Miami Vice
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| Miami Vice | |
|---|---|
 Main title card |
|
| Genre | Crime drama |
| Creator(s) | Anthony Yerkovich |
| Starring | Don Johnson Philip Michael Thomas Michael Talbott Olivia Brown Saundra Santiago Edward James Olmos John Diehl |
| Opening theme | by Jan Hammer |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 111 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Michael Mann Dick Wolf (Seasons 3-4) |
| Running time | 60 minutes (with commercials) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | NBC |
| Original run | September 28, 1984 – January 25, 1990 |
| Links | |
| IMDb profile | |
| TV.com summary | |
Miami Vice was a popular and innovative television series (five seasons on NBC from 1984–1989) starring Don Johnson (James "Sonny" Crockett) and Philip Michael Thomas (Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs) as two Miami police detectives working undercover. A motion picture based on the series was released on July 28, 2006.
Contents |
[edit] Television series
[edit] Origins
Legend has it that the head of NBC's Entertainment Division, Brandon Tartikoff, wrote a brainstorming memo that simply read "MTV cops". The result was Ethan Inglis's production of Miami Vice. However, according to series creator Anthony Yerkovich, the initial idea for the show came from a Time Magazine article on a then-recently enacted law that allows law enforcement agencies (the DEA, FBI, etc.) to use items recovered in the commission of a crime to further other unrelated investigations. This allowed a confiscated Ferrari, for example, to be used to enhance an undercover officer's cover as a high-profile drug dealer, which is exactly what happened on Miami Vice.
[edit] Characters
While the series had many regulars, it focused primarily on two lead characters, James "Sonny" Crockett and Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs.
Crockett is a former University of Florida Gators football star, best known for running a 90-yard touchdown in under 6 seconds. After being laid up from a football injury, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and served 2 tours in Southeast Asia. In 1974 he became a Metro-Dade uniformed patrol officer. As the series begins in 1984 he is a Metro-Dade County Detective assigned to the Organized Crime Bureau's Miami Vice Unit. Crockett's street cover name is "Sonny Burnett." (A records check run on the name in one of the show's episodes returned "James Sonny Crockett Metro-Dade Vice Detective-Federal".) Elements of the detective's cover include a Ferrari Daytona Spyder (the car used on the show was actually a modified Chevrolet Corvette), a "Scarab" offshore power-boat, and a sailboat on which he lives with his pet alligator Elvis. Later in the show, Crockett's Ferrari Daytona Spyder is replaced by a Ferrari Testarossa. Creator Anthony Yerkovich originally used the name Sonny Crockett for a criminal on the seminal cop series Hill Street Blues.
Tubbs, a former New York police detective, travels to Miami on a mission involving a personal vendetta against Calderone, the man who killed his brother. After temporarily teaming up with Crockett in the pilot episode, Tubbs follows his counterpart's advice and transfers to "a career in Southern law enforcement". He joins the Miami department and becomes Crockett's permanent partner. Tubbs often poses as "Rico Cooper," a rich out-of-town buyer; with Crockett (posing as Sonny Burnett) brokering Tubbs's deals with criminals, the crooks can be set up for arrest.
The series finale saw Crockett and Tubbs throwing down their badges and walking off the job after being framed by a government agent to set free a Latin American drug dealer, whom Crockett and Tubbs had just killed. Crockett and Tubbs say goodbye in an emotional scene in which Tubbs says he'll probably go back up to "the big bad Bronx," while Crockett, when asked what he'll do, says "I don't know, go somewhere further south. Somewhere where the water's warm, the drinks are cold and I don't know the names of the players..." Crockett then offers to drive Tubbs to the airport in his 'stolen' car, the white Testarossa he still has, and he and Tubbs laugh while they drive off together. There is then a voiceover from the end of the pilot episode of Crockett asking Tubbs if he'd ever consider a career in Southern law enforcement, to which Tubbs replies, "Maybe, Maybe." perhaps as means of showing how far the two characters had come in five years, from optimistic and engaged to cynical and burned out, but still sharing a close friendship.
Other regulars characters in this series are:
- Lt. Martin Castillo (Edward James Olmos). The officer on charge of the Miami Vice unit. A very taciturn man, he speaks as little as needed, and his private life is little known by his men. Anyway, he has earned from them an undisputed loyalty.
- Detective Gina Calabrese (Saundra Santiago). A fearless female detective. After Crockett's divorce, she held a brief romance with him. Even after their relationship did not progress, they still have a strong friendship.
- Detective Stan Switek (Michael Talbott). Although a good policeman, he often provides the comic counterpart to the series. Later in the series he falls prey to a gambling addiction.
- Detective Trudy Joplin (Olivia Brown). Gina's patrol partner. She also has a strong friendship with Tubbs.
- Detective Larry Zito (John Diehl). Switek's partner. His character is the perfect complement of Switek's comic character. He was killed in action when a drug dealer shot him a fatal drug overdose
[edit] Storylines
The storylines of the series differed from those of police shows from earlier decades, simultaneously reflecting the more glitzy and gritty feel of 1980s "New Wave" culture. As Crockett and Tubbs were vice cops, most episodes focused on drug trafficking and prostitution. Stories more often than not ended in a large gunbattle, usually costing the lives of several villains. Miami Vice also broke new ground in its treatment of crime and society. Complex themes of corruption, politics and abuses of power were often featured, and an undercurrent of cynicism and futility underlies the entire series. The detectives repeatedly reference the "whack-a-mole" nature of drug interdiction, with a seemingly-endless number of dealers and cartels willing to risk everything for drug profits. The relatively exotic, subtropical urban setting of Miami (the series was shot mostly on location) was also a significant departure from most earlier cop shows, generally set in large Northeast cities or West Coast suburbia. The locale gave the series a pronounced internationalist Latin American and Caribbean flavor, which occasional location shoots in Latin America intensified.
[edit] Style
Whilst the look and feel of the series was anticipated in some respects by American Gigolo, the aspects of Miami Vice considered revolutionary lay in its music, cinematography, and imagery, which made large segments of each episode resemble a protracted music video. Perhaps the best example of the combination of three is found in the pilot episode Brother's Keeper when Crockett and Tubbs are in the Ferrari Daytona Spyder, driving through a damp, nighttime Miami downtown heading to a somber showdown with a sinister, murdering druglord as "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins surrealistically plays along. As Lee H. Katzin, one of the series' directors, once stated, "The show is written for an MTV audience, which is more interested in images, emotions and energy than plot and character." These elements made the series into an instant hit, and its first season saw an unprecedented number of Emmy Award nominations. While the first few episodes contain some echoes of cop show convention, the producers soon abandoned them and fully developed the trademark Vice style. One key to the complete transformation was the early death of Lieutenant Lou Rodriguez (Gregory Sierra) and introduction of the Vice Division's new commander, former DEA agent Lieutenant Martin Castillo (Edward James Olmos in an Emmy-winning performance). Distant, imposing, and utterly competent and professional, Castillo was an intriguing character with a somewhat mysterious background and a highly distinctive style that perfectly counterbalanced the flamboyancy of Crockett and Tubbs. While Crockett and Tubbs were usually dressed in pastels, Castillo's dress was usually a white shirt with a black suit and tie to reflect the character's view of life (that he sees things in black and white).
[edit] Music
Miami Vice was noted for its innovative use of music, particularly countless pop and rock hits of the 1980s and the distinctive, synthesized instrumental music of Jan Hammer. Among the many well-known bands and artists who contributed their music to the show were a-ha, Jackson Browne, Phil Collins, Bryan Adams, Tina Turner, Peter Gabriel, ZZ Top, Dire Straits, Depeche Mode, The Hooters, Godley and Creme, Glenn Frey, U2, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Foreigner, The Police, Laura Branigan, Ted Nugent, Suicidal Tendencies, The Damned, and Billy Idol. Some of them even guest-starred in episodes, such as Phil Collins, Glenn Frey, Willie Nelson, and Ted Nugent.
The integration of music (particularly the hits of the 1980s) and carefully selected scenes made each episode seem like a short film or movie that was unique compared to other dramas at the time.
Again, one of the most famous scenes that differentiated Miami Vice from other 'conventional' cops shows was the aforementioned scene involving Crockett and Tubbs traveling through the streets of Miami at night in the Ferrari to the song "In the Air Tonight". Collins' also had a later hit "Take Me Home" used in the premiere of the second season. The combination of the memorable camera angles of the car (view of the front wheel and the hood) and the removal of background noise to accommodate the song culminated in an ethereal and eerie atmosphere. It became the most iconic moment of Miami Vice and one of the most memorable in television history.
Due to such an influential scene, those behind the show decided to recreate the effect in the final episode "Freefall". Despite traveling in a white Ferrari Testarossa this time around, once again the combination of the mounted camera angles and the removal of background noise to accommodate the song was applied. "Bad Attitude" by Honeymoon Suite was the song used this time around.
During the show's run, three official soundtrack albums with original music from the episodes were released. With the series' rising popularity, record companies increasingly attempted to get their up-and-coming acts into the episodes.
Jan Hammer showed great versatility and ingenuity in underscoring the series; as stated by him in an interview in the Season 1 DVD Box, then-executive producer Michael Mann gave him a high amount of artistic freedom in doing so. This resulted in some memorable instrumental music pieces, including the show's title theme, which climbed to the top of the U.S. Billboard charts in 1985, the first TV theme to do so since "Theme from Peter Gunn." The Miami Vice original soundtrack, featuring Jan Hammer's #1 hit theme song and Glenn Frey's "You Belong to the City" (a #2 hit), stayed on the top of the U.S. album chart for 11 weeks in 1985, making it the most successful TV soundtrack at the time.
"Crockett's Theme", another recurring tune from the show, became a #1 hit in several European countries around 1987. Hammer has released several albums with music from the series; among them are Escape from Television (1987), Snapshots (1989) and, after countless requests from loyal fans, Miami Vice: The Complete Collection (2002).
[edit] Guest Stars
Many famous actors, musicians, comedians, and other celebrities appeared on the series as well. Willie Nelson once guest-starred as a retired Texas Ranger, Gene Simmons and Ted Nugent played drug dealers, Glenn Frey played a drug smuggler and Frank Zappa appeared as a drug kingpin. Phil Collins played a game show host, Miles Davis played a pimp, Frankie Valli played a mob boss, Danny Sullivan in his acting debut, played a racing driver which was incidentally his actual profession, Little Richard appeared as a street preacher, James Brown appeared as an afterlife person, and Leonard Cohen was an Interpol agent. In a bizarre move, auto executive Lee Iacocca appeared in one episode as a gun-crazy parks commissioner while G. Gordon Liddy added a realistically political edge to two episodes by starring as a politically-motivated drug runner.
Athletes also played guest roles on the show, as legendary Boston Celtics center Bill Russell appeared as a crooked judge with a huge gambling debt, with 1980s NBA superstar Bernard King playing his son, a star basketball player for the FIU Sunblazers (name changed to Golden Panthers in 1987). Boxer Roberto Duran appeared as a convict, while fellow pugilist Carlos Palomino appeared as a drug runner who runs a boxing gym as a cover. Other notable appearances include now well known stars such as Annette Bening, Bruce Willis, Viggo Mortensen, Ben Stiller, Chris Cooper, Wesley Snipes, Liam Neeson, Michael Richards, Chris Rock, Julia Roberts, Helena Bonham Carter, Melanie Griffith, Alfred Molina, and Benicio Del Toro. The show also featured many up-and-coming television and film actors including Michael Madsen, Dennis Farina, Steve Buscemi, John Leguizamo, Charles S. Dutton, Lou Diamond Phillips, Ed O'Neill, Luis Guzmán, Ving Rhames, Jimmy Smits (who appeared in the pilot as Crockett's ill-fated original partner), Dan Hedaya, Bill Paxton, Bruce McGill, Garcelle Beauvais, Penn Jillette, Nathan Lane, Michael DeLorenzo, Giancarlo Esposito, Esai Morales, James Velliky, Vincent D'Onofrio, Ian McShane, Kyra Sedgwick and Terry O'Quinn.
[edit] Fashion
The show had a huge influence on (men's) fashion at the time, popularising, if not actually inventing, the "T-shirt under Armani jacket"-style. Crockett also boosted Ray Ban's popularity by wearing a pair of Bausch & Lomb Ray Ban Wayfarer's (Model L2052, Mock Tortoise). As the show's costume designer Gianni Versace provided the fashion sense. Pastel colors dominated the series in clothes as well as in architecture. Crockett's perpetually unshaven appearance sparked a minor fashion trend, inspiring men to wear a small amount of beard stubble, also known as five o'clock shadow or "designer stubble", at all times. The influence of Miami Vice's fashions can still be seen across the world in "Crockett My Tubbs" nights at a myriad of gay bars. Patrons come dressed as their favorite Vice characters hoping to score with people dressed as other members of the cast.[1]
[edit] Production
Miami Vice was one of the first American network television programs to be broadcast in stereophonic sound. At that time, stereo production for television (especially location sound) was novel and difficult.
Although all manner of pastel shades were used during the filming of the series, Michael Mann avoided the color red and any earth tones, with the exception of Larry Zito's dark brown bag.
[edit] Locations
Many episodes of Miami Vice were filmed in the South Beach section of Miami Beach, an area which, at the time, was blighted by poverty and crime. Some street corners of South Beach were so run down that the production crew actually decided to repaint the exterior walls of some buildings before filming. Miami Vice is to some degree credited with causing a wave of support for the preservation of Miami's famous Art Deco architecture in the mid-to-late 1980s; quite a few of those buildings (among them many beachfront hotels) have been renovated since, making that part of South Beach one of South Florida's most popular places for tourists and celebrities.
[edit] Episodes
Several episode scripts were loosely based on actual crimes that occurred in Miami over the years. (Example: "Out Where the Buses Don't Run", 1985.) During its course, the series also took a look at controversial political issues like the Northern Ireland conflict (episode "When Irish Eyes Are Crying"), the drug war in South America (e.g. "Prodigal Son"), U.S. support of anti-communist generals and dictators in Southeast Asia and South America, regardless of their human rights records ("Golden Triangle"), or child trafficking (episode "Baby Blues").
Personal issues also arose: Crockett divorced from his wife Caroline early in the series, and later his second wife Caitlin Davies (Sheena Easton) was killed by one of his enemies. In the three episodes "Mirror Image", "Hostile Takeover" and "Redemption in Blood", a concussion caused by an explosion caused Crockett to believe he was his undercover alter ego Sonny Burnett, a drug dealer. Tubbs had a running, partly personal vendetta with the Calderone family, a member of which had ordered the death of his brother Rafael, a New York City police detective.
[edit] Early Seasons
In the first seasons the tone was often very light, especially when comical characters such as Noogie and Izzy appeared. Later on, the content was almost always quite dark and cynical, with Crockett and Tubbs also having to fight corruption. Typically the darker episodes had no tag sequence, each episode ending abruptly immediately after a climax that almost always involved violence and death, often giving the episodes, especially in later seasons, a despairing and sometimes nihilistic feel despite the trademark glamour and conspicuous wealth. Given its idiosyncratic "dark" feel and touch, Miami Vice is frequently cited as an example of made-for-TV Neo-noir; still today, the show's executive producer over most of the five years, Michael Mann, is often credited with being one of the most influential modern-day Film Noir or Neo-Noir directors.
[edit] Lasting Impact
Miami Vice was one of the best-known shows of the 1980s, and it had a huge impact on the decade's popular fashions as well as setting the tone for further evolution of police drama. Series such as Homicide: Life on the Street, NYPD Blue, and Law & Order, though being vastly different in style and theme from Miami Vice, followed its lead in breaking the genre's mold; Dick Wolf, creator & producer of Law & Order, was a writer & later executive producer of Miami Vice. Although sometimes heavily disputed by their producers, the movies Bad Boys (1995) and Bad Boys 2 (2003) borrowed heavily on the concept of two undercover cops in the glitzy, upscale yet seedy world of South Florida law enforcement.
The show has been so influential that the style of Miami Vice has often been borrowed or alluded to by much of today's pop culture in order to indicate or emphasise the 1980s decade. Examples of this includes the episode "The One With All The Thanksgivings" from the American sitcom Friends. Flashback scenes from the 1980s in this episode shows the characters Ross and Chandler in pastel coloured suits with rolled up sleeves like that of Sonny Crockett. Another more obvious example would be the computer and video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, which was published by Rockstar Games and is set in a stylised 1980s Miami. Two undercover police officers appear in a police sports car within the game when three felony stars are obtained by the player. It is believed that the two officers (one white and one black) represent the two leading characters of Miami Vice. One of the main characters, Lance Vance, was actually voiced by Philip Michael Thomas. In the prequel, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, there are two officers in the multiplayer mode named Cracker and Butts a parody of Crockett and Tubbs; these characters share the same role as the undercover cops in Vice City
Many of the styles popularized by the TV show, such as the t-shirt under pastel suits, no socks, rolled up sleeves, and Rayban sunglasses have today become the standard image of 1980s culture. Ironically, people today will often recognise the decade's image, yet are unfamiliar with the TV show, despite it being the phenomenon that gave birth to the style in the first place.
However, it must be noted that pastels and the fashion accessories mentioned above were not emblematic of the entire decade, but that they stood for an era during the mid-eighties which lasted approximately two to four years. With the show's popularity notably waning around 1988 and different color schemes being adopted by the producers for the third season (1986–1987), "Vice"-themed, pastel-toned clothing went out of style, and fashion in general saw a departure from pastels and linen suits with the advent of bright, harsh neon colors, which became the next fad towards the onset of the 1990s. Likewise, the early 1980s were much more about earthtones in fashion and style.
[edit] Ratings
- 1984–1985 season: # 28
- 1985–1986 season: # 9
- 1986–1987 season: # 22
- 1987–1988 season: # 29
- 1988–1989 season: # 34
[edit] Reason for series end
According to the Sunday Mail, the series ended for a variety of reasons:
| “ | Don Johnson is keen to move on and take up the film career that is knocking at his door and to begin a new career as a producer of films and television, while Mann is keen to return to movies. Philip Michael Thomas — the egotistical but likeable young actor — wants to explore other TV and movie roles, while Edward James Olmos, after his tour de force performance in Stand and Deliver is in hot demand for movies. And NBC, the network that runs Miami Vice in the U.S., says that with slowing ratings, and newer hip cop shows like Wiseguy & 21 Jump Street, it is time to call it quits down in Miami and move on.[1] | ” |
The reason the show was cancelled was declining popularity and errors in managerial judgement. The show's popularity began to sag (or Jump The Shark as it is called in show business) at the beginning of third season (1986–1987). The first reason for the shows demise was an ill-fated decision to move Miami Vice to the same time slot as CBS's Dallas, which was then overwhelmingly popular. The second reason was Michael Mann's decision to give the show a darker, grittier look, feel and touch — a definite change from the often lighthearted tone of the first two seasons, which involved darker, non-pastel wardrobes for the protagonists. Loyal fans were miffed at the series' new look and began to turn away, which led to the reintroduction of pastels for the fourth season (1987–1988). The third reason was the original writers for the series had left by the fourth season, and the episodes often followed all but ridiculous and/or boring storylines. The most infamous example was perhaps what is known among fans as the "alien episode" (Missing Hours) — in which James Brown plays an alien leader. The fourth reason was Jan Hammer's departure from the series at the end of the fourth season. Tim Truman was a worthy successor in his abilities to deliver proper score music in his own right, but to many fans, it meant a farewell to yet another idiosyncratic element of the show's style. The fifth reason was Michael Mann being replaced by Dick Wolf as the series' executive producer, a decision that had more than a mere subtle impact. The fifth season (1988–1989) meant yet another change in color tones and attitude, with storylines once again becoming dark, fatalistic and gritty — enough so that even some of the most loyal fans were left scratching their heads. The sixth reason was that around the end of season five, Don Johnson had less screen time because he devoted much of his time to investing in his acting career beyond "'Vice". As Dick Wolf recalls in an interview for E! True Hollywood Story, after the fifth season, it was all just sort of "over", and the show had simply "run its course". The final reason was that Miami Vice had become a bad investment, with production costs per episode skyrocketing while popularity and revenue were plummeting.
[edit] Firearms
In the pilot episode, Sonny used a SIG-Sauer P220 in .45 Auto (a European version with a magazine release catch on the heel of the butt, imported into the US by Browning and called the Browning BDM).
During the first season, he used a Bren Ten pistol carried in a Ted Blocker "Lifeline" shoulder holster rig. Due to Don Johnson's dissatisfaction with the "Lifeline" rig, a Galco International "Jackass Rig" shoulder holster rig was personally fitted for him by Rick Gallagher (President of Galco). Finally the Galco "Miami Classic" shoulder holster was designed & used. The Bren Ten, manufactured by Dornaus & Dixon, was a stainless steel handgun notable as the first ever chambered in the powerful 10mm Auto caliber. The Bren Ten was originally manufactured as a two-tone weapon: the carbon steel slide was black oxide and frame was stainless steel. The model used in Miami Vice had a hard chromed matte finished slide so that it showed up better during night shots. There is debate as to whether the Bren Ten used in the series is a 10mm or .45acp. In the episode "One Way Ticket" there is a good view this pistol. In the "Glades" episode the muzzle bore of the weapon looks slightly larger than that of a 10mm. This is because the entire screw in barrel bushing was left in the black oxide finish. After the Dornaus & Dixon company went out of business in 1986, the product placement contract went to Smith & Wesson.
Starting with the third season, Sonny used a 2nd Generation series Smith & Wesson Model 645. This was a full sized 5 inch barreled stainless steel service pistol in .45acp. Galco Gunleather, formerly Jackass Leather Co., built a "Miami Classic" shoulder holster for the S&W 645 used. In the Galco Gunleather headquarters, there is a large display that contains the Miami Vice shoulder holster rig that Don Johnson wore, accompanied by an autographed photo of him. In late 1988 Smith & Wesson unveiled their new 3rd Generation Series of auto pistols, so for the last season Sonny's Model 645 was replaced with the new Smith & Wesson Model 4506. This pistol had 20+ design improvements including a one piece arched grip. Sonny's M 4506 can be seen in the beginning of the episode "Victims of Cirmcumstance" when he is sitting in a cafe and looking at it.
Sonny also carried a .45 ACP Detonics Combat-Master backup gun in an ankle holster on his left leg. It can be seen in the bar scene shootout in the "Prodigal Son" episodes. In the last series episode "Freefall 2" Crockett is placing what looks to be a S&W 4513 (compact alloy framed .45acp) in his ankle holster.
Ricardo Tubbs used an Ithaca 37 sawed-off pump shotgun called an Ithaca Stakeout, which he carried on a halter under his jacket. As a backup, he carried a stainless steel Hammerless "Chief's Special" chambered in [[.38 Lt. Castillo used an S&W Model 19 in .357 Magnum or a Colt 1911 in .45 ACP.
Gina Calabrese sometimes used a Beretta 92 in 9mm. Special]]. He can also be seen using a Sig Sauer 9mm P228 in the series finale 'Freefall'.
Trudy frequently used a S&W Model 640 in .38 Special.
Stan Switek can be seen using a variety of weapons, including a nickel-plated 9mm FN GP-35 Hi-Power in "French Twist".
[edit] Vehicles
[edit] Boats
Throughout the series, Sonny lived on a 42' Endeavor sailboat named the St. Vitus Dance. Sonny used a 39', 1983 Chris Craft Stinger 390 during season 1, and for season 2 through 5 he used a 38' Wellcraft Scarab 38KV MV. Wellcraft gave Don Johnson an exact copy of this boat as a gift in appreciation for the high profile their product received on the television show. This boat was also used in the third season episodes. Totally there was 6 different real Scarab 38KV TV-boats but one of them was only given especially for Don Johnson. The boat was later (1989) used as a promotion boat for the Finnish Ericsson Hotline mobile phone importer and raced some during that time in the Scandinavian offshore races. It's also extra reinforced and stiffened and differs some from regular Scarab 38KV's as it also doubled as a s.c Stunt boat. In real life this boat has been confiscated twice by the IRS in Finland and currently is restored by a caring owner. Three others are located in New Jersey (2nd season boat) "the Camera boat" in Norway and the last one which can only be seen for one still clip during the 5th season is currently in Germany. Altogether some 100 copies of the boat was made by Wellcraft called Scarab 38KV Miami Vice Edition. The paint scheme has been in different colours within Wellcraft since early eighties (the most popular being black/yellow/orange/red). The MV graphics could also been ordered on any other Scarab from 20-38 feet. Don Johnson did also design the 43feet Scarab Don Johnson Signature Series and he raced a similar one.
[edit] Cars
During the first two seasons and two episodes of the third season, Detective Sonny Crockett drove a midnight black 1972 Ferrari Daytona Spyder 365 GTS/4 with a Florida license plate ZAQ178, until it was blown to pieces with a hand held stinger missile launcher during an illegal arms deal. In the next episode, Crockett complained to Lt. Castillo about driving vehicles that did not fit his high roller image, but that he was going around "looking like Li'l Abner", to which Castillo told him "It's out back." Sonny was delighted to find his new white 1986 Ferrari Testarossa, Florida license plate ATF00M. The Ferrari used in the first two seasons was a kit replica based on a 1980 Chevrolet Corvette C3 chassis that had been modified with Ferrari-designed body panels by specialty car manufacturer McBurnie. As legend has it, Michael Mann spotted the car in a used car lot some time prior to shooting the pilot movie and thought it would look nice in the series. For publicity reasons and because they were unhappy with a fake getting this much attention and being portrayed as a bona fide Ferrari, the automaker donated two brand new Testarossas. One of them was partly stripped and modified and placed on a camera truck, while the other one could be seen in regular scenes. They were delivered in black but were repainted white to show up better in night scenes. For the more risky stunt scenes, yet another fake was used, this time a DeTomaso Pantera fitted with Testarossa body panels.
Ricardo Tubbs drove a 1964 Cadillac Coupe DeVille Convertible. Stan Switek drove a turquoise 1961 Ford Thunderbird. Gina Calabrese drove an 1971 Mercury Cougar XR-7 convertible.
Other Miami Vice characters, such as bad guys or other cops, are also often seen driving fast, top of the line prestige marques. On the show, typical high end brands include the likes of Lamborghini, AMG Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Maserati, Lotus, Porsche and even the occasional American muscle car, such as a Corvette, GTO, Trans Am or Mustang.[2]
[edit] Episode list
[edit] DVD releases
Universal Home Video has released the first 4 seasons of Miami Vice on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time. Seasons 1-3 have also been released in Region 2, while in Region 4 only the first 2 seasons are available thus far.
| Season(s) | Cover Art | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season One |  |
February 8, 2005 | April 25, 2005 (R2 has different cover art) |
July 11, 2005 |
| Season Two |  |
December 13, 2005 | July 24, 2006 (R2 has different cover art) |
July 12, 2006 |
| Season Three |  |
March 20, 2007 | May 14, 2007 (R2 has different cover art) |
TBA |
| Season Four |  |
March 20, 2007 | TBA | TBA |
| Season Five |  |
June 26, 2007 | TBA | TBA |
| Seasons One & Two |  |
N/A | November 20, 2006 (only available in R2) |
N/A |
The DVD release of series has been significantly slowed due to one of the signature features of the show, the heavy integration of early 80's pop and rock music, with sourcing the rights and permission to use each piece of music decades later complicating matters.
On June 26, 2007, Universal Home Video will release the final season of Miami Vice in Region 1 and it has been announced that all original music will be intact. [3]
[edit] Cast of original 1984–1989 series
- Don Johnson — Detective James "Sonny" Crockett/ AKA: "Sonny Burnett"
- Philip Michael Thomas — Detective Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs/ AKA "Rico Cooper", "Richard Taylor".
- Edward James Olmos — Lieutenant Martin Castillo
- Gregory Sierra — Lieutenant Lou Rodriguez (killed off in fourth episode)
- Saundra Santiago — Detective Gina Navarro Calabrese
- Olivia Brown — Detective Trudy "Big Booty" Joplin
- Michael Talbott — Detective Stanley "Stan" Switek
- John Diehl — Detective Laurence "Larry" Zito
(killed off in "Down For The Count (Part 1) during the third season)
[edit] Recurring cast
- Martin Ferrero — Izzy Moreno
- Charlie Barnett — Noogie Lamont
- Sheena Easton — Caitlin Davies-Crockett
- Pam Grier — Valerie Gordon
- Belinda Montgomery — Caroline Crockett/Ballard
[edit] References to Miami Vice in Popular Culture (By Date)
- The Children's show Sesame Street parodied the hit 1980s show with a few segments entitled Miami Mice.
- Mid-1980s, The comic strip Heathcliff featured a take-off on Miami Vice. The two characters were crime-fighting mice, Sonny Sprockett and Rico Tibbs, that helped Heathcliff solve mysteries.
- 1985, Miami Vice has also been parodied in the world of professional wrestling. Fuji Vice, a parody skit featuring wrestlers The Magnificent Muraco and Mr. Fuji, was aired on the WWF's Tuesday Night Titans show.
- January 18, 1986, An episode of Saturday Night Live featured the parody sketch Cleveland Vice staring Randy Quaid and Harry Dean Stanton.
- 1986, Bill Pullman plays a not-so-bright Miami Vice-loving character in the film Ruthless People. He owns a pair of goldfish named Crockett and Tubbs.
- 1987, In Episode 7 of The Bill Series 3 , Blind Alleys, Clogged Roads, PC Reg Hollis looks for PC Nick Shaw in the CAD Room of Sun Hill. PC Melvin mentions that he's probably off watching Miami Vice.
- 1988, An episode of "Streetwise" (season 3, episode 10) features a character named Vic Romano, played by Bill Paxton. The character name was used in Spike TV's Most Extreme Elimination Challenge, as the dubbed name of Takeshi-san in which Vic Romano is voiced by Victor Wilson.
- The 1988 song Walk the Dinosaur by Was Not Was references the show.
- In the late 1980s, independent comic book writer/artist Dwayne Ferguson published a series entitled Hamster Vice.
- 1989-1992, The Australian comedy show Fast Forward did a Miami Vice skit.
- 1990-1996, In an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Geoffrey the Butler (played by Joseph Marcell) walks into the kitchen wearing a white suit and purple turtle-neck underneath; Will (played by Will Smith) makes a joke saying "Is that Geoffrey or Philip Michael Thomas."
- 1991, a Christmas episode of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses, the episode is titled "Miami Twice".
- 1997, Something Wild, an album by Finnish melodic death metal band Children of Bodom has a hidden track with a cover of Miami Vice theme.
- 1998, In the movie The Wedding Singer, the character Glenn Guglia, dressed in Crockett's trademark white linen suit over a pastel blue T-shirt, and sporting a six-o'clock shadow, says he's not worried about his summer wedding interfering with seeing Miami Vice because they will be showing reruns. Later, he is shown driving and listening to the "Miami Vice Theme"
- 1999, In one of the first episodes of The Sopranos to feature Steve Buscemi, Steve is just getting out of prison (which he had been in since the 1980s), and wears his only clothes, a white suit with a blue pastel t-shirt underneath; to which a mobster asks him, "Hey, where's Tubbs?" Buscemi also guest starred in a Miami Vice episode.
- 2000, In the British television series, Lock, Stock..., based off of the movie Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, the local crime boss was named Miami Vice.
- 2001, the Family Guy episode "Brian Does Hollywood", several shots depict Cleveland and Peter driving a speedboat around a Miami-like environment while wearing pastel-colored suits, in an obvious homage to Miami Vice.
- 2002, The video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City references Miami Vice on several occasions, with portions of the game's 1980s setting and style heavily influenced by the show. Most notable is upon attaining a 3-star wanted level in the game, the player eventually encounters two undercover cops in a Ferrari Testarossa-styled car. The attires worn by some of the six variations of the cops are also in the trademark style of the show. Another sports car, the Stinger, is based on the Ferrari Daytona Spyder. Lance Vance, a primary character in the game, is voiced by Phillip Michael Thomas, who portrayed Tubbs in Miami Vice. Both Vance and Tubbs also share thirst for revenge for the deaths of their brothers at the hands of drug dealers. Another overt reference to the show's influence upon the game is the inclusion Jan Hammer's "Crockett's Theme" on the romance/power ballad radio station Emotion 98.3.
- 2003, In the Nickelodeon series Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, one of the recurring characters on the show is named "Vice" Principal Crubbs (played by Hamilton Mitchell). His last name is a combination of Crockett and Tubbs last names. In addition, He is always seen wearing white suits with pastel-colored T-Shirts underneath, his office is filled Miami related decor and a theme similar to the "Miami Vice Theme" is played whenever he appears.
- 2004, In an episode of The Simpsons, "Catch 'Em If You Can", Homer and Marge try to have a vacation without their kids by lying to them and going to Miami. When Bart and Lisa track them down and convince Grandpa to take them there, the Miami Vice theme plays while showing stereotypes of elderly people.
- 2004, The movie Eurotrip, after arriving in eastern Europe due to hitching a ride from a psychotic truck driver, the group meets a man, who after a brief conversation says "Ay man, we just got Miami Vice on television. Miami Vice is number one new show!"
- 2006, In the video game Scarface: The World is Yours, Tony Montana buys the mansion back from two Vice cops who resemble Crockett & Tubbs.
- 2007, In the upcoming film Hot Fuzz, the characters played by Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are derisively called "Crockett" and "Tubby" by their superior.
- 2007, In the BBC political comedy, The Thick Of It, Miami Vice was referred to as a 'popular' element of the 1980s when two politcians argued on how good or bad the 1980s were.
[edit] See also
- Magnum, P.I.
- Fastlane
- New York Undercover
- 21 Jump Street
- Crime Story
- Nash Bridges
- Wiseguy
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Vice Unit
[edit] External links
- Miami Vice Pilot at the Internet Movie Database
- Miami Vice at Museum of Broadcast Communications
- Miami Vice at FiftiesWeb
- Miami Vice — NBC Police Drama — 111 Episodes
- Miami Vice on tvland.com
- Miami Vice at Stage 1
Categories: Articles lacking sources from February 2007 | All articles lacking sources | NBC network shows | 1984 television program debuts | 1980s American television series | Crime television series | Miami, Florida | Neo-noir | USA Network shows | Television shows set in Florida | Television series by NBC Universal Television | Miami Vice | Miami Vice episodes
