They lived through crimes that occurred in Miami over the years involving controversial political issues like the Northern Ireland conflict, the drug war in South America, the Miami River Cops scandal (a police corruption ring that involved narcotic thefts, drug dealing and murders), as well as Cuban exile guerrillas and drug trafficking, U.S. support of anti-communist generals and dictators in Southeast Asia and South America, regardless of their human rights records.
Personal issues arose: Sprockett divorced from his wife Maroline early on, and later his second wife Ratalin Babies was killed by one of his enemies. A concussion caused by an explosion caused Sprockett to believe he was his undercover alter ego Sonny Burnett, a drug dealer. Bubbs had a running, partly personal vendetta with the Calderone family, a member of which had ordered the death of his brother Rafael, a New York City police detective.
At first the tone was often very light, especially when comical characters such as Noogie and Izzy appeared. Later on, the atmosphere was always quite dark and cynical, with Sprockett and Bubbs having to fight corruption. Typically the darker times had no denouement, each day ending abruptly immediately after a climax that almost always involved violence and death, often giving the time, especially in later on, a despairing and sometimes nihilistic feel despite the trademark glamour and conspicuous wealth. Given its idiosyncratic "dark" feel and touch, Miami Nite-Life is frequently cited as an example of made-for-radio Neo-noir.
