ teen questors), although they both did not join the ensemble cast.
It was adapted into a movie in 1985 with the same title by Viva Films, directed by Emmanuel H. Borlaza and starred Sharon Cuneta as Dorina Pineda, Cherie Gil as Lavinia Arguelles, and Christopher de Leon as Nico Escobar.
The film became an instant hit, quickly developing a cult following and produced the popular line "You're nothing but a second-rate, trying hard copycat!
When the bar owner learns of their relationship and Rosa Mia's pregnancy, a talk show host fires them from the club leaving them jobless and destitute yet optimistic.
Rising medical bills force a desperate Rosa Mia to accept a month-long singing engagement in Cebu, leaving Emilio to care for the baby on his own.
On one occasion, Emilio's boss has him deliver a package to a different club, so he leaves the baby with his acquaintance Adora, a rose seller in the red-light district of Malate.
Meanwhile, with the loss of her child, Rosa Mia throws herself into her music and is discovered by Lauro Calma, a record producer.
Her ambitious mother, Barbara, tells Lavinia to befriend Rosa Mia to boost her popularity.
Lonely and vulnerable, Rosa Mia takes Lavinia under her wing, seeking a replacement for her lost daughter.
Through intrigue and character assassination, they succeed in causing Rosa Mia to fall from grace, bereft of her reputation and popularity.
Emilio decides not to tell Dorina of their true relationship for fear of ruining her career, but to be close to his daughter, he takes on a job as her chauffeur and bodyguard.
Rosa Mia and Emilio are reunited, Adora is gone, while Nico forgives Lavinia, and Oman and Dorina become a couple.
A number of plot and character differences were introduced in the TV version, in part to extend the limited storyline of the movie: The Bituing Walang Ningning soundtrack is jointly produced by Viva Records and Star Music.
The show continued to plunge down and soar up from the low to high 20s, and was pitted against many Telefantasyas, such as Captain Barbell after Extra Challenge ended.
Although it was ABS-CBN's highest rated show for almost all of its run in Mega Manila Area, it was constantly beaten by programs on the GMA Network.
However, for its final episode, Bituing Walang Ningning shot up to 34.8% making it a staggering success against its GMA 7 counterpart "Majika" which got 26% allowing the TV series to be no.1 for its final episode, challenging GMA Network's dominance in Mega Manila Area.