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MacGyver Online Forums > Episodes > 001 - Pilot

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 2 November 2006 - 12:57 PM

001 - Pilot

Airdate: Sept. 29, 1985
Writers: Thackary Pallor
Director: Jerrold Freedman (as Alan Smithee)

Guest Cast: Michael Lerner as Gantner , Dana Elcar as Andy Colson , Paul Stewart as Dr. Steubens
Michael C. Gwynne as Dr. Burke , Olaf Pooley as Dr. Sidney Marlow , Shavar Ross as MacGyver's "little brother:
Darlanne Fluegel as Barbara Spencer.

Opening Gambit: MacGyver rescues a downed Air Force pilot from his Mongolian captors.

MacGyver is called in as a last hope to stop a deadly acid leak and save scientists trapped in an underground lab by a mysterious explosion.

Posted by: Amy 7 November 2006 - 02:14 PM

I just voted good and I'll tell ya why in a minute....Overall it was an excellent start! It really sets the tone for the whole series, in spite of the gun inconsistency...but, hey...it was the pilot...you can expect that. I loved the opening gambit and the voiceovers...something I would've liked to have seen more later in the series...love getting inside Mac's head! I can see at first it being a handy way to help us get to know the character and to sneak in some of his background...but later on it would've still added to the show. I love the "I want that back" line...shows his optimism and his trust in it...like it's the first thing he reaches for in a jam.

I'm sneaking back in to finish my post...and no one even noticed I never said why I just voted good!

Hubby needed the phone and supper was ready...I never got the chance to say!

Anyway...I only voted good, cuz...well, it just generally irritates me when girls (and guys) have no qualms about getting lip-to-lip with someone they only just met and don't know. Every time I see it, I'm like, C'mon...get on with the good stuff!

Posted by: Macs Lab Rat 7 November 2006 - 02:28 PM

I always wondered from the first time I saw this - Why would a person trying to sneak in to a camp full of armed soldiers wear a bright red bobble hat??
I know he changes it when he gets a chance but still.... isn't it a bit silly...and risky?

Despite this, and the dubious dodgy looking sulphuric acid that MacGyver and Spencer seem to have no problems breathing in the fumes off, I really liked this episode.

It was a good introduction to MacGyver and, if I’d have seen them in order, after viewing this Pilot I would have definitely kept an eye out for future adventures with this different and special kind of hero.

I vote good.

Posted by: Tygr 13 April 2007 - 12:37 PM

I like in the opening scenario where he tosses his knife to the prisoner. That was an awesome toss!

And his comment is funny; "I want that thing back, you know."

Posted by: Old Fan 28 April 2007 - 04:21 PM

What struck me as unusual was the fact that we get to see the beginings of Mac's (can you say RDA's) sense of humor in the pilot episode. Sure, he was attending to serious business, but the light/humorous tone that was uniquely Mac's was set up here, and it allowed him to be an approachable/vulnerable hero rather than beating us over the head with a "macho" attitude. Afraid of heights, doesn't like guns, interesting background... I wanted to know more about this guy right from the start. I loved this episode.

Posted by: abacab 5 July 2007 - 04:35 AM

I must say, I enjoyed the pilot tremendously when I first viewed it. However, I'd only seen one episode of Mac prior to that ("Good Knight MacGyver") so I didn't know what I was up for. Since seeing it for the first time, I've seen every season more than once, and I have some new opinions about it.

The pilot is supposed to be the building ground for the rest of a series. It's normal for a pilot to be somewhat different from the rest of a series, but this one is off the mark. There's themes introduced and never brought back ("It's not for what I take, it's for what I find along the way"), character points seen and gone back on later (Mac and the AK), entire characters and settings that never returned (the observatory, Shavar Ross, the federal guy whose name I cannot remember) and so forth. As well, there's far more MacGyverisms than in later episodes, which may be a good thing depending on your point of view, but I feel that in some cases here, plot and especially realism was sacrificed for something that looked cool. I would be able to ignore these points were the episode good, and I don't think it is. Don't get me wrong- I don't think it's bad, either. But when you put it in the entire series, this episode is up against some serious competition. It would be a solid stand alone episode (this is how series get sold!) but I don't particularly care for it in the context of the total series.

The pilot does have its good points: I liked Anderson's performance even with the underdeveloped character, and Dana Elcar turns in his usual superb straight-man work. The Spencer character is one of the few parts here that really did set the tone for every similar character later, and Darlanne Fluegel's performance is fine. There are some quotable lines (the SAK bit, and "Think it's time for a smoke."), and a somewhat memorable opening gambit (mixed feelings on these- more around The Gauntlet.) And some of the MacGyverisms are too cool to complain about, particularly the laser, the candy bars and the morse code. But this episode isn't exactly series caliber. (I have friends who saw the pilot and then never watched another episode of the show, one because they hated the pilot, and another because they thought the pilot was all you needed to see.) It's just... what's the word? Hey... OK! Yeah, it's OK.

My rating: 4/10

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 7 July 2007 - 06:37 PM

This episode has to have the highest number of MacGyverisms for any episode doesn't it?

Posted by: Sheepy 8 July 2007 - 12:06 AM

QUOTE

I always wondered from the first time I saw this - Why would a person trying to sneak in to a camp full of armed soldiers wear a bright red bobble hat

Yeah, I too always wondered about that! And a bright blue jacket.

I voted good. It wasn't brilliant, but it did trigger my curiousity to watch the rest of the series. And that's what pilot's are for. For having fun!! Oh no, talking about different sort of pilot there

Overall it was better than okay, so good.

They dealt with heights and shooting a gun... later it would come back as things he hated.

Posted by: MacNymph 8 July 2007 - 09:26 AM

I thought the Pilot was excellent as a stand alone show. Now watch as I nitpick it down to a “good”.

Join me, won’t you?** Where you see an ? I’d love an answer or an opinion if you have one. Some of them are nitpicks I would love explaining and others are just general questions.

1. How many places in Central Asia look like Utah? Seriously.. Are there places in Central Asia that look like Utah?
2. By the time the camera panned around the cliff, Mac did not have time to climb the rest of that rock face. Time lapse we’ll say?
3. Forget the red had and the blue jacket. Why didn’t Mac remove those bright blue, quite removable, boot covers?
4. Why didn’t those three guys standing 10 feet away from MacGyver, one of which looked directly at him, notice the aforementioned? Or any of them on the mountain top for that matter?
5. Good on the pilot for having crash landed on the edge of that mountain top. LOL
6. Why have the “Asians” set up camp around the downed plane and bomb? Shouldn’t that have been hauled off somewhere…. Real quick?
7. Why whent Mac and the pilot are running away, did Mac not slow himself or the pilot down when approaching the cliff edge? Did he not just climb up that thing? MacGyver got short term memory problems? That pilot about slid off the edge. LOL
8. The flare gun. Possibly lamest -ism in series?
9. When the car pulls into the Keeva Laboratories, the angle it pulled in couldn’t possibly match the interior/filming angles.
10. Why is there an ongoing chess game set up in the middle of a busy lab? Shouldn’t that be in someone’s office?
11. Are those two old goats deaf? I can hear the timer counting down? Why can’t they?
12. Why is MacGyver hanging out on the roof of the observatory? Repairs? Handyman? Just curious.
13. I laugh every time I see Mac light up those cigarettes and choke… then proceeds to exhale out his nostrils. RDA is/was a hard core smoker at some point.
14. Two of the lead ins to -ism were just too hokey. “What’s that sound?” “It’s me Mac, I was just taking a sip of water.” “WATER!” and “It’s not your fault Mac, you did everything in your power.” “Spencer, you’re a genius.” LOL
15. Is MacGyver wearing dog tags?
16. When someone asks if there’s another way around… what idiot refers to the nickname “The Gas Chamber” when they are in such dire straights instead of just saying what it is?
17. The guy playing Charlie Burke is laughable. You can see actual relief after he makes it through the techno-babble dialogue about the need to fuse the substrata rock bed.
18. Why does Burke seem irritated when Gant tries to warn Mac about the impending missile launch? And why didn’t he warn all concerned earlier?
19. Anyone wonder if that “Spencer gosh darnit!” wasn’t a dub? And something else was originally said?
20. What’s up with all the unnecessary kissing? Seemed. forced.

Things I loved:
The on the run -isms. Set up the crux of the character that would follow through the series.
The fluidity and purpose with which Mac works, all the time not taking himself so seriously.
The SAK. “Hey! I want that knife back, ya know.”
How things don’t always go exactly as planned and he rolls with the punches.
Ed Gantner. Would have loved to see that character return.
Dana Elcar. Glad they brought him on board.
How Mac isn’t too full of himself. I hate it when other action heroes through a stupid quip in after an “action”
2 x “God I heights.”
MacGyver’s general (or not so general) knowledge.

Things I miss:
The opening gambits.
The voice overs.
The nitty gritty MacGyver. He was more proactive early in the series.

Points of interest for Rocky‘s database:
MacGyver drinks coffee. At least it looks like coffee when he tosses it.
MacGyver appears to be wearing dog tags.
MacGyver eats chocolate.

Memorable quotes
Spencer - “Don’t tell me you know how to make a bomb out of a stick of chewing gum.”
Mac - “Why, you got some?”

Mac referring to his SAK - “Hey! I want that knife back, ya know.”

Mac - “The bag’s not for what I take . It’s for what I find along the way.”

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 8 July 2007 - 06:37 PM

QUOTE (MacNymph)

Points of interest for Rocky‘s database:

Ahhh yes.. the assignments database

I really should start work on that... before someone else steals the idea.

Posted by: MacGyver 8 July 2007 - 08:05 PM

The "Pilot" episode of MacGyver is great!!! Okay, actually it's excellent, because that's what I voted!
Um, let's see- we have cool opening gambit wherein MacGyver defuses a rocket bomb with a paperclip!

And makes a rocket thruster from the gun to escape off the mountain with the pilot- yeah, that was cool.
And the actual episode sets the stage for everything to come- MacGyver stops an acid leak with chocolate bars- MacGyver blows out the laser - MacGyver sets up an explosion to get to the scientists- and of course, MacGyver knows Morse Code, as I would expect him to. Tons of MacGyverisms abound, of course.
But even though that's the main draw, as such, I've found that through watching the whole series that really isn't the only draw. MacGyver is multi-faceted and has a lot of qualities that I like about him- he rarely curses (and I would say almost never past the first season), he doesn't condone smoking, drinking or doing drugs, and he hates guns! That was definitely different in the 1980s. Especially in the era of great cartoons like G.I. Joe where there's guns flashing all over the place, and shows like Hunter and the Dirty Harry movies and such- MacGyver was a great antithesis to all that. He still fought for justice and got the job done- but in a much different and creative style that encouraged actual thinking!
What else can I say? MacGyver is my favorite show ever!
The "Pilot" is excellent- and so are the other 138 episodes and the TV-movies.

Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 8 July 2007 - 09:02 PM

I voted ok. I didn't hate the show but I didn't rave over it either. The first time I saw it, I liked RDA, but I wasn't real impressed with the writing or the dialog in the show. I still gave MacGyver a chance and continued watching the show. Happily it lived up to expectations and improved over time.

The MacGyverisms were pretty cool, but I did have a hard time with the chocolate bars. The believability of some of the MacGyverisms is harto take when you have a background in chemistry.

I liked the earlier edgier version of MacGyver where he drinks coffee like the rest of us. Those little things make him seem just a little more real, more human.

Nymphy, its not uncommon for lab people to have some kind of running game going on in the work area. When I was a lab tech in the pharmacology group and we were doing animal studies, sometimes we were in the labs for 6-7 hours. We would play Pictionary, cards, whatever, to help pass the time.

Posted by: MacNymph 9 July 2007 - 07:34 AM

QUOTE (MacGyverGrrl @ 9 July 2007 - 05:31 PM)

Nymphy, its not uncommon for lab people to have some kind of running game going on in the work area. When I was a lab tech in the pharmacology group and we were doing animal studies, sometimes we were in the labs for 6-7 hours. We would play Pictionary, cards, whatever, to help pass the time.

Yeah I know that. Don't even get me started on the stuff we used to do at work

It's just this situation. In an underground highly classified government facility, it's a private game being played by "tele-fax". Which means there's a move every once in a while by a person whose not even on site.

Just erked me.

Well it was just plain out contrived for the story line, I reckon.

Posted by: Astra 9 July 2007 - 11:46 AM

Well, I'm one of the few people that came into the series later on (now if I only could remember which episode - heck, which season it was I saw first) so I didn't watch the pilot until much later. And hence I did not watch it for deciding whether or not I shall watch the series, since I already did that with much enthusiasm.

All in all, I like this one pretty much. There is never a boring moment, it all happens very fast, you don't get much time for taking a breath in between. Especially when the countdown is ticking at the end.

I like it right from the start, this great zoom in into the wall with Mac hanging there, whether or not there are blue jackets and red hats. I just always liked to see Mac climbing.

All the other actors are also good, you can feel the tension in the air. I still hold my breath when at the end this man stops the rocket just in time.

I also like Spencer. Yes, the kiss at the end is farfetched but I can overlook that since she is not one of the women that are only calling for Mac for help, but taking part into the rescue pretty good herself.

But I really wondered what Mac would have used for closing the leak if there hadn't happened chocolate to be lying around. Why did he not at least gather some intel about what he was up against from the guy that gave him the job before he went in there? Isn't it better to be prepaired a little?

The only scenes that compare badly with the rest of the pilot (at least in my opinion) are the ones with Mac and the boy at the observatory. Especially since neither him or it was ever seen again. Yeah, I know, it's a way the writers used to introduce him and to show us that he a) is great with kids and b) still is one himself and is living a little unusually.

But from the time Mac sets foot into this laboratory I'm totally hooked.

And last but not least: He is so very YOUNG! *sigh*

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 9 July 2007 - 02:17 PM

QUOTE

16. When someone asks if there’s another way around… what idiot refers to the nickname “The Gas Chamber” when they are in such dire straights instead of just saying what it is?

What else would you call it?

QUOTE

But I really wondered what Mac would have used for closing the leak if there hadn't happened chocolate to be lying around. Why did he not at least gather some intel about what he was up against from the guy that gave him the job before he went in there? Isn't it better to be prepaired a little?

Because thats the whole premise of MacGyver.. he uses what he finds along the way. And he couldn't get any info from the guys up top, because they didn't know what the situation was in the lab.

I like this episode. I think it achieved its goal of showing what was all about. The man you go to when there's no one left to go to. And also showing how he uses things around him for MacGyverisms, which was the reall selling point of the show.

I really like the line from Gantner at the start "we ran some searches and your name came up."

I can't help thinking though that the writers came up with the MacGyverisms and then threw a story around them to string them all together. It just seemed to have that feel to it.. like the Macisms where the real story line.

Of course back when it first aired.. no-one noticed any of that.. we just watched and enjoyed. Because we'e never seen anything like it before.

Posted by: MacNymph 9 July 2007 - 02:21 PM

Well I can't remember exactly what she said... but what she said right after he asked her

"What's that?" And she explained it was the nickname for a series of labs between something and something.

Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 9 July 2007 - 08:20 PM

The building I used to work in we had a bunch of radiation labs, they were all lead lined with lead lined doors and could be isolated from the rest of the building. We called this corridor Tin Pan Alley.

Our group was known as the Lab Rats. And there was also the Chem Geeks.........

Posted by: Astra 10 July 2007 - 01:18 PM

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 10 July 2007 - 12:46 AM)

Because thats the whole premise of MacGyver.. he uses what he finds along the way.

Yeah, I think that could be a nitpick for the whole series - that everytime he needed something it just was laying around

QUOTE

And he couldn't get any info from the guys up top, because they didn't know what the situation was in the lab.

Well, I thought that there surely must have been more people working in there, that were closer to the surface and so had been rescued already. And since they work there they surely should know what's down there in the labs.

So someone could go to the guy in charge and say "Beware if you go down there, there is a big tank with acid which might be broken so put on your anti-acid-gear and take some chocolate with you".

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 10 July 2007 - 01:54 PM

QUOTE (Astra @ 11 July 2007 - 09:47 AM)

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 10 July 2007 - 12:46 AM)

Because thats the whole premise of MacGyver.. he uses what he finds along the way.

Yeah, I think that could be a nitpick for the whole series - that everytime he needed something it just was laying around

Maybe you've missed the whole concept of the show.

He didn't find what he needed.

He used what he found. The whole idea was that it didn't matter what was laying around.. he could still find a way to use it to his advantage. If the chocolate hadn't been there he would have found some other way of stopping the leak.

QUOTE

They already knew about the acid. Remember the conversation about the aquifer and having to flood the whole complex with acid if MacGyver couldn't stop the leak.

Again this relates to the whole idea of MacGyver.. he doesn't need details about whats down there.. he just deals with it as he finds it. This is a theme through-out the whole series... "seat of the pants approach"

Posted by: Astra 10 July 2007 - 02:45 PM

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 11 July 2007 - 12:23 AM)

If the chocolate hadn't been there he would have found some other way of stopping the leak.

I know that of course. Was just joking around a bit

You know, there is a German comedian who is very good of making fun out of the concept of the show - still, as it is with all things, you only can parody something you really like. So, as a MacGyver fan, I'm not offended but can laugh along with the others about the bad guys that are running away "Look, it's MacGyver, he's got some refills, let's run!"

It's the same with the new things Bonnie upgraded K.I.T.T. with and he just could use this particular item later in the episode. What a coincidence!

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 1 September 2007 - 03:23 PM

There's something in this episode which bugs me. Actually I'm pretty sure I've noticed it in other episodes too so it's obviously the way the writers wanted it.. but when MacGyver is dealing with the laser beam in the elevator shaft, someone up top asks what he's doing.

He replies "well I'll tell ya."

but he doesn't tell them a damn thing.. instead he asks them if they've ever seen a scorpion sting itself to death. how is that telling them what he's doing?

I guess it's just one of my pet peeves. But it bugs me no end.

Posted by: Lothithil 1 September 2007 - 03:46 PM

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 1 September 2007 - 06:58 PM)

Remember what he shouted to Capt. Taylor as they were plummeting down the side of the cliff just before the parachute opened?

"I'll tell ya later...." Bet he didn't tell then, either!

Posted by: Lothithil 2 September 2007 - 05:48 PM

Can anybody tell me what tune Mac is whistling while he's crawling through the wiring duct on the way to the elevator shaft?

Sounds like something from 'The Great Escape'...but I'm not sure.

Posted by: MacNymph 2 September 2007 - 06:49 PM

QUOTE (Lothithil @ 3 September 2007 - 02:23 PM)

Can anybody tell me what tune Mac is whistling while he's crawling through the wiring duct on the way to the elevator shaft?

Cowboy's Lament aka Streets of Laredo

Posted by: Lothithil 2 September 2007 - 07:44 PM

Thanks, Nymphy!

*conducts a rapid Googlefest*

Ah! Early evidence of Mac's prediliction for westerns... excellent!

Posted by: MacBeth 5 September 2007 - 12:23 PM

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 1 September 2007 - 04:58 PM)

<snip> when MacGyver is dealing with the laser beam in the elevator shaft, someone up top asks what he's doing.

He replies "well I'll tell ya."

but he doesn't tell them a damn thing.. instead he asks them if they've ever seen a scorpion sting itself to death. how is that telling them what he's doing?

He's telling them metaphorically. He then uses the lens to direct the laser (made visible by the smoke) back at its own controls -- having the scorpion sting itself to death.

Granted, it wasn't a particularly informative reply in a literal sense; but it was a creative one, and creativity, imagination, and the ability to apply a solution from one area of knowledge (zoology) to another (optics) were all hallmarks of the series and the character.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 5 September 2007 - 12:43 PM

Yeah I understand that it was an obvious setup by the writers to help explain to the audience what was going on.. But "non answers" like that just bug the crap out of me.

Posted by: MacBeth 5 September 2007 - 02:49 PM

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 5 September 2007 - 02:18 PM)

"non answers" like that just bug the crap out of me.

Ahhh, now I know how best to annoy you . . . consider the moon in its phases, and the tides of the sea. Have you ever seen a volcano contemplating eruption?

Posted by: Lothithil 5 September 2007 - 07:23 PM

For Rocky, the sound of one hand clapping is the sound of him smacking the crap out of someone for not answering the question!

It does work in TV, because reiterating wastes time and bores audience-members with very short attention-spans. Does not work so much in real life... especially if you're listening to a two-way radio transmission and the guy on the other end thinks he's a comedian!

Posted by: MacGyversCrush 15 September 2007 - 10:15 AM

I gave it just an ok.

I thought they tried to cram too much into it. Yeah I know they were trying to get your attention. But as an 11 year year old trying to take it in was hard.

Now a days I still think they tried to cram too into it..

Opening gambit.. Yeah the red hat, and the blue boot socks.. All I saw were those blue boot socks or covers.

I did like the observatory with the kid those, but yeah if he doesn't like heights why would he be hanging around the edge of the roof.

Oh and the accent when he was talking about the gyleride (sp) in the chocolate got to me.

There are other things too that I just thought of but I'll leave for the nitpick section.

Posted by: MacsChick 15 September 2007 - 03:35 PM

I agree about the accent Mac had in the Pilot--it sounded a little forced, and almost Southern instead of Midwestern.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 15 September 2007 - 03:57 PM

Yeah I always thought it sounded southern

Posted by: Tygr 16 September 2007 - 07:03 PM

Woah, how did he throw his SAK and get it to stick in the wooden cage holding the pilot? I've tried throwing my SAK, and all I did was crack the plastic casing.

Fortunately it didn't come off.

Posted by: Lothithil 17 September 2007 - 11:06 AM

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 15 September 2007 - 07:32 PM)

Yeah I always thought it sounded southern

Yeah, they had him lay it on pretty thick in the first few episodes. I'm glad his accent eventually smoothed out... it is kinda distracting!

I do love the colloquialisms he uses, though! Whenever he says "ma'am" I get kinda giddy...

Posted by: MacBeth 17 September 2007 - 11:33 AM

QUOTE (Tygr @ 16 September 2007 - 08:38 PM)

Woah, how did he throw his SAK and get it to stick in the wooden cage holding the pilot? I've tried throwing my SAK, and all I did was crack the plastic casing.

A good props crew helps a lot! Good point, though -- SAKs really aren't balanced for throwing, since they tend to be really handle-heavy.

Posted by: Old Fan 17 September 2007 - 04:41 PM

I have knitted a wool hat like the one Mac was wearing when he climbed up the cliff (the red, white and black ski hat with the red pom pom). I chuckle whenever I wear it - in winter, of course, wondering if anyone recognizes the unique design - or where they might have seen it before. Hehe!

Posted by: BigMac 31 December 2007 - 11:48 AM

I really liked this episode. I thought Barbara Spencer was great. Her character actually helped MacGyver instead of relying on him to do everything.

Posted by: Braddock 31 July 2008 - 06:04 AM

i voted Excellent because i just LOVE that episode !!

Posted by: androgyny 31 July 2008 - 07:17 AM

the pilot episode is really great imo. really enjoyed the MacGyverisms. classic.

Posted by: Braddock 1 August 2008 - 06:18 AM

Why is Mac living in a observatory?

Posted by: Lothithil 1 August 2008 - 06:45 AM

QUOTE (Braddock @ 1 August 2008 - 08:18 AM)

Why is Mac living in a observatory?

This is just a personal opinion, but I think that by having Mac living at the Observatory, the writers were trying to emphasize Mac's interest in science, while they are setting up his 'derring-do Action!Man troubleshooter' personae.

As much as I love Mac's obsession with living near the beach in a loft-style apartment (houseboats considered) I wish he could have stayed at the Observatory, at least for a couple more episodes. It really did give him a touch of isolation... set him apart from (and literally, above,) the average man.

JMHO

Posted by: Astra 1 August 2008 - 12:59 PM

Yeah, I also think they wanted to portray him as a very unusual guy right from the start. Not your average neighboor.

It felt way too big for him to me, though.

I mean, think in ways of desperate housewives. All the space to clean!

Posted by: lucky charley 10 August 2008 - 05:14 PM

I liked this episode alot was great but one of the MacGyverisims was tested on
myth busters and the science behind the MacGyverisim was true but it wouldn't of worked

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 10 August 2008 - 06:42 PM

yep as with so many MacGyverism, they are only based on science and not the exact conditions we seem on the show.

But at least the theory is good, and mostly based on real world science.

Posted by: SMeeceymouse 15 November 2008 - 12:11 PM

I can't get passed Mac rescuing the piolet, and playing with the young man at the observitory. Everything seems forced between him and Spencer.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 15 November 2008 - 01:38 PM

QUOTE (SMeeceymouse @ 16 November 2008 - 09:11 AM)

I can't get passed Mac rescuing the piolet, and playing with the young man at the observitory. Everything seems forced between him and Spencer.

probably to be expected in a pilot for a new show.

Of course back in the day we had no other episodes to compare it to, so it wasn't really noticeable.

Posted by: Issus 28 November 2008 - 10:11 AM

Though you guys might want to know,( and if you do, excuse me for being out of tune

)
I suppose everyone remembers the pilot episode (who doesn't ) hwere dear old Mac sealed a sulphuric acid leak with chocolate. Well, it's true. Every bit of it
Though you might find this interesting.

One thing nags me though, why, being in the metalurgics lab, why use NA with water and not NA with F? Much more effective I'd say, course it would have blone the rest of the comlex aside, but hey!, he would have made himself a Deluxe door!

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 28 November 2008 - 12:43 PM

QUOTE (Issus @ 29 November 2008 - 07:11 AM)

I suppose everyone remembers the pilot episode (who doesn't ) hwere dear old Mac sealed a sulphuric acid leak with chocolate. Well, it's true. Every bit of it
Though you might find this interesting.

Depends on your definition of true.

The science is right, but the amounts used are way out.

Apparently the amount of chocolate needed to stop a leak like MacGyver had would be (in RDA's own words) "a truck load".

This is a perfect example of MacGyerisms being based on scientific principles, but exaggerated or skewed for entertainment purposes.

Posted by: SMeeceymouse 28 November 2008 - 12:45 PM

I just couldn't get through the pilot episodes. I didn't like Spencer at all. I can watch the opening and when the pilot and Mac go off the cliff with a parachute, but just couldn't watch the entire episode and actually skipped to the end. I've tried at least three times to watch the episode and I always end up skipping to the end.

Posted by: MacsChick 28 November 2008 - 05:02 PM

On Mythbusters, they showed that you can stop an acid leak with chocolate, but again they did the experiment on a small scale. A large scale acid leak probably would require "a truckload."

Posted by: Issus 29 November 2008 - 03:19 PM

Which comes to show you, a good chocolate bar will save the day in any case

Posted by: shellgyver 4 December 2008 - 01:47 AM

Yeah But Mac is soooooo hot in this Episode, I just love it

Posted by: MacsChick 4 December 2008 - 06:00 PM

Oh, no one is disputing the hotness, I assure you.

Posted by: dinoman 20 January 2009 - 04:19 PM

I watched the episode again last night and wondered if Mac was already with the DXS at that time. If not, why would his name came up in searching for a suitable person to save the lab?

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 20 January 2009 - 04:45 PM

He did missions for the pentagon.

Posted by: dinoman 21 January 2009 - 04:24 PM

Does that mean he was working for the Petagon and at the same time driving taxi for Jack while he was in the hospital? It seems to me that Mac was so 'inexperienced' when he and Pete was chasing Murdoc in 'Partners' and I don't think he would act like this if at that time he had completed several dangerous assignments for the Petagon.

The timeline looks a little bit confusing to me.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 21 January 2009 - 05:15 PM

http://www.macgyveronline.com/pages/timeline.html

Posted by: Beachbead 18 April 2009 - 10:12 AM

Loved this one his voice was little forced but over all I lived his southern tounge.

Posted by: SMeeceymouse 27 April 2009 - 10:04 AM

I must admend my earlier replies I got through the first episode. Husband really liked it. The acting was kind of forced. I don't like that they had Dana Elcar smoking a cigarrette. I loved the end when the little boy made the basket. I wish they had done a little more with that in the beginning of the series. But I guess the Challengers club made up for it.

Posted by: Beachbead 28 April 2009 - 02:48 PM

I didn't like it when he used cigs to show the beams. he could of used something else to show the beams.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 28 April 2009 - 02:56 PM

QUOTE (Beachbead @ 29 April 2009 - 10:48 AM)

I didn't like it when he used cigs to show the beams. he could of used something else to show the beams.

Such as?

Posted by: Beachbead 28 April 2009 - 03:00 PM

powder

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 28 April 2009 - 03:23 PM

from where?

remember he only had stuff he could find along the way. AND that scene showed that he wasn't and didn't like smoking... although as Nymphy said earlier in this thread,the fact that he instinctively blew smoke out through his nose was a slight give away for RDA's habits

Posted by: Beachbead 28 April 2009 - 03:36 PM

so he smoked in Real Life, nasty Habit.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 28 April 2009 - 03:40 PM

actually he didn't blow it out through his nose, but he seemed quite apt at lighting cigarettes from another one and blowing large amounts out smoke

Posted by: Beachbead 28 April 2009 - 03:41 PM

you never know maybe at one point in time he did smoke but gave it up.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 11 June 2009 - 01:03 AM

Probably part of that "angry young man" behavior he keeps talking about in interviews.

Posted by: MacDriver 15 August 2009 - 07:42 AM

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 11 June 2009 - 09:03 PM)

Probably part of that "angry young man" behavior he keeps talking about in interviews.

Haha, yeah I always got the idea he had as dark a past as Mac, but it sounded more like he tried a few thingsin his youth and moved on, unlike most other people in Hollywood that make the news every third week for something their mother's not proud of

He actually gets pretty deep in some interviews for someone as famous as he is. I think he had too good of a head on his shoulders, plus he said over and over he felt like he didn't know what he was doing and had to work really hard at being good (eh, whatever RDA, you were born good!) and also that the cast on Mac was his life for those 7 years. I think it all adds up to say that there was little desire for self destructive patterns (including smoking) and little opportunity with the intensity of the seasons. Plus I don't know, is it part of the scene in Hockey to smoke? I have never heard of that, and in general I don't think sports/being active agrees with smoking.

Posted by: angus20 5 November 2009 - 05:05 AM

I was watching this episode last night, and some idea came up, if this is the pilot episode, how do they have managed to do the opening, cause as anyone can see the opening has scenes from different episodes, so this make me think they have previously created some scenes or some episodes, its that right?

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 5 November 2009 - 12:54 PM

They would have made probably half the season before it started showing on TV so they had a number of episodes to collect scenes from to make the opening sequence.

TV shows aren't generally filmed one week and aired the next, they are made several weeks in advance. Even the daily soaps film several weeks in advance.

Posted by: j.mitchell42 20 December 2009 - 02:34 PM

Not sure if I am inserting this in the write plqace, but...

Just watched first episode, and have a question. Is it just me or when MacGyver lands at the lab in a helicopter - was that the blue thunder copter. Looks exactly like the heavily made over Gazelle helicopter used as Blue Thunder. Like I say, is it just me or is this a blatent reuse of an old prop...

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 20 December 2009 - 04:11 PM

Welcome to the forums.

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Thunder#Blue_Thunder_helicopter, your right. The helicopter was in fact one of the 2 SA-341G choppers used to make http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EAT246?tag=macgyveronlin-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B000EAT246&adid=08YG3DH7S1FB2GYWXDXC&.

Specifically it was N51BT S/N 1066

Nice find!

I've just updated the http://www.macgyveronline.com/pages/e1.html with this information.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 14 January 2010 - 02:33 PM

I've always been bothered by the opening scenes claiming the Grand Canyon as being "Somewhere in Central Asia." Later in the Friends episode we hear that it was actually Mongolia.

I've just been searching for canyons in Mongolia which resemble what we see in the opening scenes, and low and behold, there are similar places there.

Mongolia has the Gobi desert which is littered with structures like this.
user posted image

And if you go west to Kazakhstan, you find the Charyn Canyon.
user posted image

So their location is actually correct and not (as I've always thought) just something they made up thinking "well who's gonna know the difference?" due to the lack of travel and access to such knowledge back in the 80's.

Posted by: Dennman 12 March 2010 - 02:11 PM

I remember when this episode first aired and I watched it with my dad. Always been a favorite of mine. The blue jacket never bothered me, but I don't much care for that plaid shirt he wears the duration of the episode. I loved the opening gambits as they reminded me of the Bond pre-title sequences. This one was a great opener.

Posted by: cirubit 30 March 2010 - 01:05 PM

In the italian vesion of this episode, "Colson", the character played by Dana Elcar, has changed to Peter Thorton!!!

I ever see this thing like strange...until I discovered this fact when i saw, for the first time, this episode in the original version on dvd!

(sorry for my english,, it's a little bit "rusty")

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 1 April 2010 - 06:43 PM

Interesting.

DO you mean the DVD versions or the TV version? and if TV was it like that originally or has it been changed in later screenings?

Posted by: Lothithil 1 April 2010 - 09:26 PM

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 14 January 2010 - 04:33 PM)

I've always been bothered by the opening scenes claiming the Grand Canyon as being "Somewhere in Central Asia." Later in the Friends episode we hear that it was actually Mongolia.

I've just been searching for canyons in Mongolia which resemble what we see in the opening scenes, and low and behold, there are similar places there.

*clip*

So their location is actually correct and not (as I've always thought) just something they made up thinking "well who's gonna know the difference?" due to the lack of travel and access to such knowledge back in the 80's.

Wow! Well researched! I'm glad I didn't miss this entirely... I find this very interesting.

Nice that they have some genuine geographical references to back up the story. And nice photo's too!

Posted by: cirubit 2 April 2010 - 04:15 AM

The italian version of this episode on dvd, (the audio dialogues, I mean) are the same of the italian tv version! They has been never changed also in later screening!
When Dana Elcar's character itroduces hirsef, In the ( ITALIAN) subtitles of dvd, we can read "Andy Colson" ,while in the ( ITALIAN) audio track we read "Peter Thorton"!!

I hope I have been clear

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 2 April 2010 - 01:07 PM

yep, thanks for that.

Posted by: Makoto 7 August 2010 - 09:09 PM

In the movie "Friday the 13th: A New Beginning" (1985) Shavar Ross pleyed "Reggie". Is he the same as Reggie in MacGyver "Pilot"?
The same role in same year.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0743834/

Posted by: BrakeFluid 23 December 2010 - 08:22 PM

I always liked this one, although I didn't see it until I'd been watching the show for a while and so I picked up on the inconsistencies immediately. Even then, I knew pilot episodes were like that. All in all, it's a great start to a great series. The chocolate trick is a good example of how so many MacGyverisms are loosely based in reality (you could really do it, but you'd need a lot more chocolate), and I like the complete focus on getting out alive as opposed to the more moral tone the show picked up later on. Not that I dislike that aspect of the show at all - I don't - but it's kind of refreshing to just see Mac save the day with his tricks.

I do seem to recall one other inconsistency that I haven't seen mentioned yet: when Barbara stands on his shoulders, he appears to look up her skirt. Since MacGyver was always portrayed as the ultimate gentleman afterwards, that is just as out of character as firing the gun was.

Posted by: rinaldi_LOL 29 January 2011 - 07:07 PM

In this first episode, I do not see any correlation between the title ("Pilot") with the main story.

In the main story, MacGyver has the task to patch the tube leak chemicals. So, what to do with "pilot?"

The opening gambit is very interesting. MacGyver like an American version of James Bond. By the way, MacGyver's hair style in this first episode, and in generally the first season, is the best of the entire season.

Posted by: cirubit 30 January 2011 - 02:23 AM

The title "PILOT" is how, in U.S.A., they call the first episode of a tv show, shot to test the audience!

Posted by: BrakeFluid 12 February 2011 - 07:03 AM

I'm guessing Rinaldi is probably not a native English speaker. If you think about it, the first-episode defintion of "Pilot" is not likely to turn up on too many vocab lists even in an advanced class. In any case, you are correct - it doesn't refer to anything in the episode.

Posted by: Makedde 5 March 2011 - 07:45 PM

I only saw this episode for the first time a couple of months ago. It was okay, but not great. I did like his trick with the firehose, though, to get to the trapped scientists.

Stopping the acid leak with chocolate bars was laughable, though, although I do wonder if it would work in real life. Unfortunately I can't find any acid to experiment with!

It was a good start to the series, though. I rate it as being okay.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 6 March 2011 - 02:01 AM

QUOTE (Makedde @ 6 March 2011 - 04:48 PM)

Stopping the acid leak with chocolate bars was laughable, though, although I do wonder if it would work in real life. Unfortunately I can't find any acid to experiment with!

Yes it does work.

RDA has mentioned it from time to time in http://www.macgyveronline.com/pages/interviews.html and Mythbusters have also confirmed that it does work.

So maybe not as laughable as you thought?

Posted by: Makedde 6 March 2011 - 08:45 PM

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 6 March 2011 - 10:04 PM)

QUOTE (Makedde @ 6 March 2011 - 04:48 PM)

Stopping the acid leak with chocolate bars was laughable, though, although I do wonder if it would work in real life. Unfortunately I can't find any acid to experiment with!

Now I am eager to experiment with this one.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 17 March 2011 - 11:59 PM

I've been thinking quite a bit about this episode lately as I've been watching news about the big earthquake in New Zealand and now the even bigger earthquake and possible nuclear meltdown in Japan.

This is (I think) the only episode which parallels with the kinds of situations we've been seeing on the news in recent weeks and I can't help thinking about how many MacGyver like stories there must be coming out of these situations; where people have pulled off MacGyverisms to help each other out.

if ever there was a time to find a real MacGyver, right now is probably that time.

Posted by: Makedde 18 March 2011 - 11:29 PM

I watched this episode again the other day (the episodes seemed to stop at S4 and have gone back to S1) and I know Mac is seen with a gun and he hands it to someone else, but I didn't see anything at all.

Where does this happen, exactly? I see him climbing a rock, taking out some guy and then going into a tent to fix this bomb like thing. No guns at all - which made me think that perhaps the episode I saw was edited in some way?

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 19 March 2011 - 01:39 AM

It happens just before MacGyver makes the rocket thruster to shoot them over the cliff.

He takes some shots at the bad guys and then hands the gun to the pilot so he (mac) can start beating on the flare gun with the rock to make it into the rocket thruster.

Posted by: Makedde 19 March 2011 - 06:38 PM

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 19 March 2011 - 09:42 PM)

Alright, I remember him bashing that gun to shoot them over but not him shooting at the men. I might have to watch the episode again, or else the TV station cut the episode to shorten it. Weird.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 19 March 2011 - 10:16 PM

Start watching from 7:40 onwards

Posted by: Makedde 20 March 2011 - 11:16 PM

Interesting. I don't recall seeing that part. I remember them running, and then hiding, and then jumping off the cliff. I assume the episode was edited, possibly to make it shorter, but that is definately a part I don't remember seeing, at all.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 21 March 2011 - 12:00 AM

It could also have been removed for consistency purposes. I'm recall seeing a discussion in here somewhere about that scene being cut by some stations and the suspected was that it was because that scene conflicted with MacGyver's anti-gun stance.

Posted by: BrakeFluid 17 June 2011 - 09:24 PM

QUOTE

It does work, but for a hole the size of the one MacGyver plugged, you'd probably need about 25 pounds of chocolate, and he does it with a few ounces. So it's not completely un-laughable either.

Posted by: MacGyverNikki 2 September 2011 - 07:08 PM

Pliot is my favorite episode.

Posted by: Mary-Kate 21 July 2012 - 01:41 PM

I love the pilot! It has some good Macgyverisms and I liked an introduction to MacGyver as a character. Altough it does bother me that he was actually firing a gun (shooting at the bad guys during the rescue of one man). He could've just handed the gun to that man he was with and started with whatever he was planning to do with that flare gun. The only thing that has bothered me so far.

Another scene I remember is when MacGyver was smoking those cigarettes. He looked so hot.

Also, a very funny scene when Mac asked Colson (Dana Elcar) for cigarettes... and he took the whole pack! I laughed so much at this.

Mac: Spare a cigarette?
Colson: Yeah, sure.. (searches for the pack and lift it towards Mac)
Mac (takes a pack): Thank you.
Colson: Take the pack, why don't you? Wanna my lighter too?
Mac: No, thanks. I carry my own matches.

Posted by: KiwiTek 21 July 2012 - 04:06 PM

Yeah I still really like this episode too. It has to be the most MacGyverism packed episode of the whole show and really is a great introduction to the series.

Somewhere in here there's a thread asking about which episode would be the best one to introduce a new person to the series. Some people mentioned that this episode might be seen as too cheesy, but I personally think that in spite of the little gun scene this episode really captures and explains what the character is all about.

Posted by: NightTinkerer 28 July 2012 - 04:10 PM

Since I'm still suffering from a cold ala "Blowout" (my poor neighbors, for the last 24 hours I've been sneezing so loud!) I've started re-watching the MacGyver episodes all over again (I did it rather recently, for those of you who haven't seen my introduction post at the reception lounge).

Hopefully, I'll be recovered way before I'm through, but in the meantime, since I'm pretty house bound, I'll throw another MacGyver marathon and add some thoughts (and votes) along the way, starting with the pilot.

I really liked the opening gambit, the gun firing aside. (In fact, I'm rather fond of all of the opening gambits, but I'll discuss them separately).

I don't know whether it was a deliberate move from the filmmakers, but having Mac climbing that nightmare of a cliff is a heck of a way to introduce a guy who's supposed to be so afraid of heights! I can't help wondering if they just forgot about it or wanted to show us that he is the kind of person that will face his fears.

I know the episode writers have been pretty inconsistent when it comes to Mac's fear of heights (more on that later), but I think that it's a very good way of showing that he's not the hard boiled kind of action hero.

Anyway--I really liked the analogy about the horse! But, as some people already have pointed out, I don't like that "Southern accent" at all. It doesn't come natural for RDA. Mac's attitude really changed over the years--so much for the better. You can definitely see the writers getting a better grip on the character with time--and also, RDA is definitely developing as an actor.

I can absolutely see Mac as an observatory baby sitter. I really like the way he interacts with the kid. Maybe the episode writers were overstating the fact that Mac cares about people from all nationalities and society groups by choosing a black kid, whom he refers to as "my brother." Heartwarming touch, though!

As people have already pointed out--great MacGyverisms in this episode! In fact, the MacGyverisms in themselves would have got me hooked. Save one--I don't like the cigarette smoking at all. I know, Mac seemed to dislike it too, but there's just something that irks me a lot when it comes to smoking, (besides the obvious fact that it's very unattractive for a man, in my NOT so humble opinion...

)
I'm really glad it didn't happen again throughout the series.

Another thing I don't care about too much is when they're throwing in romantic scenes here and there, which holds little meaning for the story in itself. I know, these were the 1980's, and many women featured on film/TV were damsels in distress... but still, ugh.

I also noticed that after he rips up his flannel shirt, he's wearing this undershirt with a wide open neck, something rarely seen after the first/second season, where he often buttons his shirts all the way up, and you don't often see him shirtless. I know part of the reason is probably weather/temperature related as they switched shooting locations, but it definitely seems like that aspect was toned down along with the decreasing numbers of girlfriends and romantic interests.

In fact--I don't mind that at all. I might be a straight female, but there's so much more to MacGyver than his physical appearance, and as I've already stated, I really like the way the character developed over the years.

To sum it up, I'll vote "Good" for this episode.

Posted by: KiwiTek 28 July 2012 - 06:52 PM

QUOTE (NightTinkerer @ 29 July 2012 - 12:13 PM)

)
I'm really glad it didn't happen again throughout the series.

He did it for a reason though not because he wanted to. He needed to see the lasers and that's the only source of smoke he had available to him. I'm not sure you can logically dislike something when it's being done to save peoples lives in an emergency situation.

QUOTE

Anyway--I really liked the analogy about the horse! But, as some people already have pointed out, I don't like that "Southern accent" at all. It doesn't come natural for RDA. Mac's attitude really changed over the years--so much for the better. You can definitely see the writers getting a better grip on the character with time--and also, RDA is definitely developing as an actor.

Are you talking about when he's explaining the chocolate thing, or can you pick it in other parts of the episode? The chocolate is really the only bit where I can detect an accent different from what i perceive as an American accent. Being a non-US I can't pick the subtleties of the local accents other than the very distinctive ones such as Maine, general southern and New York.

Posted by: NightTinkerer 29 July 2012 - 07:10 AM

QUOTE (NightTinkerer @ 29 July 2012 - 12:13 PM)

Yes, I know he did it for a reason, and used what was at hand. Of course it was the right thing to do under the circumstances. It just wasn't one of my personal favorites.

QUOTE

I think it was his speech in general, but I thought about it in the opening gambit already. I'm not a US citizen either, but I've been visiting the States several times and I've got many US friends from all over the country. Though I can't really pinpoint all specific US accents, I can definitely hear the difference between north and south. Regarding Mac's accent though, it definitely had a Southern "feel" to it; a bit more nasal and less articulate compared to his later speech pattern. Yet, when you hear "real" southerners speak, it sounds more natural. Hope it makes sense.

Also--I forgot to mention something. The sound of the fans restarting in the laboratory is VERY similar to the Star Trek Enterprise firing its phasers. Knowing that Star Trek is a Paramount production as well, I can't help wondering if there was a bit of sound recycling going on.

Not that I mind at all, it just brought a smile to my face.

Posted by: Macap311 4 August 2012 - 09:39 PM

Has anyone seen the 'deleated' scenes from the 'pilot' episode? With the addition of Mac attending a meeting in Washington. DC immediatly following his mountain top rescue?!? Very interesting stuff! Its on you tube and looks like it aired overseas!! Sorry, but I'm on my kindle at the moment and don't know how to post it!

Posted by: KiwiTek 4 August 2012 - 09:57 PM

yep, that scene was originally posted by this site.

You can also see it in our media center.. and of coarse, our own http://www.youtube.com/macgyveronline.

Posted by: NightTinkerer 5 August 2012 - 07:25 AM

QUOTE (KiwiTek @ 5 August 2012 - 08:00 AM)

yep, that scene was originally posted by this site.

You can also see it in our media center.. and of coarse, our own http://www.youtube.com/macgyveronline.

I easily found the clips via the YouTube channel, but unfortunately some of the links in the Media section appear to be broken...

Posted by: KiwiTek 5 August 2012 - 09:45 PM

QUOTE (NightTinkerer @ 6 August 2012 - 03:28 AM)

QUOTE (KiwiTek @ 5 August 2012 - 08:00 AM)

yep, that scene was originally posted by this site.

You can also see it in our media center.. and of coarse, our own http://www.youtube.com/macgyveronline.

I easily found the clips via the YouTube channel, but unfortunately some of the links in the Media section appear to be broken...

Which ones?

Posted by: NightTinkerer 6 August 2012 - 04:34 AM

QUOTE (KiwiTek @ 6 August 2012 - 07:48 AM)

QUOTE (NightTinkerer @ 6 August 2012 - 03:28 AM)

QUOTE (KiwiTek @ 5 August 2012 - 08:00 AM)

yep, that scene was originally posted by this site.

You can also see it in our media center.. and of coarse, our own http://www.youtube.com/macgyveronline.

I easily found the clips via the YouTube channel, but unfortunately some of the links in the Media section appear to be broken...

Which ones?

"Scenes" and "Misc" under the "Video" section.

Posted by: Macap311 7 August 2012 - 06:05 PM

Makes me wonder how much stuff is out there we may never see! Hopefully one day the complete series will be rereleased on Dvd with some kind of bonus material! Hey, I can dream!! Lol!!

Posted by: KiwiTek 7 August 2012 - 07:52 PM

those pages are fixed now, although I have to fix the alignment on them again, but the videos are working there now. thanks for the heads up.

Posted by: NightTinkerer 8 August 2012 - 02:04 PM

QUOTE (KiwiTek @ 8 August 2012 - 05:55 AM)

those pages are fixed now, although I have to fix the alignment on them again, but the videos are working there now. thanks for the heads up.

Thank you, nice work!

Lots of great clips there.

Posted by: KiwiTek 26 November 2012 - 03:02 PM

I still think this episode is probably one of the best in the whole series. It probably has more MacGyverisms than any other episode and I think it sets the action adventure tone of the series brilliantly.

5 out of 5 for me.

Posted by: MacGyverisms 7 February 2013 - 06:28 PM

The Pilot is probably one of my favorite MacGyver episodes of all time. In my opinion the MacGyverisms in this episode are really good. I really liked the opening gambit ( Mac firing the gun aside) It was a very good how MacGyver was introduced. The Macgyverisms themselves are pretty cool. Maybe the most MacGyverisms of any episode. Always enjoy this episode. In my opinion one of my top favorite episodes of the series.

My rating: 9/10

Posted by: KiwiTek 8 February 2013 - 01:29 AM

Yep, I have to agree with you there. I think the pilot does an awesome job of setting up the character and show in general.

Posted by: Lazyking 14 February 2013 - 01:40 PM

I just watched the pilot again on Hulu. I've only watched a few MacGyver episodes all in season one so I figure I'd start over.

Just wanted to say, I love the Pilot for the intro of Mac and all the cool Macgyverisms.. May be too much for some but really, the only thing that bothered me was the big brother throw away scenes.. It seemed like they wanted Mac to be so likable in so many different areas. It's just not needed. Like without those scenes, you still like Mac and you would never think he hated kids just by his personality.

Take that part out, and it's almost a perfect episode imo.

Posted by: Daisy8577 25 February 2013 - 05:58 AM

I watched this episode the other day and this really is one of the best eps for macguyverisms. The chocolate was good, but the cold capsule was better.
I also saw the thread of the deleted scene on you tube. Gonna go check it out!

Posted by: SarahMacGyver 27 February 2013 - 12:08 AM

yeah ik that part the toss and him saying "I want that back you know." of that episode

Stargate SG-1 my favourite Character is JACK O'NILE he reminds me of MacGyver probably because he has the courage and humour mac does and the rolls played by RDA

Posted by: Daisy8577 27 February 2013 - 04:18 AM

Yeah you are right I also like him as Jack O'Neil. You definitely see Mac in that character.

Posted by: MacManx 28 March 2013 - 06:00 AM

I have been a MacGyver fan since the beginning of the show. Could never miss an episode and I watched all the reruns I could in the 90's.

But after I moved out of my grandma's in 1999, I no longer had cable and couldn't watch the show anymore.

Then a couple of years ago, I got MacGyver on DVD. When I rewatched, I remember thinking a few things:
1 it was great to see Mac again
2 I didn't recall some of the scripts being so cheesy
3 were the special effects and spliced in films that bad
4 plus I could easily see some continuity and editing mistakes
5 despite issues 2-4 I still love MacGyver

But then after thinking about it; when this aired my 1970's tube TV was 1/2 the screen size that I have now and I am currently watching Mac on a HD flat screen. So it seems obvious that things are much more visible that they are now.

In the 80's, I think the effects and use of older spliced in footage was more common. TV shows today are treated much more like movies, with special effects, new techniques, editing and such. The look of shows today is just such a high caliber.

The scripts, and editing did improve and the show gained fans.

I was in high school and was just wowed by Mac. And lets face it, the show is really about him, his humanity and how he uses his brains to get out trouble.

Posted by: Matrix 1 July 2013 - 03:27 PM

The Pilot episode is probably one of my favorite MacGyver episodes of the series. The Opening Gambit was very entertaining and really good. The part of Mac firing the Ak aside. And having Mac climbing that cliff is a bold of a way to introduce a guy who's supposed to be so afraid of heights! This whole episode was a great way of setting up the character and the show. This episode probably has the most MacGyverisms of any other episode in the series. And they're all great. Several things I always miss from the early episodes of the First Season that where never really carried along later in the series. 1: The Opening Gambits. 2: The side-pack that Mac uses to collect the things he finds along the way 3: The voice overs. And 4 : The Nitty Gritty MacGyver.

Memorable quotes:

Spencer - “Don’t tell me you know how to make a bomb out of a stick of chewing gum.”
Mac - “Why, you got some?”

Mac referring to his SAK - “Hey! I want that knife back, ya know.”

Mac - “The bag’s not for what I take. It’s for what I find along the way.”

A great episode to introduce MacGyver and the series.

9.5/10

Posted by: YopeGyver 1 July 2013 - 05:26 PM

Welcome to the forum, Matrix!

QUOTE

Spencer - “Don’t tell me you know how to make a bomb out of a stick of chewing gum.”
Mac - “Why, you got some?”

One of my favorite quotes.

Posted by: Matrix 1 July 2013 - 06:33 PM

Thanks, I'm very happy to have joined.

Posted by: Scwilson 31 July 2013 - 10:03 PM

the pilot was the first and I was hooked.

Posted by: Rocket 22 September 2013 - 01:08 PM

Just watched this again, having finished the films last week.

I'd forgotten how different the stories were at the start!
I really like the way they introduce Mac and how his brain ticks, and I like Barbara Spencer as his sidekick of the day too

Interesting that it was directed by 'Alan Smithee'. Isn't that the alias they use when the actual director doesn't want his/her name on the piece?

Posted by: Grazer 27 October 2013 - 03:17 PM

This gets an excellent from me. It really sets the show up brilliantly with the underlying theme of MacGyver being the "go to guy" to solve any problem and this episode must be the one with the most MacGyverisms of the whole series.

In spite of the picture quality issues, this episode seems to stand the test of time well. That scanner thing the doctor stands under before entering the lab still seems pretty high tech even today.

Excellent episode. Excellent way to start the series.

Posted by: Joe SAKic 6 March 2014 - 08:21 PM

That poofy pompom toque in the opening gambit is absolutely hilarious. In Canadian winters you can see somebody coming literally a mile away in those things. Definitely not the most efficient stealthware/ accoutrement for secret operations.

Posted by: KiwiTek 6 March 2014 - 11:49 PM

I wonder if that's the same hat he wears in the Eagles episode? And if it is I wonder if they wide angle shots of him on the cliff face are taken from the same climbing movie they took the scenes from for Eagles?

Posted by: Jediferret 8 March 2014 - 05:04 AM

Don't be dissin' the hat! That hat is awesome. lol

I wouldn't be surprised if RDA chose that hat himself. After hearing stories of how much he was a goofball on set of Stargate, one can assume he was just as bad on MacGyver. lol

I hadn't seen the pilot in over two decades, but when I saw it when I re-watched I instantly knew the show was going to be awesome. Call me weird.

Posted by: KiwiTek 8 March 2014 - 01:38 PM

QUOTE (Jediferret @ 9 March 2014 - 02:04 AM)

I don't think he had any say in anything of season 1. He was a hired actor at that stage. It wasn't until season 2 that he started to get input to the character development.

On SG RDA was a producer (the boss) which gave him a lot of freedom which he wouldn't have on MacGyver.

Posted by: kristiina86halonen 18 March 2014 - 02:12 AM

QUOTE (Macap311 @ 8 August 2012 - 02:05 PM)

Makes me wonder how much stuff is out there we may never see! Hopefully one day the complete series will be rereleased on Dvd with some kind of bonus material! Hey, I can dream!! Lol!!

This pilot episode was actually filmed as a full long movie, but was later cut to TV-version. It could be great to see this full version someday. I just watched Stargate SG-1's DVD collection of all 8 seasons, where RDA was with, and there was lots of special features - behind the scenes documentaries and interviews. Lots of, lots of, lots of great bonus stuff. I think there exist lots of behind the scenes material about MacGyver, too. It's sad there isn't any behind the scenes bonus material on MacGyver DVD box.

Posted by: KiwiTek 18 March 2014 - 12:30 PM

QUOTE (kristiina86halonen @ 18 March 2014 - 11:12 PM)

This pilot episode was actually filmed as a full long movie, but was later cut to TV-version. It could be great to see this full version someday.

I thought it was written as a movie but then cut down before they started filming?

QUOTE

I just watched Stargate SG-1's DVD collection of all 8 seasons, where RDA was with, and there was lots of special features - behind the scenes documentaries and interviews. Lots of, lots of, lots of great bonus stuff. I think there exist lots of behind the scenes material about MacGyver, too. It's sad there isn't any behind the scenes bonus material on MacGyver DVD box.

MacGyver was filmed using 35mm film cameras and then transferred to video for editing. After nearly 30 years the original film would be degraded too much to be of any use now and we don't know what CBS Paramount's policy is for retaining video. They may only keep the edited master versions and discard or reuse the original copies, or possibly done so later in time.

It would be nice to think they still had the original video sitting in a vault somewhere just waiting to be re-mastered onto a digital format - or better yet, that they were already in the process of re-mastering both the episodes and special features for a Blu-ray release.

Only time will tell, unfortunately, that time will also destroy if left too long.

Posted by: kristiina86halonen 20 March 2014 - 01:19 AM

QUOTE (KiwiTek @ 19 March 2014 - 08:30 AM)

I thought it was written as a movie but then cut down before they started filming?

Actually, the full 90 minutes episode WAS filmed, but was later cut to the 60 minutes version. Because of editing there was a lot of quest starring characters that didn't appear in the version that aired. Also they cut off scenes where MacGyver's first name was said, which was Stace at that time. You can read about all that on RDA's personal website.

Posted by: kristiina86halonen 20 March 2014 - 01:41 AM

QUOTE (KiwiTek @ 9 March 2014 - 09:38 AM)

QUOTE (Jediferret @ 9 March 2014 - 02:04 AM)

I think he could do his own things already on season 1. Like in The Enemy Within in this dissection scene, when he eats this egg roll. It can be something not written in script, because when MacGyver turns to take the egg roll, you can see, that RDA's arm is in plaster cast. Why they bothered to hide this plaster cast behind that jacket when at the next moment everybody can see it. So, I think it was RDA's own and they left it in the episode, 'cause it was funny.

Posted by: KiwiTek 20 March 2014 - 12:37 PM

QUOTE (kristiina86halonen @ 20 March 2014 - 10:19 PM)

QUOTE (KiwiTek @ 19 March 2014 - 08:30 AM)

I thought it was written as a movie but then cut down before they started filming?

Does that sight have actual evidence that the name being used in dialog? I know the name Stace MacGyver was used as a Character name in the script, but haven't seen any evidence to suggest that it was actually spoken at any time in the script.

http://www.macgyveronline.com/pages/faq.html#q2.

If you've got other information can you link us to it please? Thanks

Posted by: Joe SAKic 20 March 2014 - 05:24 PM

QUOTE (Jediferret @ 8 March 2014 - 09:04 AM)

Ha .... I actually have a few of those style toques in my mitten drawer. The difference being that I usually only wear them during a snowstorm and as a beacon-esque warning to marauding snowplows - to stay clear and so as not to run me over. As for pulling one over my ears for a covert operation

Nope! I've got a black balaclava and a can of shoe polish - tailor made for those assignments.

Posted by: kristiina86halonen 21 March 2014 - 12:36 AM

QUOTE (KiwiTek @ 21 March 2014 - 08:37 AM)

QUOTE (kristiina86halonen @ 20 March 2014 - 10:19 PM)

QUOTE (KiwiTek @ 19 March 2014 - 08:30 AM)

I thought it was written as a movie but then cut down before they started filming?

I don't know, if I can put here any links without permission, so go to:

http://www.rdanderson.com

...and then ARCHIVES and then WILLIAM S. PALEY MACGYVER SEMINAR Museum of Television and Radio. March 6, 1998

It's very long (but very interesting) article. The topic we talked about is in the section, where fans ask questions. When print the article to A4, it's on page 15.

And for the article, where said, that 90 minutes version of Pilot was filmed go to http://www.rdanderson.com and then MACGYVER and then PILOT.

Posted by: Duckt tape 23 April 2014 - 12:26 AM

Just watched this again last night and I just love it

This is the episode that originally got me hooked on MacGyver and one of my favorite episodes. I think that's a great way to start the series

A lot of pure and simple macgyverisms, lot of humor, that lovely accent he has and a lab of metallurgy (my mom studied metallurgy and when i first saw this episode i hadn't seen her for quite a while and missed her).

still the same things bugged me also: red hat and bright blue clothes at a mission where you should try to be invisible

Mac shooting
and what is it with all those women in the series "I kiss you now just in case we'll die" who thinks about kissing when you afraid you'll die and with someone you don't even know? ok he is handsome and smart and lovely character and saving their lives so maybe it's understandable anyone would like to kiss him

Posted by: denizen 23 April 2014 - 09:27 AM

It certainly is one of the best!

Posted by: Fly_airdalton 7 September 2014 - 01:20 PM

One of my favorite things about the first season are the opening gambits. It added a bit more depth to the episode.
This is one of the better pilot episodes than other shows at the time.

Posted by: KiwiTek 24 January 2015 - 03:56 AM

According to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165375/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast the directors real name is Jerrold Freedman.

Not sure how long it's been listed there or why (or if) he decided to own up to it, but it's there now so we know who the real director was.

Posted by: MacGyverGod 24 January 2015 - 10:01 AM

You might wonder what happened that he didn't want to in the first place. Did he had such a hard time directing it? Or didn't he just feel anything for it. Pilots can be hard maybe, because you don't know how it'll turn out.

Posted by: Joe SAKic 13 March 2015 - 07:30 PM

QUOTE (KiwiTek @ 20 March 2014 - 04:37 PM)

QUOTE (kristiina86halonen @ 20 March 2014 - 10:19 PM)

QUOTE (KiwiTek @ 19 March 2014 - 08:30 AM)

I thought it was written as a movie but then cut down before they started filming?

There's a MacGyver reproduction script circulating on a popular auction site these days entitled 'MacGyver - A Ninety Minute Pilot by Lee David Zlotoff'. It is a 'Second Draft' and dated 'January 3, 1985'. It is meaty and almost 100 pages long, content commensurate with a 90 minute program, and appears, as far as I can tell, to be authentic.

So ..... at the Government Test Center and as they run Mac through a fitness/agility- type course and on age 22, Dr. Collette Webster receives a computer printout of his ongoing progress and she begins to read it out loud .... and I quote:

Webster: MacGyver, comma, Stace, test sequence one seven nine. Cumulative reflex response time; 38.5-- down from your previous readout of 39.2. Muscle oxygenation co-efficient 134.3-- formerly 132. I could give the specifics of each sub-group but the decline is apparent.

Really a good read with Mac being definitely more suggestive with the ladies from what we've come to know of him, has a bit of caffeine addiction, and actually has(had!) a line that says 'you want a beer or what?'

Posted by: Barry Rowland 31 July 2015 - 07:47 PM

Just the same, it sure educated alot of us 80's kids with something that made chemistry, etc. alive! I remember how there always happened to be the right tools for the job available, but that was a common theme with alot of the shows back then. I could never get over how there was always an acetylene torch and tons of scrap angle iron available on the A Team to come up with solutions to get out of a fix too. I just wish I had some of that kind of stuff lying around right now!

Posted by: KiwiTek 1 August 2015 - 12:09 AM

For MacGyver it wasn't so much a case of having the right stuff laying around. It was a case of making what ever was laying around in to the right stuff.

Posted by: Barry Rowland 1 August 2015 - 12:18 PM

Right on Kiwitech, and it sure was fun to watch him do it!

Posted by: themacgyverproject 12 August 2015 - 05:24 PM

Talked to Jerry Freedman, the director of the Pilot, and why he went with the Alan Smithee pseudonym.
http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2015/08/jerry-freedman-conversation.html

Posted by: KiwiTek 12 August 2015 - 07:23 PM

Is it just me or does he come across as arrogant?

Not to mention it seems like he still holds a grudge.

Posted by: denizen 13 August 2015 - 01:55 AM

I love it! I rather liked Jerry's down to earthiness and honesty. Most put up a fake recollection. He says it how it is, according to his experience.

Posted by: MacGyverGod 1 October 2015 - 03:19 AM

QUOTE (KiwiTek @ 13 August 2015 - 04:23 AM)

Is it just me or does he come across as arrogant?

Not to mention it seems like he still holds a grudge.

I think he's more like honest. It's quite possible he doesn't remember anything and especially if he hasn't seen the Pilot after he finished it. It's been thirty years as well. It seems 'MacGyver' had a real difficult starting period. Even more than I thought. It's like the production company seized it's opportunity to take something and make it their own to have all the credit. John, Henry and Jerry Freedman clashed but they also have clashed with Lee. OK, if they didn't, we wouldn't have Mac the way it is or MacGyver wouldn't have been made. Or maybe it did, through another studio. It just seems to trouble me a little the way it happened.

QUOTE

By the time I showed my two-hour cut to Henry and John, we were at each other’s throats. They recut it into a 90 minute movie and got it on the air. That’s the bottom line. When I saw the final cut I was upset, and used the DGA pseudonym Alan Smithee because I didn’t want my name on it. The production company tried to deny me my royalties because of that, but the DGA wouldn’t let them. If I had to do it over again, I would swallow my pride and leave my name on. Lots of directors are recut, sometimes badly. I was reacting as much to the overall bad feelings as to the editing. Water under the bridge. The show did well, and I wish everyone involved the best. It is interesting to note that the show went through many changes and producers before they hit their stride. A tough show to get the right handle on.

This, I kinda of think as interesting. I know it probably was meant as a two-parter but what we got is just a 45-minute episode. So this means there must be a whole lot of deleted scenes somewhere.

Posted by: nathalie572 17 December 2015 - 11:58 PM

I really should start work on that...

Posted by: Junemar12914026 18 December 2015 - 12:15 AM

I just voted, thought the first episode was great.
Never did find out why Mac stopped doing voice over
At the beginning of each episode,
Loved to hear his voice.
My real fav is thin ice and the negotiator.
Like seeing Mac enjoying playing his fav game.
And really like his music he was playing.

Posted by: Galloe 8 January 2016 - 08:20 PM

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 15 January 2010 - 10:33 AM)

And if you go west to Kazakhstan, you find the Charyn Canyon.
user posted image

Thanks for the research, and there is a slight resemblance, but that's definitely the Grand Canyon in the opening sequence of the pilot episode.

I seriously doubt that the production team would travel to Mongolia or Kazakhstan to film such a short sequence, especially since they hardly ever left the Los Angeles area for filming during the first two seasons. You can clearly tell it's the Grand Canyon, and it must've been some B-roll footage. They didn't even go to the neighboring state of Arizona to film a scene that's supposed to take place there, they shot it in Agua Dulce, California, just an hour outside of Los Angeles, which also served as the setting for Afghanistan, lol.

Posted by: Barry Rowland 9 January 2016 - 12:18 AM

I always liked the opening voiceovers....I think they really added to the fun of the show. I could watch the entire 1st series over and over again!

Posted by: themacgyverproject 4 June 2016 - 07:07 PM

I did a deep dive on the original pilot script and compared it to the episode. You'll never guess where MacGyver's apartment is located!
http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2016/06/macgyver-script-analysis-pilot.html

Posted by: Myrtle Groggins 5 June 2016 - 12:55 AM

Well, it's my new favorite house.

Posted by: MacGyverGod 5 June 2016 - 01:22 AM

QUOTE (themacgyverproject @ 5 June 2016 - 04:07 AM)

Very nice!

Posted by: RadiantRose 13 November 2016 - 05:09 AM

QUOTE (BigMac @ 31 December 2007 - 11:48 AM)

I really liked this episode. I thought Barbara Spencer was great. Her character actually helped MacGyver instead of relying on him to do everything.

Back in the 80s, women on screen didn't always have much to do. This could so easily have gone really wrong, with someone saying, "Oh, we can have a lady in a nice pink dress and heels for Mac to rescue" and the other male producers and writers agreeing that it would be nice for Mac to rescue a lady. I mean, obviously many ladies would like to be rescued by Mac, but it's nice to see women on screen not being portrayed as wet lettuces with nothing significant to do.

Posted by: RadiantRose 13 November 2016 - 05:35 AM

QUOTE (MacDriver @ 15 August 2009 - 07:42 AM)

QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 11 June 2009 - 09:03 PM)

Probably part of that "angry young man" behavior he keeps talking about in interviews.

It always amuses me when I read an interview with someone who appears to be hinting that their past was all about sex and drugs, but they don't want to say so directly in case their parents or children see the interview.

I'm pretty sure the parents knew.

Posted by: RadiantRose 13 November 2016 - 05:52 AM

QUOTE (NightTinkerer @ 28 July 2012 - 04:10 PM)

Since I'm still suffering from a cold ala "Blowout" (my poor neighbors, for the last 24 hours I've been sneezing so loud!) I've started re-watching the MacGyver episodes all over again (I did it rather recently, for those of you who haven't seen my introduction post at the reception lounge).

Hopefully, I'll be recovered way before I'm through, but in the meantime, since I'm pretty house bound, I'll throw another MacGyver marathon and add some thoughts (and votes) along the way, starting with the pilot.

I really liked the opening gambit, the gun firing aside. (In fact, I'm rather fond of all of the opening gambits, but I'll discuss them separately).

I don't know whether it was a deliberate move from the filmmakers, but having Mac climbing that nightmare of a cliff is a heck of a way to introduce a guy who's supposed to be so afraid of heights! I can't help wondering if they just forgot about it or wanted to show us that he is the kind of person that will face his fears.

I also noticed that after he rips up his flannel shirt, he's wearing this undershirt with a wide open neck, something rarely seen after the first/second season, where he often buttons his shirts all the way up, and you don't often see him shirtless. I know part of the reason is probably weather/temperature related as they switched shooting locations, but it definitely seems like that aspect was toned down along with the decreasing numbers of girlfriends and romantic interests.

We don't often see him shirtless. Kind of a pity, as I think reasonably muscular arms look good (on women or on men). but maybe someone thought he had too many scars on his arms.

Posted by: zoeryan 17 October 2018 - 07:31 PM

I voted excellent - I love the pilot. Yes, there are a few rough edges, the silly red hat on a stealth mission, an thicker Mac accent, almost too much voice over, the gun shooting - but it also establishes the character and series well, has a a good intro and suspenseful plot, lots of macgyverisms, and as pilots go it's a really strong episode! Nice having Pete in it, even as someone else. I can see why they picked him up.

As far as the heights issue, he goes climbing quite a lot, Widowmaker, Eagles, so although he doesn't like them, he certainly doesn't hold back from them!

Posted by: STACE_MAC 21 July 2019 - 03:35 PM

Hi all!

Have you seen that?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iiIwdUvO3c

In the past another fan posted part of the Czech version of the pilot, but now we can see some new differences from the "official worldwide version"!

At the opening, for few seconds, there is a different background music of Randy Edelman,i love that little part of the theme, more heroical.

I'd like to watch the entire episode. Probably this copy of the pilot was an unofficial version never aired in the rest of the world, and I think maybe of 90 minutes.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 22 July 2019 - 02:22 AM

We have a whole discussion about that pentagon scene from when Reptile originally uploaded it for us.

It's a pretty interesting discussion....

http://www.macgyveronline.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2853

Posted by: STACE_MAC 23 July 2019 - 12:03 PM

QUOTE (MacGyverOnline @ 22 July 2019 - 10:22 PM)

Hi,
thank you for reply!
I read the discussion, it is a pretty old post, and the clip was removed from this site.

I'm referring to a new video posted on youtube, and there are new parts of the episode shown with the differences illustrated by the author.
First of all, the different background music of Edelman at the beginning of the Opening Gambit.

Curiously, the is another episode that was directed by an "anonymous",as Alan Smithee: THE HEIST. The ttyle of directing,is similar to the pilot,but seems that Jerrold Freedman has worked only on the very fiirst adventure.
I'd like to know who is the real director of THE HEIST!!