Wiseguy (1987): 15 Weird Facts You Didn’t Know!
Wiseguy (1987) — 15 Weird Facts You Didn’t Know!
#rememberwhen Wiseguy revolutionized television by replacing the “case of the week” with season-long story arcs years before prestige TV made it the norm? Premiering on CBS in 1987, the groundbreaking crime drama starred Ken Wahl, Jonathan Banks, Jim Byrnes, and featured unforgettable villains played by Ray Sharkey, Kevin Spacey, Jerry Lewis, Tim Curry, Debbie Harry, Glenn Frey, and many more. Created by Stephen J. Cannell and Frank Lupo, Wiseguy helped change the way television dramas told long-form stories.
These are 15 weird facts about Wiseguy, from behind-the-scenes production battles and shocking casting stories to groundbreaking story arcs, real-life tragedies, lost episodes, Emmy snubs, and the remarkable legacy that quietly influenced modern television.
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
01:42 – #15: The Donnie Brasco Myth That Doesn’t Add Up — Joseph Pistone
02:43 – #14: The Lost Story Arc Locked Away for 33 Years — Tim Curry
04:22 – #13: One Villain Inspired Marvel Comics and Another TV Series — Kevin Spacey
05:45 – #12: Ken Wahl Secretly Created the Show’s Best Episode — Ken Wahl
07:07 – #11: Jonathan Banks’ Six Emmy Nominations Without a Win — Jonathan Banks
08:29 – #10: The CBS Executive Who Bet Everything on Wiseguy — Kim LeMasters
09:47 – #9: The Unknown Stage Actor Who Stole the Series — Kevin Spacey
11:14 – #8: The Fourth Season That Reinvented the Entire Show — Stephen Bauer
13:22 – #7: The Public Feud Over Ken Wahl’s Departure — Ken Wahl
14:43 – #6: A Real-Life Injury Became Part of the Story — Ken Wahl
16:10 – #5: Wiseguy Refused to Stay Dead — Jonathan Banks
17:47 – #4: Ray Sharkey Was Cast Just Days After Rehab — Ray Sharkey
19:25 – #3: Ken Wahl Hid the Truth About His Career-Ending Injury — Ken Wahl
21:04 – #2: The Casting Director Who Discovered Future Stars — Vicki Huff
22:42 – #1: Jim Byrnes Was Cast on the Anniversary That Changed His Life — Jim Byrnes
Watch more 80s TV shows Weird Facts videos:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRZTUGHHqdh4uejg8vRGyS46RVggwXpJc
#wiseguy #KenWahl #jonathanbanks #JimByrnes #StephenJCannell #FrankLupo #RaySharkey #classictv #crimedrama #tvfacts #behindthescenes #televisionhistory #weirdfacts #80stv
@geneh460
August 11, 2026 at 1:27 pm
Me and Dad used to watch this together. Good show.
@mowm88
August 11, 2026 at 1:27 pm
Awesome you're doing shows like this one. It's great.
@GinaLVS2Travel
August 11, 2026 at 1:27 pm
Name pronunciation issues again 😞
@startwithlogic8200
August 11, 2026 at 1:27 pm
It's Glen Frye not Frank!!
@dumbassgreg
August 11, 2026 at 1:27 pm
Wiseguy and Profit are among best tv shows ever,
@jimwoodard64
August 11, 2026 at 1:27 pm
Never heard of it. Admittedly, I spent most of '87-'91 overseas (active duty), but it never hit my radar in first run, re-runs, or syndication.
@J0nny_Ch1mp0
August 11, 2026 at 1:27 pm
The makers of breaking bad clearly drew inspiration from this show. Pretty cool.
@katemaloney4296
August 11, 2026 at 1:27 pm
I remember 'Wiseguy'. I remember liking the season with Debbie Harry and Tim Curry. I don't remember a Glenn Frank.
@piousl
August 11, 2026 at 1:27 pm
Totally forgot this existed. Memory unlocked!
@rayanagi
August 11, 2026 at 1:27 pm
Oh wow! I totally forgot about this show! 😮