The Original Magnum P.I. Appreciation Thread (1 Viewer)

[Jeff Flugel]

Well lookie here, Darin...we've finally arrived at 100 posts! It's been slow going, but I appreciate you hanging in there with me. I've been enjoying getting reacquainted with these early Magnums, and hope to keep going, albeit at my slug-like pace, for the forseeable future - if only for my own amusement.

 

[ScottRE]

I seriously need to pick up the complete series set....

 

[Blimpoy06]

I seriously need to pick up the complete series set....

I've seen the complete series DVD sets recently at Walmart. I didn't look at the price, but it's usually reasonable there.

 

[ScottRE]

About $70, if I recall correctly. I saw it when I was looking for Lost in Space in widescreen (which was sold out interestingly).

 

[Jeff Flugel]

1.15 "Don't Say Goodbye"

Magnum is asked by elderly blind friend, Agatha (Mercedes McCambridge), to handle a blackmail transaction involving her granddaughter, Amy, and not dig for any further details. But when the blackmailer is killed, and several attempts are made on Agatha's life, Magnum has no choice but to disregard her wishes and get to the bottom of the case...

This is a pretty good one, buoyed by a heartfelt portrayal by Ms. McCambridge. The story is not particularly complicated, as has often been the case in this first season, but builds to a satisfyingly emotional payoff at the end. It's also fun to see an early guest turn by Ted Danson, as Amy's skeevy husband. Magnum is not amused by this guy's jealous behavior, and gives him the death stare.





Rick and T.C. have their usual brief but amusing scenes with Magnum, and - lo and behold - T.C. finally gets paid for his helicopter piloting services...by basically helping himself to the fat wad of cash Agatha has given to Thomas, in lieu of paying the blackmailer. (Thomas somehow doesn't make this connection until it's too late and T.C. already has the money in hand for "safe keeping.") Higgins has a few fun scenes, exasperated at having to act as Magnum's answering service. He's convinced that our frequently poverty-stricken P.I. hero has once again neglected to pay his phone bill...but it turns out that Higgins' "lads" are actually to blame, having chewed through the phone lines - a fact which Thomas is all too happy to rub in Higgins' face.

Our "Magnum Babe of the Week," Andrea Marcovicci (who plays Amy), racked up a decent career in television, appearing on numerous series throughout the '70s and '80s, including Mannix, Kojak, Baretta, Hill Street Blues, The Incredible Hulk, Voyagers, Trapper John, MD and Murder She Wrote, among others. She returned to Magnum in season 2, episode 10, "The Sixth Position." She's cute, and a pretty good actress as well.

It's been a good while since I've dipped into this show, and it was like slipping back into a nice pair of comfy slippers. While it doesn't always deliver intricate mysteries and bruising action, Magnum, PI is just such a fun "hangout" show. I like these characters and enjoy watching them do their thing.

 

[Rick Thompson]

Our "Magnum Babe of the Week," Andrea Marcovicci (who plays Amy), racked up a decent career in television, appearing on numerous series throughout the '70s and '80s, including Mannix, Kojak, Baretta, Hill Street Blues, The Incredible Hulk, Voyagers, Trapper John, MD and Murder She Wrote, among others. She returned to Magnum in season 2, episode 10, "The Sixth Position." She's cute, and a pretty good actress as well.

She also gave a fine performance in the well-written TV movie Smile Jenny, You're Dead, which was the second (and successful) pilot for David Janssen's Harry O series. She also starred and played the title role in a musical, Nefertiti, which closed out of town but did get a (now rare) cast album.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

She also gave a fine performance in the well-written TV movie Smile Jenny, You're Dead, which was the second (and successful) pilot for David Janssen's Harry O series. She also starred and played the title role in a musical, Nefertiti, which closed out of town but did get a (now rare) cast album.

Thanks for the additional info on Andrea Marcovicci, Rick! I have the Harry-O season 1 set but don't have (and haven't seen) the two pilot telefilms. I'll have to snag Smile Jenny, You're Dead from Warner Archive at some point.

 

[Jasper70]

Really enjoying the HD version on iTunes. Looks leaps and bounds better than the DVDs. Of course I have seen all episodes multiple times but being HD it’s giving them new life.

 

[Jasper70]

My tv did a software update that had to do with HDR. The difference is incredible. Now everything is brighter and the definition is even better. Takes this Magnum in HD to a new level. Just happened today so I’m even happier than my post from yesterday.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

1.16 "The Black Orchid"

Louise (Judith Chapman), the bored fruit loop of a wife married to one of the islands' richest men (John Ireland), hires Magnum to take part in her elaborate Philip Marlowe-esque fantasy games. At first, Magnum is a little embarrassed, but soon starts to enjoy himself. He even throws a little work Rick and T.C.'s way, hiring them to pose as a couple of thugs and "attack" him and Judith on the street in one of her pulp fiction scenarios. However, when Judith drinks poisoned coffee in Magnum's guest house, the game suddenly becomes all too real. Someone is actually trying to kill her, and Magnum is determined to find out who and why..

Yet another somewhat unique plot here, continuing to show the variety of cases and people Magnum has to deal with in his chosen profession. This one's also has a few notables in the guest cast. Classic film fans will of course recognize John Ireland from past work, such as Red River, Spartacus, 55 Days in Peking and countless roles in TV westerns. He gets a few meaty scenes near the end of the episode. Kathryn Leigh Scott (of Dark Shadows fame) also co-stars, as Judith's sister, Christie.





Rick and T.C. barely get a look in this episode, but Higgins is front and center, in an amusing running gag about redecorating Magnum's bachelor pad in a garish shade of magenta. And he's most impressed when Judith picks Magnum up in an extremely rare, vintage Rolls Royce. "Oh, it's just a car," she replies, absentmindedly. Higgins is nonplussed by such a blase reaction to such a beautiful machine.

Our "Magnum Babe of the Week," Judith Chapman, does a good job portraying the somewhat annoying, neurotic, spoiled yet essentially decent nature of her character. She also has very striking, large grey eyes. Most of her career has been spent toiling away in soap operas, but she cropped up in numerous TV shows in the '70s and '80s. I must have seen her before, but she doesn't stand out in my memory. Of course, I pay more attention these days...

For the first time that I can remember in S1, one of the "freeze frame" scenes played during the end credits is taken from an obviously cut scene, in which we see Magnum emerge from the surf dripping and shirtless, ala Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, while Judith and Christie look on admiringly, before asking Higgins about him.

I enjoyed this one quite a bit, but I'm particularly excited to move on to the next episode, "J. Digger Doyle," which features super hottie Erin Gray from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, and seems to be regarded as one of the highlights of the first season.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

This one is a classic. Written by the man himself, Don Bellisario. It's got it all. Action, humor, plot twists and an awesome woman in Erin Grey. What more is there to say?
View attachment 56381

Here we are, a full year after this thread started up, and I've finally arrived at this much ballyhooed episode. And oh man, was Darin not kidding in the slightest about this one. What a fantastic show, hands down the best in this first season.

1.17 "J. Digger Doyle"

A group of mercenaries are after the tape recordings of Robin Masters' newest novel. They try to waylay him in France, but his bodyguard is hip to the ruse and whisks Robin safely away. For the first time, we hear Orson Welles' voice as Robin Masters, as he cruises around in his private jet, living the high life and dictating prose so purple and turgid that it makes the viewer doubt how his books could have possibly sold more than a half-dozen copies, let alone bring him such enormous wealth.

Back in Hawaii, Magnum makes the acquaintance of an exceedingly attractive woman named Joy Doyle, nicknamed "Digger," after she dashes past him whilst he's jogging on the beach. The smitten Magnum thinks she's just a big Robin Masters' fangirl, and so takes her back to the estate to show her around...but it turns out that she's actually a security expert working for a company called Star Guard (sounds more like a cheesy '70s sci-fi show to me), hired by Masters' to check up on security at the estate, and has hustled Magnum to prove how easy it would be to breach security there. Needless to say, Higgins is mortified at this lapse, and privately plans to tender his resignation. Magnum reads Digger the riot act after the dressing down she gives Higgins, and her ice queen exterior begins to thaw a little, as she requests his help, along with that of T.C. and Rick (she's studied their files and knows their expertise) in guarding the estate, in case of attack upon Robin's arrival.

Higgins ends up kidnapped, drugged and held captive in a remote power station, leading to a daring mountain descent and rescue by Thomas and Digger, amusingly punctuated by Higgins, having been given a truth serum, blathering on and on about his desert exploits with the Tuaregs in WWII.





Once again, the seemingly lackadaisical Magnum's sharp detective instincts save the day, and we are treated to a nifty action climax, as the enemy storms the gates of the estate. Higgins poses as Robin to throw off the baddies while T.C. choppers the real Robin away, after he has retrieved the tapes from their hiding place...which turns out to have been in Thomas' music collection!

Everything in this one just clicks; it's like the show has been taxiing down the runway all season long and has just now taken to the skies in full flight. It helps that Erin Gray is just gobsmackingly beautiful, and shares great chemistry with Tom Selleck. She easily wins the award for "Magnum Babe of the Season"; not only does she look stunning and adeptly conveys the soft, vulnerable side to her authoritative, perfectionist demeanor...she also gets to be a badass, holding her own in the smarts and action departments with Selleck. Ms. Gray of course had just achieved fame at the time (at least in the minds of teenage fanboys everywhere) as Col. Wilma Deering, in the cult sci-fi series, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

Donald Bellasario's script is chock full of winning character details, including the continuing, burgeoning respect and, yes, affection, shared between Magnum and Higgins. We also get lots of fascinating background info on Higgins' life and a clearer picture of the geography and layout of the Masters' estate. Rick gets to flex his "weapons expert" muscles in the climactic firefight (and, earlier, wax lyrical upon the benefits of a fruit juice only diet), and this may be the first instance of T.C. calling Higgins "Higgy Baby." There's also a funny bit in which Magnum sabotages T.C.'s lucrative week-long flying contract to force him into helping the security operation at Robin's.

It's a pity that Gray's J. Digger Doyle character never got a follow-up appearance, as sometimes happened with this show. Oh, well, perhaps it was better for her to flash those dazzling pearly whites and leave us wanting more...

Only one more episode left to close out the first season...though I highly doubt "Beauty Knows No Pain" will have any hope of living up to this one.

 

[mark-edk]

FYI iTunes has the complete series of Magnum PI in HD for $19.99. That's a crazy bargain and I'd snap it up if I didn't already buy it the last time it was on sale. No telling how long this price will be active...

https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/magnum-p-i-the-complete-series/id1401006790

 

[Jeff Flugel]

FYI iTunes has the complete series of Magnum PI in HD for $19.99. That's a crazy bargain and I'd snap it up if I didn't already buy it the last time it was on sale. No telling how long this price will be active...

https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/magnum-p-i-the-complete-series/id1401006790

That is indeed a steal of a deal.

Tried to buy the complete series on iTunes, but it's not available for residents of Japan, alas (probably because my credit card was issued from a Japanese bank). Oh, well...thanks anyway, Mark!

U.S. residents, hop on this deal!

 

[Electricmastro]

Watched the first 12 episodes, and Thicker Than Blood would have to be my favorite episode so far.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

Watched the first 12 episodes, and Thicker Than Blood would have to be my favorite episode so far.

Thanks for chiming in with your thoughts on Magnum P.I. season one, Dan! I agree with you that "Thicker Than Blood" is a strong episode. Just wait till you get to "J. Digger Doyle"! Be sure to let us know what you think as you continue watching the series.

 

[Electricmastro]

I liked that one too. Made it up to season 3 as of now, and Did You See the Sun Rise? Is now my favorite. The second is probably Memories Are Forever.

 

[Blimpoy06]

Did You See the Sun Rise? Is now my favorite. The second is probably Memories Are Forever.

Those two episodes are the cornerstones of the series. They sum up who Magnum is and what he will become by the end of the series. More great episodes to come.

 

[Electricmastro]

Watched Two Birds of a Feather and I’m not sure I got why Magnum felt the pilot seemed familiar.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

This thread has been moribund for a long time, so I'd thought I'd revive it, at least temporarily, with some reviews of various episodes I've watched so far this year, after receiving Mill Creek's very nice Magnum, PI Complete Series Blu-Ray set back in January. While I skipped around the series a bit in my sampling of episodes, we'll start back up right where I left off, lo these many years ago, with the S1 closer:

1.18 “Beauty Knows No Pain”
Barbara Terranova (Marcia Wallace), a gregarious fitness instructor from Bayonne, New Jersey, only has enough money to hire Magnum for 24 hours to find her fiancé, Roger (Jim Weston), who’s hiding out somewhere on the islands, hunted by both the Feds and a mob hitman. In the meantime, Magnum finds himself coerced by TC, Rick and Higgins to enter the grueling Ironman competition, with his client Barbara acting as his coach. Ms. Wallace, only marginally annoying here, is probably best known for her work on The Bob Newhart Show, as well as voicing Bart’s teacher Mrs. Krabappel on The Simpsons up until her death in 2013.

The abbreviated first season of Magnum goes out with a fun if minor effort. Personally, if I had been show creator/ executive producer Donald P. Bellasario, I would have switched this one around with its immediate predecessor, "J. Digger Doyle," which would have made a far more memorable capper to the first season (IMO, it's easily the best episode of S1). That's not to say that "Beauty Knows No Pain" is bad by any stretch...it's just average.

2.1 “Billy Joe Bob”
Season 2 starts out strong with a fine entry guest starring James Whitmore, Jr. as hotheaded Texan Billy Joe Bob Little, who hires Magnum to find his sister, Carol Ann (Marla Pennington), a nightclub singer who has gone missing under suspicious circumstances. Magnum digs further and finds out Carol Ann was actually working as a hooker and has connections to a Japanese crime lord (Seth Sakai, in the second of six appearances on the series) who runs a drug and prostitution racket. I appreciated that the script didn’t treat Billy Joe as a clueless yokel, but in fact a competent and formidable (if reckless) individual.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

2.3 “The Woman on the Beach”
In a prologue set in the summer of 1945, beautiful, wealthy socialite Sara Clifford (Judith Chapman) is murdered, her death subsequently ruled a suicide, presumed drowned after her car is driven off a cliff. Years later, Rick meets a woman dressed in white named Sara in the King Kamehameha Club, and they share an intense connection…but immediately after a romantic kiss when walking on the beach, the woman suddenly disappears. Did Rick encounter the restless ghost of Sara Clifford, said by locals to sometimes prowl the beach at night, or is something more prosaic going on? Jack Hogan and Kenneth Mars round out the cast in this atmospheric if slightly far-fetched entry.

2.4 “From Moscow to Maui”
A defected Russian pilot named Yuri Dolgof (Jeff Pomerantz) hires Magnum to get his fiancée Nina, a member of a Soviet track team training in Hawaii, to defect as well. But Magnum’s “little voice” tells him something doesn’t smell right. Higgins, Rick and TC all pitch in to assist when it turns out that the Russians are using Nina to lure Yuri into a trap. Another solid episode, demonstrating how everything on the show had gelled by the second season, and found a consistently entertaining groove.