Expensive fast cars, neon lights, MTV music and two very fashionable and handsome vice cops. Miami Vice had all the ingredients to become the number one hit show in the eighties...and it did! From 1984 to 1989, there was not much on TV for teenagers but Miami Vice. The unique blend of style, fashion (shoulderpads!), sex, violence and pop music appeared to be a great success. The series revolves around two vice cops, Ricardo Tubbs (played by Philip Michael Thomas) and Sonny Crockett (played by Don Johnson) Tubbs is the one with the relaxed attitude and dark sunglasses, Crockett the charismatic one with a colored t-shirt under a white Armani jacket and his sleeves rolled up. The two operate in Miami's underbelly, the origin of prostitution, gambling and drug trafficking. They fight against the scum of the earth in the most amazing Art Deco neighborhoods of Miami and are led by the somewhat mysterious Captain Castillo (played by Edward James Olmos) The duo chases bad guys all over Miami and what better way to do so than in a really cool and fast car? During the series several rather expensive cars were used, like a Ferrari Daytona Spider 365 GTS/4 and a 1986 Ferrari Testarossa. The visual effects and the music made Miami Vice stand out above all other TV shows. Every episode looked like a music video. If your song got played on Miami Vice it could boost the sales skyhigh. Some very popular artists not only got their song played, but the first seasons are so popular that legendary pop icons like Phil Collins and Frank Zappa are happy to star in guest roles. A very famous scene involves Crockett and Tubbs driving through Miami at night while Collins masterpiece "In the air tonight" plays. There were 111 episodes taped, five seasons of fun and coolness. The series won two Golden Globes in 1986. One by Don Johnson (best actor in a TV series) and one by Edward James Olmes (best actor supporting role in a TV series) Sonny Crockett: Man, it's so hot you could fry an egg on my face. Ricardo Tubbs: Hope I never get that hungry.
Back in the 70's the UK had The Sweeney , these were proper old sckool cops. Kicking down doors, punch in face then ask questions with cool car chases with Fords & Jags around London.