MIAMI VICE

'''Miami Vice''' was a popular and innovative television series starring Don Johnson (James "Sonny" Crockett) and Philip Michael Thomas (Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs) as two Miami police detectives working undercover. The show ran for five seasons on NBC television stations from 1984–1989. The USA Network later broadcasted unaired episodes after season five. The Miami Vice motion picture was based on the series and was released on July 28, 2006. The series currently airs on the ''Sleuth (TV) ''network in The USA, and ''Men & Motors'' in the UK.

Creation

History

Legend has it that the head of NBC's Entertainment Division, Brandon Tartikoff, wrote a brainstorming memo that simply read "MTV cops".^[1] 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''.

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.

Style

Miami Vice 1972 Ferrari Daytona Spyder 365 GTS/4 as seen in the famous "In The Air Tonight" scene from the pilot episode "''Brother's Keeper''".

Whilst the show didn't invent pastels it made them popular, the other 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).

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, Ted Nugent, and Frank Zappa.
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''." No television theme nor instrumental track have ascended to the top of the Billboard singles chart since. 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).

Fashion

Don Johnson wearing a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer aiming his Bren Ten.

The show had a huge influence on (men's) fashion at the time, popularizing, if not actually inventing, the "T-shirt under Armani jacket"-style. Crockett also boosted Ray Ban's popularity by wearing a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer (Model L2052, Mock Tortoise). As a consultant to the show Gianni Versace provided the fashion sense. Pastel colors dominated the series in clothes as well as in architecture. Jodi Tillen was the costume designer for the first season, with Michael Mann setting the stylistic agenda. 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 in some places.

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.

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. The Sailboat pictured here is actually a Cabo Rico 38 Cutter from Cabo Rico Yachts and Jack Cogswell of Fort Lauderdale, FL. It was used in the pilot episode only. The Endeavour 42 was used in all other episodes.

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. , the drug war in South America (e.g. "Prodigal Son"), several episodes drawn on the Miami River Cops scandal (a real police corruption ring that involved narcotic thefts, drug dealing and murders), as well as several episodes Cuban exile guerrillas and drug trafficking, U.S. support of anti-communist generals and dictators in Southeast Asia and South America, regardless of their human rights records , or child trafficking
Personal issues also arose: Crockett divorced from his wife Caroline early in the series^[2], and later his second wife Caitlin Davies (Sheena Easton) was killed by one of his enemies^[2]. In the three episodes "Mirror Image", "Hostile Takeover," and "Redemption in Blood" (known amongst fans as "The Burnett Trilogy"), 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.

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.
After two seasons, Johnson threatened to walk from the series. The network was ready to replace him with ''Mark Harmon'' who had recently departed ''St. Elsewhere'' but Johnson relented and continued with the series until its end.

Lasting impact

Don Johnson driving around in the midnight jet black 1972 Ferrari Daytona Spyder 365 GTS/4 at night.

''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 '', ''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 emphasize 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 colored suits with rolled up sleeves like that of Sonny Crockett. Another more obvious example would be the computer and video game '','' which was published by Rockstar Games and is set in a stylized 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, '', 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 recognize 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.
The show also had a lasting impact on Miami itself. It sparked a revitalization of the South Beach district of Miami Beach, as well as other portions of the Miami area, and increased tourism and investment. The fact that Crockett and Tubbs were Dade County officers and not City of Miami police represented the growing notion of metro government in Miami. In 1997, a county referendum changed the name from Dade County to Miami-Dade County. This allowed people to relate the county government to recognized notions and images of Miami, many of which were first popularized by Miami Vice. The Dade County Sheriff's Office (which had changed it's name to Metro-Dade Police department prior to the show) now became the Miami-Dade Police Department.

Ratings

★ 1984–1985 season: # 28

★ 1985–1986 season: # 8

★ 1986–1987 season: # 22

★ 1987–1988 season: # 29

★ 1988–1989 season: # 33

Reason for series end

According to the Sunday Mail, the series ended for a variety of reasons:
One reason the show was cancelled was declining popularity and errors in managerial judgement. The show's popularity began to sag at the beginning of third season (1986–1987). The first reason for the show's demise was an ill-fated decision to move ''Miami Vice'' to the same time slot as CBS' ''Dallas'', which was then overwhelmingly popular.
A 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).
Third, 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. There was also a love affair between Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) and Caitlin Davies (Sheena Easton), and a plot with Crockett getting amnesia (in which he mistakes himself for his drug dealer alter- ego, and becomes a hitman). Also, Jan Hammer departed 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.
Michael Mann was 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.
Around the end of Season 5, 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"''.
Finally, ''Miami Vice'' had become a bad investment, with production costs per episode skyrocketing while popularity and revenue were plummeting.

Characters

Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as James "Sonny" Crockett and Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs.

While the series had many regulars, it focused primarily on two lead characters, James "Sonny" Crockett and Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs.

★ James "Sonny" Crockett: 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 Police detective assigned to the Vice Unit. Crockett's street cover name is "Sonny Burnett". Elements of the detective's cover include a Ferrari Daytona Spyder (the car used on the show was actually a modified Chevrolet Corvette).^[4] 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 blown up during an illegal arms deal, and he acquires a Ferrari Testarossa. Creator Anthony Yerkovich originally used the name Sonny Crockett for a criminal on the seminal cop series ''Hill Street Blues''.

★ Ricardo "Rico" 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.
Other regulars characters in this series are:

★ Lt. Martin Castillo (Edward James Olmos). The officer in charge of the Miami Vice unit. He makes is debut in episode 6 after replacing Lt. Lou Rodriguez. A very taciturn man, he speaks as little as needed, and lives a reclusive life outside of work. He has earned undisputed loyalty from the Vice squad. Little is known about Castillo except that he was in the Golden Triangle of Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. As a DEA agent he fought against CIA agents endorsing the trafficing of cocaine in that region to finance their other operations abroad.

★ 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 Trudy Joplin (Olivia Brown). Gina's patrol partner. In the fourth season of the series she has an encounter with a UFO and an alien played by the late, great Godfather of Soul, James Brown.

★ 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 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 gave him a fatal drug overdose.

Guest appearances

Don Johnson (L) and Glen Frey (R) one of the many musicians and celebrities appearing throughout the series.

Many famous actors, musicians, comedians, athletes, celebrities, and up and coming actors appeared on the series as well.

Musicians

Willie Nelson once guest-starred as a retired Texas Ranger,^[2] Gene Simmons played drug dealer named (Newton Blade) and Ted Nugent played another drug dealer named (Charlie Basset), Glenn Frey played a drug smuggler named (Jimmy Cole)^[2] and Frank Zappa appeared as a drug kingpin named (Mario Fuentes). Phil Collins played a game show host named (Phil Mayhew), Miles Davis played a pimp named (Ivory Jones) (echoing Davis's real-life experience as a pimp decades earlier), Frankie Valli played a mob boss named (Frank Doss), Little Richard appeared as a street preacher named (Marvelle Quinn), James Brown appeared as an afterlife person named (Lou De Long), and Leonard Cohen played an Interpol agent named (Francois Zolan).

Celebrities

Auto executive Lee Iacocca appeared in one episode as a gun-crazy parks commissioner), while G. Gordon Liddy added a realistically political edge in two episodes by starring as a politically-motivated drug runner named (Col. William Maynard, a.k.a. Captain Real Estate).^[2] Daniel Lugo played Father Ernesto.

Athletes

Don Johnson (L) and G. Gordon Liddy (R) who played Col. William Maynard (a.k.a. Captain Real Estate) was another celebrity appearing as a villian on the show.

Legendary Boston Celtics center Bill Russell appeared as dishonest (Judge Ferguson) with a huge gambling debt, with 1980s NBA superstar Bernard King playing his son (Matt Ferguson), a star basketball player for the FIU Sunblazers (name changed to Golden Panthers in 1987).
Racecar driver Danny Sullivan played a racing driver named (Danny Tepper). Boxer Roberto Durán appeared as a convict named (Jesus Moroto), while fellow pugilist Randall "Tex" Cobb appeared as a trainer in a boxing gym.

Famous Actors

Dean Stockwell played the super stealthy ex-DEA agent named (Jack Gretsky) who worked with Castillo during the Vietnam War. Pam Grier played the character of "Valerie" an old flame of Tubbs with an on-again/off-again love relationship.

Up-and-coming actors

Dennis Farina played a mobster named (Alfred Lombard) in three episodes.^[2]^[2] Dennis Farina went on to work with many Michael Mann projects such as Thief, Crime Story, and Manhunter. Stanley Tucci played in three episodes first as a black-marketeer selling kidnapped Colombian infants named (Steven Demarco) and then as a big time mob boss named (Frank Mosca).
Jimmy Smits appeared as "Eddie Rivera" Crockett's ill-fated original partner in the Pilot). Bruce McGill played an obsessive ex-vice detective named (Hank Weldon). Ving Rhames played in two different episodes, the first as a Hatian immigrant named "Georges" in the episode "The Maze" whose sister was assaulted while in a run-down apartment complex, besieged by gun-toting, cop-killing youths.^[2] The second as an abusive boyfriend named "Walker Monroe" in the episode "Child's Play" where Crockett shot and killed a child. Liam Neeson played an Irish terrorist named (Sean Carroon). Lou Diamond Phillips played a junior vice detective named (Bobby diaz). Bruce Willis played a wife beating weapons dealer named (Tony Amato). Ed O'Neill played an FBI agent named (Artie Lawson) who is undercover as a drug merchant named (Artie Rollins). Julia Roberts played a gangster's girlfriend named (Polly Wheeler). Michael Madsen played a small time punk with connections named (Salvatore "Sally" Alvarado). Ian McShane played in two episodes first as a drug dealer named (Esteban Montoya) and then as (General Manuel Borbon) of the fictional South American country called "Costa Morada". Bill Paxton played (Vic Romano). Luis Guzmán played in two episodes first as a (Goon) and then a drug dealer named (Miguel). Kyra Sedgwick played (Sarah MacPhail) an accomplice of (Phil Mayhew) played by Phil Collins. Esai Morales played in two episodes first as a thief that targets home invasions named (Pete Romano) and then as the son of a mobster named (Jesse Cruz).Terry O'Quinn played (Richard Cain). Wesley Snipes played a drug dealer named (Silk). John Turturro played (David Taynor). Melanie Griffith played a high cost madam named (Christine Von Marburg) whom Sonny Crockett falls for.
Other personalities include: Michael Chiklis, Steve Buscemi, Charles S. Dutton, David Strathairn, Dan Hedaya, Garcelle Beauvais, Penn Jillette, Nathan Lane, Michael DeLorenzo, Giancarlo Esposito, James Velliky, Vincent D'Onofrio, Tony Sirico, Annette Bening, Viggo Mortensen, Chris Cooper, Michael Richards, Helena Bonham Carter, Alfred Molina, and Benicio del Toro.

Comedians

John Leguizamo played in three episodes first as (Ivan Calderone) and then as (Angelo Alvarez). Ben Stiller played (Fast Eddie Felcher), Chris Rock played the character of (Carson).

Firearms

Don Johnson aiming his Bren Ten.

The SIG-Sauer P220 which Sonny Crockett carried around in the pilot episode.

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 BDA).
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 of 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.^[11]^[1]
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 was armed with a sawed-off double-barreled shotgun in the first season. In later seasons, he 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 hammerless S&W snub-nosed .38 revolver. He can also be seen using a Sig Sauer 9mm P228 in the series finale 'Freefall'.^[13]

Saundra Santiago strapping her S&W Model 36 around her leg.

Lt. Castillo used an S&W Model 19 in .357 Magnum or a Colt 1911 in .45 ACP.
Gina Calabrese sometimes used a S&W Model 36 in .38 special.
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".,
For additional firepower when busting heavily-armed drug dealers, other weapons were occasionally used, including Steyr AUG^[11] and M16 assault rifles, H&K MP5 submachine guns, and the Street-Sweeper shotgun. One episode's plot ("Evan") was based on black market sales of MAC-10 submachine guns.

Vehicles

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 Seasons 2 through 5 he used a 38' Wellcraft Scarab 38KV MV.^[11] 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.

1983 Chris Craft Stinger 390 used during the first season of ''Miami Vice''.

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).^[16]
The ''Miami Vice'' graphics could also been ordered on any other Scarab from 20-38 feet. Don Johnson did also design the 43 ft Scarab Don Johnson Signature Series, and he raced a similar one.

Cars

Don Johnson driving the brand new 1986 Ferrari Testarossa after its white paint job.

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.^[4]

Don Johnson with both the 1972 Ferrari Daytona Spyder 365 GTS/4 and the 1986 Ferrari Testarossa.

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 (villians, police officers) are also often seen driving fast, top of the line prestige marques. On the show, typical high end brands including Lamborghini, AMG Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Maserati, Lotus, DeLorean, Porsche, and Corvettes, Occasionally an American muscle car, such as the GTO, Trans Am or Mustang would also make an appearance.^[18]

Episode listing by season

Main articles: List of Miami Vice episodes

Season Episode #	Season 1	Season 2	Season 3	Season 4	Season 5
1	"Brother's Keeper/Pilot"	"Prodigal Son"	"When Irish Eyes Are Crying"	"Contempt of Court"	"Hostile Takeover: Part 3"
2	"Heart of Darkness"	"Whatever Works"	"Stone's War"	"Amen...Send Money"	"Redemption in Blood: Part 4"
3	"Cool Runnin'"	"Out Where the Buses Don't Run"	"Kill Shot"	"Death and the Lady"	"Heart of Night"
4	"Calderone's Return: Part 1 (a.k.a. Hit List"	"The Dutch Oven"	"Walk-Alone"	"The Big Thaw"	"Bad Timing"
5	"Calderone's Return: Part 2 (a.k.a. Calderone's Demise"	"Buddies"	"The Good Collar"	"Child's Play"	"Borrasca"
6	"One Eyed Jack"	"Junk Love"	"Shadow In The Dark"	"God's Work"	"Line of Fire"
7	"No Exit"	"Tale of the Goat"	"El Viejo"	"Missing Hours"	"Asian Cut"
8	"The Great McCarthy"	"Bushido"	"Better Living Through Chemistry"	"Like a Hurricane"	"Hard Knocks"
9	"Glades"	"Bought and Paid For"	"Baby Blues"	"Rising Sun of Death"	"Fruit of the Poison Tree"
10	"Give a Little, Take a Little"	"Back in the World"	"Streetwise"	"Love at First Sight"	"To Have and to Hold (a.k.a. Second Chance)"
11	"Little Prince"	"Phil the Shill"	"Forgive Us Our Debts"	"A Rock and a Hard Place"	"Miami Squeeze"
12	"Milk Run"	"Definitely Miami"	"Down For The Count (Part 1)"	"The Cows of October"	"Jack of All Trades"
13		"Yankee Dollar"	"Down For The Count (Part 2)"	"Vote of Confidence"	"The Cell Within"
14		"One Way Ticket"	"Cuba Libre"	"Baseballs of Death"	"The Lost Madonna"
15	"Smuggler's Blues"	"Little Miss Dangerous"	"Savage"	"Indian Wars"	"Over the Line"
16	"Rites of Passage"	"Florence Italy"	"Theresa"	"Honor Among Thieves"	"Victim of Circumstance"
17	"The Maze"	"French Twist"	"The Afternoon Plane"	"Hell Hath No Fury"	"Freefall: Part 1
18	"Made for Each Other"	"The Fix"	"Lend Me An Ear"	"Badge of Dishonor"	"Freefall: Part 2 - Series Finale"
19	"The Home Invaders"	"Payback"	"Red Tape"	"Blood and Roses"	' ★ ' ''"World of Trouble"''
20	"Nobody Lives Forever"	"Free Verse"	"By Hooker By Crook"	"A Bullet for Crockett"	' ★ ' ''"Miracle Man"''
21	"Evan"	"Trust Fund Pirates"	"Knock Knock...Who's There?"	"Deliver Us From Evil: Part 1"	' ★ ' ''"Leap of Faith"''
22	"Lombard"	"Sons and Lovers"	"Viking Bikers From Hell"	"Mirror Image: Part 2"	' ★ ★ ' ''"Too Much, Too Late"''
23	-	-	"Everybody's In Showbiz"	-	-
24	-	-	"Heroes of the Revolution"	-	-

★ These episodes aired on NBC after the series finale on 5/21/1989 and the last one aired on the USA Network. ★ ★ Was never shown on NBC due to its graphic content and a plot vividly involving child molestation, which at the time was considered unsuitable even for nighttime television. The DVD's contain all episodes.

DVD releases

On November 8, 2004 Universal Studios Home Entertainment announced the release of ''Miami Vice'' season 1 on DVD with all original music intact.^[19]^[20] Cover Art, Extras, And Info On Original Music! Following subsequent DVD releases in 2005 and 2007, Universal has released all ''Miami Vice'' seasons on DVD. New, Improved Street Date! Ride With ''Vice'' - ''Season'' 2 Before Thanksgiving! Seasons 3 & 4 Artwork And Music Info
Final Season In June! Artwork Added The DVD release of this series had been significantly slow 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. Agreement over music costs could not be reached Universal has secured all the applicable rights, hence the final 3 seasons released all in 2007. On 8-21-2007 Universal announced that the Complete Series with all five seasons on 27 single-sided DVDs will be released. The seasons are each in their own "digipak" cases, and those are inserted inside a premium faux alligator-skin package that is scheduled for release on November 13, 2007. Season one & two will contain six single sided discs rather then the three double side disc the sets initially came out with.^[21]

Season(s)	Region 1	Region 2	Region 4
Season One (Cover art is for Region1 Only)	February 8 2005	April 25 2005	July 11 2005
Season Two (Cover art is for Region1 Only)	November 22 2005	July 24 2006	July 12 2006
Season Three (Cover art is for Region1 Only)	March 20 2007	May 14 2007	July 4 2007
Season Four (Cover art is for Region1 Only)	March 20 2007	August 13 2007	TBA
Season Five (Cover art is for Region1 Only)	June 26 2007	December 26 2007	TBA
Seasons One & Two (Cover art is for Region2 Only)	N/A	November 20 2006	N/A
Miami Vice: The Complete Series DVD	November 13 2007^[22]	November 26 2007	N/A

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", "Topo Manyeri".

★ 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)

Recurring cast

★ Martin Ferrero — Izzy Moreno

★ Charlie Barnett — Noogie Lamont

★ Sheena Easton — Caitlin Davies-Crockett

★ Pam Grier — Valerie Gordon

★ Belinda Montgomery — Caroline Crockett/Ballard

''Miami Vice'' in popular culture

1980s

★ The children's show ''Sesame Street'' parodied the hit 1980s show with a few segments entitled '''Miami Mice'''.

★ In the 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.

★ The January 18, 1986 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.

1990s

★ 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".

★ 1996 a Finnish group of senior-high students, later known as Don Johnson Big Band gets together for the first time.

★ 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.

★ 1997, In the ''Nash Bridges'' episode, ''Wild Card'', Philip Michael Thomas and Don Johnson reunite for the first time on television together since ''Miami Vice'', and you can hear a version of the ''Miami Vice'' theme playing in the background.^[2]

★ 1998, in an episode of ''Friends'' ("The One with All the Thanksgivings"), a flashback to 1988 shows Rachel at the Gellers' for Thanksgiving. When the doorbell rings, she opens it to see Ross and Chandler dressed like Crockett and Tubbs from ''Miami Vice''.

★ 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.

2000s

★ 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''.

★ 2001, In the 2001 ''Nash Bridges'' episode, ''Out of Miami'', Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas team up again.^[2]

★ 2002, the video game '' 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. , a primary character in the game, is voiced by Philip 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 .

★ 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!"

★ 2005, in the TV teen drama ''The O.C.'', Summer Roberts comments that the fact her friend Marissa Cooper's father lives on a boat is "...so ''Miami Vice''!"

★ 2006, in the video game '', Tony Montana buys the mansion back from two Vice cops who resemble Crockett & Tubbs, though they also appear to have elements of their depictions in the 2006 movie.

★ 2006, '' is released, a prequel to 2002's ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City'' which continues and expands upon many of the earlier game's homages, including the return of Lance Vance, once again voiced by Philip Michael Thomas, the main character interacts with both an undercover cop dressed in a Crockett style suit as well as Phil Collins himself, who performs a full length in-game version of "In the Air Tonight".

★ 2006, in the 2006 Top Gear episode, ''Series 8 Episode 3'', you can hear the ''Miami Vice Theme'' being played in the background during the amphibious vehicles racing scene.^[2]

★ 2007, in the 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 politicians argued on how good or bad the 1980s were.

References

1. "The Making of Miami Vice", , Trish, Janeshutz, Ballatine Books, , ISBN 0-345-33669-0
2.
3.
4. The Cars of Miami Vice, , Cliff, Gromer, Popular Mechanics,
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11. The Machines of Miami Vice, , Tim, Cole, Popular Mechanics,
12. "The Making of Miami Vice", , Trish, Janeshutz, Ballatine Books, , ISBN 0-345-33669-0
13. "The Making of Miami Vice", , Trish, Janeshutz, Ballatine Books, New York, , ISBN 0-345-33669-0
14. The Machines of Miami Vice, , Tim, Cole, Popular Mechanics,
15. The Machines of Miami Vice, , Tim, Cole, Popular Mechanics,
16. Just Like On TV, , Ellen, Benoit, Forbes,
17. The Cars of Miami Vice, , Cliff, Gromer, Popular Mechanics,
18. http://www.imcdb.org/movie_86759-Miami-Vice.html
19. ANNOUNCEMENT FOR 1ST SEASON!!!
20. Uni's Exec VP Responds To 5.1 Sound Demands
21. ANNOUNCEMENT FOR 1ST SEASON!!!
22. Scoop: Exclusive First Picture of ''Complete Series'' Faux Alligator - Skin Package!
23.
24.
25.

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