Cult TV icon MacGyver has beaten Buffy the Vampire Slayer and 24’s Jack Bauer to the top of a new "Toughest TV action heroes" poll.

The role, played by Richard Dean Anderson for seven years from 1985, has topped the new poll in America’s TV Guide magazine.

Also making the top 10 are Tom Selleck’s Magnum, P.I., Xena: Warrior Princess and Alias heroine Sydney Bristow.

The top five are:

1. MacGyver

2. Buffy The Vampire Slayer

3. Jack Bauer (24)

4. Sydney Bristow (Alias)

5. Magnum P.I.

Congratulation!! A job well done!!

That explained why there are still new fans fall crazy for a show that ended over sixteen years ago!

I wonder if Paramount took notice and remembered how badly they have screwed all those fans with their nasty "full season" DVD joke.. um.. release.

No joke there Rock. Someday maybe they will get there act together. All we can do is hope.

Of course my four favorites: Mac, Jack Bauer, Xena and Magnum are in the top ten.

Let us hope so.

While it's still early maybe they'll get their act together and release the series on Blu-ray the way it's supposed to.

I agree that he should top the list but I never really thought of MacGyver as a "tough guy" that conjures up more of an act/hit first think later type of character to me.

Yeah I had the same thought.

What kind of tough guy hurts his hand when he punches someone? Tough Guys goes strongly against everything MacGyver stood for really.

I think this poll was more about how many fans voted than any real reflection of character.

I think 'tough' may has a broader meaning here, apart from purely physical side. By saying Mac is 'tough' could mean he is determined, never-give-up and hard-to-beat, which are his prominent qualities.

MacGyver is mentally tough. Instead of guns blazing, he has mind working.

Blazing neurons!

Polls like this are basically popularity contests, right? Anyway, Mac is tough. But it depends on one's definition of toughness. He may not be physically tough like the terminator. But, put him in any perilous situation, and you can rely on him to be mentally and emotionally calm enough to think of a way out. And he is physically fit even though he is no Jet Li. Him getting hurt when he is trying to hit someone adds a more human quality to him. He's sooo damn smart that he doesn't seem human at times.

it deserves what it is having right now. it is not just shown to entertain but also to educate. people who watch this show learns things about physics, chemistry and many more especially the art of fighting crimes without the use of guns.

TOUGH GUY: Cult figure MacGyver has been named TV's toughest action hero in a new poll.

Tough guys