Miami Twice
Encyclopedia
"Miami Twice" was a two-part Christmas special edition of the British sitcom
Only Fools and Horses
. The first episode, on screen subtitle The American Dream, was first screened on 24 December 1991. The second episode of Miami Twice was first screened the following day on 25 December 1991. According to Steve Clark's official book The Only Fools And Horses Story, the second episode is sub-titled Oh to Be in England. The title of the two-part special is derived from the 1984 American television series Miami Vice
. On the VHS & DVD releases, it was re-edited as one episode, and titled Miami Twice: The Movie.
's christening, shortly after which Del Boy
concludes a deal with the vicar to sell "pre-blessed" communion wine from Romania
. The vicar will bless lorry loads of wine, which will then be sold to churches all over Britain. Meanwhile Rodney
is slowly patching things up with Cassandra
, staying with her on weekends, and has learned from Alan that having resigned from his job with Parry Print Ltd in "The Chance of a Lunchtime
", Rodney can now claim his pension money.
A few days later, at Sid's cafe, Del tells Rodney about how he can get him and Cassandra back together instantly: a holiday in Miami, for which Del has already bought tickets with Rodney's pension money. Del's "pre-blessed" wine deal also becomes problematic; the wine he intends to use turns out to be Romanian Riesling
, which is white and inappropriate for communion.
A furious Rodney returns home later that night, having learned that Cassandra has important meetings with her bosses at the bank that week and thus cannot go with him. Despite Rodney's initial hostility to the idea, Del persuades his brother to let him go with him instead. The episode ends as the Trotter Brothers board their plane to America (after comically bumping into Richard Branson
).
and Rodney
having arranged a holiday to Miami, this one takes place predominantly in that location. It emerges that boss of a local mafia
family, a Don Corleone
parody named Don Vincenzo "Vinny the Chain" Ochetti, is on trial and facing life imprisonment for murder, kidnapping and drug trafficking. Ochetti is also a Doppelgänger
for Del Boy (and is thus also played by David Jason
). When his son Rico is with members of the family in a bar, they spot Del Boy. Befriending him and Rodney, they hatch a plot to assassinate Del with the intention of fooling everyone into thinking that the Don himself has been murdered, thus sparing him the trial and likely imprisonment.
After arranging for their camper van to be robbed, the group invite Del and Rodney to stay at the family mansion. Over the following days, several attempts to assassinate Del, including shooting him in a beach-side restaurant and sending him off on a jet ski
with a broken throttle, prove unsuccessful.
Whilst browsing around the family mansion, Del discovers who Rico's family really are after inadvertently being left in a meeting with two Colombia
n drug barons by Rico, who mistook Del for his father. Meanwhile Rodney gets in touch with Cassandra and during their conversation learns that Del knew Cassandra would be unable to go on holiday that particular week and therefore booked it to wangle himself a free holiday with Rodney's pension money. A furious Rodney bumps into Ochetti and believing him to be Del shoves him up against the wall and promises to make him pay. However just after the confused Don leaves, Rodney meets Del, who admits to Rodney that he wanted to run away from England to avoid repercussions from the Church for selling them the white wine, and also informs him of Rico and the family's true nature. Realising he's just threatened the head of a mafia family, Rodney agrees to quickly leave and the two brothers escape through the window and flee, ultimately ending up in the Everglades
, dodging the gangsters and a vicious alligator
where they meet the holidaying Boycie
and Marlene. Despite being shot at by the gangsters, they manage to escape.
After pinning the drug dealing papers on the park ranger station's door, the Trotter brothers go straight to the airport and wait there until their return flight to England, where it is revealed on a news programme that Ochetti had been found guilty on all counts. Upon returning home, Del Boy and Rodney find stacked boxes of white wine in their flat, as well as a relieved Raquel
and Albert
.
" although, unlike that episode, the Nag's Head and Flat sets do not have an extra wall), only three without a laugh track (the others being "To Hull and Back" and "A Royal Flush
"), one of three not to use the regular closing music (the others being "The Jolly Boys' Outing
" and "Rodney Come Home
") and the only episode not to use the regular opening titles and theme music, instead opting for a cover of The Lovin' Spoonful
song Summer in the City
, recorded by the Gutter Brothers
. The only on-screen mention of "Only Fools and Horses" in this episode appears on the first caption of the closing credits, only the "Miami Twice" name appears in the opening titles. The second part's title "Oh To Be In England" does not appear on screen, but was confirmed in Radio Times listings and the official book The Only Fools And Horses Story by Steve Clark. The first part "The American Dream" uses the regular opening titles and end theme however, and is also produced like a regular episode - with a studio audience and on videotape.
release, the episode was titled "Miami Twice: the Movie" and the two episodes were combined into one, with the on-screen titles & credits removed from the second episode (presumably by using the original 16mm footage, rather than the master videotape of the episode) and a laugh track added (often drowning out dialogue). The end credits are also remade, including the credits for both episodes and carrying the 1997 BBC logo. This version was also used for the 2003 DVD
release, though it has never been broadcast.
MIAMI TWICE - Part 2: Oh To Be In England
Note: In the VHS/DVD versions, Status Quo's "Rockin' All Over The World" is replaced by Tears For Fears
' "Everybody Wants To Rule The World
". Carl Orff's "O Fortuna" is replaced by a similar sounding piece of music.
British sitcom
A British sitcom tends, as it does in most other countries, to be based on a family, workplace or other institution, where the same group of contrasting characters is brought together in each episode. Unlike American sitcoms, where twenty or more episodes in a season is the norm, British sitcoms...
Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses
Only Fools and Horses is a British sitcom, created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom between 1981 and 1991, with sporadic Christmas specials until 2003...
. The first episode, on screen subtitle The American Dream, was first screened on 24 December 1991. The second episode of Miami Twice was first screened the following day on 25 December 1991. According to Steve Clark's official book The Only Fools And Horses Story, the second episode is sub-titled Oh to Be in England. The title of the two-part special is derived from the 1984 American television series Miami Vice
Miami Vice
Miami Vice is an American television series produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami. It ran for five seasons on NBC from 1984–1989...
. On the VHS & DVD releases, it was re-edited as one episode, and titled Miami Twice: The Movie.
Miami Twice - Part One: The American Dream
The episode opens with DamienDamien Trotter
Damien Derek Trotter is a fictional character in the BBC series Only Fools and Horses. He is son to Derek Trotter and Raquel Turner.Damien is the only child of Del and Raquel and nephew of Rodney Trotter...
's christening, shortly after which Del Boy
Del Boy
Derek Edward Trotter, better known as "Del Boy", is the fictional lead character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses and one of the main characters of its prequel, Rock & Chips...
concludes a deal with the vicar to sell "pre-blessed" communion wine from Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. The vicar will bless lorry loads of wine, which will then be sold to churches all over Britain. Meanwhile Rodney
Rodney Trotter
Rodney Charlton Trotter is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, played by Nicholas Lyndhurst.-Personality:Rodney's personality was based on the experiences of series creator John Sullivan, who also had an older sibling and, like Rodney, claimed to have been a dreamer and...
is slowly patching things up with Cassandra
Cassandra Trotter
Cassandra Louise Trotter is a fictional character from the British sitcom Only Fools and Horses. She was portrayed by Gwyneth Strong.-Biography:...
, staying with her on weekends, and has learned from Alan that having resigned from his job with Parry Print Ltd in "The Chance of a Lunchtime
The Chance of a Lunchtime
"The Chance of a Lunchtime" is an episode of the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses. It was the second episode of series 7, and first broadcast on 6 January 1991.-Synopsis:...
", Rodney can now claim his pension money.
A few days later, at Sid's cafe, Del tells Rodney about how he can get him and Cassandra back together instantly: a holiday in Miami, for which Del has already bought tickets with Rodney's pension money. Del's "pre-blessed" wine deal also becomes problematic; the wine he intends to use turns out to be Romanian Riesling
Riesling
Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally...
, which is white and inappropriate for communion.
A furious Rodney returns home later that night, having learned that Cassandra has important meetings with her bosses at the bank that week and thus cannot go with him. Despite Rodney's initial hostility to the idea, Del persuades his brother to let him go with him instead. The episode ends as the Trotter Brothers board their plane to America (after comically bumping into Richard Branson
Richard Branson
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, best known for his Virgin Group of more than 400 companies....
).
Miami Twice - Part Two: Oh to Be in England
With Del BoyDel Boy
Derek Edward Trotter, better known as "Del Boy", is the fictional lead character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses and one of the main characters of its prequel, Rock & Chips...
and Rodney
Rodney Trotter
Rodney Charlton Trotter is a fictional character in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, played by Nicholas Lyndhurst.-Personality:Rodney's personality was based on the experiences of series creator John Sullivan, who also had an older sibling and, like Rodney, claimed to have been a dreamer and...
having arranged a holiday to Miami, this one takes place predominantly in that location. It emerges that boss of a local mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
family, a Don Corleone
Vito Corleone
Vito Andolini Corleone is a fictional character and the main character in Mario Puzo's novel The Godfather, as well as Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather trilogy, where he was portrayed by Marlon Brando in The Godfather and by Robert De Niro in The Godfather Part II. Premiere Magazine listed Vito...
parody named Don Vincenzo "Vinny the Chain" Ochetti, is on trial and facing life imprisonment for murder, kidnapping and drug trafficking. Ochetti is also a Doppelgänger
Doppelgänger
In fiction and folklore, a doppelgänger is a paranormal double of a living person, typically representing evil or misfortune...
for Del Boy (and is thus also played by David Jason
David Jason
Sir David John White, OBE , better known by his stage name David Jason, is an English BAFTA award-winning actor. He is best known as the main character Derek "Del Boy" Trotter on the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses from 1981, the voice of Mr Toad in The Wind In The Willows and as detective Jack...
). When his son Rico is with members of the family in a bar, they spot Del Boy. Befriending him and Rodney, they hatch a plot to assassinate Del with the intention of fooling everyone into thinking that the Don himself has been murdered, thus sparing him the trial and likely imprisonment.
After arranging for their camper van to be robbed, the group invite Del and Rodney to stay at the family mansion. Over the following days, several attempts to assassinate Del, including shooting him in a beach-side restaurant and sending him off on a jet ski
Jet ski
Jet Ski is the brand name of a personal watercraft manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The name is sometimes mistakenly used by those unfamiliar with the personal watercraft industry to refer to any type of personal watercraft; however, the name is a valid trademark registered with the...
with a broken throttle, prove unsuccessful.
Whilst browsing around the family mansion, Del discovers who Rico's family really are after inadvertently being left in a meeting with two Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n drug barons by Rico, who mistook Del for his father. Meanwhile Rodney gets in touch with Cassandra and during their conversation learns that Del knew Cassandra would be unable to go on holiday that particular week and therefore booked it to wangle himself a free holiday with Rodney's pension money. A furious Rodney bumps into Ochetti and believing him to be Del shoves him up against the wall and promises to make him pay. However just after the confused Don leaves, Rodney meets Del, who admits to Rodney that he wanted to run away from England to avoid repercussions from the Church for selling them the white wine, and also informs him of Rico and the family's true nature. Realising he's just threatened the head of a mafia family, Rodney agrees to quickly leave and the two brothers escape through the window and flee, ultimately ending up in the Everglades
Everglades
The Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee...
, dodging the gangsters and a vicious alligator
Alligator
An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....
where they meet the holidaying Boycie
Boycie
Terrance Aubrey Boyce best known as Boycie is a fictional character in the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses played by John Challis. His story is continued in the spin off series The Green Green Grass, which began filming in June 2005, in which Boycie and family have fled from a gang of...
and Marlene. Despite being shot at by the gangsters, they manage to escape.
After pinning the drug dealing papers on the park ranger station's door, the Trotter brothers go straight to the airport and wait there until their return flight to England, where it is revealed on a news programme that Ochetti had been found guilty on all counts. Upon returning home, Del Boy and Rodney find stacked boxes of white wine in their flat, as well as a relieved Raquel
Raquel Turner
Rachel "Raquel" Turner is a fictional character from the BBC television sit-com Only Fools and Horses, in which she was Del Boy's longtime girlfriend...
and Albert
Uncle Albert
Albert Gladstone Trotter is a fictional character from the popular BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. He was introduced during the fourth season as a replacement for the character of Grandad due to the death of actor Lennard Pearce...
.
Anomalies
- The second part of 'Miami Twice' is something of an anomaly in the series. There is incidental music throughout the episode, which is not normally used on the show. It is one of only two episodes to be shot entirely on film (the other being "To Hull and BackTo Hull and Back
"To Hull and Back" is an episode of the BBC sitcom, Only Fools and Horses, first screened on 25 December 1985. It was the first feature-length edition of the show, and the fourth Christmas special. The title of the special is derived from the movie To Hell and Back. Parts of the special were shot...
" although, unlike that episode, the Nag's Head and Flat sets do not have an extra wall), only three without a laugh track (the others being "To Hull and Back" and "A Royal Flush
A Royal Flush
"A Royal Flush" is an episode of the BBC sitcom, Only Fools and Horses, first screened on 25 December 1986. It was the second feature-length edition of the show, and the fifth Christmas special. It was re-edited into a shorter version with added laughter track and released on DVD in 2004...
"), one of three not to use the regular closing music (the others being "The Jolly Boys' Outing
The Jolly Boys' Outing
"The Jolly Boys' Outing" is the eighth Christmas special episode of the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses, first screened on 25 December, 1989...
" and "Rodney Come Home
Rodney Come Home
"Rodney Come Home" is the ninth Christmas special episode of the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses, first screened on 25 December, 1990.Unlike the other Christmas specials, this episode is not a one-off story, but sets up story arcs that run throughout the following series...
") and the only episode not to use the regular opening titles and theme music, instead opting for a cover of The Lovin' Spoonful
The Lovin' Spoonful
The Lovin' Spoonful is an American pop rock band of the 1960s, named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. When asked about his band, leader John Sebastian said it sounded like a combination of "Mississippi John Hurt and Chuck Berry," prompting his friend, Fritz Richmond, to suggest the name...
song Summer in the City
Summer in the City
"Summer in the City" is the title of a song recorded by The Lovin' Spoonful, written by Mark Sebastian and Steve Boone. It came from their album Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful and it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1966...
, recorded by the Gutter Brothers
Gutter Brothers
The Gutter Brothers are an English skiffle and rock band which was active from 1985 until 1993. Since 2003 they have occasionally performed live together and in January 2008 recorded a new album which is due for release in August 2008....
. The only on-screen mention of "Only Fools and Horses" in this episode appears on the first caption of the closing credits, only the "Miami Twice" name appears in the opening titles. The second part's title "Oh To Be In England" does not appear on screen, but was confirmed in Radio Times listings and the official book The Only Fools And Horses Story by Steve Clark. The first part "The American Dream" uses the regular opening titles and end theme however, and is also produced like a regular episode - with a studio audience and on videotape.
The 1998 Version
For the 1998 VHSVHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
release, the episode was titled "Miami Twice: the Movie" and the two episodes were combined into one, with the on-screen titles & credits removed from the second episode (presumably by using the original 16mm footage, rather than the master videotape of the episode) and a laugh track added (often drowning out dialogue). The end credits are also remade, including the credits for both episodes and carrying the 1997 BBC logo. This version was also used for the 2003 DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
release, though it has never been broadcast.
Music
MIAMI TWICE - Part 1: The American Dream- Carl OrffCarl OrffCarl Orff was a 20th-century German composer, best known for his cantata Carmina Burana . In addition to his career as a composer, Orff developed an influential method of music education for children.-Early life:...
: O FortunaO Fortuna"O Fortuna" is a medieval Latin Goliardic poem written early in the thirteenth century, part of the collection known as the Carmina Burana. It is a complaint about fate, and Fortuna, a goddess in Roman mythology and personification of luck....
from Carmina BuranaCarmina BuranaCarmina Burana , Latin for "Songs from Beuern" , is the name given to a manuscript of 254 poems and dramatic texts mostly from the 11th or 12th century, although some are from the 13th century. The pieces were written principally in Medieval Latin; a few in Middle High German, and some with traces... - Amy GrantAmy GrantAmy Lee Grant is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, media personality and actress, best known for her Christian music. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christian Pop"...
: Every HeartbeatEvery Heartbeat"Every Heartbeat" is a 1991 single by Christian music singer Amy Grant. It was released as the third single from the Heart In Motion album, though it was the second from the album to be released to mainstream pop radio... - Jive Bunny and the MastermixersJive Bunny and the MastermixersJive Bunny and the Mastermixers were a 1980s and early 1990s novelty pop music act from Rotherham, Yorkshire, England. The face of the group was Jive Bunny, a cartoon rabbit who appeared in the videos, and also did promotional appearances for them...
: Hot Summer Salsa - Sting : Englishman in New YorkEnglishman in New York"Englishman in New York" is a song by Sting, from his 1987 album ...Nothing Like the Sun. The "Englishman" in question is the famous eccentric Quentin Crisp. Sting wrote the song not long after Crisp moved from London to an apartment in New York's Bowery...
- Billy IdolBilly IdolWilliam Michael Albert Broad , better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X...
: White WeddingWhite weddingA white wedding is a traditional formal or semi-formal wedding originating in Europe.The term originates from the white color of the wedding dress, which first became popular with Victorian era elites, after Queen Victoria wore a white lace dress at her wedding; however, the term now also... - Midge UreMidge UreJames "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
: Cold Cold Heart - Simple MindsSimple MindsSimple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
: Let There Be Love
MIAMI TWICE - Part 2: Oh To Be In England
- Status Quo : Rockin' All Over the WorldRockin' All Over the World (song)"Rockin' All Over the World" is a rock song by John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival. It made its debut on Fogerty's second solo album in 1975. Status Quo recorded their own, heavier arrangement of Fogerty's song for their 1977 album Rockin' All Over the World...
- The Gutter Brothers : Summer in the CitySummer in the City"Summer in the City" is the title of a song recorded by The Lovin' Spoonful, written by Mark Sebastian and Steve Boone. It came from their album Hums of the Lovin' Spoonful and it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1966...
- Amy GrantAmy GrantAmy Lee Grant is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, media personality and actress, best known for her Christian music. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christian Pop"...
: Baby Baby - The ShamenThe ShamenThe Shamen were an experimental electronic music band, from 1985–1999, initially formed in Aberdeen, Scotland, as a psychedelic-influenced indie rock act. The founding members are Colin Angus , Derek McKenzie and Keith McKenzie...
: Hyperreal - AdamskiAdamskiAdamski is an English dance music producer, prominent at the time of acid house for his tracks "N-R-G" and "Killer" .-Career:...
: KillerKiller (Adamski song)"Killer" is a song by Adamski and Seal. Written by Adam Tinley and Seal and produced by Adamski, "Killer" was Adamski's breakthrough single, but is now more notable for introducing Seal as a vocalist. A major hit in the UK, it reached number one, spending four weeks at the top of the chart in May... - Paula AbdulPaula AbdulPaula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
: Rush RushRush Rush"Rush Rush" is the first single released from Paula Abdul's second album, Spellbound. Written by Peter Lord, and produced by Peter Lord and V. Jeffrey Smith , the song achieved major success in the U.S... - Julian LennonJulian LennonJohn Charles Julian Lennon is an English musician, songwriter, actor, and photographer. He is the son of John Lennon and Lennon's first wife, Cynthia Powell. Beatles manager Brian Epstein was his godfather. He has a younger half-brother, Sean Lennon. Lennon was named after his paternal...
: SaltwaterSaltwater (Julian Lennon song)"Saltwater" is a 1991 song performed by English singer, songwriter, and musician Julian Lennon. It was written by Mark Spiro, Leslie Spiro and Julian Lennon... - Vic ReevesVic ReevesJames Roderick Moir , better known by the stage name Vic Reeves, is an English comedian, best known for his double act with Bob Mortimer . He is known for his surreal and non sequitur sense of humour....
: Born FreeBorn FreeBorn Free is a 1966 British drama film starring Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers as Joy and George Adamson, a real-life couple who raised Elsa the Lioness, an orphaned lion cub, to adulthood, and released her into the wilds of Kenya. The movie was produced by Open Road Films Ltd. and Columbia...
Note: In the VHS/DVD versions, Status Quo's "Rockin' All Over The World" is replaced by Tears For Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
' "Everybody Wants To Rule The World
Everybody Wants to Rule the World
"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is a song by the British New Wave band Tears for Fears.It was the band's ninth single release in the United Kingdom and seventh UK Top 40 chart hit, peaking at number two in April 1985...
". Carl Orff's "O Fortuna" is replaced by a similar sounding piece of music.