---
title: "Miami Vice"
year: 1984
canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/miami-vice-1984"
media_type: "tv"
tmdb_id: 1908
imdb_id: "tt0086759"
status: "Ended"
seasons_count: 5
episodes_count: 110
runtime_minutes: 48
community_rating: 7.4
vote_count: 517
content_rating: "TV-14"
---

# Miami Vice (1984) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier

> **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/miami-vice-1984

## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning

Miami Vice is an American crime drama television series that aired on NBC. The series was created by Anthony Yerkovich and executive-produced by Michael Mann. It stars Don Johnson as James Sonny Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo Rico Tubbs, two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami, Florida. The series follows undercover detectives Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs as they infiltrate and combat the drug trade and other criminal elements in South Florida. Miami Vice was groundbreaking for its visual style and use of contemporary music. The show was produced by Michael Mann and starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as vice cops combating crime in Miami. The series comprised 111 episodes, each 48 minutes in length, and was produced by Universal TV. Miami Vice premiered on NBC and was directed by various directors, including Bill Duke.

## The Hook & The Verdict

**The Hook**: "Two undercover detectives battle drug trafficking and crime in the vibrant streets of 1980s Miami."

### Why Watch
- iconic visual style
- integration of popular music
- strong lead performances

### Caveats & Content Note
- dated production values
- intense depiction of criminal activity
- Tone & Suitability: The series features depictions of drug trafficking and prostitution consistent with its crime drama genre.

**Micro-Themes & Vibe Matrix**: stylish, gritty, atmospheric, energetic

## Streaming Availability Matrix

| Region | Stream (Subscription) | Free / Ads | Rent / Buy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **United States (US)** | None | Tubi TV | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| **United Kingdom (GB)** | None | None | Amazon Video |
| **Canada (CA)** | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads | None | Apple TV Store |
| **Australia (AU)** | None | None | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |

## Season Architecture & Lore Primers

### Season 1 (22 Episodes)
Miami Vice is an American crime drama television series created by Anthony Yerkovich and executive-produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series stars Don Johnson as James "Sonny" Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs, two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami, Florida. The show follows the unlikely partnership of Crockett and Tubbs as they combat the drug trade and other criminal elements in South Florida. Miami Vice aired on NBC from 1984 to 1989. The series was groundbreaking for its visual style and use of contemporary music. It features a unique blend of style, music, and crime drama, set against the seamy and steamy Miami underworld.

## Filler vs. Essential Episode Classifier

- **Total Tracked Episodes**: 110
- **Crucial Mytharc Episodes**: 7 (6%)
- **Character Core Episodes**: 103 (94%)
- **Side Quest / Filler Episodes**: 0 (0%)

## Creative Credits

- **Created by**: Anthony Yerkovich
- **Networks / Studios**: NBC

## Key Cast Continuity

- **Don Johnson** as *James 'Sonny' Crockett*
- **Philip Michael Thomas** as *Ricardo 'Rico' Tubbs*
- **Saundra Santiago** as *Gina Calabrese*
- **Olivia Brown** as *Trudy Joplin*
- **Michael Talbott** as *Stan Switek*
- **Edward James Olmos** as *Martin Castillo*
- **John Diehl** as *Larry Zito*
- **Rico Paisley** as *F.B.I. Agent Paul*
- **Martin Ferrero** as *Izzy Moreno*
- **Raphael Rey Gomez** as *Henchman*

## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: Who are the lead characters?
The series stars Don Johnson as Sonny Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas as Ricardo Tubbs.

### Q: When did the show air?
Miami Vice aired on NBC from 1984 to 1989.

### Q: Who created the series?
The show was created by Anthony Yerkovich.

### Q: What is the premise of the show?
It follows the Miami Police Department's vice squad as they work to end drug trafficking and prostitution.

### Q: Who served as executive producer?
Michael Mann served as the executive producer for the series.

## Grounded Source Citations

- [Miami Vice - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Vice)
- [Miami Vice (TV Series 1984-1989) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086759/)
- [Interview: Colin Farrell Talks Sugar Season 2 - JoBlo](https://www.joblo.com/interview-colin-farrell-talks-sugar-season-2/)
- [Miami Vice | TV Show, Movie, Cast, Michael Mann, & Facts | Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Miami-Vice-American-television-series)
- [Miami Vice | Miami Vice Wiki | Fandom](https://miamivice.fandom.com/wiki/Miami_Vice)
- [Miami Vice（An American drama television series directed by Bill Duke in ...](https://baike.baidu.com/en/item/Miami%20Vice/1968603)

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*Generated by Archytele Open Intelligence Systems. Data verified against TMDB and JustWatch APIs.*