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CI5: THE NEW PROFESSIONALS

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Full Name: The New Professionals
Nationality: British
Organization: CI5
Occupation Agency

Creator: Brian Clemens
Time Span: 1999 - 1999

ABOUT THE SERIES

CI5 is an international intelligence agency.

This highly effective organization fights criminals, cartels, and terror groups out to cause mayhem around the world. It is the progeny of an earlier incarnation with the same name, formed back in the late 70s by George Cowley to combat 'anarchy, acts of terror, crimes against the public'. It has since developed, as one promotional blurb put it, "into an international force with operatives hired from around the world by the 1990s. With connections to the FBI, CIA and other law-enforcement agencies, CI5 operates outside borders with a group of specialists under a similar brief". We learn in time that CI5 was "jointly funded by the governments of the UK, U.S.A., Japan, Germany and France".

In the worlds of the current leader, Harry Malone, "Nothing happens in New York or Nagasaki. Peking or St. Peterburg, that does not have repercussions, which is why we have agents in all of these places. Like the crime we fight, we are now international." In the opening episode of the recorded adventures, an FBI agent describes CI5 to a novice saying only "they're the best".

We do not learn much information about the major players in CI5. Especially enigmatic in his own way is Malone. Likely in his mid-60s when we meet him, a time many would be considering retirement, Malone is the epitome of someone too darned busy to be able to retire - and too darned cantankerous to even consider the possibility. He is prone to shouting or growling his disapproval of errors by his people and they are on his good side. Those not under his command are perpetually being treated to his acerbic wit and caustic criticism. But those close to him know there is nothing he wouldn't do to keep them as safe as the kind of work they signed up to do would allow.

As Malone told us, there are many agents and analysts and technicians for CI5 all over the globe. We will be allowed to see a few of them here and there for brief moments in the limelight but largely it is a trio of operatives close to Malone that we are allowed to follow.

Two of these comprise a relatively new partnership between Chris Keel, American, briefly described by his cohort as 'gung-ho and all glory, Mr. Top Gun', and Sam Curtis. British, who modestly describes himself to be "cool [and] reliable". Both of these men are quite good looking and physically in terrific shape. They are both white, in their early 30s, and having the times of their lives by constantly putting themselves at risk. Keel is a former Navy SEAL and Curtis came to CI5 from another British intelligence organization (likely MI6).

The third is Tina Backus [I swear Keel and Curtis use a nickname of 'Backup' for her], a beautiful woman with short dark hair who comes to CI5 by way of the Canadian Secret Service. While she does not get nearly as action time as her colleagues in the field, when she does she clearly shows she is an expert in several martial arts. She is also a whiz at computers and can work solo undercover when needed.

TELEVISION


Number of Episodes:13
First Appearance:1999
Last Appearance:1999
Network:Sky1

REGULAR CAST
Edward WoodwardHarry Malone [ 1 ]
Kal WeberChris Keel [ 1 ]
Colin WellsSam Curtis [ 1 ]
Lexa DoigTina Backus [ 1 ]

According to the write-up on this series on Wikipedia, "David Wickes, an episode director for the original series, approached original series creator Brian Clemens in the early 1990s after realizing how perpetually popular the original series remained through repeats and video sales." The show was offered to ITV, the airer of the original show, but they didn't want to pay much for it so Wickes went shopping elsewhere. Sky1 did take it but needed substantial editing out of the mover violent scenes.

It was then picked up by a large number of companies in different countries so it got off to a good start. Unfortunately, the ratings were not here and only one season was produced.


1 Back to Business
Episode 1-01, first aired 09/19/1999
Director: Christopher King
Writer: Brian Clemens

After the death of a CI5 operative the only clue to an imminent terrorist attack is a drawing scribbled on his death bed - but first they have to decide what the drawing represents.

2 Phoenix
Episode 1-02, first aired 09/26/1999
Director: David Wickes
Writer: Brian Clemens

A terrorist who is supposed to be dead comes back, many years later, to take revenge on some of the folks who killed him in an ambush.

3 Tusk Force
Episode 1-03, first aired 10/03/1999
Director: Ray Austin
Writer: Brian Clemens

CI5 are asked to help track and fight illegal Ivory hunters in Africa.

4 Hostage
Episode 1-04, first aired 10/10/1999
Director: John Davies
Writer: Brian Clemens

An Albanian minister is held hostage in a TV studio, with his supposed crimes being broadcast to the world, while CI5 has its own battle to fight trying to stop the police from ruining their operation.

5 First Strike
Episode 1-05, first aired 10/17/1999
Director: Harley Cokeliss
Writer: Brian Clemens

Keel and Curtis find themselves in the Louisiana swamps on the trail of black-market plutonium.

6 Samurai Wind
Episode 1-06, first aired 10/24/1999
Director: Ray Austin
Writer: Brian Clemens

Ex-C15 operative Jason Dane threatens to destroy Tokyo with hydrogen cyanide unless a $1 billion ransom is paid.

7 Skorpion
Episode 1-07, first aired 11/07/1999
Director: Ken Grieve
Writers: Steven Whitney, Duncan Gould

A Nobel scientist who has discovered how to bring down the computers of NATO (and CI5) is kidnapped by Russians desperate to overthrow their Government

8 Choice Cuts
Episode 1-08, first aired 11/14/1999
Director: Colin Bucksey
Writer: Steven Whitney

An FBI agent is murdered in Richmond, Virginia, the reason, get his kidney for an organs black market. The agent was the son of an old friend of Malone, so he decides to investigate with his group of agents and problems and danger starts.

9 Miss Hit
Episode 1-09, first aired 11/21/1999
Director: Sidney Hayers
Writers: Jeremy Burnham, Brian Clemens

A false FBI agent uses the agents of CI5 to locate a protected witness and kill him.

10 Orbit
Episode 1-10, first aired 11/28/1999
Director: Colin Bucksey
Writers: Brian Clemens, Colin Brake

A scientist creates a deadly beam that can destroy anything. He uses it to kill a fellow he hates and he tries to sell it to a terrorist group for a lot of money, but.

11 High Speed
Episode 1-11, first aired 12/05/1999
Director: Harley Cokeliss
Writer: Brian Clemens

Bosnian criminals are smuggling gold into Britain in F1 racing cars; CI5 must race against time to stop them.

12 Souvenir
Episode 1-12, first aired 12/12/1999
Director: Ray Austin
Writer: Brian Clemens

CI5 face a deadly enemy from Britain's past: neo-Nazis intent on cloning Hitler.

13 Glory Days
Episode 1-13, first aired 12/19/1999
Director: John Davies
Writers: Brian Clemens, Colin Brake

The Russian mafia plan to reactivate a decommissioned battleship and use it to assassinate the US President.

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