This Week In Miami Vice History

[mvnyc]

The Season 5 "Lost" Episodes:

"World Of Trouble", the 18th episode of the 5th Season, premiered on NBC on Wednesday, June 14th, 1989 at 10PM EDT. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):
* Something similar to the HAVOC technology shown in this episode was used in the series "Jericho", stopping all cars except those without computer-guided electronic systems (mostly early 1970's and earlier models).
* All of the non-Tim Truman music in this episode is instrumental, no vocal music was used.
* Tim Quill replaced Michael DeLorenzo in the role of Sal Lombard for this episode. DeLorenzo was cast in the series "Head of the Class" and was unavailable to reprise his role.

"Miracle Man", the 19th episode of the 5th Season, premiered on NBC on Wednesday, June 21st, 1989 at 10PM EDT. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):
* Edward James Olmos does not appear in this episode, his absence explained by being in Orlando testifying in a case with Crockett.
* Three months earlier, the reality series "COPS" premiered on FOX, doing exactly what Terry was doing in this episode.
* Another South Beach hotel, The Clevelander (visible when Tubbs and Switek speak to Aguila in the street), was renovated after "Miami Vice" went off the air and is now one of the largest luxury hotels in South Beach.
* This episode contains the only Monty Python joke in the entire series, when Izzy says that Jorge worked at a hospital called "Pine Valley, or Pine Sol, or pining for the fjords." The famous Monty Python "dead parrot" sketch featured a pet store owner attempting to claim that a dead parrot was still alive, but "pining for the fjords."

"Leap Of Faith", the 20th episode of the 5th Season, premiered on NBC on Wednesday, June 28th, 1989 at 10PM EDT. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):
* This was an unsold pilot for a "Miami Vice" spinoff; the credits after the title list three "Starring" roles ahead of the usual "Guest Stars." The series would have resembled another young police drama at the time, "21 Jump Street", which was one of the shows credited with Miami Vice's demise.
* As a result of the episode being a pilot for a new show with a different cast, Tubbs only appears in the opening sequence, Crockett appears just a little longer and Gina, Trudy, Switek and Castillo are absent altogether.
* This episode deals with designer drugs, which was previously mentioned in the episode "Better Living Through Chemistry."
* The end credits feature scenes from the show and not the usual Miami stock shots.
* In the opening sequence at the bar, several women are shown barebacked and there is even a side view glimpse of one woman's breast, another example of how lax the censorship rules had become by the fifth season.
* While this was the last first-run episode aired on NBC, the network aired repeats of Miami Vice until July 26, 1989, after which the show left network television. During this episode, a call-in poll encouraged fans to choose their favorite episode which was to air the following week (July 5, 1989).

"Too Much, Too Late", the 21st episode of the 5th Season, premiered on USA Network on Thursday, January 25th, 1990 at 7PM EST. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):
* NBC did not air "Too Much, Too Late" with the other fifth season episodes because it felt the child molestation subject matter was inappropriate for television in 1989. It was originally scheduled to air on July 5, 1989 (which would have made it the last first-run episode aired by NBC). Instead, it was aired when USA Network began running Miami Vice fifth-season reruns in the fall of 1989 (the network began reruns of "Miami Vice" in 1988).
* Despite not being aired by NBC due its content, this is often considered one of the best episodes of the final Miami Vice season due to its mature plot and deep characterization.
* Edward James Olmos, Olivia Brown and Saundra Santiago do not appear in this episode.
* Pam Grier makes her final "Miami Vice" appearance as NYPD Det. Valerie Gordon in this episode.
* Just before his T-Bird is towed, Switek is seen playing with one of Zito's old snow globes.
* Despite the fact Switek's girlfriend (Holly) promised to stay and help him through his gambling addiction, the lonely nature of the scenes showing Switek at home imply she did, in fact, leave him, presumably unable to cope with his problems.
* Because NBC did not air this episode, the scene involving Switek placing a bet from a payphone was moved to the series finale, "Freefall", to help explain why Caesar Montoya was able to exert influence over him.
* This episode references many important plot points from earlier episodes of the show, as well as providing closure for the Tubbs and Valerie relationship (it references Caitlin, Crockett's second wife who was killed in Season 4 and Zito, Switek's partner, who was killed in Season 3).
* Tubbs' tendency to jump in without thinking is shown in this episode in his relationship with Valerie. Ignoring Crockett's advice to "take it slow and easy" given his track record with Valerie (and her tendency to skirt the law), he not only proposes within 48 hours of seeing her again, but does so while she is still dealing with the traumatic death of her childhood friend.
* Tubbs' rejection by Valerie sheds more light on his decision to quit the police force in "Freefall", which would otherwise seem like a somewhat impulsive move.
* The conclusion of this episode, with Tubbs sitting alone in the interrogation room as the lights dim and "Help Me Through the Night" plays, then his head drooping in despair just as the frame freezes, is a dramatic and unique episode ending.

[Matt5]

3 hours ago, mvnyc said:

The Season 5 "Lost" Episodes:

"World Of Trouble", the 18th episode of the 5th Season, premiered on NBC on Wednesday, June 14th, 1989 at 10PM EDT. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):
* Something similar to the HAVOC technology shown in this episode was used in the series "Jericho", stopping all cars except those without computer-guided electronic systems (mostly early 1970's and earlier models).
* All of the non-Tim Truman music in this episode is instrumental, no vocal music was used.
* Tim Quill replaced Michael DeLorenzo in the role of Sal Lombard for this episode. DeLorenzo was cast in the series "Head of the Class" and was unavailable to reprise his role.

"Miracle Man", the 19th episode of the 5th Season, premiered on NBC on Wednesday, June 21st, 1989 at 10PM EDT. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):
* Edward James Olmos does not appear in this episode, his absence explained by being in Orlando testifying in a case with Crockett.
* Three months earlier, the reality series "COPS" premiered on FOX, doing exactly what Terry was doing in this episode.
* Another South Beach hotel, The Clevelander (visible when Tubbs and Switek speak to Aguila in the street), was renovated after "Miami Vice" went off the air and is now one of the largest luxury hotels in South Beach.
* This episode contains the only Monty Python joke in the entire series, when Izzy says that Jorge worked at a hospital called "Pine Valley, or Pine Sol, or pining for the fjords." The famous Monty Python "dead parrot" sketch featured a pet store owner attempting to claim that a dead parrot was still alive, but "pining for the fjords."

"Leap Of Faith", the 20th episode of the 5th Season, premiered on NBC on Wednesday, June 28th, 1989 at 10PM EDT. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):
* This was an unsold pilot for a "Miami Vice" spinoff; the credits after the title list three "Starring" roles ahead of the usual "Guest Stars." The series would have resembled another young police drama at the time, "21 Jump Street", which was one of the shows credited with Miami Vice's demise.
* As a result of the episode being a pilot for a new show with a different cast, Tubbs only appears in the opening sequence, Crockett appears just a little longer and Gina, Trudy, Switek and Castillo are absent altogether.
* This episode deals with designer drugs, which was previously mentioned in the episode "Better Living Through Chemistry."
* The end credits feature scenes from the show and not the usual Miami stock shots.
* In the opening sequence at the bar, several women are shown barebacked and there is even a side view glimpse of one woman's breast, another example of how lax the censorship rules had become by the fifth season.
* While this was the last first-run episode aired on NBC, the network aired repeats of Miami Vice until July 26, 1989, after which the show left network television. During this episode, a call-in poll encouraged fans to choose their favorite episode which was to air the following week (July 5, 1989).

"Too Much, Too Late", the 21st episode of the 5th Season, premiered on USA Network on Thursday, January 25th, 1990 at 7PM EST. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):
* NBC did not air "Too Much, Too Late" with the other fifth season episodes because it felt the child molestation subject matter was inappropriate for television in 1989. It was originally scheduled to air on July 5, 1989 (which would have made it the last first-run episode aired by NBC). Instead, it was aired when USA Network began running Miami Vice fifth-season reruns in the fall of 1989 (the network began reruns of "Miami Vice" in 1988).
* Despite not being aired by NBC due its content, this is often considered one of the best episodes of the final Miami Vice season due to its mature plot and deep characterization.
* Edward James Olmos, Olivia Brown and Saundra Santiago do not appear in this episode.
* Pam Grier makes her final "Miami Vice" appearance as NYPD Det. Valerie Gordon in this episode.
* Just before his T-Bird is towed, Switek is seen playing with one of Zito's old snow globes.
* Despite the fact Switek's girlfriend (Holly) promised to stay and help him through his gambling addiction, the lonely nature of the scenes showing Switek at home imply she did, in fact, leave him, presumably unable to cope with his problems.
* Because NBC did not air this episode, the scene involving Switek placing a bet from a payphone was moved to the series finale, "Freefall", to help explain why Caesar Montoya was able to exert influence over him.
* This episode references many important plot points from earlier episodes of the show, as well as providing closure for the Tubbs and Valerie relationship (it references Caitlin, Crockett's second wife who was killed in Season 4 and Zito, Switek's partner, who was killed in Season 3).
* Tubbs' tendency to jump in without thinking is shown in this episode in his relationship with Valerie. Ignoring Crockett's advice to "take it slow and easy" given his track record with Valerie (and her tendency to skirt the law), he not only proposes within 48 hours of seeing her again, but does so while she is still dealing with the traumatic death of her childhood friend.
* Tubbs' rejection by Valerie sheds more light on his decision to quit the police force in "Freefall", which would otherwise seem like a somewhat impulsive move.
* The conclusion of this episode, with Tubbs sitting alone in the interrogation room as the lights dim and "Help Me Through the Night" plays, then his head drooping in despair just as the frame freezes, is a dramatic and unique episode ending.

Great info thankyou as always 

[ZAQ 178]

I really like "This Week in MV history" posts. Always a great read! Thank you!!

[Susanna Girl]

22 hours ago, mvnyc said:

The Season 5 "Lost" Episodes:

"Too Much, Too Late", the 21st episode of the 5th Season, premiered on USA Network on Thursday, January 25th, 1990 at 7PM EST. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):

* Tubbs' rejection by Valerie sheds more light on his decision to quit the police force in "Freefall", which would otherwise seem like a somewhat impulsive move.
* The conclusion of this episode, with Tubbs sitting alone in the interrogation room as the lights dim and "Help Me Through the Night" plays, then his head drooping in despair just as the frame freezes, is a dramatic and unique episode ending.

I think I'm going to have to watch some season 5 episodes again.  I barely remember this.   

Thanks mvnyc! 

 

[mvnyc]

1 hour ago, Susanna Girl said:

I think I'm going to have to watch some season 5 episodes again.  I barely remember this.   

Thanks mvnyc! 

 

The episode "Too Much, Too Late" was definitely one of the better Tubbs episodes.  If it had aired as it should have aired (it was shot the week before "Freefall"), it probably would've made more sense from a story standpoint

Edited May 12, 2017 by mvnyc

[mvnyc]

4 hours ago, ZAO178 said:

I really like "This Week in MV history" posts. Always a great read! Thank you!!

Thanks, ZAO178.  This is the third go-round for these threads, one more to go for next week.  We'll see if there is still an interest come September. 

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