Acapulco H.E.A.T.

...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.

Why 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.

I 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.

ACAPULCO 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.

My 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!