australian television information archive

The Dream Team

Episode 1.01
Australia: Feb 13, 1999 (Seven)
Canada: October 02, 1999 (CBC)
Writer: Philip Dalkin
Director: Esben Storm

A coded message on the 'net becomes an irresistible puzzle for five kids — Mike, Pi, Bec, Marcello and Ram. Following the clues leads them all to a meeting with Alexandra Davis, head of software company Catalyst, and jobs testing video games after school! The job of their dreams brings unexpected surprises including the discovery of Virgil, a strange artificial intelligence loose on the 'net.

Starring: Frances Wang as Bec, Damien Bodie as Ram, Cassandra Magrath as Pi, Paul Pantano as Marcello, Nikolai Nikolaeff as Mike, Nicki Wendt as Alex

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Richard Moss as Nigel, Luke Roland as Opponent, Sam Carroll as Paper Boy, Fred Lee as Lee Chan, Margie Nunn as June Foley, Louise Siverson as Zoe Hanson

Identity Crisis

Episode 1.02
Australia: February 20, 1999
Canada: October 09, 1999
Writer: Philip Dalkin
Director: Ray Boseley

Testing Alex's new game "Trillin", the kids encounter Virgil, who is having an identity crisis. Surprised at their discovery, Alex is worried that Virgil might be a spy for rival company Sunijim. An offended Virgil gets the kids to help him prove that he is not a spy — but Virgil can't remember who he really is! The kids discover Virgil has actually grown from a program created by Alex!

With: Jane Badler as Eleanor Renfrey, Glen Drummond as Pizza Delivery Boy, Christopher Stevenson as Caretaker.

Undercover

Episode 1.03
Australia: February 27, 1999
Canada: October 16, 1999
Writer: Philip Dalkin
Director: Esben Storm

Alex's valuable necklace goes missing at Catalyst and everyone is a suspect. Pi particularly feels that she needs to prove her innocence although Virgil's idea of helping by downloading detective stories from the 'net is making things more difficult. When Marcello's little sister Sam is lost on the streets, the kids have two demanding cases on their hands.

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Richard Moss as Nigel, Mark Casamento as Vinnie, Mary Sitarenos as Elissa Di Campili, Blair Ippolito as Sam Di Campili, et al

Note: complete cast credits for this episode do not exist, the ones displayed in the end credits are for episode four.

Big Business

Episode 1.04
Australia: March 06, 1999
Canada: October 23, 1999
Writer: Max Dann
Director: Ray Boseley

Marcello tries to make money selling Ram's new invention. Ram, realising Marcello is ripping him off, dissolves the partnership and then sells one of his amazing new video game converter to a strange girl, Louise. Unfortunately Louise's TV blows up and she blames Ram. Will the other kids be able to save Ram before he becomes a meal for Louise's huge dog "Predator"? Meanwhile, Bec's future at Catalyst is uncertain when her father learns she is working there.

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Richard Moss as Nigel, Louise Siverson as Zoe Hansen, James Patrick Reed as Dave Hansen, Helen Neville as Louise, Heath Campbell McLean as Football Star, Fred Lee as Lee Chan, Sharon Chang as Rose Lee, Tuvok as Predator, Maggie Nunn as June Foley, Janine Con as Miss Hodgson

It's Only Words

Episode 1.05
Australia: March 13, 1999
Canada: October 30, 1999
Writer: Anthony Morris
Director: Esben Storm

A computer virus invades Catalyst and it's a fight against the clock to save Alex's game "Trillin" and indeed, the whole of Catalyst. The kids are not at their best as there is friction between Mike and Bec. Bec believes he should have stood up for her when his friends made racist comments to her. No matter how much Mike apologises, the team is edgy.

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Richard Moss as Nigel, Hsu Ching Wong as Bec's Cousin #1, Rafi Recht as Flea, Yang Li as Mr Wang, Jay Allen as Techo #1, Masa Yamaguchi as Mr Hashimoto

Secrets and Lies

Episode 1.06
Australia: March 20, 1999
Canada: November 06, 1999
Writer: Philip Dalkin
Director: Pino Amenta

Bec is intrigued and delighted by a 'net romance she is pursuing. The boys are skeptical and their worst fears are realised when they find out it's really Virgil writing love letters to Bec. Pi tries to think of a way to save Bec from the humiliation of finding out she is romancing an artificial intelligence! How can she do this when her own lies are getting her deeper in trouble herself?

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Richard Moss as Nigel, Warwick Mickie as Waiter

Truth Hurts

Episode 1.07
Australia: March 27, 1999
Canada: November 13, 1999
Writer: Shane Brennan
Director: Ray Boseley

Pi and Bec are asked by Alex to design a game to appeal to girls. The game, "Boyfriends" is about the trials and tribulations of teenage romance. The trouble is Bec and Pi have very different ideas about what it means to be a girl. The game is a mess and when Mike tries to use it to bring his separated parents closer, everyone realises they have got a lot to learn about emotions and life.

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Richard Moss as Nigel, Louise Siverson as Zoe Hansen, James Patrick Reed as Dave Hansen, Don White as Maitre'D.

No News is Good News

Episode 1.08
Australia: April 03, 1999
Canada: November 20, 1999
Writer: Kevin Nemeth
Director: Pino Amenta

The kids are alone at Catalyst and having a great time when Kimberley arrives. She is a news reporter, there to do a story on the testers. Mike is flattered but the other kids begin to suspect she's a spy. Pi finally succeeds in getting rid of Kimberley only to find her own mother has tracked her to Catalyst. Pi is unmasked. Now everybody knows she's really a rich kid with a famous father and not a street kid at all!

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Richard Moss as Nigel, Jane Badler as Eleanor Renfrey, Nick Freedman as Brad Kane, David Beresh as Pizza Shop Owner, Jarod Carmen as Good Looking Guy, Jane Hall as Kimberley Hart, Hugh Sexton as Cameraman

Birthday

Episode 1.09
Australia: April 10, 1999
Canada: November 27, 1999
Writer: Kevin Nemeth
Director: Esben Storm

Marcello's unemployed father is acting strangely and Marcello becomes convinced his father is going to kill himself. Meanwhile, Bec has created her own game about gnomes. The kids, confused by Pi's depression, Bec's game and Marcello's weirdness, are unsure exactly who is really cracking up.

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Richard Moss as Nigel, Mark Casamento as Vinnie, Vince D'Amica as Tony Di Campili, Serge De Nardo as Uncle Serge

Leap of Faith

Episode 1.10
Australia: April 17, 1999
Canada: December 04, 1999
Writers: Kevin Nemeth and Philip Dalkin
Director: Pino Amenta

Leo Moore arrives at Catalyst with a game he has invented and Alex is very keen to put money into it. Mike smells a rat, and not just because Leo seems to be attracted to Pi. When Mike realises Leo's stolen the game, he combines with Pi to save Alex from embarrassment. This brings Mike and Pi closer together which surprises them both.

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Richard Moss as Nigel, Fletcher Humphrys as Leo Moore, Louise Siverson as Zoe Hansen, Terry Kenwrick as Jack, Julian Martin-Skehan as Denny Flaherty

Heroes

Episode 1.11
Australia: April 24, 1999
Canada: December 11, 1999
Writer: Kevin Nemeth
Director: Ray Boseley

Marcello feels rejected when Alex dismisses his idea for a video game based on Virgil. Mike too is deflated when he finds that his hero, Stig MacAllister, creator of his favourite comic, is rude and aggressive. Tempted by an offer from Sunijim representative Brad Kane, Marcello eventually realises Brad is an even bigger scammer than himself.

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Richard Moss as Nigel, Blair Ippolito as Sam Di Campili, James Patrick Reed as Dave Hansen, Nick Freedman as Brad Kane, Stig Wemyss as Stig MacAllister, Gloria Ajensstat as Irma, Tahu Marumaru as Security Guard, Lindy Ferguson as Receptionist

The Shadow

Episode 1.12
Australia: May 01, 1999
Canada: December 18, 1999
Writer: Anthony Morris
Director: Pino Amenta

Marcello throws Catalyst into uproar when he uses Virgil to hack into Alex's system in search of the phone number for Alex's famous father. Alex brings in legendary hacker-tracker J.D. Moon to find the security breach. Marcello is too scared to own up to his foolishness and as J.D. Moon gets closer to the truth, the kids have to choose whether to help Marcello or not. When Alex discovers the truth, she fires Marcello!

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Richard Moss as Nigel, Kyle Wright as J.D. Moon

The Outsider

Episode 1.13
Australia: May 08, 1999
Canada: December 25, 1999
Writer: Philip Dalkin
Director: Stephen Johnson

When Virgil goes missing after confiding in Ram, it's obvious to the kids that Sunijim have somehow captured him. Marcello sees this as a way to redeem himself in Alex's eyes and, with his friends' help, infiltrates Sunijim in an attempt to rescue Virgil from Brad Kane. When Marcello gets into difficulties, the team use all their computer skills to save Marcello and Virgil, reuniting the Crash Zone team.

With: Matthew Parkinson as Virgil, Richard Moss as Nigel, Nick Freedman as Brad Kane, Mark Casamento as Vinnie, Clare O'Sullivan as Receptionist, Anthea Davis as Security Guard #1, Tahu Marumaro as Security Guard #2, Gary Shambrooke as Security Guard #3, Eric Harrington as Security Guard #4