Miami Vice (1984)
A stylistic view of the world of police and the city of Miami, this procedural cop show adapted to the new rules of entertainment – embracing the sounds of the decade, the fashion and the love for luxury.
Miami Vice debuted in 1984, starring Don Johnson as Det. Sonny Crockett, an undercover vice cop, living on a sailboat with a pet alligator named Elvis. Det. Ricardo Rubbs aka Philip Michael Thomas becomes his partner, a NY cop looking for a drug dealer who murdered his brother back in the Big Apple. Edward James Olmos is the ever-so-serious Lt. Castillo, who oversees the squad’s dealings with the underworld of Miami.
Created with the thought of MTV’s influence on cops, NBC president Brandon Tartikoff is rumoured to have come up with concept which flew high in the ratings, earnings three Emmys and many loyal fans. Merchandise was flowing off the shelves, with two best-selling soundtracks, a computer game and several books.
Celebs lined up to be guest stars including singers Sheena Easton, Little Richard, Phil Collins and Glen Frey. Rising stars spotted in the series include Bruce Willis, Annette Bening, Wesley Snipes and Julia Roberts.
Composer Jann Hammer’s orchestral sounds were the soundtrack of the police investigation, highlighting the fast-paced world of sports cars, fast boats, and drug dealers. His original tv theme became the third television theme song to hit the Billboard top 10.
Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas epitomized the 1980s style with their pastel Italian suits, lack of ties and suave demeanours, become poster boys for the decade’s desire for power and sex appeal. A major influence on men’s fashion, Miami Vice style became the sought-after threads for urban males across North America.
I tuned in, curious about the show, and feeding my long-love for police dramas. I appreciated the stylistic devotion of the show to certain colours, electronic sounds and always making everyone look their best. I believed Miami to be wealthy socialites, dipping their toes in the respectable as much as the lascivious. Years later when I went to Miami I realized that South Beach was the setting for much of this backdrop, which is not really Miami at all.
Philip Michael Thomas’ career disappeared after the series end, while Don Johnson has had a rollercoaster of hits and misses, but still epitomizes the white suit and tshirt style that made him a fashion icon of the 1980s. Colin Farrell and Jamie Fox tried to revive the style in the film Miami Vice, but purists know that the 1980s created the original, the show that embraced 1980s style and sold it to the masses.
W POPAGANDA 