The Neon Legacy of Miami Vice: Music, Style, and TV History
Before prestige TV, before streaming dominance, there was a cop show that didn’t just tell stories—it looked like a music video and sounded like an album.
This is the story of Miami Vice—the neon-soaked, pastel-drenched drama that transformed television in the 1980s. Don Johnson’s Sonny Crockett and Philip Michael Thomas’ Rico Tubbs weren’t just cops—they were cultural icons, gliding through Miami nights with Phil Collins, Tina Turner, and Glenn Frey providing the soundtrack.
Unlike other procedurals of its time, Miami Vice used music, fashion, and color as narrative tools. It blurred the lines between MTV and NBC, making every episode feel cinematic. With Edward James Olmos’ quiet gravitas as Lt. Castillo, Saundra Santiago’s toughness as Gina, and guest stars ranging from Bruce Willis and Julia Roberts to Miles Davis and Willie Nelson, the show became a living time capsule of 1980s culture.
In this High and Low Retrospective, we explore how Miami Vice pioneered the “music video aesthetic,” why it mattered, and how its legacy still shapes TV and film today. From its iconic use of “In the Air Tonight” to its lasting influence on everything from CSI to John Wick, this is how Miami Vice changed television forever.
Written by ikenna.andthepeople.
Watch more episodes here: High and Low TV Retrospectives
