Tropical Heat
Encyclopedia
Tropical Heat was a Canadian TV series produced in cooperation with Mexico
and Israel
that aired between 1991 and 1993 (and in the US eventually as part of the CBS
umbrella series Crimetime After Primetime
).
The plot revolved around private investigator
, ex-DEA
agent Nick Slaughter who after arriving in the fictional resort town of Key Mariah, Florida and setting up a detective agency there, met up with local tourist agent Silvie Girard to solve a variety of different cases.
The series ran for three seasons totaling 66 episodes. Season one was filmed in Puerto Vallarta
, Mexico due to tax breaks the production was eligible for under the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA). Season two was filmed in Eilat, Israel. Season three was filmed in Pretoria
, South Africa, with some sequences shot on the Isle of Mauritius
.
Lead actor Rob Stewart purportedly met his bride in Mexico during filming of the first season.
The series was particularly popular in Serbia
, where it gained cult status
. In a tumultuous social environment – with UN trade embargo imposed on the country and civil war raging nearby – Nick Slaughter's character became, jokingly, a tongue-in-cheek role model and eventually even a symbol of oppositional politics, particularly among the urban youth. It was broadcast on four Serbian television stations – TV Politika
, NS+, RTS 3K
, and RTV Pink
– during the 1990s and rerun numerous times. Aside from its dry humor and exciting plot, the show was extremely well received because its idyllic tropical island atmosphere was an absolute contrast to mid-1990s Serbia. The reruns in the then-isolated country made the show immensely popular, turning it into a minor national cultural phenomenon.
The "movement" to establish Nick Slaughter as a symbolic national hero probably began in the Belgrade suburb of Žarkovo
where, brilliantly posted by unknown idle-minded author, the first now-legendary graffiti "Sloteru Niče, Žarkovo ti kliče" ("Nick Slaughter, Žarkovo hails you", which rhymes in Serbian
) appeared on walls. Soon afterward during the massive months-long protests throughout winter 1996/1997 against the election fraud perpetrated by Slobodan Milošević
and his party
at the November 1996 local elections, the slogan "Slotera Nika, za predsednika" ("Nick Slaughter for President", also rhymes in Serbian) became popular on banners and badges as a symbol of opposition to the regime. Another popular slogan was "Svakoj majci treba da je dika, koja ima sina k'o Slotera Nika" ("Every mother should be proud to have a son like Nick Slaughter"). Serbian punk band Atheist Rap
paid a tribute to the series' protagonist in the song "Slaughteru Nietzsche" with its graffiti-based chorus "Sloteru Niče, Srbija ti kliče" ("Nick Slaughter, Serbia hails you") on their 1998 album Druga liga Zapad.
Many local bars, taverns, and summer patios in Serbia got named "Tropical Heat", in honour of Nick Slaughter and the popular TV show. They were usually located along the rivers, to resemble "The Key Mariah Spirit".
Apparently, nobody associated with the show was aware of its extraordinary popularity in Serbia until December 2008 when Canadian actor Rob Stewart who played Nick Slaughter in the series accidentally discovered it by stumbling upon a Facebook fan group named "Tropical Heat/Nick Slaughter" with some 17,000 (mostly Serbian) followers. After familiarizing himself with the cause and the circumstances of his Serbian fame, now mostly unemployed 48-year-old Stewart, along with a filmmaker friend Marc Vespi and his sister Liza, decided to attempt to make a documentary on the subject titled Slaughter Nick for President. To that end, they contacted the band Atheist Rap and it was soon arranged for Rob to appear on stage as their guest at the To Be Punk Festival in Novi Sad
on June 6.
By late March 2009 the news got leaked to Serbian press and several media outlets carried items that Rob Stewart will be coming to Serbia in May or early June as guest of Atheist Rap in order to film a documentary on his character's popularity in the country during the 1990s. In the meantime, Stewart and his partners also got in touch with Srđa Popović, former activist of Otpor!, the Serbian student movement that played a significant role in eventually bringing down Milošević. On June 3, 2009, Stewart/Slaughter arrived in Belgrade to a hero's welcome with enormous media attention afforded to his visit. With Atheist Rap and Popović as their hosts and guides through Serbia, and in between the documentary shooting schedule, Stewart made the media rounds, appearing on talk shows (Piramida and Fajront Republika
), giving interviews, and making public appearances such as planting of the maple
trees in Žarkovo with John Morrison, Canadian ambassador to Serbia.
As a result of their June 2009 stay in Belgrade and Novi Sad, a 6-minute documentary promo was put together and entered in the Roma Fiction Fest in Rome, Italy on July 8, 2009 under the "work in progress" section.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
that aired between 1991 and 1993 (and in the US eventually as part of the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
umbrella series Crimetime After Primetime
Crimetime After Primetime
Crimetime After Primetime is the umbrella title for a group of late-night crime-investigation shows that debuted at various times on CBS during 1991 and 1992, running through late summer of 1993. The series was dropped when CBS began broadcasting Late Show with David Letterman...
).
The plot revolved around private investigator
Private investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
, ex-DEA
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
agent Nick Slaughter who after arriving in the fictional resort town of Key Mariah, Florida and setting up a detective agency there, met up with local tourist agent Silvie Girard to solve a variety of different cases.
The series ran for three seasons totaling 66 episodes. Season one was filmed in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a Mexican balneario resort city situated on the Pacific Ocean's Bahía de Banderas.The 2010 census reported Puerto Vallarta's population as 255,725 making it the sixth-largest city in the state of Jalisco...
, Mexico due to tax breaks the production was eligible for under the North American Free Trade Agreement
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
(NAFTA). Season two was filmed in Eilat, Israel. Season three was filmed in Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
, South Africa, with some sequences shot on the Isle of Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
.
Lead actor Rob Stewart purportedly met his bride in Mexico during filming of the first season.
Cast
- Rob Stewart ..... Nick Slaughter
- Carolyn DunnCarolyn DunnCarolyn Dunn is a Canadian actress. Her notable roles include Silvie Gerard, the business partner/sidekick on Tropical Heat . She is a native of Whitney Pier on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.-External links:...
..... Silvie Girard - John David Bland ..... Ian Stewart (1991–92)
- Ian TraceyIan TraceyIan Tracey is a Canadian Leo- and Gemini Award-winning actor. Over the years, Tracey has participated in over seventy films and television series. Tracey has starred in series like Da Vinci's Inquest and Intelligence, both CBC television series produced by long-time colleague Chris Haddock...
..... Spider Garvin (1992–93) - Eugene ClarkEugene Clark (actor)-Football career:Before he began acting, he played college football. He was an all-conference offensive guard at UCLA and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the ninth round of the 1975 NFL Draft...
..... Ollie Porter (1991–92) - Pedro Armendáriz Jr.Pedro Armendáriz Jr.Pedro Armendáriz, Jr. is a Mexican actor.- Life and career :Armendáriz Jr. was born in Mexico City, the son of actors Carmelita and Pedro Armendáriz. He has been married to actress Ofelia Medina....
..... Lt. Carillo (1991–92) - Ari Sorko-Ram ..... Sgt. Gregory (1992–93)
- Allen Nashman ..... Rollie (1992–93)
- Graeme CampbellGraeme CampbellGraeme Campbell is an Australian politician. He represented the vast seat of Kalgoorlie in the Australian House of Representatives from 1980 to 1998....
..... Rupert
Popularity in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, where it gained cult status
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
. In a tumultuous social environment – with UN trade embargo imposed on the country and civil war raging nearby – Nick Slaughter's character became, jokingly, a tongue-in-cheek role model and eventually even a symbol of oppositional politics, particularly among the urban youth. It was broadcast on four Serbian television stations – TV Politika
Politika
Politika is a Serbian newspaper. It is considered the newspaper of record and is the oldest daily in the Balkans, having been founded on January 25, 1904 by Vladislav Ribnikar. It is currently being published by Politika Newspapers and Magazines , a joint venture between Politika AD and...
, NS+, RTS 3K
Radio Television of Serbia
Radio Television of Serbia or Serbian Broadcasting Corporation is the public broadcaster in Serbia. It broadcasts and produces a variety of news, drama, and sports programming through radio, television and the Internet. RTS is, since July 2001, a member of the European Broadcasting Union. RTS is...
, and RTV Pink
RTV Pink
RTV Pink or Radio-Television Pink is a popular, privately-owned, national TV network in Serbia. Pink is the leading commercial station in the Serbian television broadcast market. TV Pink has gained a strong reputation for its entertainment programming...
– during the 1990s and rerun numerous times. Aside from its dry humor and exciting plot, the show was extremely well received because its idyllic tropical island atmosphere was an absolute contrast to mid-1990s Serbia. The reruns in the then-isolated country made the show immensely popular, turning it into a minor national cultural phenomenon.
The "movement" to establish Nick Slaughter as a symbolic national hero probably began in the Belgrade suburb of Žarkovo
Žarkovo
Žarkovo is an urban neighborhood of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is located in Belgrade's municipality of Čukarica.- Location and Divisions :...
where, brilliantly posted by unknown idle-minded author, the first now-legendary graffiti "Sloteru Niče, Žarkovo ti kliče" ("Nick Slaughter, Žarkovo hails you", which rhymes in Serbian
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
) appeared on walls. Soon afterward during the massive months-long protests throughout winter 1996/1997 against the election fraud perpetrated by Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
and his party
Socialist Party of Serbia
The Socialist Party of Serbia is officially a democratic socialist political party in Serbia. It is also widely recognized as a de facto Serbian nationalist party, though the party itself does not officially acknowledge this...
at the November 1996 local elections, the slogan "Slotera Nika, za predsednika" ("Nick Slaughter for President", also rhymes in Serbian) became popular on banners and badges as a symbol of opposition to the regime. Another popular slogan was "Svakoj majci treba da je dika, koja ima sina k'o Slotera Nika" ("Every mother should be proud to have a son like Nick Slaughter"). Serbian punk band Atheist Rap
Atheist Rap
Atheist Rap is a Serbian punk rock band from Novi Sad.- 1980s :The idea of forming Atheist Rap came to vocalists Aleksandar Popov, also known as "Dr. Pop", and Vladimir Kozbašić, also known as "Pećinko" at the Rambo Amadeus concert, which took place on November 29, 1988 at the local club Mašinac,...
paid a tribute to the series' protagonist in the song "Slaughteru Nietzsche" with its graffiti-based chorus "Sloteru Niče, Srbija ti kliče" ("Nick Slaughter, Serbia hails you") on their 1998 album Druga liga Zapad.
Apparently, nobody associated with the show was aware of its extraordinary popularity in Serbia until December 2008 when Canadian actor Rob Stewart who played Nick Slaughter in the series accidentally discovered it by stumbling upon a Facebook fan group named "Tropical Heat/Nick Slaughter" with some 17,000 (mostly Serbian) followers. After familiarizing himself with the cause and the circumstances of his Serbian fame, now mostly unemployed 48-year-old Stewart, along with a filmmaker friend Marc Vespi and his sister Liza, decided to attempt to make a documentary on the subject titled Slaughter Nick for President. To that end, they contacted the band Atheist Rap and it was soon arranged for Rob to appear on stage as their guest at the To Be Punk Festival in Novi Sad
Novi Sad
Novi Sad is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District. The city is located in the southern part of Pannonian Plain on the Danube river....
on June 6.
By late March 2009 the news got leaked to Serbian press and several media outlets carried items that Rob Stewart will be coming to Serbia in May or early June as guest of Atheist Rap in order to film a documentary on his character's popularity in the country during the 1990s. In the meantime, Stewart and his partners also got in touch with Srđa Popović, former activist of Otpor!, the Serbian student movement that played a significant role in eventually bringing down Milošević. On June 3, 2009, Stewart/Slaughter arrived in Belgrade to a hero's welcome with enormous media attention afforded to his visit. With Atheist Rap and Popović as their hosts and guides through Serbia, and in between the documentary shooting schedule, Stewart made the media rounds, appearing on talk shows (Piramida and Fajront Republika
Fajront Republika
Fajront Republika is a Serbian talk show / sketch show that airs weekly on Prva Srpska Televizija since December 21, 2008....
), giving interviews, and making public appearances such as planting of the maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
trees in Žarkovo with John Morrison, Canadian ambassador to Serbia.
As a result of their June 2009 stay in Belgrade and Novi Sad, a 6-minute documentary promo was put together and entered in the Roma Fiction Fest in Rome, Italy on July 8, 2009 under the "work in progress" section.