The MacGyver F.A.Q.
The MacGyver F.A.Q. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
The MacGyver F.A.Q.
Version 1.1
(last updated 08 February 1995)
3. Organizations within the MacGyver Universe
3.1) The Phoenix Foundation
The Phoenix Foundation is a privately funded research institute that involves itself primarily in fostering diplomatic relations, environmental studies, conservation efforts, and technological innovation. Pete Thornton became Director of Operations in 1987 and has been instrumental in helping the Foundation gain worldwide renown. The Foundation is well-respected by the media, world governments, and the public.
3.2) DXS (Department of External Services)
A government agency that is similar in many respects to the Central Intelligence Agency. Pete Thornton worked at the DXS for many years as a field operative, as did MacGyver, before both moved to the Phoenix Foundation. (*Note: In a few episodes, the DXS was mistakenly referred to as the "DSX.")
3.3) HIT (Homicide International Trust)
As HIT employee Murdoc says, Homicide International Trust is sort of like an "international Murder Incorporated." HIT was once headed by Nicholas Helman, who used his exclusive Helman Club as a front for HIT's activities. Helman was killed in a confrontation with Murdoc. HIT quickly recovered from this incident, even offering to reinstate Murdoc as an employee. The governing body of HIT is a group of men and women known only as The Board.
3.4) The Challengers Club
The Boys and Girls Club where MacGyver spends much of his free time. The Club's original director, Booker Wilson, was murdered by a white supremacist. His wife, Cynthia (see section 2.8), has since taken over the job of running the Challengers Club.
4. Miscellaneous
4.1) Honors and Recognitions
Curiously, "MacGyver" never won an Emmy. But the show has earned honors for other aspects of its production.
- Two first-season episodes, the pilot episode and "Thief of Budapest," won awards at the Second Annual Stuntman Awards for Best High Work and Best Specialty Stunt, respectively.
- In 1989, Richard Dean Anderson and the executive producers of "MacGyver"- Henry Winkler, John Rich, and Stephen Downing - accepted awards from the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence. MacGyver Mailing List subscriber Sparrow says that "at the reception was the unveiling of the episode 'The Gun,' produced in reaction to the murder of Rebecca Schaeffer by a crazed fan."
- In 1991, the show was honored at the first annual Environmental Media Awards for "Ongoing Commitment" to environmental concerns.
A dubious honor: Also in 1991, the conservative Media Research Center named "MacGyver" one of the ten most "liberally biased" TV shows of the 1990-1991 season because of its focus on the environment, gun control, and foreign affairs.- The episode "Black Rhino" won a Genesis Award for animal awareness.
4.2) About the Actors
4.2.1) Richard Dean Anderson
Born: Minneapolis, MN January 23, 1950
Personal Notes:
- Attended St. Cloud State College and Ohio State University. (***I know that this info is wrong and it is Ohio University, but I'm not in charge of making changes to the FAQ. PLEASE, have patience, I assume it will be changed in the update.)
- Studied acting with Peggy Feury.
- Hobbies include hockey, skiing, and car racing.
TV Series (Regular roles):
- General Hospital (ABC 1976-81) [ Dr. Jeff Webber ]
- Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (CBS 1982-83) [ Adam McFadden ]
- Emerald Point NAS (CBS 1983-84) [ Lt. Simon Adams ]
- MacGyver (ABC 1985-1992) [ Angus MacGyver ]
- Legend (United Paramount Network 1995?) [ Ernest Pratt/Nicodemus Legend ]
TV Series (guest appearances)
- The Parkers {aka Brian & Sylvia; pilot of series; aired as episode of
"The Facts of Life"} (NBC 25 March 1981)- Today's FBI (ABC 29 Nov. 1981) episode "The Fugitive"
TV Movies:
- Ordinary Heroes (ABC 1986) [ Tony Kaiser ]
- In the Eyes of a Stranger (CBS April, 1992) [ Jack Rourke ]
- Through the Eyes of a Killer (CBS December, 1992) [ Ray Bellano ]
- MacGyver: The Lost Treasure of Atlantis (ABC May 14, 1994)
- MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday (ABC November 24, 1994)
- Beyond Betrayal (CBS October 11, 1994) [ Bradley Mathews ]
- Past the Bleachers (ABC/Hallmark Hall of Fame ~May 1995) [ Bill ]
Other TV appearances:
- Battle of the Network Stars (ABC 3 May 1984)
- The Red Cross Emergency Test (ABC 1990?): Hosted a segment on preparing a first-aid kit.
- Speed: Hollywood's Love Affair with Racing (ESPN 1994): Host.
- World of Audubon 10th Anniversary Special (TBS 1994): Co-host.
Theatrical Movies:
- Young Doctors in Love (1982) [ an unnamed drug dealer ]
- Odd Jobs (1984) [ Spud ]
4.2.2) Dana Elcar
Born: Ferndale, MI October 10, 1927 (full name Ibson Dana Elcar)
Notes: Went blind due to glaucoma ~1991.
TV Series (Regular roles):
- The Guiding Light (1952) [ ?? Guest star or regular?? ]
- The Edge of Night (1956) [ ?? Guest star or regular?? ]
- A Time to Live (ABC 1954)
- Dark Shadows (1966) [ Sheriff Patterson ]
- Baretta (ABC 1975) [ Inspector Shiller ]
- Baa Baa Black Sheep/Black Sheep Squadron (NBC 1976-78) [ Col. Lard ]
- MacGyver (ABC 1985-1992) [ Pete Thornton ]
TV Series (Guest roles):
- Art Carney Special: Our Town (ABC 1959)
- [ Numerous appearances (~ 30) from 1959-1985 ]
- Scarecrow and Mrs. King: "Spiderweb" (CBS 1985)
TV Movies:
- Borgia Stick, The (1967) [ Craigmeyer ]
- Sound of Anger, The (1968) [ Andrew Pearce ]
- Deadlock (1969) [George Stack]
- Whole World Is Watching, The (1969) [ Huston ]
- D.A.: Murder One (1969) [ Dr. Enright ]
(aka Murder One (1969)- Sarge (1970) [ Father Frank Dinsmore ]
(aka Badge or the Cross, The)- San Francisco International (1970) [ George Woodruff ]
(aka San Francisco International Airport)- Bravos, The (1971) [ Capt. Detroville ]
- Death of Me Yet, The (1971) [ Hank Keller ]
- Fireball Forward (1972) [ Col. Talbot ]
- Dying Room Only (1973) [ Sheriff ]
- Hawkins on Murder (1973) [ Dr. Aaronson ]
- Senior Year (1974) [ Paul Reed ]
- Panic on the 5:22 (1974) [ Hal Rodgers ]
- Heat Wave! (1974) [ Prescott ]
- Law of the Land (1976) [ Reverend Mr. Endicott ]
- Gemini Man (1976) [ Dr. Harold Schuyler ]
- Samurai (1978) [ Frank Boyd ]
- Crisis in Mid-air (1979) [ ? ]
- Death Penalty (1980) [ John Mulligan ]
- Mark, I Love You (1980) [ Mr. Bassett ]
- Day the Bubble Burst, The (1981) [ Mr Block ]
- Help Wanted: Male (1982) [ Milhauser ]
- Forbidden Love (1982) [ Burt Wagner ]
- Quarterback Princess (1983) [ Mr. Caine ]
- I Want to Live (1983) [ Warden ]
- Sweet Revenge (1984) [ Sen. Arthur Haggarty ]
- Time to Live, A (1985) [ ? ]
- Toughlove (1985) [ Max Wiley ]
- Murder in Three Acts (1986) [ Dr. Walter Strange ] (aka Agatha Christie's 'Murder in Three Acts')
Miniseries:
- Centennial (1978) [ Judge Hart ]
Theatrical Movies:
- Fail-Safe (1964) [Foster]
- Fool Killer, The (1965) [Mr. Dodd]
- Boston Strangler, The (1968) [Luis Schubert]
- Maltese Bippy, The (1969) [Sergeant Kelvanev]
- Learning Tree, The (1969) [Kirky]
- Soldier Blue (1970) [ Captain Battles ]
- Zigzag (1970) [Harold Tracey]
(aka Zig-Zag)- Gunfight, A (1971) [Mary Green]
- Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid, The (1972) [Allen]
- Sting, The (1973) [F.B.I. Agent Polk]
- Report to the Commissioner (1975) [ Chief Perna ]
- St. Ives (1976) [ Charlie Blunt ]
- Baby Blue Marine (1976) [ Sheriff Wenzell ]
- Champ, The (1979) [ Hoffmaster ]
- Nude Bomb, The (1980) [ Chief ]
(aka Return of Maxwell Smart, The)- Condorman (1981) [Russ]
- Buddy Buddy (1981) [Captain Hubris]
- Blue Skies Again (1983) [ Lou ]
- Jungle Warriors (1984) [Michael]
- 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984) [Dimitri Moisevitch]
- All of Me (1984) [Burton Schuyler]
- There Were Times, Dear (1985) [Don Mason]
- Inside Out (1986) [ ? ]
- Metamorphosis (?)
- On Yellow (?)
4.2.3) Bruce McGill
Born: UNKNOWN
TV Series (Regular roles):
- Delta House (ABC 1979) [ Daniel Simpson Day ("D-Day") ]
- Semi-Tough (ABC 1980) [ Billy Clyde Pucket ]
- MacGyver (ABC 1987-1992) [ Jack Dalton ]
TV Series (Guest roles):
- Quantum Leap - Pilot ("Genesis") (3-26-89) [ Dr. "Weird Ernie" Ernst ]
- Davis Rules (~1992)
- Quantum Leap - "Mirror Image" (5-5-93) [ Al the Bartender ]
TV Movies:
- Whale for the Killing, A (1981)
- Charlotte Forten's Mission: Experiment in Freedom (1985)
- As Summers Die (1986) [V.D. Skinner]
- Man Who Fell to Earth, The (1987) [Gage]
- Last Innocent Man, The (1987) [Burt Matson]
- Baby M (1988) [Cassidy]
- Good Night, Sweet Wife: A Murder in Boston (1990) [O'Meara]
- Shoot First: A Cop's Vengeance (1991)
- Perfect Tribute, The (1991) [Lamon]
- Crash Landing: The Rescue of Flight 232 (1992) [Dudley Dvorak]
- Desperate Choices: To Save My Child (1992) [Dan] (aka Solomon's Choice )
- Black Widow Murders: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story (1993) [Morgan]
- Shameful Secrets (1993) [Judge Ian Greenstein]
Theatrical Movies:
- National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) [Daniel Simpson Day]
- Hand, The (1981) [Brian Ferguson]
- Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, The (1982) [Billy Blakely]
- Tough Enough (1983) [Tony Fallon]
- Silkwood (1983) [Mace Hurley]
- Into the Night (1985) [Charlie]
- Club Paradise (1986) [Dave the Fireman]
- No Mercy (1986) [Lt. Hall]
- Wildcats (1986) [Darwell]
- End of the Line (1987)
- Waiting for the Moon (1987) [ Ernest Hemingway ]
- Three Fugitives (1989) [Charlie]
- Little Vegas (1990)
- Last Boy Scout, The (1991) [Mike Matthews]
- My Cousin Vinny (1992) [Sheriff Farley]
- Perfect World, A (1993) [Paul Saunders]
- Cliffhanger (1993) [Treasury Agent]
- Time Cop (1994)
4.2.4) Michael Des Barres
Born: Jan 24 (~1949 or 1950)
Notes: Also a rock musician (see Discography)
TV Series (Regular roles):
- MacGyver (ABC 1987-91) [ Murdoc ]
- New WKRP in Cincinnati, The (SYN 1991-92) [ Jack Allen ]
TV Series (Guest roles):
- Roseanne (ABC ~1992?) [ played a gay boyfriend ]
- Father Dowling Mysteries (1989-91?)
- Seinfeld (1993)
- L.A. Law (4-14-94)
- Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (9-25-94) "Wall of Sound" [ Lenny Stoke ]
TV Movies:
- Double Switch (1987)
Theatrical Movies:
- To Sir with Love (1967)
- Ghoulies (1985) [Malcolm Graves]
- Nightflyers (1987) [ played a psychic ]
- Pink Cadillac (1989) [Alex]
- Midnight Cabaret (1990) [Paul Van Dyke]
- Waxwork II: Lost in Time (1992) [George]
- Under Siege (1992) [Domiani]
- Silk Degrees (1994)
- Deep Red (1994) [Lew Ramirez]
- Simple Twist of Fate, A (1994)
Discography:
- Sixteen and Savaged - Silverhead (1973 MCA Records LP)
- Detective - Detective (1977 Swan Song LP)
- It Takes One to Know One - Detective (1977 Swan Song LP)
- I'm Only Human - Michael Des Barres (1980 Dreamland Records LP)
- Chequered Past - Chequered Past (1984 EMI America Records LP)
- Somebody Up There Likes Me - Michael Des Barres (1986 MCA Records LP)
4.2.5) Teri Hatcher
Born: Dec. 8, 1964 (?)
TV Series (Regular roles):
- Capitol (1982) [Angelica]
- The Love Boat (ABC 1985-86) [ Amy (a "Loveboat Mermaid") ]
- MacGyver (ABC 1986-90) [ Penny Parker ]
- Karen's Song (FOX 1987) [ Laura Matthews (age 18) ]
- Sunday Dinner (CBS 1991) [ TT Fagori ]
- Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (ABC 1993- ) [ Lois Lane ]
TV Series (Guest roles):
- Seinfeld (NBC ???) episode titled "The Implant" [ Sidra ]
- L.A. Law (NBC ???) [ as a lawyer ]
TV Movies:
- Dead in the Water (1991) (TV) [Laura Stewart]
Theatrical Movies:
- Big Picture, The (1989) [Gretchen]
- Tango & Cash (1989) [Kiki]
- Soapdish (1991) [Ariel Maloney]
- Straight Talk (1992) [Janice]
- Brain Smasher...A Love Story (1993) [Sam Crain]
- Heaven's Prisoners (1994)
- Cool Surface, The (1994) [Dani Payson]
4.2.6) John Anderson
Born: Clayton IL October 20, 1922
Died: August 7, 1992Notes: Lean, craggy character actor who was often cast as villains in westerns.
TV Series (Regular roles):
- The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (ABC 1959-61) [ Virgil Earp ]
- The Rifleman (ABC 1959-61) [ ??? I don't really believe this one! ]
- Another World (1964) [ Michael Spencer Hudson ]
- MacGyver (ABC 1985-90) [ Harry Jackson ]
- Rich Man, Poor Man -- Book II (ABC 1976-77) [ Scotty ]
TV Series (Guest roles):
- The Phil Silvers Show "Reunion" (CBS 1955) [ dozens of guest appearances ]
- Hunter "No Good Deed Ever Goes Unpunished" (NBC 1988)
- Knightwatch "Cops" (ABC 1989)
- Quantum Leap "The Last Gunfighter" (NBC ??) [ Pat Knight ]
TV Movies:
- Scalplock (1966)
- Brock's Last Case (1972)
- Call to Danger (1973)
- Set This Town on Fire (1973)
- Smile, Jenny, You're Dead (1974)
- Heat Wave! (1974)
- Manhunter (1974)
- Death Among Friends (1975)
- Dead Man on the Run (1975)
- Bridger (1976)
- Dark Side of Innocence, The (1976) [Stephen Hancock]
- Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion (1977)
- Tail Gunner Joe (1977)
- Last Hurrah, The (1977)
- Deerslayer, The (1978)
- Donner Pass: The Road to Survival (1978)
- Missing Children: A Mother's Story (1982)
- First Time, The (1982)
- I-Man (1986)
- Daddy (1987)
- American Harvest (1987) [Judge Meriweather] (aka Race Against the Harvest)
- Full Exposure: The Sex Tapes Scandal (1989)
- Follow Your Heart (1990) [Josh]
- Danielle Steel's 'Daddy' (1991) [George Watson]
- Babe Ruth (1991)
- In Broad Daylight (1991) [Wes]
- Bed of Lies (1992) [Price Daniel Sr.]
Miniseries:
- Once an Eagle (1976) [George Varney]
- Backstairs at the White House (1979) [Franklin Delano Roosevelt]
- North and South" (1985) [William Hazard]
- Dream West (1986) [Brigadier General Brooke]
Theatrical Movies:
- Psycho (1960) [California Charlie]
- Ride the High Country (1962) [Elder Hammond]
- Walk on the Wild Side (1962) [Preacher]
- Satan Bug, The (1965) [Reagan]
- Welcome to Hard Times (1967) [Ezra/Isaac Maple]
- Dove, The (1968) [Mike Turk]
- Day of the Evil Gun (1968)
- Young Billy Young (1969) [Boone]
- Man Called Gannon, A (1969) [Capper]
- Great Bank Robbery, The (1969) [Kinkaid]
- Soldier Blue (1970)
- Animals, The (1970) [Sheriff Allan Pierce]
- Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) [Bryce]
- Stepmother, The (1971)
- Molly and Lawless John (1972) [Sheriff Marvin Parker]
- Executive Action (1973) [Halliday]
- Specialist, The (1975)
- Lincoln Conspiracy, The (1977)
- In Search of Historic Jesus (1980) [Caiaphas]
- Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) [Governor]
- Zoot Suit (1981) [Judge]
- Amerasia (1985)
- Never Too Young to Die (1986) [Arliss]
- Scorpion (1987)
- Eight Men Out (1988) [Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis]
- Deadly Innocents (1990)
4.2.7) Dalton James
Played Sean Angus Malloy (SAM) in the final episode of MACGYVER (1992). Also starred in the series "Crossroads" with Robert Urich (ABC 1992-93) as Dylan Hawkins.
He recently appeared in the film "My Father the Hero" as Ben.4.2.8) Others
4.2.8.1) Elyssa Davalos
Played Nikki Carpenter in 6 episodes of "MacGyver" from 1987-88. Other appearances include:
TV Series (Guest roles):
- Knight Rider episode "Blind Spot" [ played a blind witness? ]
- Doogie Howser, MD (title unknown)
Movies:
- House in the Hills, A (1993) [ Sondra Rankin ]
- Herbie Goes Bananas (1980)
4.2.8.2) Martin Milner
The star of "Route 66" and "Adam 12", amongst other shows, Martin Milner appeared twice on "MacGyver", once as a hockey coach (Turk in "Thin Ice") and the other time as Mac's father (James MacGyver in "Passages"). A different actor (unknown) played Mac's father in "Phoenix Under Siege".
4.2.8.3) Famous Faces
- James Doohan "Harry's Will" ("Star Trek")
- George Takei "The Wish Child" ("Star Trek")
- Robin Curtis "The Gauntlet", "Friends" ("Star Trek: The Search For Spock")
- Persis Khambatta "To Be a Man" ("Star Trek: The Motion Picture")
- Henry Winkler "Harry's Will"
- Wendy O. Williams "Harry's Will"
Athletes/Sports Figures:
- Lyle Alzado "Harry's Will"
- Hank Aaron "Back From the Dead"
- Reggie Jackson "Squeeze Play"
- Dick Butkus "Harry's Will," "High Control," "Split Decision"
References:
- "The TV Encyclopedia" by David Inman (Perigee Books, 1991).
- "The Complete Actors' Television Credits, 1948-1988," 2nd ed. (Scarecrow Press, 1989). James Robert Parish & Vincent Terrace, editors.
- "The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows 1946-Present" by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh (5th Edition - Ballantine Books, 1992).
- "Contemporary Theatre, Film, and Television," Vols. 6 (Gale, 1988) & 8 (Gales, 1990). Linda Hubbard & Owen O'Donnell, editors.
- The Movie Database Server at the PC USer Group UK (info[AT]ibmpcuk.co.uk).
4.3) Other frequently asked questions
Q.
Why does MacGyver hate guns?
A.
Refer, if you will, to the episode titled "Blood Brothers," where Mac and his childhood friends relive an incident that took place 25 years earlier. Young MacGyver and his friends - Neil, Chuck, and Jesse - borrowed Mac's father's gun and pooled their money to buy a box of bullets. They were shooting target practice when either Neil or Chuck saw a bird and tried to shoot it. MacGyver knocked the gun away, but as the pistol hit the ground, it discharged, hitting Jesse in the chest. Jesse died from his wound despite his Mac's attempts to save him. As a result of this traumatic event, MacGyver has refused to use guns. (He does occasionally take them apart to use as wrenches, lockpicks, or other tools.)
Q.
But didn't I see MacGyver fire a rifle in the series premiere?
A.
Yes, you certainly did. But the producers hadn't fully fleshed out the character yet, and so in the scene where Mac and the rescued pilot are being chased by soldiers, we see Mac shooting at them. Interestingly, in the second-season episode "Friends," that same scene is shown - with the footage of MacGyver firing the rifle removed.
Q.
Is Dana Elcar (who plays Pete Thornton) going blind in real life?
A.
Unfortunately, yes. Mr. Elcar was diagnosed with glaucoma more than 25 years before "Blind Faith," the episode where he reveals that he's going blind. He didn't realize how badly his vision had deteriorated until a night location shoot for "MacGyver," when he became disoriented in the darkness. Mr. Elcar is legally blind and had to have his scripts read to him.
Q.
So who's this Lee David Zlotoff guy?
A.
He's the creator of "MacGyver." He was a writer and supervising producer for the first season of "Remington Steele." The most recent production that's been associated with him was the sci-fi TV movie "Plymouth."
Q.
How did the producers come up with MacGyver's first name?
A.
Actually, they didn't. Richard Dean Anderson came up with it. Legend has it that he saw the name in large letters on a banner at a Vancouver charity event. He suggested it to the producers, and they went along with it.
Q.
But I thought his first name was supposed to be "Stace," not "Angus."
A.
"Stace" was the name that had been circulating in press kits and other publicity before the show premiered. It was soon squelched.
Q.
How was Richard Dean Anderson cast for the role of MacGyver?
A.
The now-famous tale of how he got the part goes something like this: Before he was to begin reading for the part, Richard had to stop to fish his glasses out of a bag. Henry Winkler, one of the show's producers, recalls being so impressed by this simple, human act that they cast him on the spot.
Q.
Is Richard Dean Anderson as nice a guy as he seems on "MacGyver?"
A.
It certainly seems that way. Carrie Chin, compiler of this FAQ, had the incredible fortune to watch him this September on the set of "Past the Bleachers," a Hallmark Hall of Fame made-for-TV movie filmed in Covington, Georgia. He has a laid-back, playful attitude on the set that makes him popular with cast and crew, but when it's time for the cameras to roll, he's right there, on his mark, and he never misses his lines. Dana Elcar said in a 1991 interview that, as he struggled with glaucoma, Richard never made him feel out of place. He is accommodating to his many fans; he signed many autographs and posed for pictures on the set of "Past the Bleachers."
MacGyver Mailing List subscriber Jenny Wake, who actually spent three days on the "MacGyver" set in 1990, has this to say: "I was on the set of MacGyver during filming for the "Harry's Will" episode. One of my favourite memories is Mayim Bialik arriving to say goodbye after completing second unit work for an episode on teen alcoholism [note: "Twenty Questions." -Carrie]. RDA [Richard Dean Anderson] was standing in the drizzle, engrossed in watching the crew set up for a vehicle stunt, but when Mayim tugged at his cardigan and he turned around and saw her, he dropped his umbrella, swept her up in a big hug and cried: 'Hi baby, how're ya doin'? How did it go?' There was real warmth and affection in that hug and it was easy to imagine how supportive RDA had been during what was probably a tough episode for Mayim. Henry Winkler told me later: 'One reason the show has been on the air for so long is there's no star trip with Richard Dean. He's just a hard-working professional.'"
Q.
Haven't I seen that actor before - as a different character - in another episode of "MacGyver?"
A.
You probably have. Several supporting actors popped up again and again as different characters in different episodes. Elyssa Davalos, for example, played Mac's lost love in "Lost Love," then returned a few episodes later as Nikki Carpenter, Phoenix operative. Robin Mossley did a similar trick in the fifth season when he appeared as imprisoned journalist Alexander Shannon in "Legend of the Holy Rose" and came back in several episodes to play MacGyver's neighbor, Wilt Bozer. We could go on and on about Kai Wulff, Jackson Davies, Blu Mankuma, and others, but we'll let viewers have the fun of spotting the recycled actor.
Q.
Just how many high-school/college sweethearts has Mac had?
A.
Plenty. At last count there were ten; of those ten, five are dead, one is in jail for attempted murder, and one is on assignment for the Phoenix Foundation. The other three are fine.
Q.
Every time a prospective love interest shows up, she either dies, goes away, or tries to kill MacGyver. Why? Why? Why?
A.
You can thank the female viewership for that one. It seems that there are several ladies out there who want MacGyver to remain an eligible bachelor. Case in point: Maria Romburg, introduced in "The Wall." The studio received such scathing fan responses that she only appeared in one more episode, "MacGyver's Women."
Q.
Why does it look like some scenes are from feature films I've seen?
A.
Because there are at least three confirmed episodes containing footage taken directly from movies. "Thief of Budapest" has clips from "The Italian Connection." "Trumbo's World" takes film from "The Naked Jungle." "GX-1" contains footage from "Top Gun."
Q.
Will there ever be another TV series?
A.
Not likely. ABC cancelled "MacGyver" because of low ratings, and past performance usually dictates what sort of "revival" a show will have. Richard Dean Anderson has said that, for now, he wants to focus more on TV movies instead of series, so if "MacGyver's" going to come back, it will probably be as a series of occasional made-for-TV movies. (Update: Future "MacGyver" adventures are even more in doubt now that Richard Dean Anderson has begun production on his new Paramount TV series "Legend," scheduled to air sometime in 1995.)
Q.
Who comes up with those incredible MacGyverisms?
A.
This answer comes from one of the MacGyver Mailing List subscribers. The show's science consultant is gemologist John Koivula. According to an article in the March, 1989, issue of 3-2-1 Contact, Koivula had to use his discretion when designing some of the more potentially dangerous MacGyverisms (e.g. explosives). In those cases, an ingredient was typically left out of the television "recipe."
Q.
I'm confused as to MacGyver's background. Can you help?
A.
You have every right to be confused. First off, in the series premiere, we see Mac firing a gun. Then, later in the season, there are references to MacGyver's time in Vietnam as part of a Special Forces bomb-defusing squad. There's even some evidence that he might have been a Navy SEAL. But, soon afterward, his aversion to guns surfaces, putting his entire military career in doubt. From the third season forward, we're given more and more information to lead us to the conclusion that he never served in the military and was, in fact, a pacifist who protested the Vietnam War.
Q.
We know how much Mac loves the game of hockey. But what about Richard Dean Anderson? How does he feel about the sport?
A.
Two words: He's obsessed.
Q.
What kind of degree does MacGyver have?
A.
That's a tough call. Mac has extensive knowledge of electronics, chemistry, and physics, among other things. And it's best that you not bring up this topic on the MacGyver Mailing List, either. It's been the cause of some rather heated arguments between those who believe Mac holds a chemistry degree and those who say he's a physicist.
Q.
Are there any episodes of "MacGyver" available on videotape?
A.
Not at this time. It's unclear as to whether Paramount has any intention of issuing videotapes or laserdiscs of "MacGyver." (***Updated: all seven seasons of MacGyver are now available on DVD! Check amazon.com or google "MacGyver DVD".)
Acknowledgments
The MacGyver FAQ previously appeared at www.uplinktech.net/macgyver/ which has closed: many thanks to Melissa for giving me permission to re-post it here. Many, many thanks also to the people who wrote the information in this FAQ and put it together.
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