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Posted by: MacGyverOnline 23 May 2007 - 02:32 PM

Jack Dalton

Jack met MacGyver in High school, and travelled with both Mac and Mike Forester through Europe after they graduated. He settled in California, where he ran a short-lived taxi service before setting up a private airline, Fly-By-Night. Subsequent enterprises include Jack-Be- Quick Messenger Service and his current business, Dalton Air. Despite his numerous business failures, Jack remains optimistic that he'll some day make the big score.

Whenever Jack Dalton enters MacGyver's life, things always seem to get more complicated. He's always got something up his sleeve.

MacGyver can tell when Jack's lying when his left eye twitches.

In spite of all Jacks shortcomings and the problems he gets MacGyver into… he still remains one of MacGyver’s best friends, willing to drop everything at a moments notice to help MacGyver when he needs it.

Read full bio

Posted by: tandt14 23 May 2007 - 03:55 PM

I love the MacGyver+Jack Dalton relationship. They truly seem like brothers. I not only grew to love MacGyver but some of my FAVORITE episodes involve Jack. My all time favorite is "The Odd Triple." Jack shows his true colors when he goes back out into France and tries to recruit help to go back and rescue MacGyver.

Posted by: Old Fan 23 May 2007 - 04:52 PM

I think the FUNNIEST episode is Partners. It's really good in showing Mac and Jack's relationship... by allowing it to be observed by a third person - Pete. Nothing needs to be explained, it just happens.

Jack: Bazookas?...you can explain bazookas? YOU CAN NOT EXPLAIN BAZOOKAS!!!!

The hospital scene is the funniest thing I've ever seen. 20 years later... it was even funnier.

Posted by: MacGyver 23 May 2007 - 06:12 PM

"Partners" is definitely a great one- I've seen it many times. And one of the few where MacGyver, Pete and Jack and Murdoc are all in it. I also love "Unfinished Business" just because it's so fun watching Jack sucker MacGyver and Pete into panning for gold (and fishing for Pete- clearly the only reason he came!

)
But yeah- Jack Dalton offered some great comic relief- but at the same time was also a loyal friend to MacGyver. Sure, he'd pull stuff on him, like say, emptying his house of its contents for a gag- but he'd also help him whenever he needed it. (Good examples- "The Odd Triple" and especially "On a Wing and a Prayer")
And Jack is actually the most recurring character with 17 episodes- and we hear his voice in "The Widowmaker" as he left MacGyver a message on his answering machine, and he's mentioned in "Halloween Knights"- as MacGyver actually visits his hangar and finds his cap and is lured in by Murdoc. And Jack shows up in flashback in "Hind-Sight".
I think the next highest after Jack is Murdoc- with 7 episodes- and 2 appearances in flashback (on "Unfinished Business" and "Hind-Sight")

I'm glad Jack was around so much- he added a lot to MacGyver.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 23 May 2007 - 06:22 PM

QUOTE (MacGyver)

and especially "On a Wing and a Prayer"

Yeah thats an excellent example.

MacGyver said "I need your help." and jack was in. didn't even care what it was, how dangerous it was. He was ready to help without a second thought.

Posted by: MacGyverGod 24 May 2007 - 07:06 AM

On a wing and a prayer is indeed a good example and a great adventure involving the three. I do wish more episodes like that were made.
MacGyver having to ask Jack's help instead of Jack asking MacGyver. There's always Lost Love. It was always fun to have Jack around, always dragging MacGyver from one adventure into the other. Those adventures were great but what lifted up the level was like well MacGyver having to ask Jack for help, or when Jack just joined in. Jack in Friends, Jack helping Mac in Lost Love, Jack in Rock the Cradle (he didn't really asked for help), Jack in On a wing and a Prayer. That was actually a pretty nice gesture, sending the bill however...

Ma Dalton is even a better example, MacGyver just offers to help while Jack didn't ask him anything.
Brainwashed the same thing, but than they didn't know where they got in to. Jenny's Chance, an episode I dislikes because of the whole undercover thing, I liked it when Jack joined in the plan. Then again Kyle was his friend too.

When Mac asks Jack to help him out he said he's been waiting years for this. That proves Jack is ready to help whenever he can.

Posted by: MacNymph 24 May 2007 - 08:12 AM

If I've said it once, I've said it a hun... well

a dozen times.

I love Mac and Jack together.

As far as the relationship/friendship itself...

I have a friend like that. And I wouldn't call it a healthy relationship.

She owes me money and has screwed me over in favor of a guy more times than I can count. Haven't talked to her in approx two years but if she called tomorrow, I'd go hang out, even if to just keep her out of trouble for those few hours. There's a history, familiarity and sense of loyalty (even if one way) that outweights the "bad blood".

Silly wench!

Posted by: Lothithil 24 May 2007 - 09:05 AM

".... Now tell me you're not having just a little bit of fun!"

I do love Jack Dalton, for all his follies and foibles! As much as I tug at my hair when he gets our beloved Mac into trouble... he certainly doesn't shirk at any chance to do a favour for his friend.

In 'Lost Love' when Mac said that it was going to take two people to steal the Ming Dragon... Jack was onboard in a heartbeat!

"What the heck... nobody lives forever!" That's our Jack!

Posted by: Mac 24 May 2007 - 09:17 AM

Jack is one of my favourite recurring characters. There are times that, *gasp*, I think I favour him over Mac!

He brings out this side of Mac that few other people do; a petty, meanish, sarcastic, exasperated side that really fills out Mac's character.

Jack is more complex than he's often given credit for, capable of real emotion and noble sacrifice, all couched in his apparent self-centredness. His exuberance, enthusiasm, and zest for life lend themselves well to Jack's unique brand of humour. He's a comic, but rarely a clown.

Mac

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 17 September 2007 - 08:27 PM

I really like the mac <-> jack relationship.. they knew each other so well that they could tell what the other was thinking without saying it.

They could practically finish each others sentences.. and in spite of all Jacks shortcomings I think when it came down to it he was just as willing to put life and limb on the line for MacGyver, as Mac was for him.

I think Pete realized this also, in spite of the fact that he hated how fool hardy Jack was, and how he always dragged MacGyver into his problems. He knew they where like brothers.

They actually remind me of a friend I had in my early 20's. We where best friends from high school and was very similar to the Jack Mac friendship. He was always dragging me into his movie making schemes and all sorts of other ideas. But we where like brothers, we could finish each others sentences, we could tell what the other was thinking.. probably because we thought so much alike.

So that may be why I like the Mac-jack thing so much... but what ever the reason, its another aspect of MacGyver which really pulled me into the show.

Posted by: jackwabbit 6 October 2007 - 05:26 AM

Jack Dalton is a god. Period, the end.

LOVE HIM.

LOVE HIM, LOVE HIM, LOVE HIM.

I think my favorite episode is "On a Wing and a Prayer", but I also quite enjoy "Rock the Cradle", and well...just about any episode with Jack.

Love him.

The end.

Posted by: jackwabbit 6 October 2007 - 05:27 AM

Which reminds me that when I finish the huge SG fic I'm currently working on, I simply must finish my latest Mac fic, which stars, in no small role, one Jack Dalton.

Of course.

Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 6 October 2007 - 07:31 PM

Jack Dalton is a great character. He has a spirit of adventure and lives in the moment as if each day is his last. He has the ability to pull people into his schemes and is always dreaming of the one big score.

The Mac/Jack dynamic is a lot of fun to watch. No other character brings out the petty side of Mac the way Jack does. This was especially clear in Jack in the Box. Jack lures Mac into a little podunk town in Arkansas where Mac gets arrested. Jack expects Mac to break them both out of the prison and assist on a treasure hunt. At the end of the episode, Mac is thoroughly exasperated with Jack and gives him a butt reaming. Jack justs laughs and says what are friends for? All Mac can do is shake his head and smile. For me, this ending scene sums up their relationship perfectly.

Jack gets into trouble and never doubts that Mac will come to his rescue. When Mac needs help, he never doubts that Jack will be the first in line to help. This is the way true friends are with each other.

I dated a Jack Dalton once. Our dates were a lot of fun and I don't think I ever laughed as much as I did then. He was the life of the party and everyone had a good time when he was a round. The downside was that, until he showed up at my door, I never knew for sure if the date was on. He was notoriously late and never returned a phone call. We had a great time but I wasn't surprised when he drifted out of my life as abruptly as he drifted into it.

Posted by: Nutsy 8 October 2007 - 10:39 AM

Mee too, In with Jack. Although the way he sucks Mac in his own mess drives me UP THE WALL!!

But what would kemosabe compadre be without his old pal Jack?

Posted by: MacGirl 11 October 2007 - 04:22 PM

Gotta love Jack!! He's one of my favorite recurring characters. I love how he's introduced in Jack of Lies... you all know by now that the scene in the airplane hanger is one of my all-time fave scenes. No matter how many times I watch that eppy, it still cracks me up.

He's so marvelously goofy and just grabs life by the horns. He can always make Mac smile, even when he also irritates the heck out of him. Plus, he'd do anything for Mac, no matter how crazy or illegal. Friends that loyal and exuberant don't come along every day. Mac was very, very lucky to have Jack in his life, and I think he knew it.

Posted by: Jess 22 October 2007 - 11:45 PM

Love Jack Dalton! Cooky fun and upbeat, adventure loving character that drives MacGyver mad. love the schemes he always thinks up and drags MacGyver into.

Posted by: trtlsoup 27 October 2007 - 01:11 PM

How did I miss Jack Dalton?

(Bad me...!)

He is my favorite character in the whole MacGyver universe! Hands down! He a dreamer, schemer, all around pain in the a** who's a great friend friend to Mac.

Who else could get away with stealing a whole house full of furniture? Multiple times! Jack, of course.

I just love Jack!

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 27 October 2007 - 01:52 PM

QUOTE (trtlsoup @ 28 October 2007 - 10:11 AM)

Who else could get away with stealing a whole house full of furniture? Multiple times!

didn't he only do it once?

Posted by: trtlsoup 27 October 2007 - 04:47 PM

I thought at least twice...

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 27 October 2007 - 05:51 PM

once in Jack of lies.. when was the other time?

Posted by: jackwabbit 27 October 2007 - 06:12 PM

It happened twice, but wasn't it Murdoc the second time?

Tricking Mac, using Jack's hat with blood on it...

And then it led him to the Mausoleum?

So...

Halloween Knights?

Posted by: jackwabbit 27 October 2007 - 06:12 PM

Oh, and turtle, I agree.

Best.

Character.

Ever.

Posted by: trtlsoup 28 October 2007 - 06:32 AM

Guess I REALLY have to brush up my Mac trivia. Maybe TVLand showed the same epi close together? I'm still in the 1st season with my DVD rewatching. My memory? ...phfttt... gone. *shrug*

QUOTE (the 'wabbit)

It happened twice, but wasn't it Murdoc the second time?

Murdoc? Maybe that's what I'm thinking about...

I always look forward to the episodes with Jack in them... and Bruce McGill... I've seen him in a lot of roles, but nothing compares to Jack.

IMBd lists him in 19 episodes. Wow!

Posted by: MacsChick 28 October 2007 - 03:58 PM

What I like about him is this feeling of familiarity. It's almost as if all of us have known someone like him--scheming, lying, failing at everything yet always optimistic and hopeful--you can't help but love him. He has a bit of naivete about life, an almost childish view of it, that also makes him endearing.

Posted by: perfectlykevin 29 October 2007 - 07:36 AM

I just watched Jack of Lies the other night and I love Jack's character! It was fun to watch Mac sitting in the side car with that look on his face!

I thought it was also great the way they intro.ed Jack by giving some back story. Made me feel like I already knew him.

Of course we all have a Jack Dalton in our lives. One of my best friends is very similar. Not so much the schemes but well know for late night calls and daring misadventures.

Kev

PS I added the Partners avatar and the same night watched that episode...(cue Twilight Zone music)

Posted by: trtlsoup 29 October 2007 - 04:15 PM

Can anyone name all the episodes that Jack was in? (without looking)

I already know that I'd have to cheat...

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 29 October 2007 - 04:33 PM

Hmm.. without looking eh?.. sounds like fun

Jack of Lies? is that what the first ones called (my brain just went numb)
Dalton: Jack of spies?

Lost Love (part 1 & 2)
Partners
Jack in the box
Rock the cradle
Mask of the Wolf
Brainwashed
Unfinished business
On a wing and a prayer
Ma Dalton
The odd Triple
Jenny's Chance
Serenity
MacGyver's women
Mountain of youth

I'm still a couple short

edit: Ok I looked up the IMDd to see what the last 2 are, but I'm not going to add them, because that would be cheating.

Posted by: MacNymph 29 October 2007 - 07:04 PM

His voice was in Widowmaker... does that count?

Posted by: Berni 30 October 2007 - 01:45 PM

*excellent* vote

The funny thing is, that I totally disliked Jack when I saw the series as a child.
BUT NOW I really love him. He is a very special character, he adds a lot of fun to the episodes and his body language and facial expression is great. And he is a true friend of Mac's, although he might sometimes cause "just a touch of trouble".
Can't imagine the series without him.

The scene I remember most is the one where Mac meets him in his hangar and Jack pretends to fall down from the (roof) beam, but is actually tied to a rope. What a mean trick.

QUOTE

It was fun to watch Mac sitting in the side car with that look on his face!

Yeah, that was great.

Posted by: Jess 2 November 2007 - 12:43 AM

No, can't say i know all the episodes Jack appeared in off the top of my head. but then i've yet to finish season 7 on DVD.

I love the way Jack rubbed MacGyver the wrong way with his practical gags and jokes. The look on Mac's face was always priceless when he realized it was Jack who was responsible.

what do you think is the best gag/prank Jack played on MacGyver?

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 2 November 2007 - 01:16 AM

QUOTE (MacNymph @ 30 October 2007 - 04:04 PM)

His voice was in Widowmaker... does that count?

My first reaction is no.

But then they would have credited him for doing the voice work I guess.. so..um... I guess...maybe... *shrugs*

Posted by: MacGyver 2 November 2007 - 05:49 PM

QUOTE

what do you think is the best gag/prank Jack played on MacGyver?

Definitely hands down it'd have to be emptying all the stuff from his apartment in "Jack of Lies" just to get his attention!

And Murdoc was the one who did it the second time in "Halloween Knights" (and of course, MacGyver immediately suspected Jack Dalton.)
Though if anyone would have done this prank more than once to MacGyver, I could certainly believe Jack might have pulled it off!

Though the gag in the "Friends" episode was pretty good too- as well as building a plane in Mac's apartment in "The Odd Triple"- hard to top that one!

But let's see- all the Jack Dalton episodes (without looking)
2nd. Season
"Jack of Lies"
"Dalton, Jack of Spies"
"Partners"
"Friends"

3rd. Season
"Lost Love" (Part 1)
"Lost Love" (Part 2)
"Jack in the Box"
"The Widowmaker" (if you count Jack's voice on Mac's answering machine and his picture in MacGyver's houseboat)
"The Odd Triple"
"Mask of the Wolf"
"Rock the Cradle"

4th. Season
"On a Wing and a Prayer"
"Ma Dalton"
"Brainwashed"
"Unfinished Business"

5th. Season
"Halloween Knights" (though we don't see Jack Dalton, he's at least referenced because Murdoc has stolen his pilot's cap and pin to lure MacGyver)
"Serenity" (in MacGyver's Western dream)
"Jenny's Chance"

6th. Season
"Hind-Sight" (in flashbacks)

7th. Season
"The Mountain of Youth"

Posted by: trtlsoup 3 November 2007 - 07:37 AM

Well, IMBd does credit him on Widowmaker's voice work, but not Hollywood Knights. So, MacGyver wins the Gold Star!

Looks like MacGyver was his longest gig as far as television appearances go.

And I agree with the emptying of the apartment... It's what stands out when I think of Jack.

Posted by: MacGyver 9 November 2007 - 10:44 PM

QUOTE

So, MacGyver wins the Gold Star!

Yeah!!! LOL- thank you, thank you!

QUOTE

Well, IMBd does credit him on Widowmaker's voice work, but not Hollywood Knights.

"Hollywood Knights"? Hmm, haven't heard of that one. Maybe they should do that for a reunion movie though. Yeah, I can see it now- "MacGyver Goes to the Movies"!!! (Come on- RDA on the big screen in his internationally best known role ever (and best role!)- Angus MacGyver!!!)

Posted by: trtlsoup 10 November 2007 - 06:31 PM

QUOTE (MacGyver @ 10 November 2007 - 02:44 AM)

Oops... Halloween Knights! What was I thinking...?

I guess in flashback scenes they get paid.

Posted by: Amy 11 November 2007 - 04:39 AM

QUOTE (Mac @ 24 May 2007 - 12:17 PM)

I think you really hit the nail on the head here! Not a whole lot I can add to what's already been said, but Jack is my favorite character outside of MacGyver. I love every episode with Jack in it!

Does anyone else here Mac and Jack conversations in their head? lol...sometimes it's tipped off by the strangest things, but then suddenly something will remind me of those two and they're bantering in my head...

Posted by: Berni 11 November 2007 - 05:22 AM

QUOTE

unsure.gif Does anyone else here Mac and Jack conversations in their head? lol...sometimes it's tipped off by the strangest things, but then suddenly something will remind me of those two and they're bantering in my head... laugh.gif

Not necessarily Mac and Jack conversations, but yeah, sometimes I can really hear Mac in my head

Something happens or people say something and my brain goes like "Didn't Mac say something like that once?" or "What would Mac say?" or "Hm, what was that trick Jack played on Mac?"

And then I imagine meeting Mac and make up my own Mac and Berni conversations

That's great fun too.

I'm a pretty normal person though, I've just got a lot of imagination and I love daydreaming

QUOTE

And I agree with the emptying of the apartment... It's what stands out when I think of Jack.

I think so too. Including the scene in the hangar where he pretends to fall down and Mac wants to catch him

Sooo mean. Imagine your best friend falling down and thinking he is going to die. What a shock!

Posted by: MacsChick 11 November 2007 - 07:18 PM

I love how they developed Jack further to reveal other sides to him than just the comic relief. He has the potential to be a two-dimensional character in the wrong writer's hands, but in episodes like Ma Dalton, you get to see more of his emotional depth. He may seem like an unethical schemer sometimes, but he has a sense of integrity and nobility about him as well, though it may not be as obvious.

Posted by: jknnej 4 February 2008 - 03:30 PM

LOVE Jack and part of it is how great of an actor Bruce McGill is. He's still in movies and TV everywhere. Talented guy.
My favorite quote was when he and MacGyver were mining for that crooked sheriff and MacGyver put dynamite inside the suitcase with five million bucks.
He screams, "No, no not the money, not the money!!!"
It blows up, Jack stares, "Five Million bucks..."
Mac says something along the lines of , "Forget it, Jack. It's only money..." The look on Dalton's face is priceless as he ponders that....
LOVE him.

Posted by: Issus 20 March 2008 - 04:36 AM

Jack Dalton. Funny thing, my second name is Dalton too, although I'm not Jack. I think that his best episodes are, Partners, Dalton, Jack of lies adn Dalton, Jack of spies. I like the last one a lot:

"I've decided to lay low for a while"
"Don't you think that six feet under ground is lying low a bit too much?"

He does know how to have fun, but that eye of his is a real problem. Remember when he tryed to impress Peny Parker in the second season?

"Truth hurts, doesn't jack?"
"Especially when your not used to it"

Posted by: Liz1976 6 June 2008 - 06:08 AM

Favorite 5 Jack Dalton episodes

Season 2: Jack of Lies (where we meet him)

and Friends (Jack in disguise, and in top form

)

Season 3: Lost Love (Jack helps Mac: "What the hell, nobody lives forever")

Season 4: Brainwashed (Jack's mind is being messed with)

Season 5: Unfinished Business (Deborah- yeeesh)

Posted by: ScreamingBansheila 7 June 2008 - 06:24 PM

I can only put this one way.

Jack. Dalton. Is. The. Best. (Next to Mac

)

I love all the episodes with Jack in them. The relationship between him and Mac is so sweet and brotherly, yet at the same time, they also have arguments and fights... it made the whole Mac Jack relationship believeable.

QUOTE

what do you think is the best gag/prank Jack played on MacGyver?

I'd say when he stole Mac's furniture, then when he jumped off the ceiling support.

I also like when he fakes his death, that entire scene is so funny. Last time I watched that episode, I nearly fell off my bed laughing

. The look on Mac's face when 'dead' Jack Dalton's eye starts twitching, then when Mac slammed the coffin lid shut and said "I hate seeing him when he looks like this." to the drunks in the back.

Hilairous!

Posted by: Liz1976 8 June 2008 - 12:06 PM

Hey ScreamingBansheila, the line from Steven Wright about the toast and the cat made me laugh

That is a riot!! I also love the scene with Mac's furniture getting taken: priceless, almost as funny as the cat with the toast on its back getting dropped. Not that I would actually do it though, even though my daughter's cat might deserve it by the end of the night.

Posted by: ScreamingBansheila 8 June 2008 - 06:34 PM

Hi Liz1976!

QUOTE

Hey ScreamingBansheila, the line from Steven Wright about the toast and the cat made me laugh

Yeah, when I first saw the quote, it made me laugh too. I have a cat, and even thought I love him to death

, he can still be a major pain in the... neck.

QUOTE

I also love the scene with Mac's furniture getting taken.

Yeah, I still can only say that this scene is one of the best pranks that Jack has played on Mac. The look on his face is priceless! And the note Jack leaves...

"Dear Mac,
If you ever want to see your fridge alive, meet me at the west end of the airport, hangar 13.
Come alone or the fridge fries."
Absolutely Priceless!

Posted by: Issus 25 July 2008 - 02:40 PM

what was the books name? "kidnapped" wasn't it? A thief with a sense of humor

Posted by: lucky charley 14 August 2008 - 12:38 PM

DIDD'NT Jack have a son but you only ever see him once

Posted by: Liz1976 14 August 2008 - 01:24 PM

QUOTE (lucky charley @ 15 August 2008 - 08:38 AM)

DIDD'NT Jack have a son but you only ever see him once

No, Jack Jr wasn't his but a man named Carlos. Episode Rock the Cradle.

Posted by: John Litteral 4 December 2008 - 09:43 AM

Who could not love Jack! I think we all have a Jack Dalton somewhere in our lives.

Posted by: Murdoc12 10 March 2009 - 09:30 AM

Jack is defineitely one of the best characters in MacGyver

He is awesome, especially the way he bugs MacGyver into helping him. I love in "Partners" when his car gets blown up and he gets mad, that is so funny...

JACK IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Beachbead 1 April 2009 - 07:04 AM

QUOTE (Jess @ 2 November 2007 - 08:43 PM)

i would say when he removed everything out of MacGyvers place and lead him to a werehouse, where he riged the door and faked himself falling off the raffters. too funny.

Posted by: RamonCota 5 April 2009 - 05:06 PM

i love that man hes freakin funny man! always saying some funny stuff! dude has a great sense of humor.

Jack Dalton: Care to Dance, MacGyver?
MacGyver: No, Thanks.

^^thats all i can remember lol

hahahahaha

Posted by: SMeeceymouse 6 April 2009 - 07:07 AM

I would love to have a friend like Jack. Someone who could make me laugh, and make me mad. But best of all be there when I needed him most.

Posted by: Beachbead 6 April 2009 - 10:56 AM

Love to have a friend like him so i can be pulled into all theses strange places.

Posted by: SMeeceymouse 7 April 2009 - 12:09 PM

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 28 October 2007 - 01:51 PM)

once in Jack of lies.. when was the other time?

The other time was Halloween Knights, but I really think that was Murdoc.

Posted by: Beachbead 9 April 2009 - 04:38 PM

we only heard his voice, his flying pin and his hat. would of been nice to see him in that one.

Posted by: Miasma 1 May 2009 - 08:22 AM

Jack is great. Overall, I like him better than Mac.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 1 May 2009 - 02:36 PM

QUOTE (Miasma @ 2 May 2009 - 04:22 AM)

Jack is great. Overall, I like him better than Mac.

This is Jack Dalton (MacGyver's friend) we're talking about here, not Jack O'Neill right?

Posted by: macsgirl1 3 May 2009 - 05:09 PM

I really liked Jack.

He really brought out the devil in Mac, but can youblame Mac for getting a little testy with him.

Jack shook things up.

Posted by: Miasma 4 May 2009 - 11:11 AM

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 2 May 2009 - 10:36 AM)

QUOTE (Miasma @ 2 May 2009 - 04:22 AM)

Jack is great. Overall, I like him better than Mac.

This is Jack Dalton (MacGyver's friend) we're talking about here, not Jack O'Neill right?

EX-ZACTLY!

Posted by: macsgirl1 9 May 2009 - 12:46 PM

Maybe Jack is Mac's other half (personality wise)

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 9 May 2009 - 02:17 PM

QUOTE (Miasma @ 5 May 2009 - 07:11 AM)

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 2 May 2009 - 10:36 AM)

QUOTE (Miasma @ 2 May 2009 - 04:22 AM)

Jack is great. Overall, I like him better than Mac.

This is Jack Dalton (MacGyver's friend) we're talking about here, not Jack O'Neill right?

EX-ZACTLY!

ok, just seems a bit odd that your a fan of MacGyver, yet like a different character more than MacGyver.

Posted by: macsgirl1 9 May 2009 - 03:11 PM

Agree with you rocky

Posted by: SMeeceymouse 21 May 2009 - 03:23 PM

What can one say about Jack Dalton. I love the way he lies, and Mac always can tell because of his left eye twitching. Jack is a get rich quick scam that never pans out, but is happy with his life being just the way it is. It is a shame they never developed the character of Jack more fully. Would've have made a cut spin off series.
And yes Rocky I know I just repeated my self in a earlier post.

Posted by: macsgirl1 24 May 2009 - 06:19 AM

Maybe Jack is MacGyver's evil twin.

Posted by: SMeeceymouse 2 June 2009 - 01:39 PM

Jack isn't evil, just misguided. The look on his face when he learned that Jack Jr wasn't his nearly broke my heart. You could see the hurt in his eyes.

Posted by: Beachbead 2 June 2009 - 02:05 PM

It broke his heart when he learned that his son wasn't his son, if I learned it wasn't my son I too would be heart broken just like anyone woule. poor Jack.

Posted by: MacSAK 5 June 2009 - 07:32 AM

I love Jack, he's funny. Jack episodes are really great, i love watching 'em!

Posted by: SMeeceymouse 6 June 2009 - 06:22 AM

It's just a shame that Paramount and Lee David Zlotoff never decided to do a series with Jack. I think it would've been fun to see all the trouble Jack gets into while flying. And being a really good guy at heart, he could work himself out of trouble. I mean hanging around Mac for all those years, is bound to rub some MacGyverisms off on Jack. Don't you think?

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 6 June 2009 - 03:23 PM

I think maybe Jack would get old pretty quick.

He's great in small doses and when there's someone else to even things out, but an hour of Jack Dalton's silliness every week, might be too much of a good thing.

Posted by: MacNymph 6 June 2009 - 04:19 PM

Maybe if he had an ensemble cast who’s job it was to keep him in check.

But I think you’re right Rocky, Jack’s shenanigans are better to pepper a show with… not monopolize one.

Posted by: SMeeceymouse 7 June 2009 - 07:45 AM

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 6 June 2009 - 07:23 PM)

That's true kind of like Murdoc and Penny Parker getting old quick, and people being able to take them in small doses.

Posted by: HERBALTLADY 16 June 2009 - 05:55 PM

Jack reminds me of a good friend who is at your side when you need a good laugh!

Posted by: Shiloh 28 September 2009 - 02:11 AM

QUOTE (HERBALTLADY @ 17 June 2009 - 01:55 PM)

Jack reminds me of a good friend who is at your side when you need a good laugh!

That's why I loved him.
For all his schemes, he & Mac were such good friends.
And he was so funny!
You just never knew what he'd get up to next!

Posted by: MacGirl 30 December 2009 - 08:16 PM

Interestingly, Bruce McGill played another slightly Jack Dalton-like character in the movie "Live From Baghdad." In that case, he played a real reporter, Peter Arnett, who was with CNN at the time (the movie is an only slightly fictionalized account of the CNN team that was in Bagdad during the '91 Gulf War). As Bruce portrayed him, Peter Arnett reminded me a bit of Jack... a little mischievous, but daring, and a good person to have around in a tight spot.

Posted by: deepfathom393 24 April 2010 - 09:03 AM

The episodes with Jack are definitely some of the most memorable. Not a lot of the supporting characters have a chance to really develop alongside Mac because we only see them once or twice and then we get a new one in the next episode. Jack's reocurring character just makes him that much better becuase we get to see different aspects and emotions from him in more than one setting.
I also think they dialogue and the story lines in the Jack episodes are always a lot better just becuase they have that classic running Jack/Mac element that's pretty familiar and everybody loves it.
I still think it's pretty funny how Mac keeps getting sucked into all Jack's wild schemes. You'd think Mac being Mac would learn.....but hey, they make for some of the best episodes!

Posted by: lostsouls 24 April 2010 - 09:21 AM

He is my favorite character,too! I have just watched "Unfinished Business" today and the scenes they are trying to find gold is pure fun

If they will come up with a brand-new movie for this show,I hope Dalton character will be included:)

Posted by: Dragslo 25 May 2010 - 08:32 PM

I seriously met people who despise jack, because he always makes trouble.
But I guess all series need someone like Jack.
Everybody has a Jack in their life, ...sometimes.
And someone has a Murdoc, not me, thank god.

Personally, he does annoys me with his beggings, but it amuses me to see how MacGyver responds, he just can't say no... I've learned to enjoy Jack the way he is like a brother realtionship, they are always there for eachother...except Mac seems to be more there for him

I also like that he's interested in planes, I don't think Jack would be so interesting if he didn't have that planemania.

And yes, I would dare to fly with him......................... (as long as Mac was with me...*coughs*)

Posted by: macgyversgirl 5 June 2010 - 02:49 PM

I must say that you are waayy braver than I am. I liked Jack but I would NEVER get in a plane with him.

Posted by: Miasma 11 June 2010 - 05:54 AM

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 10 May 2009 - 10:20 AM)

QUOTE (Miasma @ 5 May 2009 - 07:11 AM)

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 2 May 2009 - 10:36 AM)

QUOTE (Miasma @ 2 May 2009 - 04:22 AM)

Jack is great. Overall, I like him better than Mac.

This is Jack Dalton (MacGyver's friend) we're talking about here, not Jack O'Neill right?

EX-ZACTLY!

ok, just seems a bit odd that your a fan of MacGyver, yet like a different character more than MacGyver.

Not odd at all.
Plenty of people, for example, were fans of the show called "Seinfeld," but Jerry Seinfeld wasn't necessarily their favorite character. On that show, I preferred George Costanza.

Posted by: Traveller 20 July 2010 - 01:27 AM

I've tried to like Jack, but I don't. There are only a very few moments that I do like him. Like in 'The mask of the wolf', when he is pulling silly faces to stay awake while driving at night, and the way he says 'be nice to papa' when his plane has lost an engine in 'Rock the cradle'. Third funny moment, when Penny is kissing Mac in 'Friends' and Jack is mumbling something like 'ma.. mi.. mo..' .

Bruce McGill is okay as an actor, but the minute he appears in MacGyver, he sucks away the tension. From then on we're supposed to be laughing. Well, like papa Chuck said: 'If I want to laugh I hire a comedian.' It's nice to have a little comic relief now and then, but not whole episodes being spoilt by a 'funny' character. The only exception I can think of is 'On a wing and a prayer', in which Jack hardly gets a chance to do his funny number. And maybe 'Jack in the box'.

I only put up with Jack because Mac does. My fervent wish is that he would punch Jack on the nose just once. But then, how do you hit a kid, right? Aargh!

Posted by: MurDaltonfan 20 July 2010 - 12:46 PM

I loved Jack! He has to be my second-favorite character. I loved how much of a con he was. He got Mac into some hilarious situations.

Posted by: Makedde 5 March 2011 - 11:30 PM

I like his character, the only thing I don't like is that he gets into trouble and seems to expect Mac to bail him out of every single scrape.
I think Mac should let him flounder and force him to take responsibility for his actions.
Jack doesn't come across as a very responsible person.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 6 March 2011 - 02:07 AM

Nope, that's the whole idea.. he's a big kid.... probably not the kind of person you would want piloting your plane either.

Posted by: KiwiTek 2 January 2013 - 02:02 PM

QUOTE (Mela_007 @ 3 January 2013 - 08:48 AM)

I am not sure where we would post comments about the actors themselves

In the http://www.macgyveronline.com/forums/index.php?showforum=4 forum.

Posted by: Arron53 11 April 2013 - 08:43 AM

QUOTE (Jess @ 2 November 2007 - 08:43 PM)

what do you think is the best gag/prank Jack played on MacGyver?

The best one is the part when Jack stole all his furniture and then Mac comes into Jack's "warehouse" to find Jack waiting for him on the ceiling. Then Jack "falls" to the ground and then Mac tries "save" him. Priceless!!! XD

Mac and Jack seem to have a telepathic relationship just like what Rockatteer said. His opinions are exactly like mine and I couldn't have said it better myself. Even their names rhyme.

Posted by: YopeGyver 16 May 2013 - 09:25 AM

Jack is most definitely one of my favorite characters!

He's like a child who never grew up, but a good friend still. He may have a lot of faults but he's definitely someone I'd like to have watching my back.

Watching my back? Sure! Playing pranks with? Why not! Piloting my plane? No way, Jose.

Jack gets an excellent from me!!!

Posted by: AussieMacFan 16 May 2013 - 10:50 PM

You know I'd a actually be crazy enough to fly with him. I don't know if I've already said that…

Posted by: Daisy8577 1 June 2013 - 05:42 AM

I would fly with him! Not being told where you are going is part of the adventure. Then again not being told until you are over a large ocean what the "plan" was.
I always like a fun journey!

Posted by: Scwilson 30 July 2013 - 07:09 PM

There truly an Odd Couple, I always liked the onscreen humor between the two. Mac always falls for Jack's scams, even though he knows better.

Posted by: Mike D 19 May 2014 - 07:06 AM

The best side character on the show, hands down. I'm shocked that there is anyone here who didn't give him an "excellent" rating.

Posted by: tvero 19 May 2014 - 09:56 AM

Sorry, but I have mixed feelings.

He was very helpful,, and nice and, sweet in Lost Love (I think the scene when Mac is trapped and Jack tries to help him out is hilarious and FOR ONCE he agrees to help him) but most of the time he's just a pain...

So, no excellent for me .

Posted by: Joe SAKic 19 May 2014 - 04:53 PM

He's okay. I mean I like his sense of adventure and hair-brained spur of the moment schemes which (often) lead into excellent adventures - but his repetitive lingo with his amigos/mes ami/kemosabe interjections gets old early. I would have made him more mercurial, cerebral, mysterious and a little less shallow and bumbling.

Posted by: denizen 19 May 2014 - 09:33 PM

Perhaps making Jack more mature would have been possible but MacGyver came out at a tender time. Restrictions on television made characters two dimensional. This is why villains were as transparent as water and sidekicks were campy. They naturally portrayed an opposite of the main character to create a formulaic balance.

Posted by: tvero 20 May 2014 - 01:38 PM

Jack was supposed to be like that (immature...) All the people (male and female ) close to MacGyver were either sidekicks or foils, damsels in distress ....Mac was THE HERO helping his 'friends' out (Jack, Penny,even strangers who were very silly and useless I think).
Jack was the comic relief and indeed he was fun but he got on my nerves ,I always hated seeing Mac being exploited ,used but others specially his friends because he couldn't refuse them anything.Jack always found a way...

Posted by: MacGyverGod 20 May 2014 - 01:58 PM

I think Mac also lacks the character to say no to Jack.

Posted by: tvero 20 May 2014 - 02:32 PM

Very true.But he was his best friend...

Posted by: Fly_airdalton 10 September 2014 - 08:22 PM

QUOTE (tvero @ 20 May 2014 - 05:56 AM)

Yes. Agree. Jack is to be taken in small doses. He can be
rather over eager at times which can be annoying. He had his good side too, which sometimes evens out the balance. I wouldn't want to bail out a friend every time either. However, his shenanigans. can be hilarious . Anytime I think of Jack, I think of this beat up airplane, out maneuvering a small militant group. Pulling levers and saying "Tricks o' me trade me boy, tricks o' me trade."

Posted by: cmbj67 11 September 2014 - 10:18 AM

Jack is hilarious, I like episodes with him, but I really don't like the fact that he deceives MacGyver to get help, he even takes advantage of his sense of guilt. It's true that Mac should say "no", but his conscience doesn't allow him and Jack knows it, so he shouldn't do that.

Posted by: Leevi 21 October 2014 - 02:27 AM

QUOTE (Berni @ 31 October 2007 - 09:45 AM)

The funny thing is, that I totally disliked Jack when I saw the series as a child.
BUT NOW I really love him. He is a very special character, he adds a lot of fun to the episodes and his body language and facial expression is great. And he is a true friend of Mac's, although he might sometimes cause "just a touch of trouble".
Can't imagine the series without him.

That is very interesting, because I felt the same!

When I was younger, I never liked him, he just bugged me. But now when Im older I appreciate his character much more.

I just love "Jack in the box" episode!

Posted by: Joe SAKic 23 October 2014 - 04:20 PM

Jack's an ass and Bruce McGill plays him well. I, personally, would have toned the character down an octave and had him more on Mac's level & intellect .... and then with the ability to suddenly shift gears and cause the needed consternation that sends the whole episode into the eventual, unknown tizzy.

But he's annoying (and predictable) when he starts that telltale spiel from the first dialogue. Better if we all get sucked in more slowly ,,,,

Posted by: denizen 23 October 2014 - 09:05 PM

Following MacGyver from the beginning, you get used to what type of characters are laid as the "Good guys". Like Pete. They are intelligent, witty and carry good hearts. When Jack first appears, gone is the stereotyped good guy and here comes this somewhat unfunny, often scruffy lookin' guy with this nervous twitch in his eye and the first thing that comes to mind is, "Hmmm. Who's this guy?...".

Posted by: Kristelle 6 May 2015 - 03:39 AM

Jack is a good guy, but so annoying at times... as Mac says, I wish I could punch him, but how do you punch a kid? On the other hand, I love to see the two of them working together. You see that they know and so how, understand each other well. Mac does not need to give instructions, Jack knows. Good pals these two.

Posted by: Persona non grata 12 February 2018 - 06:57 PM

I remember reading an interview where Bruce was talking about how the producers had wanted him to stick around full-time, turn the show into more of a two-hander, but he refused cos he wanted to keep his options open.

I wonder what that show would have been like. They'd have had to have toned down the comedy, for sure (but that was pretty much happening anyway, by the time you get to stuff like "Brainwashed" and "Ma Dalton".)

Posted by: Lexa MacGyver 11 April 2019 - 07:20 AM

Jack was such a memorable character it felt like he was in way more episodes than he actually was. I think the first episode I saw him in was brainwashed. It's still one of my favorites.