By Bob Berry

Miami Vice changed a lot of things.

Changed the perception of Miami and South Beach, which truth be told was a dump when the show went on the air.

Changed the perception of how detectives dress, and the cars they drive. Made Don Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas the hottest stars on TV. And it made their characters, Crockett and Tubbs, the coolest TV detectives ever, and a convenient costume idea for men of all ages

Changed the lives and gave a number of actors their big break, including Chris Rock, Liam Neeson andJulia Roberts. Plus Royal Oak’s Glenn Frey whose role in Season One’s “Smuggler’s Blues” (and the episode title song he wrote) was one of the shows that sealed the deal for the series.

Miami Vice married the idea music videos as integral to TV story-telling, most notably on Phil Collin’s “In The Air Tonight“, and made Jan Hammer a household, well, if not word, a known reference. The Czechoslovakian composer was the genius behind “Crockett’s Theme“, and the two-time Grammy Award winning “Theme From Miami Vice“.

It was Number One, 30 years ago today, November 9th, 1985.

By Bob Berry

November 8, 1986. Can it really be 29 years ago?

Berlin’s mega-hit from the great Top Gun soundtrack, “Take My Breath Away” went to Number One for the first of four weeks.

Sure, the song was helped by a terrific script, co-written by Michigan State professor and good friend, the late Jim Cash and his writing partner Jack Epps Jr. And yeah, there was great casting. Kelly McGillis buttoned-up smart blonde, until she kicked in the afterburners. Tom Cruise showing off his now all-too-familiar (see picture at left) sullen intensity.

But, man. When this song kicked in, and the sparks flew, you knew from note one that “Take My Breath Away” was a smash.

And, all credit to the filmmakers. They didn’t use the song for the volleyball scene!

Enjoy Sunday Brunch on Keener. Careful for the afterburners!