My sweet sister Lisa, despite her many disabilities is a walking, talking encyclopedia-like source of pop culture trivia. Especially if the vibe and music…and beefcake…appeal to her. (Sorry for the sexism…but come along anyhow. For Lisa’s sake. I promise there’s a smile coming thanks to a recent phone call.)
In the mid-eighties, Lisa and our dad, Sonny, bonded over their mutual love of “Miami Vice”. On the air from 1984 to 1989, the show parallelled our dad’s metamorphosis from stodgy midwestern man to West Coast show pony. All California pink and pastel…he embraced the injection of style and swagger into his beige wardrobe. A wardrobe reminiscent of 70’s detective shows – long-time faves like “The Rockford Files” and “Columbo”.
When Miami Vice speed boated onto the scene, our dad’s muddled beige wardrobe choices, courtesy of Columbo and Rockford were ditched. Need a refresher? Here you go:
Miami Vice, by contrast, was shockingly vibrant. Neon hues and techno music that were fresh and commanding. And the speedboats? Who could resist? Certainly not our dad, Sonny, who loved the nickname for Don Johnson’s character, Crockett: Sonny. Brotherhood. Twin sons from different mothers.
Because our Sonny loved Miami Vice, so did Lisa and they’d watch together on Friday nights and dance to the opening theme song, thanks to Jan Hammer: Jan Hammer – Original Miami Vice Theme (youtube.com)
But back to Lisa and her latest giggle-worthy phone call. Have you heard about a new TV show on ABC and Hulu? It’s called “Doctor Odyssey” and from what I can tell it’s a soapy reboot of the old “Love Boat” franchise, but slicker.
Eponymously, “Doctor Odyssey” has a Dr. on board, tending to the many medical emergencies of cruise passengers. I think the prolific Ryan Murphy developed the show, so it’s got flare.
What I hadn’t heard? Don Johnson has a small role as the Captain of the ship. Still with me? Good. Now I can share the convo I had with Lisa. A couple of photo references will help. Like this pairing. Don Johnson from his Miami Vice days and now:
Lisa: “Hey – have you heard about that new show, Dr. Odyssey, I think?”
Me: “Yes, I think so but I haven’t watched it.”
Lisa: “Ohhhhh. Vicki. You won’t believe who’s in it. Remember how much dad and I loved ‘Miami Vice’?
Me: “Yup. I do. I do. Especially the speedboats and the music. You guys would dance when the show came on, right?”
Lisa: “Right, right. But that’s not the news. Did you KNOW that Don Johnson is in this new show? He’s not Sonny Crockett, like his Miami Vice character, he’s the CAPTAIN.”
Me: “Cool. That’s cool.”
Lisa: “Mmmhmmm. And remember “Love Boat” and lumpy Captain Stubing? Gavin MacLeod, you know from the Mary Tyler Moore show? He was Murray and then he was the Captain of the Love Boat?”
Me: “Yep. I remember Murray and Captain Stubing.”
Lisa: “Wellllll. I’ve gotta tell you (giggle, giggle, giggle). Don Johnson looks GOOD! No Captain Stubing, Vicki. (giggle, giggle). I mean. Don Johnson hasn’t changed a bit. Not a bit. Since his Miami Vice days. He’s still got it. All the HUBBA HUBBA.”
Me: (After I compose myself…having laughed myself silly). “Is that right? Don Johnson’s still ‘hubba hubba’, huh?”
Lisa: “Oh yah. He’s still got it. Wow.”
All of this prompted a search for a photo – one Lisa loves of our dad in a Miami Vice pink shirt. That show changed him. Sonny warmed up his button-downed wardrobe with plenty of pinks and pastel greens and blues and Lisa remembers every bit. Every shirt.
Looking back, I understand the Miami Vice moments between Lisa and our dad better than ever. He carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, but he found lightness for Lisa in dance-party pink.
Two Sonnys in her life and she loved them both. Hubba Hubba times two? Yes, indeed!
Vicki 💕
P.S. I wondered about the origin of the phrase, “Hubba Hubba” and etymonline came to my rescue with this: A U.S. slang cry of excitement or enthusiasm, noted in early 1946 as a vogue phrase among teenagers and “one of the most widely used expressions emerging from the war” [The Y News, March 21, 1946]. It’s still considered a bit of a ‘wolf call’ and therefore sexist, but I won’t quibble with Lisa. She can ‘hubba hubba’ all she wants to. 😉
Related posts that you might enjoy:
He Wore Pink… – Victoria Ponders
Loving Lisa – Victoria Ponders
Loving Lisa: TV Memories – Victoria Ponders
Photo credits: ABC – Doctor Odyssey and Google Images
Victoria Ponders 
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