This Week In Miami Vice History...

[mvnyc]

October 28th - November 3rd:"One Eyed Jack", the 6th episode of the 1st season, premiered on NBC on Friday, November 2nd, 1984 at 10 PM EST. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):* Dennis Farina, a former Chicago cop, would appear again as Albert Lombard in the Season 1 finale "Lombard" and Season 5's "World Of Trouble". In the interim, he starred in Michael Mann's 1986-88 series "Crime Story" and also served as a technical advisor on Mann's film "Manhunter", a position he had also held on Mann's début picture "Thief."* Crockett first uses his famous line "I will clear my desk of all my cases and make your life one living hell!" in this episode, a line he would frequently use to adversaries throughout the series.* According to Edward James Olmos (in "The E! True Hollywood Story"), the reason there's a bottle of aspirin on Castillo's desk in this episode is because "everyone was giving him a headache!""Buddies", the 5th episode of the 2nd season, premiered on NBC on Friday, November 1st, 1985 at 10 PM EST. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):* The Catholic priest that conducted Robbie's son's baptism was a real Miami priest, the Rev. Raul Angulo of St. Patrick's Catholic Church (now at Mother of Christ Catholic Church), though the scene was shot at St. Mary's Cathedral.* The Shelbourne Hotel is still in existence, now a luxury beach resort.* After briefly disappearing in the previous episode, Larry Zito's beard reappears. This continuity error is due to the studio changed the running order of the episodes when they were broadcast."Shadow In The Dark", the 6th episode of the 3rd season, premiered on NBC on Friday, October 31st, 1986 at 9 PM EST. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):* This episode was broadcast on Halloween, 1986, appropriate for its' content.* This is arguably the only episode in the entire series which does not contain any deaths, on-screen or off.* The burglar's bizarre behavior seems to be a greatly toned-down reference to real-life serial killer Richard Trenton Chase, nicknamed the "Vampire of Sacramento", who, among other disturbing things, would frequently eat raw animal meat and drink their blood. He would also go to great lengths to prevent his heart from stopping or shrinking (one of the burglar's last lines is to ask for tinfoil to protect his heart).* It is interesting to note that Crockett has no car in this episode (except for in a dream sequence); Tubbs drives him everywhere in his Coupe de Ville."Child's Play", the 5th episode of the 4th season, premiered on NBC on Friday, October 30th, 1987 at 9 PM EST. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):* The argument between Castillo and Crockett ("WHAT do you want me to SAY?!?") was shorter in the early script drafts before it was changed to the broadcast version.* Under today's laws, Crockett would be fined for allowing his son to ride on his lap in his car, rather than in a booster seat with a seat belt.* This episode is the first since the 4th season premiere ("Contempt of Court") to show people being shot and killed; the previous three episodes either had no gunfire at all or someone firing into the air."Hostile Takeover", the 1st episode of the 5th season, premiered on NBC on Friday, November 4th, 1988 at 10 PM EST. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):* The fifth season started late due to a writer's strike that occurred earlier in the year. Filming started in late September, not in late-July/early-August as was the norm for previous seasons.* Tim Truman makes his debut as music contributor. His sound is grittier and more rock-based, compared to the smooth synth vibes of his predecessor, Jan Hammer. Unlike Hammer, Truman's compositions have never been officially released on CD or any other format.* This is the final episode of Miami Vice directed by Don Johnson; he directed three other episodes in the series: Season 2's "Back in the World", Season 3's "By Hooker By Crook", and Season 4's "Love At First Sight."* Castillo uses a very primitive (by today's standards) way of showing photos on a Mac computer, in this episode.* It's interesting that El Gato (being Manolo's brother) did not know Burnett was a cop, since Manolo had suspicions before Burnett left his organization. It's possible that despite El Gato's natural grief over his brother's death, the two never got on as siblings. (The reality is the part of El Gato was not written until after "Mirror Image" had been made.)

[Lar]

- "One Eyed Jack" - There's just no faulting this one. Castillo's debut, Lombard's debut, a great plotline, an all-around strong episode. Castillo's icy comment to Tubbs, "Dont ever come up to my face this way again, detective" (or however he says it), yikes! Definitely a different breed of Lt. from Lou (who probably would have just told Tubbs off if the same situation occured under his command).- "Buddies" - Boy, you know, I used to love this one, but the last several times I've watched it, I've found the ep progressively weaker. I don't mind the plot itself, but some of the acting is just awful. I can't stand Noogie's wife, especially her 'audition' at the beginning, which always makes me cringe (maybe that was the point?). Sonny's speech to Robbie near the end comes off more cheesy than inspirational. And Eszter Balint's "acting"? My vote for the worst acting seen in the entire series."My baby. Please don't hurt my baby," said in the most monotone, unemotional way possible. How did she get this gig? And why exactly did her character steal those papers? Was it to provide a makeshift bed for her baby? Still seems like a reach to me; she just killed Nathan Lane's character, grab the kid and get out of there!That said, there are some good moments to the episode. Frankie Valli is interesting to see, there's some good music ("Sweet Soul Music" as Robbie dances on the pool table, which is pretty funny, and "No Guarantees" at the end, which is awesome), and Sonny violently shoving the abusive husband is great (I always love Tubbs' backup shove after Castillo calls Sonny into his office). Still, the weaker moments of the episode outweigh the good for me.- "Shadow In The Dark" - Definitely a strange episode. Not a favorite, but certainly interesting. I think what sort of brings it down for me is the ending, which kinda leaves the realities of the episode in question (was it all a dream or not?).- "Child's Play" - Nice to see a really good S4 episode following the previous clunker ("The Big Thaw"). One of the strongest of the season, up there with "Death And The Lady," "Baseballs Of Death" and the season-ending saga.- "Hostile Takeover" - Good start to the season and continuation of the "Burnett" saga. Of course I love Jan Hammer's music, but Tim Truman aptly filled JH's shoes, IMO. TT's music definitely had a harder edge that fit in well with both the darker tone of the season and the 1988/1989 timeframe in general. Only real complaint: El Gato points towards S5's tendency to feature overly cartoonish villains from time to time (aside from a couple dud episodes, it's one of the few things that mar S5 for me, a season I genuinely love otherwise).

[mvnyc]

"One Eyed Jack" and "Buddies", I'll pass on, not amongst my favorites. "Shadow in The Dark" I like, because of the "Criminal Minds" type main character and how Crockett beats the crap out of him at the end ("You live with me, don't you?"). "Child's Play " was definitely a much better episode than "The Big Thaw." "Hostile Takeover", a great episode and I agree that El Gato was a little too over the top, almost non-believable.

[Matt5]

One Eyed Jack"" data-date=" the 6th episode of the 1st season, premiered on NBC on Friday, November 2nd, 1984 at 10 PM EST. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):* Dennis Farina, a former Chicago cop, would appear again as Albert Lombard in the Season 1 finale "Lombard" and Season 5">

Buddies", the 5th episode of the 2nd season, premiered on NBC on Friday, November 1st, 1985 at 10 PM EST. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):* The Catholic priest that conducted Robbie's son's baptism was a real Miami priest, the Rev. Raul Angulo of St. Patrick's Catholic Church (now at Mother of Christ Catholic Church), though the scene was shot at St. Mary's Cathedral.* The Shelbourne Hotel is still in existence, now a luxury beach resort.* After briefly disappearing in the previous episode, Larry Zito's beard reappears. This continuity error is due to the studio changed the running order of the episodes when they were broadcast."Shadow In The Dark", the 6th episode of the 3rd season, premiered on NBC on Friday, October 31st, 1986 at 9 PM EST. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):* This episode was broadcast on Halloween, 1986, appropriate for its' content.* This is arguably the only episode in the entire series which does not contain any deaths, on-screen or off.* The burglar's bizarre behavior seems to be a greatly toned-down reference to real-life serial killer Richard Trenton Chase, nicknamed the "Vampire of Sacramento", who, among other disturbing things, would frequently eat raw animal meat and drink their blood. He would also go to great lengths to prevent his heart from stopping or shrinking (one of the burglar's last lines is to ask for tinfoil to protect his heart).* It is interesting to note that Crockett has no car in this episode (except for in a dream sequence); Tubbs drives him everywhere in his Coupe de Ville."Child's Play", the 5th episode of the 4th season, premiered on NBC on Friday, October 30th, 1987 at 9 PM EST. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):* The argument between Castillo and Crockett ("WHAT do you want me to SAY?!?") was shorter in the early script drafts before it was changed to the broadcast version.* Under today's laws, Crockett would be fined for allowing his son to ride on his lap in his car, rather than in a booster seat with a seat belt.* This episode is the first since the 4th season premiere ("Contempt of Court") to show people being shot and killed; the previous three episodes either had no gunfire at all or someone firing into the air."Hostile Takeover", the 1st episode of the 5th season, premiered on NBC on Friday, November 4th, 1988 at 10 PM EST. Some notes on this episode (from Miami Vice Wiki):* The fifth season started late due to a writer's strike that occurred earlier in the year. Filming started in late September, not in late-July/early-August as was the norm for previous seasons.* Tim Truman makes his debut as music contributor. His sound is grittier and more rock-based, compared to the smooth synth vibes of his predecessor, Jan Hammer. Unlike Hammer, Truman's compositions have never been officially released on CD or any other format.* This is the final episode of Miami Vice directed by Don Johnson; he directed three other episodes in the series: Season 2's "Back in the World", Season 3's "By Hooker By Crook", and Season 4's "Love At First Sight."* Castillo uses a very primitive (by today's standards) way of showing photos on a Mac computer, in this episode.* It's interesting that El Gato (being Manolo's brother) did not know Burnett was a cop, since Manolo had suspicions before Burnett left his organization. It's possible that despite El Gato's natural grief over his brother's death, the two never got on as siblings. (The reality is the part of El Gato was not written until after "Mirror Image" had been made.)

Interesting about "Child's Play" being the first episode in three previously where no one was killed or shot at - I remember at the time Michael Mann saying they the producers were trying to limit this but with ratings falling still further this did not last long.