This was the feature-length pilot for the hit series. Vinnie Terranova, a Justice Department agent reassigned to the Organized Crime Bureau as a “wiseguy”, a specially trained deep undercover agent. To help support his cover, Vinnie has just finished serving 18 months in a New Jersey prison…
Acting
Ray Sharkey's Sonny Steelgrave — electric, dangerous, weirdly vulnerable.
Direction
Holcomb's tight close-ups make every conversation feel like interrogation.
Writing
Stephen J. Cannell's layered setup — three handlers, one broken man.
Director
Rod Holcomb
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ken Wahl insisted on doing his own driving stunts, including the prison release scene — until insurance shut him down.
The 'Lifeguard' command center setup directly influenced The X-Files' Lone Gunmen dynamic years later; Chris Carter was a fan.
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