Human Target (1992 TV series)
Human Target | |
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Genre | |
Created by |
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Based on | |
Starring |
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Opening theme | Human Target |
Composers |
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Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 7 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Running time | 60 minutes |
Production companies |
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Original release | |
Network | ABC |
Release | July 20 August 29, 1992 | –
Human Target is an American
Synopsis
The series follows the adventures of Christopher Chance (Rick Springfield), a Vietnam War vet turned bodyguard and private investigator who uses advanced technology and sophisticated makeup to assume the identity of his client, becoming a human target.[3][4] In a departure from the original comic book stories, Chance flies from job to job in a large, gizmo-laden stealth aircraft known as the Blackwing.[1] Additionally, he is assisted by computer expert Philo Marsden (Kirk Baltz), Blackwing pilot Jeff Carlyle (Sami Chester), and former CIA operative Libby Page (Signy Coleman).[5][6] Page coordinated Chance's missions, Carlyle also served as cook and chauffeur, while Marsden created new gadgets and developed the masks Chance used to impersonate his clients.[7] Chance took an unusual approach to compensation for his services: ten percent of his client's annual income ("whether you're a busboy or the king of England"). One reviewer described the show as "50 percent Mission: Impossible (Martin Landau's master of disguise character) and 50 percent Quantum Leap (jumping into other people's lives at moments of crisis)".[8]
Cast
- Rick Springfield as Christopher Chance
- Kirk Baltz as Philo Marsden
- Sami Chester as Jeff Carlyle
- Signy Coleman as Libby Page
Production
The show was created by
Harvey Shephard, then the president of
The show was finally picked up in October 1991 by ABC as a seven-episode
Episodes
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
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1 | "Pilot" | Max Tash | Paul DeMeo & Bruce Bilson | July 20, 1992 | 206788 |
Chance is hired to protect Jay Palmer (Scott Paulin), an architect and construction company owner who believes his life is in danger.[9] Chance has to fool not only Palmer's colleagues but also his wife and children.[8] | |||||
2 | "Second Chance" | Mario Azzopardi | Rick Natkin | July 25, 1992 | 187352 |
Chance assumes the identity of an American general (R. Lee Ermey) who was nearly assassinated but then Chance discovers that the would-be assassin is his mentor (David Carradine).[3][17] | |||||
3 | "Designed by Chance" | Danny Bilson | Kevin Droney | August 1, 1992 | 187355 |
Chance takes on the identity of fashion designer Garner St. John (John Wesley Shipp) who once had a romantic relationship with Libby. | |||||
4 | "Mirror Image" | Bruce Bilson | Thania St. John | August 8, 1992 | 187356 |
A psychiatrist (David Clennon) believes that one of his patients has him marked for death so he hires Chance to uncover the would-be killer. | |||||
5 | "Cool Hand Chance" | Bill Corcoran | Stephen Hattman, Rick Natkin & Scott Richardson | August 15, 1992 | 187353 |
Chance breaks into a prison in an attempt to clear the name of a man convicted of murder. | |||||
6 | "Going Home" | Mario Azzopardi | Don Carlos Dunaway & William A. Schwartz | August 22, 1992 | 187354 |
Chance assumes the identity of a judge targeted by an unknown attacker and is reunited with his father during the mission. | |||||
7 | "Chances Are" | Danny Bilson | John Francis Moore | August 29, 1992 | 187351 |
A television reporter finds her life threatened by the subject of her investigation and Chance makes an emotional connection while trying to protect her. |
Tie-ins
In November 1991, DC Comics produced a 48-page one-shot titled The Human Target Special #1, marketed as a tie-in to the then-upcoming television show (the comic's cover advertised that it was "Coming soon to ABC-TV!"). The comic has Chance and his team protecting a DEA agent from assassination. It was written by Mark Verheiden, with pencils by Rick Burchett and inks by Dick Giordano.
Reception
References
- ^ a b c Buck, Jerry (June 28, 1992). "Springfield a trouble-seeker in 'The Human Target'". Lakeland Ledger. The Associated Press. p. 23. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ a b "TV Q&A". St. Louis Post-Dspatch. December 3, 1997. p. E6. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
This adaptation of a DC Comics character was a fast ABC flop in 1992. It premiered on July 20 and expired on Aug. 29.
- ^ a b c Kelleher, Terry (July 19, 1992). "Human Target' Doesn't Resemble a Hit". Newsday. p. TV3. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ King, Susan (July 31, 1992). "Rick Springfield Targets Acting as Road to Success". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ "Soap luaded for ongoing attention to social themes". Los Angeles Daily News. October 21, 1991. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
She'll appear opposite another ex-daytime star, Rick Springfield (who played Dr. Noah Drake on "GH" a decade ago), in the ABC mid-season replacement series "The Human Target."
- ^ a b Grahnke, Lon (July 20, 1992). "As Action Hero, Rick Springfield Misses 'Target'". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c Kogan, Rick (July 20, 1992). "Identity crisis 'Human Target' is somber when it should be silly". Chicago Tribune. p. Tempo 5. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c Burlingame, Jon (July 20, 1992). "Action series 'Human Target' misses mark". Spokane Chronicle. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c Tucker, Ken (July 17, 1992). "The Human Target". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ "About: ABC Series". Human Target Online. Archived from the original on 2010-06-24. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
- ^ a b "Some titles take to the spotlight". USA Today. March 19, 1990. p. 3D. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ a b "Clemons looks for new Boss". Star-News. July 8, 1990. p. 2D. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ Ross, Chuck (April 17, 1990). "Here's a sneak peek at next season's TV". Eugene Register-Guard. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ Weinraub, Bernard (December 16, 1991). "The Talk of Hollywood; Critics' Warm Words Dispel Predictions Of Doom for 'Bugsy'". The New York Times. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ Graham, Jefferson (October 24, 1991). "Readying fill-ins for network flops". USA Today. p. 3D. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ Stoneman, Donnell (July 23, 1992). "'Human Target': Ready, Aim, Fizzle". Greensboro News-Record. p. D2. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ "Remembering David Carradine". Human Target Online. June 2009. Archived from the original on 2010-11-02. Retrieved 2010-02-01.
External links
- Human Target at IMDb