Description: When OCB agent, Vincent Terranova is assigned to investigate assassin, Roger Lococco, neither he nor his superiors are aware that Lococco is working for international arms and drug dealer, Mel Profitt. More importantly, Lococco is carrying out a covert and illegal assignment for an errant branch of the CIA working to overthrow the government of a developing country. As "The Profitt Arc" unfolds, Vinnie finds himself drawn deeper into a complex and bizarre world beyond anything he has ever experienced. At the same time, he is fighting his feeling for Mel’s beautiful sister, Susan. Ultimately, he finds himself in the midst of a deadly triangle between Susan, Mel, and himself. Vinnie now must fight for his own life at the hands of Mel Profitt as well as the American government when he threatens Lococco’s secret mission.
Amazon.com: After the intense "Sonny Steelgrave" arc of first-season episodes, the producers of Wiseguy faced the challenge of topping themselves, and they did it by casting a relatively unknown New York stage actor named Kevin Spacey, who proceeded to chew up the scenery as only a future Oscar®-winner could. But Spacey's not the only reason for the giddy success of the "Mel Profitt" arc, which finds OCB agent Vinnie Terranova (Ken Wahl) teaming up with sociopathic assassin Roger Lococco (William Russ) in an effort to infiltrate the global drugs-and-guns empire of the Proffitt siblings Mel (Spacey), a "manic-depressive genius with acute paranoia," and his codependent sister Susan (Joan Severance), who keeps her incestuously devoted brother happy by injecting home-brewed narcotics between his toes (hence giving Spacey his trademark line, "Only the toes knows!").
TV audiences in 1988 had never seen such a twisted sibling relationship, and there's plenty of eccentric chemistry between Spacey and then-newcomer Severance, who later developed a loyal male following as a B-movie sexpot. Completing their triangle of terror is Russ, playing Lococco as a tormented Vietnam vet with a massive chip on his shoulder, luring Vinnie into a life of luxury and lethal behavior, thus complicating matters considerably for Vinnie's covert handlers McPike (Jonathan Banks) and Lifeguard (Jim Byrnes), who grow increasingly worried as Vinnie gains Mel Profitt's hard-won trust. The quality of these 12 episodes remains consistently high as the Profitts reach "psychotic critical mass," leading to Mafia connections and a new direction for Vinnie's loving mother (well-played by Elsa Raven). Through it all, Wahl (who proves himself a man of few words in a sparse one-episode commentary) maintains his strong presence as a leading man, generously allowing Spacey's rising star to shine. Wiseguy still had some highlights in its future, but the "Mel Profitt" arc represents the series at its best. --Jeff Shannon
A little fact checking goes a long way ... In case anybody besides Amazon missed it, Ken Wahl played Vincent Terranova for at least the first three seasons of Wiseguy. I'm not sure if he was replaced by Stephen Bauer (the actor who played "Manny", Tony Montana's buddy in Scarface) beginning with season 4 or later, but ALL of the Amazon product descriptions which state that these boxed sets of Wiseguy star Stephen Bauer and NOT Ken Wahl are INCORRECT.
Not quite as good as the first series with Sonny Steelgrave Still a very interesting show especially considering it is over 20 years old. Kevin Spacey did an excellent job as Mel Profit but the writing wasnt quite up to par with the very first series featuring Ray Sharkey as Sonny Steelgrave.
Phenomenal!!! Wow! I saw the Mel Profitt arc when it first aired in 1990 and again when Court TV reran it during a summer season. I remember it as one of the greatest sagas in the history of television. This amazing DVD collection does it justice and reminded me that like all great TV sagas, `V', `Twin Peaks', `Murder One' it's fresh every time you see it. I am really kicking myself for not buying this the very day it was released and waiting so long to get reacquainted with Mel and Susan Profitt.
Don't wait. Mel and Susan miss you. If you are new to Mel and Susan you're in for a real treat.
A coup de'ate, smuggling $1 billion in cocaine, blackmailing the French Foreign Legion for military arms, dinner with New York's Mafia, manipulating Wallstreet, beating the CIA at their own game, just an ordinary day for Mel and Susan Profitt. They're madly infatuated with each other but do not bare the same last name because of marriage but because they're brother and sister. VC Andrews fans take note. As bad seed orphans they murdered their way out of foster care to inflict their insanity on the global world of espionage and terrorism. They are genius to the point of being insane and share a physic bond.
Their story is told through Vinnie Tarinova (Ken Wahl) a deep deep deep cover agent for the fictional OCB (Organized Crime Bureau) of the FBI. Similar to great under cover sagas like `City On Fire' and `Deep Cover', Vinnie becomes infatuated by the Profitt's power and opulent lifestyle. He has no sympathy for the devil, rather envy. For him the morals of crime and virtue become clouded. How far will Vinnie take it? Will he dance with devil and sleep with his woman.
As the cloak and dagger plots work themselves out, greater mysteries evolve whom is manipulating the Profitts and for what purpose? Ever second of the Profitts is on the edge of your seat.
Not to be too negative but Mel Profitt's death was a bit of a let down. It seemed tacked on as a hurried way to wrap things up. To kill a character that powerful deserved a better climax.
If you enjoy a great saga with high adventure this is the DVD for you. You'll also be blown away by the phenomenal acting of Kevin Spacey and Joan Severance. Their chemistry is amazing. Just like the psychotic characters they play we see them as one mind in two bodies. I highly recommend any of VC Andrews' novels which focus on incestuous sibling relationships formed by intense situations.
Somehow `Wiseguy' has been forgotten as one of the greatest series ever. It is legendary as a show which focused on story "arcs" which lasted for as many episodes as needed, sometimes only 3 sometimes more than 10. This way the plot is never rushed like `L&O' or dragged out like `24', or broken up like `LA Law'. `Murder One' was one of the very few shows which also used the arc format. THANK YOU DVD MAKERS FOR RELEASING `WISEGUY' BY ARC AND NOT SIMPLY BY SEASON.
Kevin Spacey steals the show Very few tv shows reach this quality. I had never seen Wise Guy when it was on television, but this was recommended to me and I decided to try it. I am so glad I did! I could not tear myself away from the screen! Kevin Spacey was unbelieveable as Mel Profitt. To watch his insanity grow out of control over the course of the show was fascinating; like watching a train wreck... I dare anyone to begin this arc and not finish it.
Ground Breaking While this DVD collection comes short on extras, it still offers television fans a chance to watch one of the 1980s ground breaking series. Wiseguy used long story arcs of a sort that have now become common place, devoting each half season to a different "assignment" for Vincent Ternaova. The Mel Profitt arc proves particularly fun, including an excellent performance by Kevin Spacey as the title villain. Ken Wahl offers an able performance that provides a strong sounding board for Spacey's exploration of greed, ruthlessness, and devotion.
Some may be put off by the 80's fashion of the show -- yes we really did dress that way -- but the writing and acting make this landmark show well worth a look.
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