In 1986, NBC debuted the series Crime Story, co-created by former Chicago cop Chuck Adamson and produced by hot-off-Miami Vice Michael Mann. The show adapted an unconventional serial format in order to span three decades in the conflict between MCU detective Lt. Mike Torello (Dennis Farina) and rising mobster Ray Luca (Anthony Denison). The ambitious approach proved the downfall of the show, which was canceled after two seasons, but Mann & co. managed to create over 30 hours worth of network drama that for the first time in American television felt like one very long movie.

On this episode, host John Cribbs welcomes editor/filmmaker and Über-Mann fan Eric Pfriender to discuss the feature-length pilot episode of Crime Story, directed by Abel Ferrara. In addition to revisiting the epic scope, stellar cast and pioneering direction of the pilot, they talk about the recent Michael Mann career revitalization including the debut of his new series Tokyo Vice, publication of his novel Heat 2 and promise of his upcoming $90 million biopic about Enzo Ferrari.

They also get off track and talk about Heat...a lot.

Midnight in the Guest Room: midnightintheguestroom@substack.com

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Broadcast on:

24 Jan 2023