Country of origin United States No. of seasons 1 | Original language(s) English | |
Created by Michael BerkDouglas SchwartzGreg Bonann Starring Hulk HoganChris LemmonCarol AltAshley GorrellPatrick Macnee Composer(s) John D'AndreaCory Lerios |
Thunder in Paradise is an American action-adventure TV series from the creators of Baywatch, which stars Hulk Hogan, Chris Lemmon, and Carol Alt. This first-run syndicated TV series originally premiered as a straight-to-video feature film in September 1993, then ran for one season from March 25 until November 27, 1994, before being cancelled. The series was later rebroadcast on the TNT cable network.
Contents
Series concept
Thunder in Paradise follows the adventures of two ex-Navy SEALS, Randolph J. "Hurricane" Spencer and Martin "Bru" Brubaker, who work as mercenaries out of their tropical resort headquarters along Florida's Gulf Coast. Using their futuristic, high-tech boat, nicknamed "Thunder", they travel around the world fighting various criminals and villains. However, they are forced to balance their dangerous undercover work with their responsibilities of raising widower Spencer's young daughter Jessica, who lives with them.
Former model Kelly LaRue, who owns and manages the "Scuttlebutt Bar N' Grill" on the beach in front of the resort, looks after Jessica whenever Spence and Bru go on their missions. Kelly also serves as a romantic foil for Bru. Edward Whitaker, Jessica's uncle, owns the beach resort and makes semi-regular appearances in the series, primarily for comic relief.
Main cast
Recurring cast
Episodes
- "Thunder in Paradise", Part One – March 25, 1994
- "Thunder in Paradise", Part Two – March 25, 1994
- "Tug of War" – April 1, 1994
- "Sea Quentin" – April 8, 1994
- "Strange Bru" – April 15, 1994
- "Sealed with a Kismet", Part One – April 22, 1994
- "Sealed with a Kismet", Part Two – April 29, 1994
- "Changing of the Guard" – May 6, 1994
- "Gettysburg Change of Address" – May 13, 1994
- "Distant Shout of Thunder" – May 20, 1994
- "Nature of the Beast" – May 27, 1994
- "Identity Crisis" – July 8, 1994
- "Queen of Hearts" – July 15, 1994
- "Plunder in Paradise" – July 22, 1994
- "Eye for an Eye" – August 26, 1994
- "Endangered Species" – September 9, 1994
- "Deadly Lessons", Part One – September 16, 1994
- "Deadly Lessons", Part Two – September 23, 1994
- "Blast Off" – November 6, 1994
- "Dead Reckoning" – November 13, 1994
- "The M.A.J.O.R. and the Minor", Part One – November 20, 1994
- "The M.A.J.O.R. and the Minor", Part Two – November 27, 1994
DVD release
On September 26, 2006, Lionsgate released a 3-disc Thunder in Paradise Collection that contained Thunder in Paradise ("Thunder In Paradise" Parts 1 & 2), Thunder in Paradise II ("Sealed with a Kismet" Parts 1 & 2), and Thunder in Paradise 3 ("Deadly Lessons" Part 1 & 2).
Filming locations
The Thunder in Paradise pilot movie was filmed in and around the historic Don CeSar Hotel in St. Pete Beach, Florida during April 1993. When the series was picked up for a full season, the production company then moved to Disney's Hollywood Studios near Orlando, where the primary filming location became the Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa at the Walt Disney World Resort. Other filming locations at Walt Disney World included Disney's Old Key West Resort, Fort Wilderness Campground, and EPCOT, used heavily due to the wide variety of futuristic and architectural styles available at that theme park. The destruction of the school featured in the two-part episode "Deadly Lessons" was an actual controlled demolition of a school building in Central Florida that the production company agreed to perform in exchange for filming rights. Stetson University in DeLand, Florida was utilized for an episode.