MIAMI VICE

EPISODE 33

PHIL THE SHILL

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Original air date:  12/13/1985.

Original title:  Phil the Spiv.

Most of the filming for this episode took place from October 28, 1985 thru November 6, 1985.  With additional filming on November 27, 1985 and December 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 9th, 1985. Filming concluded just 4 days before the episode aired.

The episode starts out on the set of a television game show with Stan competing. This was filmed at Greenwich Studios, Miami.

Stan and Larry had called in sick so it falls on Crockett and Tubbs to place a bug in Bruford’s car. In the script this scene starts with a funny segment where Tubbs uses a key to scratch Crockett’s Ferrari, to set up the scene. Crockett has to look away and pray for forgiveness. This part was cut from the scene, a shame. We do see Crockett start a fight with Bruford to distract him while Tubbs gains access to River’s car and places the bug. This was filmed in North Miami Beach (this part of N. Miami Beach is on the mainland) at The Big Splash, 19056 NE 29th Ave.

Then we see the standard season two opening montage. After which we see Crockett nursing his injuries at a bar. Here he sees Stan on the television (I guess a live game show?) and is ready to kill him. This was filmed at the Victor Hotel (Ocean Dr. And 11th St. Sobe.) It was filmed on the last day of filming for this episode, just 4 days before the show aired.

We have seen the Victor used in Miami Vice before, Cool Runnin’ and, Junk Love. We have also seen it used in Burn Notice, Wanted Man.

Then it cuts back to the game show (studio set). Where it is clear that Stan gets cheated out of winning.

Then we see Rivers and Sarah arrive at an old blimp hangar. This is the same hangar we saw used in Evan and in the movie, Bad Boys. Here they kill some Peruvians who were not delivering the product as scheduled. This was filmed at the Opa-locka Airport.  In the script this was the first scene of the teaser which gave them the ability to get a warrant to bug River’s car. This leads to the incident with Crockett getting punched outside The Big Splash while Tubbs plants a bug. In the show it is out of order (goof) and the script makes more sense.

Then we go to the O.C.B (set) where we learn Stan and Larry are required to work a double shift and will be docked a days pay as punishment for calling in sick.

Next we go to Phil’s apartment where he is dividing up the proceeds from his game show scam. This was filmed on a set at Greenwich Studios.

Then we see Phil go on a shopping spree. Most of this was filmed at the Galleria Mall, 2414 E. Sunrise Blvd. in Ft. Lauderdale. The first shot where Phil gets a car phone, not enough is seen to determine where this was filmed.

Bally Shoes, Galleria

Clapper’s

Eastern most main entrance on North side of mall.

Then Phil goes back inside the Galleria Mall and meets Sarah in a jewelry store. This was filmed inside Mystique Gems.

Then we see Phil give Sarah a ride “home”.  We get a nice panorama view of Turnberry as the camera pans following them in. We get a look at the pool seen in Junk Love and Golden Triangle.

We see Crockett, Tubbs, Switek, and Zito watching from afar.  They are just off of East Country Club Drive in Aventura. In the same spot where Smokey goes on his retirement but gets lured into a contest by big and little Enos aboard the Monkey Business in Smokey and the Bandit 3.

Same location:

Smokey and the Bandit 3

Then we go to Phil’s new home where Izzy is applying to be his interior decorator. This was filmed at at what is known as the Henderson house, 971 A1A/Hillsboro Mile in Hillsboro Beach.  Outside of their New York trips this is as far north as I can remember Miami Vice ever filming.

As Izzy leaves he runs into Crockett and Tubbs.

This is the same marker in the Intra Coastal Waterway that is seen behind Crockett and Tubbs.  Docks have been added along the shore since Vice days.

This leads us back to the van on East Country Club Drive in Aventura where Crockett and Tubbs confront Stan.

Next we go to the O.C.B where they set their plan.

Then we go to Phil’s house (Henderson house) where Izzy interrupts Phil’s swim to show him the new decor. Makes you feel like you are in Florida.

Sarah shows up for lunch and they walk out back to the beach.

Then we see River’s car pull out of the Turnberry, southbound on Turnberry Way. They pass by where Crockett and Tubbs are waiting on Yacht Club Way.

Crockett and Tubbs pull in behind River’s as he heads south under NE 192nd Street.

Then it cuts to 195 eastbound. They exit onto NE 36th Street at U.S. 1/Biscayne Blvd.

Now overgrown by vegetation.

Then we see them southbound on Biscayne Blvd. passing NE 25th Street and then making a quick left turn onto NE 24th Street headed east.

Then it cuts and they are back on Biscayne Blvd. headed south and turning left again this time onto NE 17th Terrace by the Omni.

Then we see them driving down a side street. On the left is a sign indicating the building is part of Braman BMW. They come to a T intersection and they take a right, it is a short block. There is another intersection right away. This one has signal lights and a True  Value store across the way on the other side of the intersection. Even with so many clues this location bothered me for years staying unsolved. But I finally sussed it out. They start the cut traveling eastbound on NE 19th Terrace behind what is now the Sha arei Bina Girls Academy (building on right). They come to a T intersection, this is NE 2nd Ave. They turn right on NE 2nd Ave and are now headed south. The intersection ahead of them with the signal lights is NE 19th Street. The True Value store across the way is now a Price Choice Foodmarket.

Crockett and Tubbs in a Ferrari can’t keep up with a slow boat, heavy Mercedes. Rivers and Bruford get away.

Next we see Rivers and Bruford at an airport awaiting a shipment. Stewart arrives via helicopter and gets lead poisoning because they think he is responsible for the bug. This was filmed at the Opa-locka Airport.

Next we go to the O.C.B. then Gina and Trudy go to River’s boat to install another bug. This was filmed at Turnberry.

Then we go to Phil’s house for his party. There is allot of wheeling dealing going on at this party. When Sarah goes out in the backyard to talk with Phil we can see a lighthouse in the distant background. This was one of the clues to finding this location.

Sarah lures Phil out of the party and brings him to River’s boat at Turnberry.

Act 4 opens on River’s boat where Phil gets roughed up. Then we return to Phil’s house where Izzy has a new friend. The “investors” arrive and Phil takes their money.  

Next we see them arrive at an amusement park. This was filmed in Ft. Lauderdale at Lockhart Stadium, 5301 NW 12th Ave. (Yankee Blvd.).

Then we go to Stan’s apartment. They see Phil and Sarah together on television running another scam. In the Elvis way, Stan does the t.v. in which ends the episode. This was filmed on a set at Greenwich Studios.

THE

END

Turnberry

The Big Splash

Bug Van

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PLEASE CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE TO EPISODE 34, DEFINITELY MIAMI

If you recognize any of the unknown locations or have something else to add, please let me know at: cglide@floridamovielocations.org

If you recognize any of the unknown locations, or have something else to add, please let me know at: cglide@floridamovielocations.org