Wiseguy (TV series)

Wiseguy is an American crime drama television series created by Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo, that aired on CBS from September 16, 1987, to December 8, 1990, for a total of 75 episodes over four seasons. It centered on undercover agents of the Organized Crime Bureau (OCB), a fictional division of the FBI, as they infiltrate organized crime groups.

Wiseguy originally starred Ken Wahl as Vinnie Terranova, a Brooklyn native and Fordham University graduate who was a deep cover operative for the FBI under the supervision of senior agent Frank McPike, played by Jonathan Banks. The primary cast was rounded out by Jim Byrnes, who played an information operative known as Lifeguard (real name Daniel Burroughs) who assisted Vinnie in the field.

After the third season, Wahl departed from the series. Steven Bauer was brought in to replace Wahl as the lead, with Cecil Hoffman joining as a fourth regular cast member alongside Bauer and the returning Banks and Byrnes. Wiseguy ended its run midway through 1991 with three produced episodes left unaired.

The series was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, one of the first American television series to embrace "Hollywood North's" lower production costs compared to the United States. Over the course of its run, it would be nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards (including for Outstanding Drama Series) and four Golden Globe Awards, with Wahl winning Best Actor – Television Series Drama in 1990.