An Introduction

When Miami Vice first hit the airwaves in September 1984 I was an instant fan. I was a pre-teen but not too young to appreciate what a fresh and exciting show it was. I've written about Miami Vice before on my blog Always the Last in Line and I think this entry from when the show debuted on DVD is a fitting first post for this blog.

Miami Vice made its debut in September of 1984 with an explosive 2 hour episode. The show was exciting, fresh and unlike any program network television audiences had ever seen. And before the end of its 5 season run its influence would be seen in cinema, fashion and even music.

Too cool cops Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) and Rico Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas) backed by a high energy, synth-driven Jan Hammer score as well as music by some of the day’s most popular artists worked the streets of a pastel tinged Miami with style, swagger and attitude. Less concerned with proper police procedure and politics (something no cop show concentrated on at the time), Vice seemed to exist solely to make TV screens a bit more hip on Friday nights.

And with its frequent roster of guest stars that included Phil Collins, Glen Frey and Frank Zappa (to name a few) and montages that played like mini-music videos it did just that. At its peak Miami Vice played like MTV’s much cooler older brother.

Ahead of its time and still as exciting to watch today as it was over 20 years ago, the first season is now available on DVD* for the first time. With a handful of extras and a 5.1 sound mix that contains all of the show’s original music this is one show that would round out any DVD collection (or at least add some much needed color).

* Since posting all 5 season have been released on DVD and are also available on Netflix instant.