ACAPULCO H.E.A.T.

Full Name:	Acapulco H.E.A.T.
Nationality:	Multinational
Organization:	C-5
Occupation	Agency

Creator:	Max A. Keller, Micheline H. Keller
Time Span:	1993 - 1999

ABOUT THE SERIES

Acapulco H.E.A.T. is a sub-agency within the C-5.

Some explanation is in order, obviously.

C-5 is said to be a secret multi-governmental coalition created to tackle rampant terrorism and growing global crime. Exactly how large the organization is remains unstated but it stands to reason that since H.E.A.T. is just one sub-set of it, it likely is substantial.

H.E.A.T. stands for Hemisphere Emergency Action Team. From this acronym breakdown we can discern that the group of agents associated with it are geared up for operations in one section of the world, in this case the Western Hemisphere. Considering that it is based out of the Mexican resort city of Acapulco but has missions taking personnel as far south as Rio de Janeiro, the entirety of the Americas falls within its region.

The men and woman of this group have as their cover working as models and the photographers filming them, working for a beach-fashion company. The goal of the team is to be able to handle their missions without red tape but that requires it not being traced back to them, hence the cover identities.

The Acapulco team has as its headquarters the ruins of a Mayan temple though the agents themselves have rooms in a posh hotel called the Regina, owned by the handsome Claudio DiVanti.

The team consists of:

- Ashley Hunter-Coddington: a beautiful and resourceful British female agent formerly with MI6. She is one of the two co-leaders of the team and is the daughter of an ambassador. The murder of her mother by terrorists years before gives her plenty of motive for fighting terrorism wherever she finds it. Codenamed 'Sarong', her cover identity is a photographer who also helps design the outfits being modeled.
- Mike Savage - handsome and quite athletic American male agent once working for the CIA. His codename is 'Platform'. He is the other co-leader and is also a photographer in his cover role.
- Catherine 'Cat' Avery Pascal - a French woman who earned a successful living as a cat burglar, hence the nickname, before being caught and forced to work for H.E.A.T. for a year or go to prison for a lot longer. Codenamed 'High Dive', she is one of the models in the team.
- Brett Richardson - codenamed 'Deep End', he is an American former Navy SEAL who is the resident weapons and explosives expert.
- Marcos Chavez - a Mexican former Federale who is an expert in going undercover. Codenamed 'Agua Azul', his cover role is transportation expert for both the people and their equipment.
- Krissie Valentine - an American computer expert, she is the one responsible for researching the missions and providing up-to-the-minute intel. She acts as one of the models with the company. Her codename is 'Spring Board'.
- Tommy Chase - Unknown nationality, he is the team's martial arts expert who is in charge of training the other operatives in hand-to-hand fighting. He is also the resident shrink of sorts as he has a good understanding of human psychology. He is one of the male models and his codename is 'Backflip'.

After a good number of missions (one season) the team is disbanded and everyone goes their own way. After a time, two of the members are brought back in a reformation of the group, albeit smaller. The new team members are:

- 'Cat' Pascal - now the new leader, she has the cover of being an owner of a small boutique named 'Acapulco HEAT Beach Fashions'.
- Tommy Chase - now an employee of the boutique, he has new intense dislike of the drug trade.
- Nicole Bernard - a French spy who helped reconstruct the new team for one particular mission but has chosen to stay around afterwards. She has major trust issues.
- Joanna Barnes - the new computer whiz of the group. She is close to Nicole.

TELEVISION


Number of Episodes:	48
First Appearance:	1993
Last Appearance:	1999
Network:	Syndicated

REGULAR CAST
Catherine Oxenberg	Ashley Hunter-Coddington [ 1 ]
Brendan Kelly	Mike Savage [ 1 ]
Alison Armitage	Catherine 'Cat' Pascal [ 1-2 ]
Spencer Rochfort	Brett Richardson [ 1 ]
Holly Floria	Krissie Valentine [ 1 ]
Randy Vasquez	Marcos Chavez [ 1 ]
Michael Worth	Tommy Chase [ 1-2 ]
John Vernon	Mr. Smith [ 1 ]
Fabio	Claudio Divanti [ 1 ]
Lydie Denier	Nicole Bernard [ 2 ]
Christa Sauls	Joanna Barnes [ 2 ]

In 1993 the two founders of the Keller Entertainment group put together an action program about agents working in mostly exotic and hot locations, giving great reason for showing a lot of alluring men and women wearing very little (Lord love 'em!). It was made available to stations around the world through syndication.

After one season of fun adventures, the show was put on the shelves but then, two years later, it was retooled and brought back. The main stars had since moved on but two of the supporting cast were elevated to star roles and another season of cases created.


1	Code Name: Checkmate (Parts 1) Episode S1-1, first aired 09/25/1993 Director: Kevin James Dobson Writers: Molly Glenmore, Steve Hayes, Daniel Fica The H.E.A.T. team discovers that Strake, the assassin thought killed trying to kill an ambassador in Brazil, is alive and responsible for the kidnapping of a princess, the beautiful wife of the man sponsoring an international anti-terrorist conference.

2	Code Name: Checkmate (Parts 2) Episode S1-2, first aired 09/25/1993 Director: Kevin James Dobson Writers: Molly Glenmore, Steve Hayes, Daniel Fica The H.E.A.T. team discovers that Strake, the assassin thought killed trying to kill an ambassador in Brazil, is alive and responsible for the kidnapping of a princess, the beautiful wife of the man sponsoring an international anti-terrorist conference.

3	Code Name: Honeymoon Lost Episode S1-3, first aired 10/09/1993 Director: Sidney Hayers Writers: Steve Hayes, Daniel Fica The Acapulco H.E.A.T. team must protect an American war hero visiting Puerta Vallarta on his honeymoon from Iraqi assassins.

4	Code Name: Strange Bedfellow Episode S1-4, first aired 10/16/1993 Director: Henri Safran Writers: Steve Hayes, Daniel Fica The Acapulco H.E.A.T. team goes undercover as honeymooners at a resort hotel to find a nuclear device black-marketers plan to sell to terrorists.

5	Code Name: Million Dollar Ladies Episode S1-5, first aired 10/23/1993 Director: Sidney Hayes Writers: Steve Hayes, Daniel Fica Ashley is abducted by a sinister white slavery ring. The H.E.A.T. must rescue her before the gang can sell her to buyer from the Far East

6	Code Name: Feminine Institution Episode S1-6, first aired 10/30/1993 Director: Harry Ambrose Writers: Steve Hayes, Daniel Fica The Acapulco H.E.A.T. team is sent to Columbia to thwart the assassination of a judge leading an investigation into the activities of Suarez, a reputed drug lord. The woman leading the team of killers is a turncoat MI-6 agent and an old rival of Ashley's.

7	Code Name: Desert Dragon Episode S1-7, first aired 11/06/1993 Director: Harry Ambrose Writers: Steve Hayes, Daniel Fica The H.E.A.T. is sent to Israel to protect the son of influential anti-terrorist who is completing in an international karate competition.

8	Code Name: Archangel Episode S1-8, first aired 11/13/1993 Director: Henri Safran Writers: Molly Glenmore, Daniel Fica The H.E.A.T. is ordered to protect a art work by Leonard da Vinci from theft by a band of neo-Nazis.

9	Code Name: Arabesque Episode S1-9, first aired 11/20/1993 Director: Sidney Hayers Writers: Molly Glenmore, Daniel Fica Cat goes undercover to get evidence against a drug cartel run by ex-KGB agents and find the whereabouts of a missing United Nations translator who Mr. Smith believes was recruited into the organization not knowing what was involved.

10	Code Name: Body Double Episode S1-10, first aired 11/27/1993 Director: Harry Ambrose Writers: Steve Hayes, Daniel Fica Brett poses as the son of a wealthy industrialist to serve as bait for a gang who use kidnapping as a way to finance their terrorist activities.

11	Code Name: Perfect Specimen Episode S1-11, first aired 12/04/1993 Director: Harry Ambrose Writers: Steve Hayes, Daniel Fica When a C-5 agent running down a lead on a possible chemical weapons factory disappears, the H.E.A.T. is sent to investigate. What they find is a scientist attempting to develop a human with super-strength due to genetic alterations.

12	Code Name: Easy Riders Episode S1-12, first aired 01/22/1994 Director: Sidney Hayers Writers: Sidney Hayers, Daniel Fica When a doctor under indictment in the United States skips bail and sets up his baby-stealing racket in Mexico, the H.E.A.T. is assigned to put him out of business. Their efforts are hindered by a pair of tourists with their own score to settle.

13	Code Name: Rip Van Winkle Episode S1-13, first aired 01/29/1994 Director: Sidney Hayers Writers: Molly Glenmore, Daniel Fica The H.E.A.T. travel to a tropical retirement community for retired spies to investigate whether a former agent has leaked information that compromises a spy who is undercover in Russia.

14	Code Name: The Stalking Horse Episode S1-14, first aired 02/05/1994 Director: Sidney Hayers Writer: Daniel Fica The Acapulco H.E.A.T. is assigned to protect a Chinese defector from assassination. The only hitch is there are 146 suspects.

15	Code Name: Frame-Up Episode S1-15, first aired 02/12/1994 Director: Sidney Hayers Writers: Steve Hayes, Daniel Fica When Mike Savage and the H.E.A.T. team arrest a Panamanian gunrunner for drug dealing, his brother swears revenge. He frames Mike for the murder of a judge and then, after staging his escape, offers to trade his life for his brother's release.

16	Code Name: Ghosts Episode S1-16, first aired 02/19/1994 Director: Sidney Hayers Writers: Steve Hayes, Daniel Fica Ashley convinces Mr. Smith to send the H.E.A.T. team to a small Caribbean island to investigate the death of a C.I.A. colleague. While the team pursues a gang of gunrunners, a British policeman chases Cat for a burglary she committed before she joined the H.E.A.T. team.

17	Code Name: Stranded Episode S1-17, first aired 02/26/1994 Director: Sidney Hayers Writers: Steve Hayes, Daniel Fica Cat, Krissie, Marcos and Tommy are marooned on an island when their boat floats free from it's anchorage. A crazed ex-Vietnam soldier hiding on the island thinks Tommy is the man responsible for the loss of the old soldier's platoon twenty-five years earlier.

18	Code Name: Shamrock Episode S1-18, first aired 03/05/1994 Director: Harry Ambrose Writers: Steve Hayes, Daniel Fica Mike suspects that a high-school buddy, now linked with a terrorist group, may be planning an attack on politicians attending a free-trade conference in Mexico.

19	Code Name: Stalemate – Part 1 Episode S1-19, first aired 04/30/1994 Director: Harry Ambrose Writers: Molly Glenmore, Daniel Fica The H.E.A.T. guards a former KGB agent attending a chess match, but the game may be up when the team's nemesis returns to assassinate the Russian.

20	Code Name: Stalemate – Part 2 Episode S1-20, first aired 05/07/1994 Director: Harry Ambrose Writers: Molly Glenmore, Daniel Fica Mike and Ashley match wits with Strake, who demands Sokol in return for Krissie.

21	Code Name: Deep Six Episode S1-21, first aired 05/14/1994 Director: Sidney Hayers Writers: Jon Hardy, J. Barry Herron, Steve Hayes, Daniel Fica Cat bristles when the deep-sea diver she and Brett are assigned to protect refuses to allow her on an expedition.

22	Code Name: Assassin Episode S1-22, first aired 05/21/1994 Director: Harry Ambrose Writers: Molly Glenmore, Daniel Fica When Mike is shot, Ashley immediately suspects Neil Strake. But there's one problem -- Strake's being held in a high-security facility in Mexico.

23	Code Name: The Raven (Part 1) Episode S2-1, first aired 09/23/1998 Director: Henri Safran Writer: Peter Collins A reconstructed and reconstituted team is assigned the task of tracking down a thief, known as the Raven, who stole an entire warehouse of artwork.

24	Code Name: The Raven (Part 2) Episode S2-2, first aired 09/30/1998 Director: Henri Safran Writer: Peter Collins A reconstructed and reconstituted team is assigned the task of tracking down a thief known as the Raven, who stole an entire warehouse of artwork.

25	Code Name: Spear of Destiny Episode S2-3, first aired 10/07/1998 Director: Frank Charles Writer: Steve Hayes An extremist group is on the violent hunt for a religious icon said to have magical powers. H.E.A.T. members must find it first.

26	Code Name: Day of the Dead Episode S2-4, first aired 10/14/1998 Director: Henri Safran Writer: Molly Glenmore When the H.E.A.T. team looks into the recovery of stolen gold, they find themselves between competing groups also wanting it.

27	Code Name: Dream Girl Episode S2-5, first aired 10/21/1998 Director: Peter George Writer: John Bull When a young lady approaches the team and offers intelligence about a wanted terrorist, they feel obligated in keeping her alive.

28	Code Name: The Killing Club Episode S2-6, first aired 10/28/1998 Director: Henri Safran Writer: Henry Ackerman When H.E.A.T. is asked to find a man's missing nephew, things go awry when Tommy gets kidnapped.

29	Code Name: Mr. Paradise Episode S2-7, first aired 11/04/1998 Director: Brianne Murphy Writer: Peter Collins H.E.A.T. is brought into a case where a gang leader has ordered killed those connected to the car accident that killed his son.

30	Code Name: The Mouse That Squeaked Episode S2-8, first aired 11/11/1998 Director: Brianne Murphy Writer: Steve Hayes H.E.A.T. looks into a matter where a prominent peace activist out to create his own country might be financing it by robbing banks.

31	Code Name: Easy Green Episode S2-9, first aired 11/18/1998 Director: Frank Charles Writer: Henry Ackerman The H.E.A.T. team is on the hunt for a gang printing and passing along counterfeit money.

32	Code Name: Dangerous Bait Episode S2-10, first aired 11/25/1998 Director: Frank Charles Writer: Steve Hayes When word reaches H.E.A.T. of a threat of kidnapping of a visiting bigwig, Cat goes undercover as the man's wife.

33	Code Name: Million Dollar Man Episode S2-11, first aired 12/02/1998 Director: Brianne Murphy Writer: Peter Collins A major crime boss with a large bounty on him offers to turn himself in if the reward can be given his daughter as a wedding present. H.E.A.T. must provide protection from his rivals.

34	Code Name: Death of a Friendship Episode S2-12, first aired 01/23/1999 Director: Henri Safran Writer: Steve Hayes When the president of a Caribbean nation is assassinated in a car bombing, H.E.A.T. is brought in to investigate.

35	Code Name: Sister Soothsayer Episode S2-13, first aired 01/30/1999 Director: Frank Charles Writer: Peter Collins A psychic fears something bad is about to happen to her brother and asks H.E.A.T. to track him down in El Salvador and protect him.

36	Code Name: Hot Chains Episode S2-14, first aired 02/06/1999 Director: Brianne Murphy Writer: Steve Hayes The H.E.A.T. is asked to investigate a white-slavery ring by the sister of one of its possible victims.

37	Code Name: Till Death Do Us Part Episode S2-15, first aired 02/13/1999 Director: Henri Safran Writer: Molly Glenmore A woman needs proof that her missing husband is really dead so she asks the H.E.A.T. to help. They find she is by no means not the only woman currently married to the missing man.

38	Code Name: Cumshaw Episode S2-16, first aired 02/20/1999 Director: Brianne Murphy Writer: Henry Ackerman The task for the H.E.A.T. team is to hunt down and deliver to the FBI a woman arms dealer.

39	Code Name: Phantom Episode S2-17, first aired 02/27/1999 Director: Henri Safran Writer: Molly Glenmore When an unlikely sequence of odd accidents start plaguing his film set, a movie director asks the H.E.A.T. team for help.

40	Code Name: Bucket of Blood Episode S2-18, first aired 03/06/1999 Director: Henri Safran Writer: Teagan Clive When an injured criminal is treated by doctors, they find that his blood has a rare element that can save a group of sick children. After the man disappears, H.E.A.T. is asked to find him.

41	Code Name: Cult Zero Episode S2-19, first aired 03/13/1999 Director: Henri Safran Writer: Teagan Clive A peace-loving cult appeals to the H.E.A.T. team for protection from outsiders but the team start to find the real intent of the group is not what they claimed.

42	Code Name: Blood Ties Episode S2-20, first aired 04/24/1999 Director: Henri Safran Writer: Steve Hayes Former H.E.A.T. member Marcos Chavez asks the current team rescue his fiancee who has been kidnapped by a powerful Senator opposed to the upcoming wedding. The kidnapper is also her father.

43	Code Name: Matador Episode S2-21, first aired 05/01/1999 Director: Henri Safran Writer: Henry Ackerman When Cat witnesses the killing of a drug dealer and then is confused by the silent treatment given by the officials, she brings in the H.E.A.T. to help investigate.

44	Code Name: Juice Episode S2-22, first aired 05/08/1999 Director: Henri Safran Writer: Teagan Clive When Tommy's opponent in a karate match dies during the fight, the H.E.A.T. team joins with a female D.E.A. agent to look into who provided the deceased with illegal steroids.

45	Code Name: Lollipop, Lollipop Episode S2-23, first aired 05/15/1999 Director: Brianne Murphy Writers: Peter Collins, Paul Nuncio A rich man appeals to the H.E.A.T. to rescue his daughter who was kidnapped by a South American drug kingpin. Things get confusing when she does not want to be saved.

46	Code Name: The Stolen Leg Episode S2-24, first aired 05/22/1999 Director: Peter George Writer: Steve Hayes A prominent tennis star asks the H.E.A.T. to help find his stolen prosthetic limb. The big question they want answered is why the artificial limb was taken in the first place.

47	Code Name: Flight 401 Episode S2-25, first aired 05/29/1999 Director: Henri Safran Writer: Molly Glenmore After the hijacking of a commercial flight by an ex-CIA agent takes place, the H.E.A.T. team is brought in to resolve the matter.

48	Code Name: I Remember Episode S2-26, first aired 06/05/1999 Director: Henri Safran Writer: Peter Collins As the recorded H.E.A.T. adventures come to an end, the team members spend time remembering their most exciting cases.

MY COMMENTS

I was pretty busy with family and work so only saw the first couple of episodes back when it first aired. It looked like a bit of fun but nothing serious. Three decades later watching some of the episodes available for streaming, that attitude holds up.

The plots are pretty standard for television spy action shows. Even more standard are the ultra-frequent shows of beautiful people having far too good a time, usually in bathing suits. The bad guy are really, really bad and in total need of a thumpin'. The stars are enjoying, for the most part, doing that thumpin'.

I will admit that after watching what I felt was enough episodes in the last couple of days to speak intelligently about the series, I did watch a couple more - just to be sure.

GRADE

My Grade: B

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