"Acapulco H.E.A.T" (the first season, 1993-94) is a pleasant but not enormously exciting action show which could perhaps be described as a cross between "Mission: Impossible" and "Baywatch". The locations are attractive, the music is catchy, and the large cast is very likable (Catherine Oxenberg is a total sweetheart). Every character contributes something and they work well together (Brendan Kelly does take some getting used to, however, as he looks more like Al Bundy than the suave super-spy he's supposed to be!). The problem is that most of the episodes are rather slow-moving, with only about 5 out of their 42 minutes dedicated to real action. And when the action does come, it's rarely memorable (Michael Worth is easily the best of the bunch in that department). The villains aren't anything special, either; the show tries to have a recurring one, an assassin called Strake, but he stands only just a notch above the rest. "Acapulco H.EA.T" had a second season in 1998-99, with a largely different (and smaller) cast, which shared most of the same strengths and weaknesses. You can grab them both on DVD for a cheap and fair price. ** out of 4.
Add a Review
-
cwilliamson1 September 2000My god. This is, like, the greatest television show EVER. I mean, you've got this group of secret agents hanging around some tropical paradise, and they're posing as -- get this -- a BIKINI TEAM. I swear I'm not making this up. Not only that, but to make things better, FABIO is in the show! He plays the owner of the hotel where the bikini team hangs out, and his name is "Claudio" (so he wouldn't forget -- Fabio has a problem with acting, I think).
It also has the best opening theme song EVER. When Fabio pops up and poses, the singer goes "I FEEL THE HEEEEEAT" and the pianos kick in, and you know you're in for one helluva show. Brilliant! -
I remember watching this in syndication; I think it was on my ABC affiliate in Bakersfield on late night weekends. I remember lead actress Catherine Oxenberg played the title role in a Princess Di TV movie biography. & Alison Armitage was incredibly hot & I'd anticipate a scene she'd wear a bikini. Shockingly her photo doesn't turn up here at IMDb.com. Don't y'all remember her appearance on "Seinfeld" as Dr. Watley's dental hygienist? Anyway, "Acapulco H.E.A.T." was a nice action drama w/ a setting & cast as exotic as that of "CSI: Miami." But as long as it was hidden away in "Saturday Night Live"'s time slot, I should take pride in being one of the show's few & (slightly) faithful viewers.
-
john-tuttle17 February 2021...then this is for you. A bit more skin, a bit more violence, a bit more risque (it was the 90s), but the same halfhearted acting, writing, and directing. But the women and the settings are beautiful, so it's a fine choice to have on in the background while you're sandblasting the house or having a tooth pulled or something.
-
tgold888826 December 2021The strangest part of the show is when the martial arts guy is talking to a boy quotes Mao Tse Tung then punctuates his statement that he "wasn't a very nice guy".
-
gryoza28 August 2007Forgive me for my English. I from Russia. It is an interesting and fascinating serial. Actors подобранны it is magnificent. Though to me did not like Michael Worth. And here Spencer Rochfort which played Brett was simply magnificent. Such beautiful! I adore it!Only for the sake of it also looked! A handsome man!
The second season has by the way upset me. Unless it is interesting to look to women only at women? There practically there were no men except for notorious Tommy. It is a pity that a command from the first season there have not taken. This serial - entertaining show - it is not necessary to demand from it much. If it would be desirable to think - look CSI. -
MichaelM2417 July 2001ACAPULCO H.E.A.T. is obviously not the greatest action series ever, or for that matter, even just a good series. But it could be fun when it wanted to be. Fabio was always featured in the opening credits, but I don't recall a single episode that actually showed him, and I saw most of them. I like to think of this show as "the little action show that could." It always seemed like to wanted to be more than it was, but just couldn't get to the point where he could be compared with some of the best action shows. Instead, it stayed as a slightly-corny, "dumb fun" show, with simple stories. Blazing guns, and hot girls cooling in the surf. Alison Armitage was the standout.
-
RavenGlamDVDCollector13 October 2015Why it is hotter than BAYWATCH: (1) Even Pamela Anderson in the BAYWATCH monokini cannot compare to Catherine Oxenberg, who is the epitome of elegance and style. Born the daughter of a Princess, played a Princess in her debut, and IS a Princess in my book. (2) No hammy ol' David Hasselhoff. I rest my case.
Must admit, way back then, it was shown on the national channel in the same time slot as BAYWATCH on the pay channel. I stuck with BAYWATCH but snuck peeks and ultimately was just ruining the afternoon that way. VCR? It was already occupied recording BAYWATCH where I had to avoid the constant barrage of ad breaks. Years later, I finally got to ACAPULCO H.E.A.T. by way of DVD, and it is one of my special favorites (and I've got enough to dwarf a real video store) while BAYWATCH tends to be embarrassingly bad unless there is a hot blonde fox in a red swimsuit on-screen. Sorry, BAYWATCH, but that's the way it is!
I do have the second series, but have yet to watch it. As for Alison Armitage, yeah, real scrumptious of course, but none of you have mentioned... Wait for her... Ooh I die for her... Holly Floria. Ooh be still my heart. She was in BIKINI ISLAND and ranks as One Of The Prettiest Girls On Film as far as The Raven is concerned. Her part wasn't big enough here, my only complaint.
Catherine Oxenberg is one classy helluva young lady, back then in DYNASTY, years later still incredibly cool and sexy. She is here one of my favorite film characters that I respect the most. Impossibly beautiful, and believable in the part.
Sure enough it is different from US equivalent action shows. But it is a whole lot of fun, and ranks up high on my list of shows that were prematurely axed for whatever insipid reason. -
Knight Of The Cross26 September 1999When I watched the first episode of this tv-show, I thought that this one is very primitive and stupid. But when I watched the second episode I understood that everything is not so bad. Probably, there's not convincing actors' play (except Brendan Kelly and Catherine Oxenberg) and sometimes there are absurd series. But I think that any movie or tv-show have got their dignities and lacks. I watch "Acapulco H.E.A.T." because I like it and because I also like Alison Armitage.
-
nixflixnpix12 July 2021Just comfort food. Really fun, really dumb, really sexy. Simple. But has action. Has 80's &90's aesthetic vibes. Has a lotta secret agents in paradise stuff. Like if Magnum PI was a team-based early 90's romp.
Sex. Murder. Dumb writing. Like Andy Sedaris films, but 20 minutes at a time. -
brianscoopnemeth16 October 2022I am of course talking the original 80s version aired on ABC from 1981 until 1989, which James Healy and Catherine Oxenberg was a part of. Acapulco HEAT was a chance for Oxenberg (lead role) and Healy (guest star) to reunite after doing Dynasty, but separate seasons. Oxenberg, who played Ashley Hunter-Coddington on HEAT, played Amanda Bedford Carrington (Alexis Colby's daughter) on Dynasty from 1984 until 1986. Healy, who played Neal Strake in five episodes of HEAT, played Sean Rowan on Dynasty from 1987 until 1988. Moreover, it seems like Healy had a knack for playing the villain. He played one as Rowan in Dynasty, and he also played one as Strake in HEAT.