Miami Vice (1984–1990)

The adventures of the vice squad detectives of the Miami Police Department.

Creator:

Anthony Yerkovich

Stars:

Don Johnson, Philip Michael Thomas, Saundra Santiago

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 7 wins & 26 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Don Johnson	...	Detective James Crockett (111 episodes, 1984-1990)
Philip Michael Thomas	...	Detective Ricardo Tubbs (111 episodes, 1984-1990)
Saundra Santiago	...	Detective Gina Calabrese (111 episodes, 1984-1990)
Olivia Brown	...	Detective Trudy Joplin (111 episodes, 1984-1990)
Michael Talbott	...	Detective Stan Switek (110 episodes, 1984-1990)
Edward James Olmos	...	Lieutenant Martin Castillo (106 episodes, 1984-1990)
John Diehl	...	Det. Larry Zito (56 episodes, 1984-1987)

Storyline

Stubble-faced detective Crockett lived in a sailboat guarded by his alligator Elvis. His partner Tubbs was a black New York cop looking for his brother's killer. Together they took on the Florida drug world. The show influenced men's fashions toward Italo-casual and interior decor toward the Memphis look. Very trendy music and unusual guest performers.

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Plot Keywords:

detective | police | drugs | undercover | ferrari | 

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 September 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gold Coast

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Michael Mann Productions, Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

48 min 60 min (111 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono (season 1) Stereo (Seasons 2-5) Dolby Digital (5.1 surround) (DVD version)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sonny Crockett owned four boats on the show: a Cabo Rico 38 sailboat in the pilot; an Endeavour 40 sailboat in season 1; an Endeavour 42 sailboat in seasons 2 to 5; and a Wellcraft 38 Scarab KV "cigarette" speedboat. All three sailboats that were featured on the show were called "The St. Vitus' Dance".

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Goofs

In the beginning of the episode "Calderon's Return, Part 1", a hired assassin, supposedly one of the best in the world, is seen putting on surgical gloves to keep his fingerprints off the gun he is about to use. However, before he puts on the gloves, he moves the gun off of them by touching the gun butt with his fingertips.

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Quotes

Vincent 'Vinnie' DeMarco: If Miami hasn't got it, they haven't invented it yet.

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Crazy Credits

Three episodes of the series have these additional songs playing at the closing credits instead of the show's original theme song: "Calderone's Return": Tina Turner - "What's Love Got to Do With It?"; this song plays over footage of Crockett and Tubbs riding a speedboat, plus flashbacks of Tubbs and Angelina. "Phil the Shill": Phil Collins - "Life is a Rat Race" and "Freefall" (final episode): Terry Kath - "Tell Me"; this song plays over a montage of scenes from the show.

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Connections

Referenced in The Dictator (2012)

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Soundtracks

"In The Air Tonight"
Phil Collins

User Reviews

AKA The Don Johnson Show (just kidding)

I was about six when this show came over to Britain [in 1986-i think]. As soon as they showed the last series, they repeated the show all over again. So by the time I was 12 I had just about seen everything, but not in the right order.

Of course in the 80's us Brits lapped up stuff like this; Don Johnson, cool cars, laid back cops, (ours walked around with batons and very big hats), so naturally it was a MASSIVE success although no man ever dared to walk around in pastels and palm tree ensembles down our highstreet. The tragic thing about it was the fact by the fifth series it practically became about Sonny and Rico. Where did the action go and why wasn't there more about the exploits of the Bug Van? Add canned laughter and you've got The Don Johnson Show (with side show Phil). Oh dear. Where was Zito when you needed him?

I haven't seen it for a while and I hope that they repeat it over here on terrestrial TV. Sure it was (ground-breaking?!) stuff which set the trends but I haven't seen a Hawaiian Shirted man in a while, have you? No-waaaay. 10/10. For just being.