‘Miami Vice’
What’s your visual comfort food? You know, the show that you find yourself returning to, time and time again, when you need something to take you away (and you’re all out of Calgon). For me, it’s Miami Vice (the series, not the movie — although that’s great, too). There’s something about the combination of the pastels, the propulsive synths of Jan Hammer, the five o’clock shadow of Sonny Crockett, the manic flashdance energy of Ricardo Tubbs, the overall mise-en-scène, and the simple pleasure of watching nefarious coke dealers get busted that straight up SOOTHES me. You can throw on any episode from any season and you’ll be good to go — there’s a loose narrative arc to the show, but if you drift off to sleep or only pay half-attention, no problemo. Push up your sleeves, fire up a heater, and toss your razor in the trash: It’s Vice time, pal.