"Miami Vice" Brother's Keeper (1984)

Director:

Thomas Carter

Writers:

Anthony Yerkovich (creator)
Anthony Yerkovich (written by)

TV Series:

"Miami Vice" (1984)

Original Air Date:

16 September 1984 (Season 1, Episode 1)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Miami detective Sonny Crockett reluctantly teams with New York cop Rico Tubbs when both of them end up pursuing a drug dealer who killed their partners.

Plot Keywords:

TV Series Pilot | Police | Detective | Undercover | Drugs

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Don Johnson	...	Detective James Crockett
Philip Michael Thomas	...	Detective Ricardo Tubbs
Saundra Santiago	...	Detective Gina Calabrese
Michael Talbott	...	Detective Stan Switek
John Diehl	...	Detective Larry Zito
Gregory Sierra	...	Lt. Lou Rodriguez
Bill Smitrovich	...	Lt. Scott Wheeler
Belinda Montgomery	...	Caroline Crockett
Martin Ferrero	...	Trini DeSoto
Mykelti Williamson	...	Leon Jefferson (as Mykel T. Williamson)
Olivia Brown	...	Detective Trudy Joplin
Miguel Pinero	...	Esteban Calderone
Jimmy Smits	...	Eddie Rivera
Michael Santoro	...	Corky Fowler
Jossie DeGuzman	...	Maria Rivera

Runtime:

Finland:92 min | USA:97 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (video rating) | Norway:16 | UK:15 (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Greenwich Studios - 12100 Ivan Tors Boulevard, Miami, Florida, USA

Company:

Michael Mann Productions

Trivia:

When this pilot script was being considered at NBC, an executive wrote the note "MTV Cops" to summarize the show. That nickname stuck.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Leon is introduced, he is walking past several stores and the camera and crew are reflected in the windows as he walks past.

Quotes:

Ricardo Tubbs: [meets Elvis the alligator] Hey get him away from me man! I don't even like alligator shoes!
Sonny Crockett: Awww, you'll hurt his feelings...!

Movie Connections:

Edited into Miami Vice: Undercover (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

All Night Long (All Night)

One of the finest television pilots you'll ever see

The two-part story, "Brother's Keeper", is an excellent introduction to "Miami Vice". Often screened as a feature length episode, this pilot introduced "Sonny" Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs to the world and changed forever the expectations people would have of television. "Brother's Keeper" has feature film production values, a great cast (including a young Jimmy Smits), a splendid soundtrack and a sizzling script.

Don Johnson's performance as Crockett is flawless. Every scene with this actor is excellent. Philip Michael Thomas as Tubbs is the perfect sidekick and the chemistry between the two characters is a key factor to what makes the series so memorable.

This pilot has an appearance by Martin Ferrero as Trini DeSoto. Ferrero was later to become a regular in the show, as informer (and light relief) Izzy Moreno.

No matter how many times I watch this pilot, I can't help feel the original '80s vibe and excitement as Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight" accompanies the high-speed night-time action. This is television that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Dramatic, gripping, witty and sexy, "Miami Vice" remains perfect television.

8 out of 10. A great pilot but the best was yet to come.