MacGyver/Discuss episode of the week

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KateR
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Re: MacGyver/Discuss episode of the week

Post by KateR »

NiLa wrote: You can see that the producers were trying to find MacGyver's character and voice, but I like the first seasons as much as the later seasons, when RDA and MacGyver were coming closer.
I also felt that in the earliest episodes MacGyver was more "even tempered" in the sense that we rarely saw him laughing, or angry, or scared, or exasperated. He seemed to take everything in stride with a sort of quiet determination that often came across as confidence even though he wasn't really feeling that way. For example, in The Gauntlet when Kate says, "You make it sound so easy," and he responds "That's to keep me from thinking about how scared I am." That was such a refreshing character trait in those days, compared to the other TV heroes at the time who faced danger with bravado and weapons. I found that aspect of MacGyver very appealing. But I also enjoyed the personality that we started to see as the character began to emerge and to blend a bit with RDA. I think it finally took Jack Dalton to bring out some of that exasperation and the emotions we started to see more of later. ;)
NiLa wrote:One tiny bit to say: MacGyver must have loved his outfit....because he had to identical shirts, trousers, shoes.....in the beginning, when taking the job at the lab....and in the end when playing basketball with his little friend....although he had ruined it during his "lab tour" :lol: :lol: :lol:
:lol: I love finding those little things in episodes. I was going to include them in the Lexicon, but I know I will miss many of them. Of course the ONLY explanation for the matching shirts MUST be that he has a closet full of identical shirts. It couldn't POSSIBLY be that they "forgot" to change clothes when filming the two scenes in the observatory. ;) You notice, his Little Brother is also wearing the same clothes in both scenes, even though it surely must be at least a day or two later by the time they are playing basketball. Perhaps Little Brother decided to take fashion advice from his Big Brother and is using Mac as his role model, wearing a plaid shirt of his own on multiple days. :lol: :lol:

Although, given that the episode was re-cut and re-edited, maybe those two scenes really were intended to happen together. I don't recall how they showed up in the original script. There are a few "Alan Smithee" episodes early on, and those inconsistencies would show up when so many changes were made to the episode. Even "regular" episodes had them too, though. Has anyone else spotted inconsistencies like that? (I'm working on The Prodigal right now and there are several.)

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Juliette
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Re: MacGyver/Discuss episode of the week

Post by Juliette »

Speaking of deleted scenes, just came across this video... (I wasn't even looking for this, it just appeared I swear :D )
It's the Czech version of the Pilot opening, the dubbing is terrible (and I don't understand a word of it ;) ) but after the theme song there is a scene that's not in the episode! At least not in the version I have ^^

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Q-8Tx6q1g
It starts at 1:30
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Re: MacGyver/Discuss episode of the week

Post by bftlovesRDA »

Juliette wrote: Thu Apr 12, 2018 11:08 pm Speaking of deleted scenes, just came across this video... (I wasn't even looking for this, it just appeared I swear :D )
It's the Czech version of the Pilot opening, the dubbing is terrible (and I don't understand a word of it ;) ) but after the theme song there is a scene that's not in the episode! At least not in the version I have ^^

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Q-8Tx6q1g
It starts at 1:30
Wow - Juliette - a great find. So wish we could know the English for this scene. Thanks for posting this even if how it appeared is a mystery..... :D :D
Also, this is just more evidence of the popularity of MacGyver in so many countries across the world.
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Re: MacGyver/Discuss episode of the week

Post by Juliette »

Yes I hope someone where can translate it, I really would love to know what is said :)

Haha I don't even know how it appeared.. I was watching the Dallas Q&A and from one video to another, I found myself watching a scene of MacGyver that I've never seen, in a language I don't speak :lol:
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KateR
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Re: MacGyver/Discuss episode of the week

Post by KateR »

Juliette wrote: Speaking of deleted scenes, just came across this video... (I wasn't even looking for this, it just appeared I swear :D )
It's the Czech version of the Pilot opening, the dubbing is terrible (and I don't understand a word of it ;) ) but after the theme song there is a scene that's not in the episode! At least not in the version I have ^^

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Q-8Tx6q1g
It starts at 1:30
Interesting. So, some of that original footage still exists somewhere, huh?

Obviously I can't translate Czech, but I looked up what that scene was in the original script. It's still very very different from what shows up on the screen here, but it's an interesting bit of insight. From there, the script goes to the scene in MacGyver's apartment, but not with the Little Brother, instead he is looking for his pet frog that got loose. In fact, skimming quickly through the script (I haven't read it in a long time and have forgotten the details, so I might be missing some), the Little Brother doesn't seem to show up until the end, and then he is not African American, but seems to be a tough Italian kid, and they watch baseball, nothing about basketball or astronomy.

It makes you wonder just how many times they shot or re-shot scenes, altered the script, and re-edited before it reached its final form, very different from the original concept. No wonder it took RDA and the producers a while to figure out what the character really was!

Anyway, here is the way that "missing scene" was originally written in the script:
EXT. - AIR BASE - NIGHT
A military chopper settles onto the tarmac. MacGyver and Taylor hop out as a MAJOR DENNIS, comes out to escort them into the headquarters.
INT. - CONFERENCE ROOM - NIGHT
A group of senior staff officers huddle around a conference table headed by one GENERAL RELKWIN, 50s, heavy set, and all business. Some of the officers are on phones as others confer with the general in a crisis atmosphere that, from the thick smoke and discarded coffee cups, looks as if it's been going on for some time. Major Dennis enters alone and crosses to the General trying to get his attention.
MAJOR DENNIS: Excuse me, General...
GENERAL RELKWIN: Just a minute, Major...
MAJOR DENNIS: But General, sir, if I could just have a moment--
GENERAL RELKWIN: (pointing to the phone) Major! You see all those lights? There's a screaming senator behind every one of 'em. Now what's so important that I should suddenly listen to you instead?
MAJOR DENNIS: Well, sir ... it's MacGyver ... he's back.
The room suddenly gets very quiet as the officers all look to one another and then back up to the General.
GENERAL RELKWIN: Are you trying to tell me, Major, that this MacGyver actually... made it?...
MAJOR DENNIS: (beaming) Yes sir. What's more, he brought Captain Taylor out with him.
GENERAL RELKWIN: Alive?
MAJOR DENNIS: Very much so, sir.
Another murmur of astonishment rumbles through the staff.
GENERAL RELKWIN: I want to talk to him. Which line is he on?
MAJOR DENNIS: He isn't on a line, sir. He's here.
GENERAL RELKWIN: Here?!
MAJOR DENNIS: He tried to radio in from the pickup but SATCOM was under orders to maintain radio silence on the operation and the chopper pilot didn't know the priority codes--
GENERAL RELKWIN: Never mind that now just get 'em in here, man. Get 'em in here.
The Major motions to the Airman at the door and MacGyver and Taylor enter. Taylor salutes as they get to the General but MacGyver's eyes are on the table looking to score a hot cup of coffee.
GENERAL RELKWIN: Captain Taylor ... The co-pilot, Meyer?
TAYLOR: I think he lost consciousness when the plane went into a dive. He never ejected, sir.
GENERAL RELKWIN: I see., .And the missile?
TAYLOR: - I'd better let MacGyver tell you about that himself.
GENERAL RELKWIN : (turning to MacGyver) Well?...
MACGYVER: I don't suppose I could get some of that coffee first, could I?...
The General quickly pours the cup himself and hands it to MacGyver.
MACGYVER: Thanks... (he takes a swig) As far as the missile goes, I suppose they could still fire the rocket engines. But without this... (pulling the device from his bag) Well, it just won't have much kick to it I'm afraid.
All eyes turn to the device for a moment before the room erupts with a cheer, the officers slapping each other on the back and shaking hands as if their team had just scored the winning touchdown in the final seconds of the game.
GENERAL RELKWIN: (taking the device) Well I'll be a sonova... Alright everybody start with the Joint Chiefs and work your way down. Tell 'em they can stop negotiating a ransom with those runts 'cause we're holding the ball now.
The officers drop their celebration and jump into action. The General leads Dennis, Taylor, and MacGyver off to the side as he smiles at the device in his hand.
GENERAL RELKWIN: I'll be frank with you, MacGyver. None of us figured you for more than a thousand to one shot from when the Major here first suggested it.
MACGYVER: (shrugging) Water under the bridge now, General. But if you have no objections, I'd just as soon turn the debriefing over to the Captain here and catch the next transport for home. Been a long day.
TAYLOR: And leave me to try and tell this story by myself?
GENERAL RELKWIN: (to MacGyver) What outfit are you from, son?
MAJOR DENNIS: (jumping in) Uh, well, there really wasn't time to go into details before but you see, Sir, MacGyver isn't actually in the service... any more.
GENERAL RELKWIN: He's not? Well then how--
MACGYVER: The Major and I rubbed elbows when I was a Ranger a while back, that's all.
MAJOR DENNIS: And, assuming he was successful, I didn't think the General would object to authorizing his fee...?
There's a beat of silence as the General looks from MacGyver to the Major and then breaks into laughter, waving the device.
GENERAL RELKWIN: Whatever MacGyver costs, it can't be more than one of these. You bring me the papers, I'll sign 'em.
MAJOR DENNIS: Thank you, Sir. But in addition to the money, well, given the extremely risky nature of his work, Mr. MacGyver retains the right to name his own bonus, if he survives, that is.
GENERAL RELKWIN: Well, considering the shine this'll put on my file it hardly seems fair for me to say no. Alright, what'll it be? A free trip around the world courtesy of the Air Force? A new car through the PX?
MACGYVER: Well, General, the fact is we wouldn't have made it back without the chute from Meyer's ejection seat ... I was wondering if he had any family?
TAYLOR: Yes, he does. A wife and a son.
GENERAL RELKWIN: You can rest assured they'll be well cared for by the service.
MACGYVER: I know ... But this boy ... You wouldn't by any chance know how old he is?...
TAYLOR: Nine or ten, I think. Why?...
MacGyver nods his head at the information then stares into his coffee cup for a moment.
MACGYVER: ...In that case, gentlemen, I'd like you to get the boy a horse.
MAJOR DENNIS: A horse?
MACGYVER: A golden palomino to be exact. About sixteen hands high should do it. Say three years old? And make sure it's got lots of spirit. Any problems?
The three officers look among themselves, confused for a second.
MAJOR DENNIS: Uh, no, no. I'm sure that can all be arranged...
MACGYVER: Great ... Well, if that's everything... Oh, you can have your tools here back. I guess the climb was a little too rough for some of them...
MacGyver tosses the tool pouch on the table and starts away.
GENERAL RELKWIN: MacGyver, if it's not asking too much, why, of all things, a horse?
MACGYVER: (turning back) Well, General, a boy learns to ride an animal like that, he just might realize there's nothing he can't do... Thanks for the coffee...
And nodding to them with a smile, MacGyver pulls his knapsack back onto his shoulder and leaves, the three stunned officers unable to take their eyes off the doorway even after he's gone.
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Juliette
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Re: MacGyver/Discuss episode of the week

Post by Juliette »

Wow thanks Kate for that interesting reading!

Yes! This is proof that it must still exist! What I don't get is that it has even been translated and we can't get our hands on it... There's a mystery to be solved here ;)

It does look like they stuggled a lot to shape the final character that we know..
A pet frog you say... I would have loved to see that :lol:
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Re: MacGyver/Discuss episode of the week

Post by bftlovesRDA »

Kate, thank you so much for posting that transcription of that missing part of the pilot episode. How I would have LOVED to have seen that on the video.....especially the part where the room full of military men cheer for what MacGyver has accomplished .....that and, well, all of that part that's missing would be sooooooooooooooo great to see actually acted out. Maybe one day it can be retrieved from the cutting room floor.
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Re: MacGyver/Discuss episode of the week

Post by bftlovesRDA »

Is it time to discuss the 2nd episode of MacGyver, the Golden Triangle? :D ;) :D
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Re: MacGyver/Discuss episode of the week

Post by NiLa »

bftlovesRDA wrote: Sat Apr 14, 2018 5:57 am Is it time to discuss the 2nd episode of MacGyver, the Golden Triangle? :D ;) :D
Yes, knew episode of the week....go for it, B.

...and the rest of you, too, of course. :lol: :lol:

Anja ;)
Walk in love, walk in service, and you will walk in honor.
MacGyver
....by doing so our world will be better each day...
Anja ;)
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Re: MacGyver/Discuss episode of the week

Post by bftlovesRDA »

Ok, Anja = here goes the start of the discussion of "The Golden Triangle" episode. :D :D :D

First, the pre-episode "mini" story was a real nailbiter, IMHO, with the car squashing bit being a very close call for Mac. Loved Mac's comment = "There've been times when I've had a lot more fun in the back seat of a car....."

Of course, Mac is victorious over the bad guys in a spirit-lifting kind of way..... :D :D :D

Then there is the scene when Mac is on the beach (and lookin' good)! His assignment is to Burma - land of opium bandits - where the USA lost a canister of deadly toxin in a plane crash (or was it a copter crash?). (I didn't know and still don't know much about Burma - so this was an educational episode as many of them were.)

From the officer telling him about his assignment, he says a chopper would be there to pick Mac up = and for him not to be late "or you won't be back" to which Mac says, tongue in cheek and I love his continuing sense of humor....."Aw, shucks, guess this means I won't have time to do any shoppin'."

The episode moves on to Burma and the harsh treatment of the opium bandit's slaves. One of the bad guys ends up chasing a Burmese boy = whom Mac intercepts and persuades him to trust him. I LOVE how Mac is always getting along well with the children used in his episodes. That's a theme that runs throughout both MacGyver and Stargate, by the way. RDA just has such a good way with kids and the writers put that into the scripts very well.

Mac gets into trouble right off the bat with the local bandit tough guy. His talk about human slavery is right on the mark. Am sure this is an accurate depiction of the poor people in Burma who had to be forced to do the bidding of the opium bandits.....degradation at its highest level.

The trouble for Mac intensifies with him stretched out in the sun....he tells a bad guy, "gettin' some good rays here"....LOL.,....and with the help of the boy Mac gets free and the fun begins.

Mac eventually gets the cannister of toxin and tells the people he has a job to do = (get the cannister back to the people who sent him) so it looks like Mac is going to desert his new found friends. But instead, as we all knew he would, he gives the cannister to the chopper's airmen and then stays back to show the "slaves" how to fight = without guns since he says it would take weeks to train them in how to shoot the weapons....but we know of course he is following the theme that will be part of MacGyver throughout = no guns, use brains instead.

The way they fight and win against the opium bandit general is wonderful to see and very inventive = something we will be seeing throughout MacGyver's episodes (the inventive genius of it all).

To bring down the opium general, Mac has to jump up on the strut of the general's chopper = and I wondered if this was a stunt RDA got to do or not. It seems a bit risky to me for them to let RDA do it.

The bad guy is killed and the people who were former slaves are now free.....a very feel good conclusion to an action packed episode.

High points to me - Mac's sense of humor and his good looking self........and how he interacts with the boy and the enslaved people. He is truly a modern day hero as we will see throughout the episodes to come!


Well, hope I didn't go on too long. Can't wait to read the comments of everybody else.
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