Secret Agent Man (TV show)
Encyclopedia
Secret Agent Man is a spy-fi
television series that aired on UPN
in 2000.
The series, created by writer Richard Regen, starred Costas Mandylor
as Monk, a gallivanting secret agent
, who was one of a team of agents that included Holliday, played by Dina Meyer
and Davis, played by Dondre Whitfield
. The team reported to Brubeck, played by Paul Guilfoyle
. The frequent guest villain is the former agent Prima, played by Musetta Vander
.
All the lead characters share the last names of jazz musicians Thelonious Monk
, Billie Holliday, Miles Davis
, and Dave Brubeck
.
The series used an updated version of the 1960s hit song "Secret Agent Man
" for its theme song. Because the original version of this song was also used as the theme song for American broadcasts of another television series, the 1960s British TV series, Danger Man
, there were some mistaken impressions that this series was somehow a spin off
or remake
of the earlier program, but other than the theme song, no connections were made evident.
Only 12 episodes were broadcast before the series was cancelled.
Spy-fi
-Definition and characteristics:It often uses a secret agent or superspy whose mission is a showcase of science fiction elements such as technology and ideas used for extortion, plots for world domination or world destruction, futuristic weapons, gadgets and fast vehicles that can travel on land,...
television series that aired on UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
in 2000.
The series, created by writer Richard Regen, starred Costas Mandylor
Costas Mandylor
Costas Mandylor is a Greek Australian actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as Kenny in Picket Fences, and for portraying Mark Hoffman in the Saw films.-Early life:...
as Monk, a gallivanting secret agent
Secret Agent
Secret Agent is a British film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, loosely based on two stories in Ashenden: Or the British Agent by W. Somerset Maugham. The film starred John Gielgud, Peter Lorre, Madeleine Carroll, and Robert Young...
, who was one of a team of agents that included Holliday, played by Dina Meyer
Dina Meyer
Dina Meyer is an American film and television actress, best known for her roles as Dizzy Flores in Starship Troopers and Detective Allison Kerry in the Saw films. She portrayed Mrs. Hong as a recurring guest star on ABC's Scoundrels.-Personal life:Meyer was born in Queens, New York...
and Davis, played by Dondre Whitfield
Dondre Whitfield
Dondre T. Whitfield is an American television actor.-Career:Whitfield attended the Performing Arts High School in New York City, New York. He was featured on the sitcom The Cosby Show as Robert Foreman...
. The team reported to Brubeck, played by Paul Guilfoyle
Paul Guilfoyle
Paul Guilfoyle is an American television and film actor. He is currently a regular cast member of the forensic television drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation where he plays Captain Jim Brass.-Early life:...
. The frequent guest villain is the former agent Prima, played by Musetta Vander
Musetta Vander
Musetta Vander is a South African actress and model who is best known for her roles in science fiction and fantasy films.-Early life:...
.
All the lead characters share the last names of jazz musicians Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
, Billie Holliday, Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
, and Dave Brubeck
Dave Brubeck
David Warren "Dave" Brubeck is an American jazz pianist. He has written a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke". Brubeck's style ranges from refined to bombastic, reflecting his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills...
.
The series used an updated version of the 1960s hit song "Secret Agent Man
Secret Agent Man (song)
"Secret Agent Man" is a song written by Steve Barri and P. F. Sloan. The most famous recording of the song was made by Johnny Rivers for the opening titles of the American broadcast of the British spy series Danger Man, which aired in the U.S. as "Secret Agent" from 1964 to 1966...
" for its theme song. Because the original version of this song was also used as the theme song for American broadcasts of another television series, the 1960s British TV series, Danger Man
Danger Man
Danger Man is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again between 1964 and 1968. The series featured Patrick McGoohan as secret agent John Drake. Ralph Smart created the program and wrote many of the scripts...
, there were some mistaken impressions that this series was somehow a spin off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
or remake
Remake
A remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
of the earlier program, but other than the theme song, no connections were made evident.
Only 12 episodes were broadcast before the series was cancelled.
Episode titles
| № | Title | Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "From Prima with Love" | 7 March 2000 |
| 2 | "Back to School" | 14 March 2000 |
| 3 | "WhupSumAss" | 28 March 2000 |
| 4 | "Like Father, Like Monk" | 28 March 2000 |
| 5 | "Supernaked" | 4 April 2000 |
| 6 | "The Elders" | 26 May 2000 |
| 7 | "The Face" | 2 June 2000 |
| 8 | "Sleepers" | 9 June 2000 |
| 9 | "Uncle S.A.M." | 7 July 2000 |
| 10 | "Fail-Safe" | 14 July 2000 |
| 11 | "TKO Henry" | 21 July 2000 |
| 12 | "The Breach" | 28 July 2000 |