"Wiseguy" (1987) TV series 1987-1990

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Creators:

Stephen J. Cannell
Frank Lupo

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

16 September 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

His first wrong move will be his last.

Plot:

Vinnie Terranova does time in a New Jersey penitentiary to set up his undercover role as an agent for...

Plot Keywords:

Organized Crime | Mafia | Femme Fatale | Music Industry | Priest

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Jim Byrnes	...	Daniel Benjamin 'Lifeguard' Burroughs (75 episodes, 1987-1990)
Jonathan Banks	...	Frank McPike (74 episodes, 1987-1990)
Ken Wahl	...	Vincent Michael 'Vinnie' Terranova / ... (63 episodes, 1987-1990)

Runtime:

60 min | Israel:45 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:PG (some episodes) | Iceland:L (some epiosodes) | Australia:M (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Stephen J. Cannell Productions

Trivia:

Vinnie Terranova's agent number 4587 was chosen because the show began filming on April 5, 1987.

Quotes:

Mike 'Mooch' Cacciatore: You got no cause for arrest.
Frank McPike: What are you, greaseball, a lawyer?
Mike 'Mooch' Cacciatore: Yeah, well, as a matter of fact, I am. Y'know, you grow over 6'4" and everybody automatically assumes you're brain dead. Now, I think you're too short and wimpy-looking to be a Fed, but there you are.
[grabs McPike's arm as he tries to leave]
Mike 'Mooch' Cacciatore: You arrest my client, and I'll make you wish you were a farmer rather than a Fed.
Frank McPike: You know you have your hand on me?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: (#26.34)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Bright Side

Wonderful... most of the time, anyway.

An absolute cracker of a cop series, "Wiseguy" only occasionally had stand-alone episodes, for the most part telling its stories in arcs that could run for up to 10 episodes; it's not every show that ends its first season with the hero being arrested by his partner! (Obviously they were just doing their jobs, but still...)

With the great triple act of Ken Wahl as Vinnie, Jonathan Banks as his friend and partner McPike, and Jim Byrnes (pre-"Highlander") as liasion Lifeguard - a rare television role for the handicapped in that his affliction was never even mentioned - the best arc by far was the first one with Sonny Steelgrave (the late Ray Sharkey), which occupied practically the entire first season; then the incestuous Proffitts - my first exposure to Kevin Spacey as the mad Mel ("Only the toes knows...") and the staggeringly sexy Joan Severance (pre-Black Scorpion) as his equally disturbed sister Susan; the enigmatic Roger Lococco (William Russ, better here than on "Boy Meets World"); even the venture into the music world was effective.

Stephen J. Cannell and his team of writers and directors spun gripping and tense tales of the battles between good and evil, bringing you so close into the world of Vinnie Terranova that you found yourself sympathising with the heavies without ever turning against the people who were, after all, the good guys - kudos to them all, but especially David J. Burke and Stephen Kronish. The show also boasted one of Mike Post's greatest ever themes; heavy brass and strings instead of rock'n'roll or synths set the tone perfectly.

So effective was this series that I can even forgive the degeneration of the show in its third year, when Ken Wahl's squabbles with the producers began to affect the end result; as far as I'm concerned, the episodes with Steven Bauer don't exist. (As for the TV movie, the less said about that sorry affair the better.) "CSI"'s Carol Mendelsohn used to write for this show; she hasn't lost her touch.

The series is airing in repeats, it seems; not to be missed.