Insiders

The Insiders,a ABC television series that run for one season (1985-1986) starred accomplished actors Stoney Jackson and Nicholas Campbell. The Insiders was billed as an alternative comedic cop show to the more serious and violent Miami Vice, that had broke television nielson ratings the season before (1984-1985). This show unfortunately never offered the viewers nothing new that had not already been seen before on television crime dramas. The jokes by Stoney Jackson wasn't funny at all and Nicholas Campbell was no Don Johnson.

The Insiders might have worked had the shows producers knew from the jump what it wanted the show to be. The movie 48hrs movie had set off a chain reaction of Black and White men buddy situations on both film and television. The Insiders, had it been a 30 minute situation comedy with real locales as was used on the series, it might have lasted longer than it did on television. The viewer is left with a weak imitation of Miami Vice and any buddy cop film ever made.

I give this show a 5 out of 10, only because the two leading actors can really act.

This is for all the folks that posted similarities to Miami Vice. Where M V was a vice squad show, going after mostly drug smugglers, this show was about investigative journalists, not cops. I thought it was a great show with incredible actors and interesting plots. Maybe most don't really remember this show as well as they think. I was a very faithful fan of this series, and wished it would have lasted a lot longer than it did. Nicholas Campbell was very young at the time, but you could tell he was destined for the big screen! After all those years and then starring in "DaVinci's Inquest", which is another must see television series with great story lines. I don't think there can be any comparison between Miami Vice and The Insiders.

The best thing about "The Insiders" was the opening. The TV theme song was by Genesis, the 1983 song "Just a Job I Do." Even using Phil Collins vocals, "The Insiders" bit "Miami Vice" really, really hard. So at least up to that point, it was "Miami Vice-lite." Was there a cancelled TV show with a jheri-curled dude that wasn't Stoney Jackson? Seriously. While the show wasn't on TV that long it was entertaining in a stupid way. If it had come out today it would probably do OK on TBS or the CW. What the show lacked was a strong fashion sense like Miami Vice. It's like they bit off the most generic parts of Michael Mann's masterpiece - black guy, white guy - the substance, without taking the style. Mistake.

I personally loved this show as a high schooler. I've spent the last week searching the internet to try and come up with the name of the show. I thought it was a pretty cool show at the time but short lived. I remember that it was a Phil Collins song that was the theme. If anyone remembers the theme song please post it. It was definitely funnier than Miami Vice. At the time, mid eighties, you either loved Miami Vice or hated it. I could not stand it but couldn't miss The Insiders. I wonder what Stoney Jackson is doing these days? Wish I could purchase the shows somewhere, if anyone knows if this show is available please post it in the comments.