Miami Beach got a blast from the past back in March as vintage cars paraded down Ocean Drive under a bright sun.
Inside them? Original cast members of the 1980s hit television show, “Miami Vice,” along with the mayor of Miami Beach, Miami Beach police officers and a group of dedicated fans.
The parade was part of a commercial shoot promoting the annual “Miami Vice Reunion” event, scheduled for next week. It was a hot set that left spring breakers and beachgoers with their jaws dropped as they witnessed a scene that looked straight out of the neon decade.
The show celebrates its 41st anniversary this year. Actor and superfan Derek Hedlund, who produced the reunion, is bringing original cast and crew members, the Miami community and fans from all over the world back together for the second year in a row.
“We’re going to come back twice as big,” said Hedlund.
The commercial pays homage to the NBC show that defined an unforgettable era, featuring an original score by Retro Dade Music and 80s-inspired visual effects. Along with original cast members Saundra Santiago (Det. Gina Calabrese) and Olivia Brown (Det. Trudy Joplin), the commercial features City of Miami Beach officials, including Mayor Steven Meiner and Commissioner Joe Magazine, who shared what’s to come at the event.
Members of the Miami Beach Cultural Arts Council and the Miami Design Preservation League are also featured, highlighting the event’s role in preserving Miami Beach’s legacy.
The event will feature exclusive meet and greets with original cast and crew members of the show, an ’80s car and fashion show, filming location tours, special screenings of “Miami Vice” episodes and other opportunities to relive the show’s hype that defined a significant part of Miami history.
This year’s Miami Vice Reunion event takes place from September 9-14, and tickets are still available.
