Crime Story
Crime Pays
TV Flash files “Crime Pays” as a desk essential hour — Crime Story (1986–1988) on NBC, season 1, episode 12, aired 1986-12-05, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E12: listed hour 12 of 44 in the Crime Story guide, hour 12 of 22 in season 1. It aired 1986-12-05 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “For Love or Money” (S01E11). Next is “Hide and Go Thief” (S01E13).
Essential hour: “Crime Pays”. Crime Pays is mid-season-one title as thesis: the chase from Chicago heat toward Vegas neon, obsession as the plot.
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Mike Torello's obsessive pursuit of Ray Luca is recalled through flashbacks.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Crime Pays sit in the Crime Story guide?
S01E12 is listed hour 12 of 44 — hour 12 of 22 in season 1, season 1 episode 12.
When did Crime Story S01E12 air?
Crime Pays aired 1986-12-05 and is listed at 60 minutes.
Do I need Miami Vice first?
No. This is the bruising older sibling — Mann-adjacent period crime, not pastel Vice. Serialized cop-versus-mob, Chicago to Vegas, two seasons.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Michael Mann's period crime novel on NBC: Dennis Farina's real-cop glare chasing Anthony Denison's Ray Luca from Chicago heat into Vegas neon. Serialized cop-versus-mob obsession, not case-of-the-week, with period clothes and a Del Shannon theme that already sounds like a eulogy. Miami Vice's bruising older sibling — two seasons, no apology.
Two seasons. Forty-four hours. NBC, 1986–1988, then the window closed before the obsession could get comfortable. That is the chart, not a eulogy with extra linen. Crime Story is Chuck Adamson and Gustave Reininger's period crime novel, executive-produced in Michael Mann's stylish gravity: Dennis Farina's real-ex-cop glare on Lt. Mike Torello chasing Anthony Denison's Ray Luca from Chicago heat into Vegas neon, Stephen Lang in the legal mix. Serialized cop-versus-mob, not case-of-the-week. Period clothes. A Del…
Filed against
- Dennis Farina as Lt. Mike Torello
Dennis Farina’s Lt. Mike Torello chased Crime Story from Chicago heat into Vegas neon — Michael Mann’s period crime novel on NBC, real-cop glare, serialized obsession instead of case-of-the-week, a Del Shannon theme that already sounds…
- Anthony Denison as Ray Luca
Anthony Denison’s Ray Luca ran from Chicago heat into Vegas neon on Crime Story — Michael Mann’s period crime novel on NBC, Dennis Farina’s real-cop glare, serialized cop-versus-mob obsession instead of case-of-the-week. Del Shannon as a…
- Stephen Lang as David Abrams
Stephen Lang burned through Crime Story as David Abrams — Michael Mann's period crime novel on NBC, Chicago heat into Vegas neon, serialized cop-versus-mob obsession instead of case-of-the-week. Del Shannon already sounding like a eulogy.…