The Miami Vice intertitle (color scheme as per season three)
The following is an episode list for the 1980s undercover cop television series Miami Vice. In the United States, the show was aired on NBC. The first episode of the series premiered on September 16, 1984, with the series concluding on June 28, 1989, after five seasons. Due to its sensitive nature, The Final Episode was aired on USA Network thus concluding the series on January 25, 1990. There are a total of 114 episodes, spanning five years (1984–1989) of the show's run. The individual seasons are available on DVD in Regions 1, 2 and 4 and Blu-ray in Regions A and B.
The first season was filmed on location in Miami, Florida.[1] The show's crew took up semi-permanent residence in the Alexander Hotel.[1] They later worked out of Greenwich Studios.[2]
Episodes were produced at an average cost of $1.3 million, much higher than the typical cop-show episode of $1 million.[1] The show went to unusual lengths to get the right settings and props for each episode.
Music was an integral part of the show. Unlike other television shows at the time, Miami Vice would buy the rights to original versions rather than covers. The show would spend up to $10,000 per episode for original recordings by artists like Todd Rundgren, U2, and Frankie Goes to Hollywood.[1]Jan Hammer, the show's musical composer, would create the rest of the show's musical score. For most of the early work on the show, he prominently used both the Memorymoog and the Fairlight CMI IIx, as well as later including the Yamaha DX-7 and the Roland Jupiter-8. Jan would work out of his state-of-the-art studio in his home in Brewster, New York composing the score for each episode.[1]
Season four of Miami Vice premiered on September 25, 1987, with the episode "Contempt of Court". The fourth season concluded on May 6, 1988, after 22 episodes. Season four regular cast members included Don Johnson, Philip Michael Thomas, Saundra Santiago, Michael Talbott, Olivia Brown and Edward James Olmos. The episodes "The Big Thaw", "Missing Hours" and "The Cows of October" are considered among fans to be the worst in the series.
Season 5 (1988–90)
Season five of Miami Vice is the final season of the series. The season premiered on November 4, 1988, with the episode "Hostile Takeover (Part 2)". The series concluded on May 21, 1989, with "Freefall", after 17 episodes, but later NBC aired three new episodes after the series finale. They were "World of Trouble" (June 14, 1989), "Miracle Man" (June 21, 1989), and "Leap of Faith" (June 28, 1989). Additionally, USA Network aired "Too Much, Too Late" on January 25, 1990, since NBC would not show that episode due to its strong topic of child molestation (NBC and USA are now owned by the same company). Season five regular cast members included Don Johnson, Philip Michael Thomas, Saundra Santiago, Michael Talbott, Olivia Brown, and Edward James Olmos.
^ † These "lost episodes" aired after the series finale aired on May 21, 1989. The first three episodes aired on NBC in June 1989, while the fourth one aired on USA Network in January 1990.
^ †2 The episode "Leap of Faith" was a backdoor pilot for a potential series that did not come to fruition.
^ ‡ The episode "Too Much, Too Late" was not shown on NBC due to its graphic content and a plot vividly involving child molestation, which at the time was considered unsuitable for prime time television.
References
^ a b c d eZoglin, Richard (1985-09-16). "Cool Cops, Hot Show". Time. Time Inc. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-23.
^ a b c"Miami Vice: Seasons 1 & 2". Bravo Production. www.rbravo.com. 2000. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
^In 1996, TV Guide included this episode as part of its "100 Most Memorable Moments in TV History", ranking it #99.
^"ABC regains top spot in weekly ratings". Broadcasting. Vol. 107, no. 13. September 24, 1984. p. 86. ProQuest 963249509.
^"CBS takes week one; NBC places second". Broadcasting. Vol. 107, no. 15. October 8, 1984. p. 94. ProQuest 963257211.
^"CBS takes week two; baseball pushes ABC into second". Broadcasting. Vol. 107, no. 16. October 15, 1984. p. 52. ProQuest 963248791.
^"Week 4: It's CBS, NBC, ABC". Broadcasting. Vol. 107, no. 18. October 29, 1984. p. 71. ProQuest 963249719.
^"CBS, NBC tie in week five". Broadcasting. Vol. 107, no. 19. November 5, 1984. p. 64. ProQuest 963263431.
^"CBS takes week six, NBC second". Broadcasting. Vol. 107, no. 20. November 12, 1984. p. 56. ProQuest 963260754.
^"CBS wins week; takes over first place season-to-date". Broadcasting. Vol. 107, no. 21. November 19, 1984. p. 61. ProQuest 963244940.
^"Special Collector's Issue: 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time". TV Guide (June 28-July 4). 1997.
^In 1997, TV Guide ranked this episode number 90 on its '100 Greatest Episodes of All Time' list.TV Guide Book of Lists. Running Press. 2007. pp. 187. ISBN 978-0-7624-3007-9.
^"NBC makes it three out of four". Broadcasting. Vol. 109, no. 18. October 28, 1985. p. 104. ProQuest 1014725795.
^"World Series gives ABC week's ratings edge". Broadcasting. Vol. 109, no. 19. November 4, 1985. p. 42. ProQuest 1014715626.
^"NBC takes week six as sweeps begin". Broadcasting. Vol. 109, no. 20. November 11, 1985. p. 56. ProQuest 1014708767.
^"ABC leads sweeps with strong showing in seventh week". Broadcasting. Vol. 109, no. 21. November 18, 1985. p. 88. ProQuest 1014718278.
^"Movies, Thursday and Saturday schedules give NBC week eight". Broadcasting. Vol. 109, no. 22. November 25, 1985. p. 42. ProQuest 1014708269.
^"Ninth week of season: second win for CBS". Broadcasting. Vol. 109, no. 23. December 2, 1985. p. 87. ProQuest 1014710938.
^"NBC claims Thanksgiving victory with return of Perry Mason". Broadcasting. Vol. 109, no. 24. December 9, 1985. p. 58. ProQuest 1014719129.
^"NBC continues winning ways". Broadcasting. Vol. 109, no. 25. December 16, 1985. p. 88. ProQuest 1014721078.
^"NBC takes another Wednesday as it posts eighth weekly win". Broadcasting. Vol. 109, no. 26. December 23, 1985. p. 61. ProQuest 1014718357.
^"CBS wins second week in a row by a nose". Broadcasting. Vol. 110, no. 3. January 20, 1986. p. 214. ProQuest 1014710358.
^"Sixth Cosby record this season gives NBC another win". Broadcasting. Vol. 110, no. 4. January 27, 1986. p. 74. ProQuest 1016911509.
^"Bears also win for NBC". Broadcasting. Vol. 110, no. 5. February 3, 1986. p. 50. ProQuest 1016916917.
^"ABC starts fast but finishes last". Broadcasting. Vol. 110, no. 6. February 10, 1986. p. 56. ProQuest 1016909677.
^"NBC's best Thursday gives it another weekly win". Broadcasting. Vol. 110, no. 8. February 24, 1986. p. 46. ProQuest 1016909425.
^"NBC's regular schedule powers it to another win". Broadcasting. Vol. 110, no. 9. March 3, 1986. p. 70. ProQuest 1016909221.
^"NBC breezes to another ratings victory". Broadcasting. Vol. 110, no. 11. March 17, 1986. p. 86. ProQuest 1016912979.
^"Reruns help power NBC to win number 18". Broadcasting. Vol. 110, no. 12. March 24, 1986. p. 91. ProQuest 1014726491.
^"NBC wins week, ties CBS in evening news race". Broadcasting. Vol. 110, no. 15. April 14, 1986. p. 154. ProQuest 1016901030.
^"NBC returns to winning form". Broadcasting. Vol. 110, no. 19. May 12, 1986. p. 50. ProQuest 1016906834.
^"'North and South' wins war for ABC". Broadcasting. Vol. 110, no. 20. May 19, 1986. p. 73. ProQuest 1014722857.
^"NBC on a roll; wins first week of fall season". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 4. October 6, 1986. p. 48. ProQuest 1014719938.
^"NBC goes 2 for 2 in prime time". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 15. October 13, 1986. p. 64. ProQuest 1016915015.
^"NBC keeps on rolling". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 16. October 20, 1986. p. 38. ProQuest 1014736998.
^"Four in a row for NBC". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 17. October 27, 1986. p. 96. ProQuest 1014715087.
^"Mets-Sox deliver NBC another win". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 18. November 3, 1986. p. 54. ProQuest 1016898182.
^"Game seven, 'Cosby' lift NBC to victory". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 19. November 10, 1986. p. 73. ProQuest 1016910246.
^"NBC rolls a lucky seven". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 20. November 17, 1986. p. 52. ProQuest 1285762482.
^"NBC wins prime time and news in week eight". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 21. November 24, 1986. p. 52. ProQuest 1016917184.
^"Nine in a row: NBC ties second-best season streak". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 22. December 1, 1986. p. 88. ProQuest 1014739802.
^"NBC stays undefeated". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 24. December 15, 1986. p. 91. ProQuest 1014742080.
^"NBC juggernaut keeps on rolling". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 25. December 22, 1986. p. 75. ProQuest 1016910304.
^"CBS wins its second in a row". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 3. January 19, 1987. p. 210. ProQuest 1016906203.
^"NBC wins prime time and news". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 4. January 26, 1987. p. 58. ProQuest 1016900438.
^"Super Bowl was super for CBS". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 5. February 2, 1987. p. 70. ProQuest 1016913996.
^"Prime time and news go to NBC". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 7. February 16, 1987. p. 56. ProQuest 1016919377.
^"'Amerika' premiere pushes ABC to second". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 8. February 23, 1987. p. 74. ProQuest 1016922703.
^"NBC overcomes ABC's 'Amerika'". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 9. March 2, 1987. p. 56. ProQuest 1016911964.
^"NBC on another winning streak". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 10. March 9, 1987. p. 44. ProQuest 1016912824.
^"NBC remains on top in prime time". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 12. March 23, 1987. p. 147. ProQuest 1014728499.
^"Weekly Ratings Scorecard". Variety. Vol. 326, no. 9. March 25, 1987. p. 48. ProQuest 1286026601.
^"NBC wins news and prime time". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 14. April 6, 1987. p. 89. ProQuest 1014739440.
^"ABC climbs to second for week in prime time race". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 15. April 13, 1987. p. 88. ProQuest 1016917698.
^"No prime time summer slump for NBC". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 19. May 11, 1987. p. 78. ProQuest 1016918442.
^"NBC continues summer run". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 20. May 18, 1987. p. 96. ProQuest 1014717874.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. September 30, 1987. p. 3D. ProQuest 305922933.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. October 7, 1987. p. 3D. ProQuest 305953326.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. October 21, 1987. p. 3D. ProQuest 305935736.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. October 28, 1987. p. 3D. ProQuest 305945387.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. November 4, 1987. p. 3D. ProQuest 305974535.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. November 11, 1987. p. 3D. ProQuest 305982086.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. November 18, 1987. p. 3D. ProQuest 305968968.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. November 25, 1987. p. 3D. ProQuest 305958854.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. December 9, 1987. p. 3D. ProQuest 305967958.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. January 20, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306006998.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. January 27, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 305976622.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. February 10, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306006081.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. February 17, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306012742.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. February 24, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 305993630.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. March 2, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306042747.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. March 9, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306024044.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. March 16, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306030149.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. March 23, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306010273.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. April 6, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306060935.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. April 20, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306035713.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. May 4, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306041364.
^"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. May 11, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306031582.
^ a b"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. 1988-11-09. p. 3D. ProQuest 306136856.
^ a b"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. November 16, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306140699.
^ a b"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. November 23, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306124674.
^ a b"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. December 7, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306146398.
^ a b"Nielsen ratings". Life. USA Today. December 14, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306143538.
^ a b"A very 'Brady' ratings hit". Life. USA Today. December 21, 1988. p. 3D. ProQuest 306159082.
^ a b"NBC clinches season's ratings title". Life. USA Today. January 18, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306171627.
^ a b"NBC scores super ratings". Life. USA Today. January 25, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306147740.
^ a b"Comedies sweep up for NBC". Life. USA Today. February 8, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306179902.
^ a b"CBS gallops to a tie with NBC". Life. USA Today. February 15, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306163263.
^ a b"NBC's back alone on top". Life. USA Today. February 22, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306175741.
^ a b"Hit-and-miss program changes". Life. USA Today. March 8, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306184202.
^ a b"NBC, in front with 'Left Behind'". Life. USA Today. March 15, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306172200.
^ a b"Glad tidings for all networks". Life. USA Today. March 22, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306198820.
^ a b"We loved CBS' 'Lucy' tribute". Life. USA Today. May 3, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306197470.
^ a b"Bright spots for No. 3 ABC". Life. USA Today. May 10, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306210811.
^ a b"NBC caps a year at the top". Life. USA Today. June 21, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306210130.
^ a b"'Right' courts few viewers". Life. USA Today. June 28, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306211385.
^ a b"A summer holiday shuffle". Life. USA Today. July 7, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306227507.
^ a b"Everybody loved ABC's 'Baby'". Life. USA Today. May 24, 1989. p. 3D. ProQuest 306198690.