Kampf gegen die Mafia

The first season of Wiseguy was by far the best, mostly due to Spacey. For all you Kevin Spacey fans, if you have never seen his performance in this show, it is a MUST. I had not been exposed to him until then, and his performance had me mesmerized, hooked, wanting more. Because of his performance in this particular show, I made it a point to see many of his other works over the years. If you are a Spacey fan, make it a point to watch the reruns of the first season of Wiseguy. (It's probably on DVD...somewhere). This show in general, especially the first season had some additional memorable performances also by Ray Sharkey and Joan Severance. I so looked forward on Wednesday nights to the show and only wished it had survived at least a few more years.

I noticed there has only been one other review written since after 2005 so I thought I should write a current one. They started showing all the Wiseguy episodes on channel H & I on cable television in 2017. I watched it from the beginning when it started in 1987 and remember how great the first two story arcs in season 1 were with Ray Sharkey and Kevin Spacey. I thought to myself now I can watch seasons 2-4 and see if I missed anymore great story arcs back then. To my horror I found out I actually had watched all the episodes back then, they are just not worth remembering. Later story arcs after season 1 in included Tim Curry, Fred Thompson, singer Blondie, and even Jerry Lewis. I stopped liking anything new Jerry Lewis did after this show probably because I didn't like his character, bad acting and a bad story, so if you are a Jerry Lewis fan don't feel like you need to watch his episodes just because he is in them, you might wish you never watched his episodes like me. Future Law and Order alum and 2008 presidential candidate Fred Thompson is very good but is the only bright spot in the KKK story line.

If you want someone to watch the episodes with just tell your friends that Mike from "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" is in every episode as Vinnie's boss.

It is hard to decide which part of season 1 I like best, the beginning 9 episode arc with Ray Sharkey as a mafia boss where you actually get to like his character or the 11 part arc with Kevin Spacey as a crimelord which I never wanted to end. I wish they knew what they had and extended that story line to a whole another season or two. I believe it was the first time I ever saw Kevin Spacey and despite all the great things he has done since, his work in "Wiseguy" is still my favorite. William Russ as Roger Lacocco is another reason to like this story arc, although I didn't realize how much I liked his character until he came back towards the end of season 3 for a small story arc and William Russ does some great acting. I have to admit when I first watched the first season, with all the great stories and acting, Joan Severance as Kevin Spacey's characters sister was my favorite part, hard not to fall for her.

I have to add in here somewhere that my lasting impression of the series all these years when I thought of Wiseguy has been the last episode of the first story arc titled "No one gets out of here alive" where the song "Knights in White Satin" plays on the jute box at the perfect time, but on cable and I've heard on the DVD they replace it with mood music, probably because they couldn't afford to use the music on DVD (the same thing caused the series "The Wonder Years" to not come out on DVD for many years). Very disappointing. If you taped that episode on your VCR when it first aired then you have a collectors item.

There is a season 4 for only half a season without Ken Wahl as Wiseguy. They make it seem at first like it is only a two episode story of someone who knew Vinnie and talk about him all the time, but then the series continues without the main character Vinnie. I have read that Ken Wahl quit because he was getting injured too often or that he gained so much weight that they took him off the show. The only part of season 4 I liked was the main characters girlfriend played by singer Martika who was barely ever shown.

So if you can buy just season 1 of Wiseguy with the first two story arc I would give it a 10 out of 10. If you can only buy it as a whole series or can watch it on cable I would also watch another episode in season 3 called "Sleepwalk" that is very fun that takes place between story arcs where Vinnie and his girlfriend are advised to spend time in a cabin and end up at an out of the way bar on 1950's theme night, then the last seven episodes in season 3 which includes when Lacocco comes back, and the last of those 7 episodes being the last episode with the main actor Ken Wahl (looking back a great last episode with a great last scene if the series had ended right there).

In conclusion, season 1 is must-see, the episode "Blooddance" even being thought of as the 14th best episode of any show ever on TV by TV Guide in 1997. If the show had only lasted the first season I would consider it about the 14th best television show of all time.

Great storylines, great acting, great drama. I still think the Vinnie - Sonny interaction was monumental. I was hooked on it from the first episode. Perhaps it is because I was younger, but I still haven't found a series who would overwhelm me so much.

Thank God for those reruns, allowing those of us who weren't smart enough to tape it at the time to do so now! There isn't anything I don't like about this series, other than the fact that it ended. Great acting, great scripts, great production values - this is a production everyone involved with can be proud of. It was unique and ahead of its time in that watching it now I don't think it looks or feels dated at all. There are some great contemporary crime dramas on TV now, but none with the arc structure that made Wiseguy so compelling. Even though the story lines ran in arcs, each episode is eminently watchable in and of itself. Gosh, I miss it, and I sure miss Ken Wahl.

I don't even know where to begin with this review. This show has some special magic to it that no other show, and believe me I've seen them all, has. The writing is on another level, they truly understand the human condition. They manage to write a diverse set of characters with such depth that, as they would say, so deep you get the bends. The fact that it came at a time when no other show was writing long story arcs is difficult to wrap my mind around. Not only were they pioneers in that respect, but they did it in such a fashion that no other show since has come close to matching. The actors also deserve a great deal of praise for their superb embodiment of their characters and staying true to them.

When I found this show, I had no idea what I was in for, I actually wasn't aware it was a show as I watched the pilot thinking it was a movie. I was immediately hooked. The atmosphere it captured was unique, both gritty and charming. As the episode was nearing the end I had two thoughts. One, why have I never heard of this before. Two, is there a sequel? To my delight as it closed out and the next episode loaded I ecstatically discovered it was in fact a show, meaning there was still much more of this to come. Little did I know to what degree this show would end up capturing me. From story arc to story arc, and the individual episodes in between, the show kept throwing punches that I could never have anticipated.

Having watched and read various interviews I learned a lot about what went on behind the scenes, and one thing that I find worth noting is how Ken Wahl and David Burke made an effort in persuading Cannell as well as other executives to allow for the show to head in a more cerebral direction and move away from the flashy action that is most present in the first episode. Thankfully they listened which is what gave the show such remarkable depth and gave us episodes that bring out the best of the characters, and allows to explore them further to get in touch with the real things that make us in the audience connect with them. This shows lowest points were higher than most shows high points. And for the vast majority of this shows run it soared.

All in all, if you happen to be reading this and you have yet to watch Wiseguy, forget about whatever else you're watching and give this show a spin. You will surely not regret it.