Human Target (1992– )

The cases of a unique bodyguard/detective who protects his clients from murder by impersonating them to draw the killer's fire.

Stars:

Rick Springfield, Kirk Baltz, Sami Chester

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Rick Springfield	...	Christopher Chance (7 episodes, 1992)
Kirk Baltz	...	Philo Marsden (7 episodes, 1992)
Sami Chester	...	Jeff Carlyle (7 episodes, 1992)
Signy Coleman	...	Libby Page (7 episodes, 1992)

Storyline

A Vietnam vet named Chance sets up a unique service for people who feel their lives are threatened. For a fee, the client goes into hiding while the Human Target impersonates him, hoping to draw the killers out.

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Plot Keywords:

impersonator | mistaken identity | disguise | impersonation | private detective | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 July 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Maske

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (7 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Human Target (2010)

User Reviews

Didn't match much of the comic

As mentioned, this series was based on a small comic-book character who mostly appeared as a back-up feature in Detective Comics and Action Comics, among others. I think most people heard, "based on a comic book" and immediately thought, "What, a character wearing spandex and a target on his chest."

Christopher Chance's real story is that he is a private detective and master of disguise whose specialty is impersonating people who believe they have been marked for murder, thus taking their place in the crosshairs and earning the nickname, "the Human Target." His motivation comes from the fact that he failed to protect his father, who was gunned down. Chris tried to take the bullet for his dad and swore he wouldn't fail to protect others.

I guess Bilson & DeMeo thought that was a little too ordinary, so they made his disguise skills the part of a high-tech setup in a stealth jet with assistants. In the comics, Chance lived in a studio above a Boston restaurant, whose owner acted as his receptionist of sorts.

The stories were not too shabby, but the problem with a series about a master of disguise is that the guest-star does most of the big moves and heroics to maintain the illusion. Rick Springfield sat around while John Wesley Shipp or Scott Paulin kicked ass. ;)

I simply thought the high-tech angle wasn't necessary or cost-effective.