Original title
Kingpin
Released
2/2/2003
Origin country
US
Genre
Crime, Drama
Production companies
NBC Studios, Spelling Television, Knee Deep Productions
Status
Ended
Number of seasons
1
Number of episodes
6
Kingpin is an American crime drama television series which debuted on the NBC network in the U.S. and CTV in Canada on February 2, 2003 and lasted 6 episodes. NBC's answer to The Sopranos and also influenced by The Godfather, Macbeth and Traffik, the story was about a Mexican drug trafficker named Miguel Cadena and his family life. It was to be followed by a television series, but low ratings canceled those plans. Commercials for the mini-series on NBC featured the song "Más" by the Mexican band Kinky.
SERIES PREMIERE--CHANGE IN POWER LOOMS IMMINENT IN DRUG CARTEL FAMILY-- As family leader Tio Jorge (guest star Pepe Serna) deteriorates in exile, the next generation of a powerful drug cartel family strategizes to take over 'La Corporacion,' a multi-million dollar business. Stanford-educated Miguel Cadena (Yancey Arias) is poised to take the reigns, but Jorge's son Ernesto (guest star Jacob Vargas) presents a challenge that requires the efforts of Miguel as well as his brother Chato (Bobby Cannavale) and wife Marlene (Sheryl Lee) to confront. Meanwhile, DEA agent Delia Flores (Angela Alvarado Rosa) faces setbacks as she works her contacts within the drug world to close in on the massive cartel. Brian Benben and Ruben Carbajal also star. TV-14
Ernesto's ""murder"" puts Miguel in control of the cartel and at odds with a pair of associates opposed to his new role. Meanwhile, Klein turns to a client (Darius McCrary) for help in getting out of the trade; and Delia steps up her plan to avenge her partner's murder. Lupita: Elpidia Carrillo. Manny: Danny Trejo. Tio Beto: Miguel Sandoval. Marlene: Sheryl Lee.
As Miguel is warned by Lupita, who forsees of a black cloud looming over his impending deal with a Thai heroin cartel; Delia is crushed after she's transferred out of El Paso. Klein's ex-wife (Sean Young) comes back with a high-priced demand that forces the doctor to take drastic action.
Miguel goes into business with a shady new doc who wants to amp up Cadena's supplies, just as Chato gets into bed with a lady (Maria Conchito Alonso) with dangerous family ties. Meanwhile, Marlene's dirty little secret comes out in time to put half her family in joepardy; and Klein turns to a less-than-reliable source to improve his tragically compromised finances.
Tensions heighten between traffickers and law enforcers as a major bust is about to go down; the brutalization of Chato comes back to haunt the corrupt Lazarenos.
Kingpin ends on a quiet moment, with Miguel accepting Chato back into his life, but opens with a bang as Delia goes against Doug Duffy's orders and ends up saving Undercover Bobby's life during the raid on Truck's club. Dr. Benben tries out a professional bodyguard, but ends up pairing up with Junie. Things with La Corporacion are kind of a mess, but everything works out for the best after Miguel pays the CIA $20 million and the Senator is strangled by a bolo tie. Yes, a bolo tie.
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