Vega$: The First Season, Volume 1

While Miami Vice remains filmmaker Michael Mann's most successful television venture, Vega$ was his first hit (he also created Crime Story and Robbery Homicide Division). Robert Urich takes the lead as private investigator Dan Tanna, a Nevada version of California's Jim Rockford (a Vietnam vet, Tanna even works for “$200 a day plus expenses,” surely a reference to James Garner's Korean War vet-turned-detective). Filmed on location in Sin City, the 11 episodes from the 1978-79 first season compiled here feature cases that deal primarily with call girls and drug deals. In his off-hours, Tanna reports to casino owner Phil “Slick” Roth (Tony Curtis); most of the rest of the time he works with Lt. Dave Nelson (Greg Morris), while motherly showgirl Beatrice (Phyllis Davis) and ditsy, scantily clad Angie (Judy Landers) take his messages. Other regulars include lovable loser Binzer (Bart Braverman) and wisecracking Bella (Naomi Stevens). Guest stars range from past and future movie stars (including a fresh-faced Kim Basinger) to TV mainstays, such as Barney Miller's Abe Vigoda and Alice's Vic Tayback. Like Kojak and his lollipops, Tanna has certain trademarks, including a red ‘57 Thunderbird, a car phone, and a penchant for damaging property while en route to the truth, though Bella always makes certain he pays for the havoc wreaked. If Vega$, which ran for three seasons (1978–81), recycles from other 1960s and ‘70s programs (even the jazz-funk theme swipes cues from Star Trek and The Love Boat), it's still an enjoyable addition to the primetime P.I. genre. A strong optional purchase. [Note: Vega$: The First Season, Volume 2 will be released on February 9.] (K. Fennessy)