The plot centers around Chicago police Lt. Mike Torello, played by actual retired Chicago cop Dennis Farina. He is head of the Major Crimes Unit in 1963 Chicago, an era selected likely because it was pre-Miranda rights. We don’t feel sorry for the bad guys as we just saw them committing crimes. In one case a confession is beaten out of a slimeball with a hatrack. The MCU is mostly focused on Ray Luca, a rising organized crime boss. His hair style must have required scaffolding to construct.  His main crew consists of his numbnuts henchman Paulie Taglia (played by actor/jewel thief John Santucci, who returned to crime when his acting career fizzled after this show) and psycho Frank Holman (you may not recognize his face, but you’ll know his voice) and assorted punks who were in one episode only. A very young Gary Sinise, for example.

Back to the BangShifty part. Torello drives a black 57 Chrysler 300C convertible. Ray Luca a 63 Coupe Deville. Crazy Frank Holman has a green Studebaker Hawk. The detectives drive mostly 59 Ford sedans in basic black. Beat cops tool around in 1960 Ford sedans sprung by Barcalounger, apparently. Cigar chomping, shotgun toting detective Walter Clemmons has a badass 1959 Plymouth droptop. The producers did an excellent job keeping vehicles period correct. In truck hijacking scenes they have B model Macks with correct 36 foot rounded front trailers. Paulie often wheels a 56-ish Ford flatbed truck in heists, something Luca doesn’t care for as it doesn’t have enough cargo capacity. Yes, the odd post -63 vehicle appears in the background, get over it.

The show was filmed in Chicago for the first season. For once, everything in Chicago isn’t on Lower Wacker Drive or under the El. As was common, producers put out the call for owners of vehicles to appear in the show. Torello’s 300 was white. The producers asked the owner if they could paint it black, but as it was all original, the owner said no dice. Too late, we already painted it. They bought it. The second and last season took place in Las Vegas, which was unpopular with viewers and the show ended after 1987.

The entire series is available on DVD from Amazon. Have fun watching for actors before they were stars. Deborah Harry, Ving Rhames, Kevin Spacey, and Julia Roberts all appear. And Andrew Dice Clay? The music is great.

The video clip is not of the familiar show opening Del Shannon’s “Runaway”, but is the first scene from the made for TV flick. If you like it, you’ll the rest of the show. You’re welcome.