Pacific Heat

Last updated

Pacific Heat
Genre Animated sitcom
Created by
Voices of
Composers
  • William Pearson
  • Udi Harpaz
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producerMichael Hirsh
Producers
  • Rob Sitch
  • Santo Cilauro
  • Tom Gleisner
  • Deb Herman
Editors
  • Santo Cilauro
  • Phil Simon
Running time20-22 minutes
Production company Working Dog
Original release
Network The Comedy Channel
Release27 November 2016 (2016-11-27) 
5 March 2017 (2017-03-05)

Pacific Heat is an Australian adult animated sitcom co-created by Rob Sitch, Santo Cilauro, and Tom Gleisner. [1] [2] The series is a Working Dog production for Foxtel's The Comedy Channel. [3] The series, which was first commissioned by Foxtel in February 2014, [1] premiered on The Comedy Channel on 27 November 2016. [3] It was repeated on Network Ten on Monday 8 May for special preview and Eleven on Wednesday 10 May 2017. [4]

Contents

Netflix started streaming the series on 2 December 2016 as a "Netflix Original". However, in early November 2020, it was announced that the series will be leaving the service sometime in December as they do not own the intellectual property rights to the show. [5]

The series left Netflix on 2 December 2020, [6] and is currently broadcast on Foxtel and Binge [7]

Synopsis

Pacific Heat is set on the Gold Coast, Queensland, a sun-drenched paradise where sun and surf meet soaring crime rates. The police undercover special unit known as Pacific Heat tackles everyone from petty crooks to international drug cartels. [8]

Voice cast

Episodes

No.TitleOriginal air date
1"A Dangerous Game"27 November 2016 (2016-11-27)
When the team goes undercover at a strip club to blow up a crystal meth ring, Maddie and VJ gain the trust of a stripper who knows the key info.
2"Countdown to Death"4 December 2016 (2016-12-04)
The team races to track down a Chechen terrorist who's threatening to build a dirty bomb after illicitly acquiring uranium from a nuclear lab.
3"A Family Affair"8 December 2016 (2016-12-08)
When a team member's father is kidnapped by a radical organization, Pacific Heat heads to the Southeast Asian jungle to rescue him.
4"The Science of Death"18 December 2016 (2016-12-18)
When German terrorists break into a laboratory and threaten to release anthrax, the team hatches a sketchy plan to storm the building.
5"The Face of Terror"8 January 2017 (2017-01-08)
Todd and Zac go undercover as security guards in Yemen to hunt for a dangerous terrorist, but they'll need Maddie and VJ's help to get out alive.
6"Married to Murder"15 January 2017 (2017-01-15)
A journalist tags along as the team attempts to track down ecoterrorists who kidnapped the wife of a mining magnate.
7"A Troublesome Guest"22 January 2017 (2017-01-22)
Tasked with providing security for the visiting leader of a volatile country, the team fends off various threats against his life.
8"In the Wrong Hands"29 January 2017 (2017-01-29)
The team scrambles to find an arms dealer suspected of stealing a nuclear warhead that was being stored in a civilian warehouse.
9"A Brush with Death"5 February 2017 (2017-02-05)
The team is charged with safeguarding a Dutch masterpiece called "Nude with Nude" at an art show. But the painting disappears anyway.
10"A Deadly Deal"12 February 2017 (2017-02-12)
When an illegal arms dealer acquires a shipment of surface-to-air missiles, the team heads to the Burmese jungle to stop them from being sold.
11"Extreme Turbulence"19 February 2017 (2017-02-19)
The team faces a midair crisis while serving as security for a sultan who insists on flying coach.
12"A Deadly Grudge"26 February 2017 (2017-02-26)
Shortly after suspending the Pacific Heat agents, the chief is kidnapped by a pair of brothers who have held a grudge against him for 36 years.
13"A Return to Evil"5 March 2017 (2017-03-05)
A string of baffling murders leads the team to suspect a serial killer. But the evidence left by a victim points them to a familiar face.

Broadcast

The series premiered on Netflix in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada on 2 December 2016, [10] streaming all episodes simultaneously. [11]

Reception

Pacific Heat has received generally negative reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported a 17% "rotten" rating. The critic consensus is yet to be reached. [12] Metacritic reported a score of 27 out of 100 indicating "generally unfavourable reviews". [13] The Guardian [14] and The A.V. Club [15] criticised the series, accusing it of imitating the art style of the American animated series Archer .

See also

Related Research Articles

Jane Kennedy is an Australian actress, radio presenter and television producer, best known for her work with Working Dog Productions, a group of performers responsible for a variety of television and films. She previously was a co-host of KennedyMolloy on Triple M with Mick Molloy.

Thomas Edmund Gleisner is an Australian comedian, television presenter, producer, director, writer, occasional actor and author. Gleisner currently hosts Network 10's Have You Been Paying Attention?.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Working Dog Productions</span> Australian production company

Working Dog Productions is a film and television production company based in Melbourne, Australia. It was formed in 1993 by actors Santo Cilauro, Rob Sitch, Jane Kennedy, Tom Gleisner, and producer Michael Hirsh. The company changed its name to Working Dog Productions Pty Ltd in 1996. The company's mascot is an Australian Cattle Dog.

Santo Luigi Cilauro is an Australian comedian, television and feature film producer, screenwriter, actor, author and cameraman who is also a co-founder of The D-Generation. Known as the weatherman in Frontline, he is also an author and former radio presenter on Triple M, and achieved worldwide fame with the viral video Elektronik Supersonik.

<i>The Late Show</i> (1992 TV series) Australian TV series or program

The Late Show is a popular Australian comedy sketch and satire show, which ran for two seasons on the ABC. It aired weekly on Saturday nights from 18 July 1992 to 30 October 1993.

Foxtel is an Australian pay television company—operating in cable television, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April 2018, superseding an earlier company from 1995. The service was established as a 50/50 joint venture between News Corporation and Telstra, with News Corp and Telstra holding 65% and 35% ownership shares respectively.

Fox8 is an Australian pay television channel available on Foxtel, and Optus Television's subscription platforms. It is the most watched subscription television channel in Australia and broadcasts the highest rating non-sporting related program or event on subscription television in Australia, Australia's Next Top Model in 2009. A high definition version of the channel, Fox8HD, was launched on the Foxtel and Austar platforms on 15 November 2009.

The D-Generation was a popular and influential Australian TV sketch comedy show, produced and broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for two series, between 1986 and 1987. A further four specials were broadcast on the Seven Network between 1988 and 1989. The show would also serve as a stepping stone for many early incarnations of iconic characters, including Lynne Postlethwaite, Gina Hard-Faced B***h, Eileen Maverick and Kelvin Cunnington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Coustas</span> Australian actress and comedian

Mary Coustas is an Australian actress, comedian and television personality and writer. Originally from Melbourne, Coustas often performs as the character "Effie", a stereotypical second-generation Greek Australian prone to malapropisms. She completed a Bachelor of Arts at Deakin University in Melbourne, majoring in performing arts and sub-majoring in journalism.

<i>Funky Squad</i> Australian comedy television series

Funky Squad was a short-lived 1995 Australian comedy television series which satirised 1970s-era U.S. police television dramas, such as The Mod Squad. Only seven half-hour episodes were produced, which were broadcast on the ABC. Real television commercials from the 1970s were shown during the program's "commercial breaks".

<i>Thank God Youre Here</i> Australian improvised comedy television program

Thank God You're Here is an Australian television improvised comedy program created by Working Dog Productions, which premiered on 5 April 2006 on Network Ten, where it aired for the first three and the fifth seasons; the fourth season aired on the Seven Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Five in a Row (1989 song)</span> 1989 single by The D-Generation

"Five in a Row" was a 1989 single by Australian comedy team, The D-Generation. It was released in November 1989 and reached a peak position of number 12 on the ARIA Singles Chart. It was co-written by The D-Generation members, Santo Cilauro, Tony Martin, Rob Sitch, and Tom Gleisner. Music written and produced by Colin Setches and John Grant.

<i>The Hollowmen</i> Australian TV series or program

The Hollowmen is an Australian television comedy series set in the offices of the Central Policy Unit, a fictional political advisory unit personally set up by the Prime Minister to help him get re-elected. Their brief is long-term vision; to stop worrying about tomorrow's headlines, and focus on next week's.

Showcase is an Australian premium drama cable and satellite television channel. It was initially part of the Showtime Australia channels and was managed by PMP chief executive officer Peter Rose. In 2007 Rose said Showcase "provides a real home at last for quality drama in Australia, and this list of outstanding event television is just the start". Showcase launched with the Australian TV premieres of Dexter and Australian-made series Satisfaction.

<i>Wentworth</i> (TV series) Australian television series

Wentworth is an Australian television drama series. It was first broadcast on SoHo on 1 May 2013, and it concluded on Fox Showcase with its 100th episode on 26 October 2021. The series serves as a contemporary reimagining of Prisoner, which ran on Network Ten from 1979 to 1986. Lara Radulovich and David Hannam developed Wentworth from Reg Watson's original concept. The series is set in the modern day and initially focuses on Bea Smith's early days in prison and her subsequent rise to the top of the prison's hierarchy. From the fifth season onward, the series shifted to emphasize more of an ensemble format.

<i>Have You Been Paying Attention?</i> Australian television game show

Have You Been Paying Attention? is an Australian panel game television quiz show on Network 10. The series, which is produced by Working Dog Productions, is a mix of news and comedy which sees host Tom Gleisner quiz five guests on the week's top news stories.

<i>Utopia</i> (Australian TV series) Australian comedy television series

Utopia, internationally titled Dreamland, is an Australian television comedy series by Working Dog Productions that premiered on the ABC on 13 August 2014. The series follows the working lives of a team in the fictional Nation Building Authority, a newly created government organisation. The Authority is responsible for overseeing major infrastructure projects, from announcement to unveiling. The series explores the collision between bureaucracy and grand ambitions. The second series aired in 2015, beginning with the first episode on 19 August 2015. The third series aired in 2017, beginning with the first episode on 19 July 2017. The fourth series aired in 2019, beginning on 21 August 2019. A fifth series aired from 7 June 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BoxSets (TV channel)</span> Australian pay television channel

BoxSets is an Australian pay television channel, screening boxsets of hit drama and comedy programming. The channel launched on Foxtel on 3 November 2014.

Stan is an Australian over-the-top streaming service. It was launched on 26 January 2015. Stan originally was founded as StreamCo Media, a 50/50 joint venture between Nine Entertainment Co. and Fairfax Media. In August 2014, each company invested A$50 million in StreamCo. StreamCo was renamed Stan Entertainment in December 2014, prior to the January 2015 launch of the streaming service. Nine Entertainment would ultimately acquire Fairfax Media in 2018, making Stan a wholly owned subsidiary of Nine Digital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foxtel Now</span>

Foxtel Now is an Australian internet television service which offers subscriptions to over 50 live channels and hundreds of video on-demand titles. The service is owned by Foxtel, and officially launched on 11 August 2013 as Foxtel Play.

References

  1. 1 2 Knox, David (19 February 2014). "New comedy from Working Dog for Foxtel". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  2. Knox, David (30 October 2014). "Foxtel 2015 highlights: iQ3, Deadline Gallipoli, Banished, Gogglebox". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Knox, David (5 October 2016). "Airdate: Pacific Heat". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  4. "Airdate: Pacific Heat". tvtonight.com.au. 22 April 2017. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  5. Moore, Kasey (2 November 2020). "Netflix Original 'Pacific Heat' Leaving Netflix in December 2020". WhatsOnNetflix.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  6. Moore, Kasey (2 November 2020). "Movies & TV Series Leaving Netflix in December 2020". WhatsOnNetflix.com. Archived from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  7. "How to Watch Pacific Heat Streaming in Australia". CompareTV. 20 September 2021. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  8. "'Pacific Heat' Review: Netflix's 'Archer' Rip-Off Should Be Avoided at All Costs". collider.com. 2 December 2016. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  9. Wilder, Gabriel (1 October 2016). "Working Dog generates Pacific Heat with adult animation sold to Netflix". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  10. Wagmeister, Elizabeth (29 September 2016). "Netflix Greenlights Animated Comedy 'Pacific Heat' From Australia's Working Dog Productions (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  11. Pacific Heat (Television advertisement). Netflix. 16 November 2016. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  12. "PACIFIC HEAT: SEASON 1 (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes . Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  13. "Pacific Heat : Season 1". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 8 February 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  14. Buckmaster, Luke (4 December 2016). "Pacific Heat review – unfunny Archer lookalike blighted by sexism and racism". Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017 via The Guardian.
  15. "Netflix's new show Pacific Heat asks: "What if Archer wasn't funny?"". avclub.com. 1 December 2016. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.