Last updated on: October 8, 2025
When you think of cool, stylish TV icons, Don Johnson’s name almost always comes to mind. With his charm, charisma, and timeless swagger, Johnson has lit up television screens for decades. From his breakout role in Miami Vice to more recent hits like Watchmen, he’s proven he can master drama, comedy, and everything in between. Over the years, Don Johnson has built a career full of memorable performances, each one showing off his unique screen presence. In this article, we’re diving into his top 10 TV shows that highlight why he remains a fan favorite across generations.
1. Miami Vice
Imdb Rtaing: 7.6/10
When folks talk about Don Johnson, one name jumps out—Miami Vice. He played Sonny Crockett, a sharp-dressed detective who didn’t just chase criminals—he did it with style. Think fast boats, slick cars, and yeah, even a pet alligator named Elvis. That’s the kind of guy he was.
The show kicked off in 1984. It wasn’t just cops and robbers. It had rhythm. The city pulsed—Miami by day, neon dreams by night. Crockett worked with his partner, Ricardo Tubbs. Together, they went after drug dealers, mob bosses, anyone breaking the peace. But it wasn’t just the action. It was the look. The sound. The way the camera moved like it was dancing.
I remember watching reruns late at night. Felt like a movie, but real. Like you were riding shotgun in that black Ferrari. The music? All synth and soul. Perfect for the mood. And the clothes—white suits, pastel tees, loafers without socks. Johnson didn’t wear the outfit. He owned it.
People don’t always say this, but the show changed TV. It looked different. Felt different. One minute you’re in a shootout, the next you’re staring at the ocean under a pink sky. No other cop show dared to be that pretty.
Johnson won a Golden Globe. Deserved every bit. He wasn’t just acting. He was being Crockett—cool, tough, but never fake. Fans felt that. Critics saw it too.
And that fashion? Yeah, it caught on. I saw guys at the mall trying to copy his look. Didn’t always work. But you couldn’t blame them. That style had swagger.
Now you can watch it anytime. Peacock. Amazon Prime Video. Same thrill, even today. Picture it late evening, screen glowing, waves of synth in your ears. Still holds up.
If you want to know why Don Johnson matters, start here. This was his moment. This was the role that made him legend.
2. Nash Bridges
Imdb Rtaing: 6.8/10
After Miami Vice, a lot of folks wondered—what’s next for Don Johnson? Then came Nash Bridges. Late ‘90s. Right on time. He played Nash, a detective with the San Francisco Police. Not as flashy as Crockett, but just as sharp. Maybe even cooler in his own way.
Nash wasn’t all suits and shadows. He smiled more. Joked around. Had a way of saying things that made you chuckle, even in the middle of a mess. He worked with Joe Dominguez—played by Cheech Marin. Good pairing. They trusted each other. Teased each other. Felt real, like partners should.
The show wasn’t just about solving crimes. It had heart. A little humor. A little pain. Life stuff. You saw Nash at work, sure. But also at home. On his boat. Trying to figure things out. It wasn’t perfect. But it was honest.
And that car—bright yellow Plymouth Barracuda. Hard to miss. I remember seeing one like it at a car show once. Guy spent hours waxing it. Said it was his dream ride. That’s how much that car meant to people.
I liked how the show didn’t take itself too seriously. Still had action. Still had stakes. But you could breathe in it. Laugh. Johnson’s timing? Spot on. A look, a line, a pause—he knew what to do.
Six seasons. That doesn’t happen by accident. People tuned in. They liked what they saw. And behind the scenes? Johnson wasn’t just acting. He helped run the show. Produced it. Shaped it. That tells you something. He cared.
Fun thing—did you know he had a hand in creating the look, the tone? Not many stars do that. But he did.
Now you can watch it free on Pluto TV. Or catch it on Amazon Prime Video. Same energy. Still holds up.
If you loved Miami Vice, give this one a shot. Same actor. Different rhythm. Like a new song on an old radio. You’ll recognize his voice. But the story’s fresh. And yeah, that car? Worth the ride alone.
3. Watchmen
Imdb Rtaing: 8.2/10
2019 came. Don Johnson shows up in Watchmen. Not on a boat. Not cracking jokes. This time, he’s Chief Judd Crawford. Tulsa police. Big hat. Calm voice. You trust him right away.
He walks like a man who knows his town. Cares about his people. His officers. Does right by them. That’s what we think—first few minutes. But Watchmen doesn’t play easy. It digs deeper.
The world here? Not quite ours. Heroes wore masks long ago. Changed everything. Now, cops wear masks too—just to stay safe. The show doesn’t flinch. Talks about race. About fear. About who holds power and why.
I remember sitting on my couch, lights low. First episode. Johnson’s character does something… unexpected. I leaned forward. Didn’t see it coming. Neither did anyone else. That twist? People couldn’t stop talking about it. Not for days. Not for weeks.
His time on screen wasn’t long. But it mattered. Like a stone thrown in water—the ripples go far. His choices shape the whole story. Even after he’s gone, you feel him.
Watchmen isn’t just capes and powers. It’s real. Raw. Won 11 Emmys—one for best limited series. Critics called it one of the decade’s best. Hard to argue.
Funny thing—Johnson never played a role like this before. Dark. Quiet. Heavy with secrets. He didn’t need explosions to be powerful. Just stood there. Spoke calm. And you knew: this man carried weight.
You can watch it on Max. HBO. One season. Tight. No filler. If you like stories that stick to your bones, this is one to see.
Superhero? Sure. But more than that. It’s about who we are. Who we protect. And what we hide.
Don Johnson didn’t just show up. He left a mark.
4. Blood & Oil
Imdb Rtaing: 6.6/10
A new show. Blood & Oil. Different world. No Miami sun. No Tulsa shadows. This time, Don Johnson steps into North Dakota’s oil rush. Dusty land. Cold wind. Big dreams.
He plays Hap Briggs. Oil man. Rich. Sharp. Smiles like he likes you—then turns. He’ll do what it takes to stay on top. Doesn’t blink. Doesn’t back down.
I watched it one fall evening. Leaves falling outside. Fire crackling. Show starts slow, then pulls you in. A young couple shows up, chasing luck. They think they can play the game. But Hap’s already ten steps ahead.
He’s not a hero. Not a villain. He’s in between. That’s what makes him interesting. You can’t look away. Johnson plays him like a man who knows every card—but never shows his hand.
The show only lasted one season. Shame. It had weight. Family fights. Greed. Promises broken. Business deals that felt like knife fights.
But Johnson? He held it all together. Tall. Calm. Dangerous when he needed to be. Like a storm hiding behind a mountain.
He once joked about the role. Said Hap was “J.R. Ewing 2.0.” Made me laugh. I remember Dallas. J.R. was slick. But Hap? He’s got more grit. More fire.
You can find Blood & Oil on ABC’s site. Or Amazon Prime Video. Not many saw it the first time. But if you like your drama thick with tension, this one’s for you.
Want to see Johnson go deep? Not flashy. Not cool. Just raw power under a worn-out hat? Then give it a watch. You’ll remember Hap.
5. From Dusk till Dawn: The Series
Imdb Rtaing: 6.8/10
A new show. From Dusk till Dawn: The Series. Not your usual cop story. Not your usual anything. Don Johnson steps in as Sheriff Earl McGraw. Texas. Dusty roads. Hot sun. He’s got boots, a badge, and eyes that miss nothing.
First thing you see? Him. Calm. In control. But you feel it—something’s coming. He’s one of the first faces in the show. Sets the mood. Like thunder before a storm.
The story kicks off with the Gecko brothers. Criminals. Running hard. Trying to escape the law. They duck into a bar out in the desert. Looks quiet. Feels wrong. Then—everything changes. Vampires. Blood. Chaos.
It’s not just action. Not just horror. It’s both. Mixed with crime. Twists you can’t guess. I stayed up late watching. Didn’t want to turn it off.
Johnson doesn’t stay long. But while he’s there, you believe him. He’s not just playing a sheriff. He is one. Tough. Grounded. A man who stands his ground even when the world goes mad.
Critics were split. Some liked it. Some didn’t. But fans? We knew what we wanted. Fast pace. Dark corners. A story that doesn’t play safe. And Johnson gave it weight from the start.
Fun thing—his character, Earl McGraw? He’s not new. Shows up in the original movie. Even pops up in other Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez films. Like a ghost that keeps coming back. Johnson stepping into those boots? Felt right. Like passing a torch.
You can watch the series on Netflix. All there. Same wild ride.
If you like your stories dark, strange, and full of surprises, this one fits. And if you’ve ever liked Johnson as a man of authority—this is that man, one last time, before the world burns down.
6. Sick Note
Imdb Rtaing: 6.7/10
A surprise. Don Johnson in a comedy—Sick Note. British. Dark. Weird. And kind of brilliant. He plays Kenny West. Boss. Loud. Clueless. Thinks he’s smart. Most of the time, he’s not.
His employee, Daniel Glass, is played by Rupert Grint. Yes, that’s right—the kid from Harry Potter. Grown up now. Stuck in a boring job. Then—big mistake. A doctor says he’s dying. Daniel doesn’t correct him. Why would he? Suddenly, people treat him better. So he keeps the lie going. And oh, how it blows up.
I laughed more than I expected. One small lie, then ten more to cover it. Soon, everything’s chaos. Johnson’s character makes it worse. Every time he opens his mouth, trouble follows. He means well. But his ideas? Wild. Dumb. Hilarious.
You don’t think of Johnson as funny. Not first. But here? He leans into it. Big hair. Louder ties. Talks like he’s in charge—which he is. But you know, deep down, he’s just winging it.
The show’s not about action. Not about justice. It’s about lies, panic, and people acting like fools. And Johnson? He’s the king of the fools. In a good way. You roll your eyes—but you’re smiling.
No big awards. Didn’t need them. Fans liked it. Me? I liked how strange it felt. Like a dream that makes no sense but you enjoy anyway.
Fun thing—Lindsay Lohan shows up in season two. Didn’t see that coming. Adds more spark. More madness.
You can watch it on Netflix. Easy. Fast. If you want to see Johnson not as a cop, not as a tycoon, but as a loud, clueless boss who ruins everything with confidence—then this is your show.
Never thought I’d say it. But yeah. Don Johnson can be funny. Really funny.
7. LA to Vegas
Imdb Rtaing: 7.1/10
A new show. LA to Vegas. Not drama. Not crime. This time, it’s comedy. Fast. Silly. Full of oddball characters. Don Johnson steps in as Jack Silver. Owner of Jackpot Airlines. Rich. Loud. A little wild.
He doesn’t show up every week. But when he does? The room changes. He walks in like he owns it—well, he does—and says something crazy. Makes you laugh. Makes the crew nervous. That’s Jack.
I watched it on a lazy Sunday. Rain tapping the window. Popcorn ready. Show came on. Didn’t expect much. But it grew on me. Short flights. Big personalities. Flight attendants dreaming of more. Passengers running from their lives—or chasing luck in Vegas.
Each trip had its own mess. A proposal. A fight. A guy dressed as a taco. You know, normal stuff. Johnson’s character floats in and out. Doesn’t run the airline day to day. But when he speaks? Everyone listens. Even if what he says makes no sense.
He’s not the main guy. But he’s the spark. That flash of silver hair. That grin. You never know what he’ll do. Fire someone? Promote them? Buy a casino? All possible.
Fans liked it. Not a hit. Not a flop. One season. Gone. But some of us still talk about it. That kind of show—funny, dumb in a good way—sticks around in your head.
Fun thing? Even after it ended, people asked for more. Small crew. Loyal watchers. We liked the chaos. Liked seeing Johnson cut loose. No badge. No gun. Just jokes and bad decisions.
You can find it on Hulu. Easy to miss. But if you hit play? You might stay.
Want to see Don Johnson as a flashy, half-serious boss who treats an airline like his toy? Then yeah. Give it a shot. You’ll smile. Maybe even snort
8. Eastbound & Down
Imdb Rtaing: 8.2/10
Don Johnson showed up in Eastbound & Down a few seasons in. HBO. Comedy. Loud. Messy. Wild. He played Eduardo Sanchez—Kenny Powers’ dad. Rich. Flashy. Big mouth. Bigger ego. Exactly the kind of man who wears gold chains just because he can.
Kenny? He’s a washed-up baseball player. Crude. Selfish. Always saying the wrong thing. But you can’t look away. Now here comes his father. Same energy. Only older. More money. Less shame.
I remember watching one night with my brother. We weren’t sure what to expect. Then Johnson walks in—sunglasses on, cigar in hand, yelling in Spanish, flipping tables. We both laughed so hard we had to pause.
Eduardo wasn’t just a dad. He was a force. A storm in a silk shirt. You see him and suddenly it all makes sense—Kenny didn’t come from nowhere. He came from there. Same fire. Same madness.
The show didn’t play safe. Never did. It went all the way. Rude jokes. Big falls. Moments so awkward you squirm. But that’s why people liked it. Real sharp writing. No holding back.
Johnson fit right in. You’re used to him as a cop. A leader. Here? He’s nuts. And he knows it. He leans into it. Doesn’t try to tone it down. That’s brave, in a way. Letting go like that.
Critics noticed. Fans loved it. His scenes? Some of the best in the later seasons. Not just funny. They meant something. Showed where Kenny came from. Family stuff. Messy. Loud. Real.
Fun thing? People still talk about Eduardo. How wild he was. How Johnson matched Kenny’s crazy energy—step for step. Not many could do that.
You can watch it on Max. All seasons. If you want to see Johnson go full throttle—no rules, no filter—this is the one.
Don’t go in looking for quiet. Don’t expect dignity. Just sit back. Laugh. Maybe cover your eyes. And remember—some families are built on love. Kenny’s? Built on fireworks and bad decisions.
9. A Series of Unfortunate Events
Imdb Rtaing: 7.7/10
A strange little show. A Series of Unfortunate Events. On Netflix. Dark. Quiet. But funny in a sideways way. Don Johnson steps in as Sir. Not a name. Just “Sir.” Like that’s all he needs.
He runs the Lucky Smells Lumbermill. Nails in the floor. Smoke in the air. Kids working too hard. He’s greedy. Cold. Talks slow, like every word costs something. You don’t like him. That’s the point.
I watched it curled up on the couch. Rain outside. Fire low. The story follows three orphans—Baudelaires. Lost their parents. Now they’re passed around like trash. Each home worse than the last. Sir’s place? One of the worst.
The show doesn’t feel like other kids’ stories. It’s sad. Sharp. Full of riddles and traps. But it winks at you. Lets you know it sees the madness too. Johnson fits right in. Not flashy. Not loud. Just… there. Watching. Taking. Like a vulture in a tie.
You barely recognize him. Makeup thick. Teeth fake. Face stretched. Voice deeper than usual. I didn’t catch it at first. My son said, “That’s Don Johnson?” I had to look twice. He looked like someone who’d eat soup with a saw.
Critics liked it. Said it stayed true to the books. Loved the style. The words. The way it didn’t sugarcoat things. Fans? They enjoyed seeing big names play weird parts. Neil Patrick Harris dancing as a villain. Malina Weissman crying with grace. And Johnson—buried under latex—still somehow felt real.
Fun thing? He wore that getup all day. Hours of makeup. Hours to take it off. For a role that wasn’t huge. But he did it. No shortcuts. That says something.
You can still stream it on Netflix. All seasons. If you like stories that are sad, smart, and a little crooked—this one’s for you.
Not for little kids. Not really. But if you like tales where bad things happen and grown-ups don’t help? Then yes. Watch it. And see Johnson disappear into a man you’d never want to meet.
10. Just Legal
Imdb Rtaing: 7.1/10
A quiet show. Just Legal. Not loud. Not flashy. Don Johnson plays Grant Cooper—a lawyer past his prime. Used to be sharp. Now he’s tired. Worn down. Drinks too much. Lets cases slip. But he still knows the law. Deep in his bones.
Then comes Skip. David “Skip” Ross. Nineteen. Graduated law school early. Smart. Fast. Thinks he knows everything. Grant takes him in. Not because he wants to. More like he has to. The firm insists.
They make a strange pair. One too young. One too old. One believes in rules. The other remembers how they get broken. Together, they take on cases—some serious, some odd. Each one peels back a little more of who they are.
I watched it one winter. Snow outside. Fire crackling. Something about the rhythm of it—slow, but steady—kept me coming back. It wasn’t about big wins. It was about trying again. Grant teaching Skip. Skip reminding Grant he’s not done yet.
Johnson plays it low. No sunglasses. No smirk. Just a man trying to stand straight after years of slumping. You see the weight on him. But also the care. He’s rough. But he listens. He learns.
The show only lasted a season. Didn’t get the crowd it deserved. But those who saw it? We liked it. Liked how real it felt. No courtroom fireworks. Just people. Problems. Small victories.
Critics said it reminded them of Boston Legal. Same mix of drama and dry jokes. But this one had a different soul. Slower. Quieter. Johnson didn’t play for laughs. He played for truth.
Fun thing? Some didn’t expect him to do a role like this. After Miami. After Nash. Here he was—no cool car, no sharp suit. Just a worn coat and second chances.
You can find it on Amazon Prime Video. Not many talk about it. But if you want to see Johnson not as a legend, but as a man digging himself out—then give it a watch.
It’s not loud. It doesn’t shout. But it stays with you. Like a good piece of advice, spoken late at night.
Don Johnson’s career proves that he can shine in any kind of role—whether it’s a stylish cop, a ruthless businessman, or a hilarious boss. Each of these TV shows highlights a different side of his talent, and together they show why he remains such a beloved star on television. Which of these shows is your favorite? Or did we miss one that you think deserves a spot on the list? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear what you think!
