WISEGUY

How does a deep-cover operative keep his sanity and morality intact when the criminal lifestyle he’s sworn to bring down from within is more compelling than his own? Federal Agent Vincent Terranova (Ken Wahl) is plagued by the question in this innovative take on 80’s cop dramas. Created by veteran hit producer Steven J Cannell, Wiseguy veers from traditional ‘bad guy of the week’ police procedural by breaking the drama into multi-episode story arcs that followed an Organized Crimes Bureau case—and its charismatic criminal suspects—to its logical conclusion. No matter the cost to criminal, victim, or cop.

 

In the end, Vinnie may have got his man, but the emotional toll of the lies and deceptions he used to get close enough to his prey couldn’t be ignored. But he’s ably backed by his Field Supervisor Frank McPike (Jonathan Banks) and his OCB Lifeguard (Jim Byrnes) on the law-and-order side and his brother Father Pete Terranova (Gerald Anthony) on the spiritual side. Plus many up-and-coming stars (Ray Sharkey, Annette Benning, Billy Vera, Kevin Spacey, Fred Dalton Thompson, Ron Silver, Michael Chiklis) cut their teeth on juicy roles as either flashy but flawed criminals or tragic victims of the same.

 

Personal problems and injuries caused Wahl to back out of a fourth season and be replaced by Steven Bauer, thereby giving the show a new slant and hastening its cancellation. Still, Wiseguy is referenced by many critics and fans as one of the most literate, stylish, audacious, and fun cop shows of the late 80’s.

 

SEASON 1 -  1987

 

  1.  Wiseguy (Pilot Part 1)

  2.  Wiseguy (Pilot Part 2)

  3.  New Blood

  4.  The Loose Cannon

  5.  The Birthday Surprise

  6.  One on One

  7.  Prodigal Son

  8.  A Deal's a Deal

  9.  The Marriage of Heaven and

        Hell

 10. No One Gets Out of Here Alive

 11. Last Rites for Lucci

 12. Independent Operator

 13. Fascination for the Flame

 14. Smokey Mountain Requiem

 15. Player to be Named Now

 16. The Merchant of Death

 17. Not For Nothing

 18. Squeeze

 19. Blood Dance

 20. Phantom Pain

 21. Dirty Little Wars

 22. Date With an Angel

 

SEASON 2 - 1988

 

 23. Going Home

 24. School of Hard Knox

 25. Revenge of the Mud People

 26. Last of the True Believers

 27. Aria for Don Aiuppo

 28. 7th Avenue Freeze Out

 29. Next of Kin

 30. All or Nothing

 31. Where's the Money

 32. Postcard From Morocco

 33. Stairway to Heaven

 34. White Noise

 35. Dead Dog Lives

 36. And it Comes Out Here

 37. The Rip-Off Stick

 38. High Dollar Bop

 39. Hip Hop on the Gravy Train

 40. The One that Got Away

 41. Living and Dying in 4/4 Time

 42. Call it Casaba

 43. The Four-Letter Word (1)

 44. Le Lacrime de Amore (2)

           

SEASON 3 - 1989

 

 45. A Rightful Place

 46. Battle of the Barge

 47. Sins of the Father

 48. Heir to the Throne

 49. Sleepwalk

 50. How Will They Remember Me?

 51. People Do it All the Time

 52. Reunion

 53. Day One

 54. Day Four

 55. Day Seven

 56. Day Nine

 57. Meet Mike McPike

 58. To Die in Bettendorf

 59. Romp

 60. A One Horse Town

 61. His Master's Voice

 62. Hello Buckwheat

 63. Let Them Eat Cake

 64. Meltdown

 65. Sanctuary

 66. Brrump-Bump

 

SEASON 4 - 1990

 

 67. Fruit of the Poisonous Tree (1)

 68. Fruit of the Poisonous Tree (2)

 69. Black Gold

 70. The Gift

 71. La Mina

 72. Witness Protection for the

        Archangel Lucifer

 73. Point of No Return

 74. Dead Right

 75. Changing Houses