The Best Episodes of Wiseguy
Every episode of Wiseguy ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Wiseguy!
Vinnie Terranova does time in a New Jersey penitentiary to set up his undercover role as an agent for the OCB (Organized Crime Bureau) of the United States. His roots in a traditional Italian city neighborhood form the underlying dramatic base throughout the series, bringing him into conflict with his conservative mother and other family members while acting undercover as syndicate enforcer.
Top Episode Ratings Summary
The best episode of "Wiseguy" is "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell", rated 8.8/10 from 110 user votes. It was directed by Zale Dalen and written by N/A. "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell" aired on 11/5/1987 and is rated 0.2 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "The One that Got Away".
8.8/10 110 votes#1 - The Marriage of Heaven and Hell
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 1987-11-05
Sonny’s impending marriage to a syndicate boss’ daughter begins a supposedly businesslike realignment of “families,” but Vinnie learns that the wedding is a pretext for a bloody gang war.
Director: Zale Dalen
Writer: N/A
8.6/10 23 votes#2 - The One that Got Away
Season 2 Episode 18 - Aired 1989-05-03
Winston serves Vinnie with an order to vacate, which Vinnie counters with the vow that he's going to stay at Radiance for the duration of his contract, causing Winston to dig deeper into Vinnie's past. Winston orders Vinnie and Bobby to work in the mailroom. Bobby uncovers Vinnie's file, which was sent to Winston, and confronts Vinnie about being a cop. Winston is arrested when he agrees to buy the illegal tape of Eddie from Isaac. (source: http://www.plasticcow.com/wiseguy)
Director: Jorge Montesi
Writer: David J. Burke
8.5/10 55 votes#3 - High Dollar Bop
Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 1989-04-05
Sensing Eddie's unhappiness with Newquay, Vinnie tries to lure him away by promising him he can work with Monroe. Winston finds out and has Medley thrown off a roof as a warning to Vinnie. Bobby travels to Japan and finds evidence that Twine may be cheating him and Vinnie. Isaac loses Shakala to Newquay in a crooked poker game. Frank talks Isaac into helping him gather evidence against Newquay. (source: http://www.plasticcow.com/wiseguy)
Director: N/A
Writer: John Schulian
8.4/10 25 votes#4 - Day Four
Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 1989-12-06
In the aftermath of economist Valenti's assassination, new paths open in Vinnie's investigation of the plot to disrupt the Japanese economy. Although Vinnie strongly suspects that Masters is behind the plot, he follows the trail Masters sets out for him. Vinnie and Kate both go to Utah to track down the mysterious Mr. Wilson. (source: http://www.plasticcow.com/wiseguy)
Director: N/A
Writer: David J. Burke
8.4/10 28 votes#5 - Day Seven
Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 1989-12-13
Vinnie and Dan find evidence of the counterfeiting ring in Utah, but it seems to have come too easily, so Vinnie heads into the mountains to meet a billionaire recluse, Prescott Wilson, who might hold the key to the truth in the case. Frank and Vinnie convince Senator Pickering to delay passage of Senator Getzloff's trade bill while they search for the plane carrying the yen. Masters presents the Attorney General with photos of Vinnie and Kate talking with Wilson, as well as the printing plate with Vinnie's prints on it. Frank is ordered to arrest Vinnie. (source: http://www.plasticcow.com/wiseguy)
Director: William A. Fraker
Writer: David J. Burke
8.3/10 79 votes#6 - A Deal's a Deal
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 1987-10-29
Sonny’s cruel punishment of a lounge singer who wants out of his contract triggers a cascade of events that leads to Vinnie’s being photographed with McPike — a photo that is to be delivered to Sonny.
Director: Charles Correll
Writer: David J. Burke
8.3/10 30 votes#7 - Hip Hop on the Gravy Train
Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 1989-04-12
Amber talks Winston into letting her and Isaac run Shakala at Radiance. Feeling like he's at a dead end, Vinnie urges Bobby to make his own way inside Radiance while he starts turning up the heat under Winston. Isaac agrees to dig up information for Frank. Vinnie urges Claudia to take a more active part in Radiance. Eddie is furious when the check he uses to buy his mother a house bounces. Claudia begins an affair with Eddie, and both are killed when they fall through a skylight (source: http://www.plasticcow.com/wiseguy)
Director: Helaine Head
Writer: N/A
8.3/10 30 votes#8 - How Will They Remember Me?
Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 1989-11-01
When a local priest finds a box that belonged to Pete, he takes it to Vinnie, who finds a diary of his father's inside. As he reads it, he finds out about a dark episode involving his father and the local mob. The episode uses black and white film and familiar faces to bring John's diary to life. (source: http://www.plasticcow.com/wiseguy)
Director: William A. Fraker
Writer: N/A
8.3/10 24 votes#9 - Day One
Season 3 Episode 9 - Aired 1989-11-29
Vinnie is called to Washington to investigate a counterfeiting operation designed to sabotage the Japanese economy. Frank warns Vinnie to be careful, that there is some kind of power play going on, because Paul was mysteriously sent to Thailand, leaving Mark in charge. Vinnie suspects Masters wants to set him up for throwing the coup of Isle Pavot. Mark is relieved of duty when he loses control after his former mentor is murdered. Vinnie meets Kate Gallagher. (source: http://www.plasticcow.com/wiseguy)
Director: Mario Van Peebles
Writer: David J. Burke
8.3/10 34 votes#10 - Hello Buckwheat
Season 3 Episode 18 - Aired 1990-03-14
Vinnie calls in Roger Lococco to take over the case, then holes up in a seedy hotel in Seattle. Frank is more interested in looking for Vinnie than in nailing Volchek. Paul orders Frank to continue the case and offers him another agent, which Frank refuses. Roger takes over as sheriff. Dan moves to Seattle to support Frank and look for Vinnie. (source: http://www.plasticcow.com/wiseguy)
Director: Jonathan Sanger
Writer: David J. Burke
8.2/10 50 votes#11 - Phantom Pain
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 1988-03-14
After Susan is arrested for Mel’s murder, Vinnie refuses McPike’s order to pull out of the Profitt case, because Susan, who has seemingly lost her grip on reality, has told him she is pregnant with his child.
Director: Dennis Dugan
Writer: N/A
8.2/10 42 votes#12 - 7th Avenue Freeze Out
Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 1988-12-14
When garment manufacturer Eli Sternberg cannot get a loan to bail out his business, he turns to mobster Ricky Pinzolo for the money. David goes to the OCB for help when he finds out Eli is in debt to the mob. Vinnie meets with David, then reluctantly agrees to take the case, running into opposition from Eli, who doesn't want a hood working for him. Pinzolo demands that Vinnie keep him apprised of everything going on. Vinnie wins Eli's trust when he gets a delayed shipment released from customs.
Director: Robert Iscove
Writer: David J. Burke
8.2/10 30 votes#13 - Living and Dying in 4/4 Time
Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 1989-05-10
Just as Frank's suspected, the case against Winston is thrown out of court as entrapment, pushing the investigation back to square one. Vinnie urges Bobby to start working away at Winston from inside Radiance by contacting all of the acts and showing them how badly Winston has been ripping them off. Isaac suffers a massive heart attack and later dies. Winston goes mad. Bobby gets Dead Dog. Amber gets Shakala back. (source: http://www.plasticcow.com/wiseguy)
Director: N/A
Writer: John Schulian
8.2/10 32 votes#14 - Day Nine
Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 1989-12-20
Vinnie is the fall guy in the alleged plot to disrupt the Japanese economy, prompting the Attorney General to launch a classified Senate investigation that could cost Vinnie his badge. Fearing her career is ruined, Kate attempts suicide. After hearing all the evidence, the Attorney General relieves Vinnie of his duties, stating there's enough to prosecute him for treason. Prescott Wilson arrives and places all the blame on Masters. Masters goes off the deep end and kills Strichen. Vinnie is cleared of all charges. (source: http://www.plasticcow.com/wiseguy)
Director: Les Sheldon
Writer: David J. Burke
8.2/10 31 votes#15 - A One Horse Town
Season 3 Episode 16 - Aired 1990-02-14
Frank's reporter friend tells him about a corrupt town in Washington, spurring Frank to assign Vinnie to the case. Vinnie sets his cover as a truck driver whose rig just got repossessed. The local sheriff investigates Vinnie and finds out he used to be a cop, so he offers him a job as deputy. Vinnie prevents Bobby from killing Volchek, then fakes Bobby's death to win Volchek's trust. (source: http://www.plasticcow.com/wiseguy)
Director: N/A
Writer: David J. Burke
8.2/10 24 votes#16 - Brrump-Bump
Season 3 Episode 22 - Aired 1990-04-18
Frank has an out-of-body experience, then briefly awakens when he hears Vinnie calling him. Kousakis kills Harriet, then hides out at the church while waiting to kill Boden. Vinnie decides to try repairing the church bells in the hopes that they will awaken Frank from his coma. Vinnie discovers Kousakis in the bell tower, but Kousakis jumps to his death before Vinnie can summon the police. Vinnie repairs the bells and rings them, waking Frank.
Director: N/A
Writer: Robert Engels
8.1/10 72 votes#17 - Squeeze
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 1988-02-15
After his munitions operation starts falling apart, Mel orders Vinnie to set up a meet with the mob to use his immense cocaine trade to regain financial power.
Director: Bill Corcoran
Writer: N/A
8.1/10 57 votes#18 - Blood Drive
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 1988-02-22
After rejecting an offer to finance a coup d'etat in the Caribbean, Mel Profitt becomes obsessed with a supposed voodoo death curse, and Vinnie, horrified, can only watch as Mel’s personality begins to disintegrate.
Director: Kim Manners
Writer: N/A
8.1/10 59 votes#19 - The Rip-Off Stick
Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 1989-03-22
Vinnie bails artist Monroe Blue out of jail, then tells him to help Diana work on some songs. Vinnie begins to wonder about Isaac's honesty when he gets a $57,000 bill for bogus record returns. Winston crashes Diana's party to show off Eddie Tempest. Diana succumbs to Winston's charms, then tells Vinnie she has to get out of the country to get away from him. When Vinnie gives Diana money to leave, Winston demands to know where she is, getting furious when Vinnie refuses to tell him. (source http://www.plasticcow.com/wiseguy)
Director: Mario Philip Azzopardi
Writer: John Schulian
8.1/10 20 votes#20 - Sleepwalk
Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 1989-10-25
Frank and Dan urge Vinnie to try and reconcile with Amber. At their urging, he goes to her, they make love, then she demands that they see a counselor. Following their therapist's advice, they go away for the weekend, where they both realize they're too involved in their careers to be able to maintain a relationship with each other. (source: http://www.plasticcow.com/wiseguy)
Director: N/A
Writer: David J. Burke, Clifton Campbell
8.0/10 79 votes#21 - Last Rites for Lucci
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1987-11-19
In the aftermath of the Steelgrave case, Vinnie tries to vindicate himself of his lingering feelings of betrayal and disloyalty by risking his life to save an old friend from the Brooklyn neighborhood who has a contract out on him.
Director: Bill Corcoran
Writer: N/A
8.0/10 75 votes#22 - Independent Operator
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 1988-01-04
Vinnie’s assignment to check out a contract killer leads him into a huge global contraband syndicate — an operation that far exceeds the scope of the Steelgrave family — overlorded by brother and sister Mel and Susan Profitt.
Director: Aaron Lipstadt
Writer: Stephen J. Cannell
8.0/10 59 votes#23 - Not For Nothing
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 1988-02-08
Hiding out in Vancouver after the fall of the Steelgrave empire, Aldo Baglia sees a photo of Vinnie in the paper and decides to even the score, sending Vinnie into a coma from two serious gunshot wounds. Roger, using his CIA contact, tracks down Aldo.
Director: Bill Corcoran
Writer: David J. Burke
8.0/10 30 votes#24 - The Four-Letter Word (1)
Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 1989-05-24
Vinnie warns Amber about her lawyer, but Amber thinks he's just jealous. Vinnie runs into an old high school buddy who urges Vinnie to pursue Amber. Vinnie uncovers proof the lawyer is conning Amber into selling Shakala. Amber and Vinnie fall in love. (source : http://www.plasticcow.com/wiseguy)
Director: N/A
Writer: John Schulian
8.0/10 34 votes#25 - Meltdown
Season 3 Episode 20 - Aired 1990-03-28
Volchek becomes depressed over losing the hospital. Roger and Frank try to save Lynchboro by getting Volchek to realize he really is in control. Vinnie goes to Kousakis when he realizes the waste they're dumping is causing a hepatitis outbreak in a nearby school, then attacks Kousakis when he tells Vinnie to mind his own business. Vinnie tries to alert an official to the toxic waste, but it turns out the guy is corrupt and tells Kousakis to kill Vinnie. Feeling trapped, Vinnie kills the two gunmen sent to kill him, then flees into the night. Roger leaves, telling Frank to tell Vinnie they're now even. (source: http://www.plasticcow.com/wiseguy)
Director: N/A
Writer: Clifton Campbell