On this day September 16 1987, the crime drama Wiseguy premiered on CBS. The series followed undercover agent Vinnie Terranova, played by Ken Wahl, as he infiltrated organized crime rings under the direction of the FBI’s Organized Crime Bureau.
Wiseguy stood out for its serialized storytelling, with multi episode arcs that allowed for deeper character development and more complex plots than most crime shows of the era. Alongside Wahl, Jonathan Banks played Vinnie’s handler, Frank McPike, adding grit and depth to the narrative. The show also featured memorable villains, including Kevin Spacey and Jerry Lewis in notable arcs.
80s insight: Wiseguy reflected the 80s shift toward more sophisticated television drama, moving away from purely episodic formats. Its layered storytelling helped pave the way for the serialized TV dramas that would dominate in later decades.
Wiseguy stood out for its serialized storytelling, with multi episode arcs that allowed for deeper character development and more complex plots than most crime shows of the era. Alongside Wahl, Jonathan Banks played Vinnie’s handler, Frank McPike, adding grit and depth to the narrative. The show also featured memorable villains, including Kevin Spacey and Jerry Lewis in notable arcs.
80s insight: Wiseguy reflected the 80s shift toward more sophisticated television drama, moving away from purely episodic formats. Its layered storytelling helped pave the way for the serialized TV dramas that would dominate in later decades.
