"Wiseguy" (1987) TV series 1987-1990

Creators:

Stephen J. Cannell
Frank Lupo
(more)

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 | Music Industry | Femme Fatale | Undercover Agent

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)

Series Directed by
Bill Corcoran		(12 episodes, 1987-1989)
Robert Iscove		(9 episodes, 1987-1989)
William A. Fraker		(6 episodes, 1988-1990)
Jorge Montesi		(5 episodes, 1989-1990)
James A. Contner		(4 episodes, 1989-1990)
Gus Trikonis		(4 episodes, 1989-1990)
Jan Eliasberg		(3 episodes, 1988-1990)
Les Sheldon		(3 episodes, 1988-1989)
Reynaldo Villalobos		(2 episodes, 1987-1989)
Charles Correll		(2 episodes, 1987)
Frank E. Johnson		(2 episodes, 1989-1990)
Jonathan Sanger		(2 episodes, 1989-1990)
Colin Bucksey		(2 episodes, 1990)
Peter D. Marshall		(2 episodes, 1990)

Series Writing credits
Stephen J. Cannell		(74 episodes, 1987-1990)
Frank Lupo		(74 episodes, 1987-1990)
David J. Burke		(8 episodes, 1987-1989)
Stephen Kronish		(6 episodes, 1987-1988)
Eric Blakeney		(3 episodes, 1987-1988)
Carol Mendelsohn		(2 episodes, 1987-1988)
Peter Lance		(unknown episodes, 1992)
Robert Engels		(unknown episodes)
Ted Mann		(unknown episodes)
Alfonse Ruggiero		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Les Sheldon	....	co-executive producer (21 episodes, 1987-1988)
Jo Swerling Jr.	....	supervising producer (21 episodes, 1987-1988)
David J. Burke	....	supervising producer (20 episodes, 1987-1989)
Stephen Kronish	....	producer (20 episodes, 1987-1988)
Alex Beaton	....	producer (14 episodes, 1987-1988)
Derek Kavanagh	....	line producer / associate producer (7 episodes, 1987)
Peter Lance	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes, 1992)
Brent-Karl Clackson	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Alfonse Ruggiero	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Mike Post		(21 episodes, 1987-1988)

Series Cinematography by
Frank E. Johnson		(1 episode, 1987)
Paul Lohmann		(1 episode, 1987)

Series Film Editing by
Albert J.J. Zúñiga		(2 episodes, 1987)

Series Casting by
Vicki Huff		(74 episodes, 1987-1990)

Series Production Design by
Graeme Murray		(unknown episodes)
Jill Scott		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Graeme Murray		(1 episode, 1987)
Jill Scott		(1 episode, 1987)
David Hay		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Lesley Beale		(1 episode, 1987)

Series Costume Design by
Jori Woodman		(1 episode, 1987)

Series Makeup Department
Francesca von Zimmermann	....	assistant makeup artist (22 episodes, 1989-1990)
Charles Porlier	....	makeup department head (9 episodes, 1988-1989)
Jay Cannistraci	....	makeup department head (unknown episodes)
Natalie Cosco	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Rachel Griffin	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Matthew N. Herman	....	executive in charge of production (2 episodes, 1987)
Gary Winter	....	executive in charge of post-production / executive in charge of production (2 episodes, 1987)
Brent-Karl Clackson	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kevin Williams	....	second second assistant director (9 episodes, 1990)
Larry D. Horricks	....	first assistant director: second unit / second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Robert Lee	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Mark Prior	....	assistant decorator (9 episodes, 1990)
Penny A. Chalmers	....	buyer / set dresser (unknown episodes)
Clive Edwards	....	set dresser (unknown episodes)
Richard Fojo	....	assistant art director (unknown episodes)
Marta McLaughlin	....	property buyer (unknown episodes)
Elmar Theissen	....	head painter (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Patrick Ramsay	....	sound mixer (73 episodes, 1987-1990)
Jerry Jacobson	....	sound editor (44 episodes, 1988-1990)
Michael O'Corrigan	....	sound editor / sound effects coordinator (2 episodes, 1987)
Ron Cote	....	adr recordist (unknown episodes)
Greg Curda	....	foley mixer (unknown episodes)
Martin Fossum	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Bob Comer	....	special effects first assistant (1 episode, 1987)
Greg Curtis	....	special effects (1 episode, 1987)
Michael Clifford	....	special effects coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Steve Boyum	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 1987)
Gary Combs	....	stunt coordinator (1 episode, 1987)
Michael Langlois	....	stunts (1 episode, 1987)
Terry Jackson	....	stunts (1 episode, 1989)
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Doug Coleman	....	stunt performer (unknown episodes)
Dave Hospes	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
David Jacox	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
James Ralph	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jacob Rupp	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Vince Laxton	....	generator operator (21 episodes, 1987-1988)
John Burnett	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera, second unit (unknown episodes, 1987-1990)
Gavin B. Craig	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
John Rigg	....	grip (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Helen McCready	....	additional casting (20 episodes, 1987-1988)
Trish Robinson	....	casting: Canada (unknown episodes)
Lori Wyman	....	casting: Florida (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
John Caper Jr.	....	music supervisor / supervising music editor (2 episodes, 1987)

Series Transportation Department
Drew Neville	....	transportation coordinator (1 episode, 1987)
James Perenseff	....	transportation manager: Cannell (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Jillian Amburgey	....	script supervisor (74 episodes, 1987-1990)
David Sheppy	....	production assistant (31 episodes, 1987-1989)
Warren Wayne	....	assistant location manager (11 episodes, 1988-1989)
Tana Tocher	....	caterer (2 episodes, 1987)
Fabio M. Arber	....	location manager: Miami (unknown episodes, 1990)
Eamon Buehning	....	payroll accountant (unknown episodes)
James Cordeiro	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Julia Neville	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Ian Overend	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Mayo Sanchez	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Stephen J. Cannell Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1987-1990) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Howard A. Anderson Company  titles and opticals (as Howard A. Anderson Co.)
• Walt Disney Sound  sound

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:

In the episode "To Die in Bettendorf", Sid insults an overweight customer who can't find shoes in her size - exactly as Al Bundy does many times in "Married with Children" (1987).

Quotes:

Vinnie: [looking at roger's tricked out T-bird car with hidden guns in front and back]
Vinnie: What do you use this for?
Roger LoCocco: Weddings, parties, special occasions.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Free Enterprise (1998)

Soundtrack:

Try a little tenderness

Great 80's crime drama

Besides Homicide, Wiseguy was one of the great crime dramas produced. It had a great cast and usually good plots. The main charachter,Vinny Terranova, was great, in the fact that he didnt portray your sterotypical Italian as a mobster. In fact he was busting the mobsters, undercover as the FBI, which made it more dynamic. The movie Donnie Brasco is alot like this show, even though the movie was real life. The characters including McPike,Lifeguard, Steelgrave and Profitt. Kevin Spacey did a great job play that psychotic role. Vinny(Ken Wahl) always displayed a coolness and that Italian style when in tough situations. Plus I love the music to the show. If anybody wants to see a great drama, just watch CourtTV on the weekends, they run the reruns. It usta be on WGN(Chicago), but they took it off. Over all just a great show for entertainment.Capishe!