Shocking! How Mark Harmon Almost Took Over Miami Vice Instead of Don Johnson in NCIS!

During the third season of the iconic ’80s series Miami Vice, Don Johnson, who co-lead the show, nearly faced replacement by NCIS’ Mark Harmon following a pay dispute.

Miami Vice, which debuted in 1984 on NBC, centered on vice cops Crockett, portrayed by Don Johnson, and Tubbs, played by Philip Michael Thomas. What set this show apart from other police dramas of its time was its glossy, cinematic style, fashionable aesthetics, MTV-style pacing, and use of music. Miami Vice was truly a one-of-a-kind series, and these elements contributed to its immense success.

Miami Vice episodes were like mini-movies, and the chemistry between Johnson and Thomas made it must-watch television. It also served as a platform for numerous future movie stars, including Bruce Willis, Helena Bonham Carter, Julia Roberts, and Liam Neeson, who made guest appearances. Miami Vice concluded after a successful five-season run in 1990, and the franchise was later revived as a movie adaptation in 2006, directed by Michael Mann. The film starred Colin Farrell as Crockett and Jamie Foxx as Tubbs, and while it underperformed at the box office upon its release, it has since gained a cult following.

Miami Vice left an indelible mark on pop culture, with references in films like the Bad Boys series and the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. When it came to casting for the show, actors such as Nick Nolte and Mickey Rourke were initially considered for Crockett, and the series played a significant role in solidifying Don Johnson’s stardom (known for his role in “Blood & Oil”). However, when preparations for the third season of Miami Vice were underway in 1986, Johnson was dissatisfied with his per-episode salary, which was reportedly around $35,000, considering the series’ immense success. After his request for a higher salary was denied, Johnson walked off the set during the filming of the season 3 opener, “El Viejo.”

In response, Universal took a firm stance, threatening Johnson with a breach of contract lawsuit and lining up Mark Harmon to potentially replace him as the lead of Miami Vice. Reports from that time indicated that both Harmon and Treat Williams, known for his role in “Deep Rising,” were strongly considered to join Miami Vice, although they would have been cast as new characters rather than replacements for Crockett. At that time, Mark Harmon, who would later leave NCIS in 2021, had just departed from the hit medical drama “St. Elsewhere” and had also been crowned People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” the same year.

Universal’s legal action, as reported in a Washington Post article from that period, would have also restricted Johnson from seeking employment elsewhere until his Miami Vice contract concluded in 1991. Fortunately, the standoff between Don Johnson and Miami Vice was short-lived, as the star and the studio reached an agreement just hours after the lawsuit was filed. Johnson’s pay was reportedly increased to approximately $65,000 per episode, and neither Mark Harmon nor Treat Williams appeared on Miami Vice.

Although there has been occasional talk of a Miami Vice reboot, with Vin Diesel once set to produce a new series in 2017, no revival has materialized to date.