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Formerly known as "The Eraser, James
"Jimmy" Thomas Kendall gave up his life as a professional hit man (with
MacGyver's help) and assumed a new identity as the coach of a minor-league baseball team.
Jimmy received MacGyvers help for a second time a year later
when his new identity was threatened by his picture appearing in the local newspapers
sports section as a baseball coach.
Born in Jersey City, 1928. Jimmy
has spent a total of 26 years in local, state and federal detention, the last of which was
a 10 year sentence in 1976 for extortion. Prior to that he spent 3 years in professional
baseballs Boston Braves organization.
Kendall was associated with the Charles Papa Chuck
Banning crime family as a contract assassin. His base of operation was mostly the East
Coast, though he has ventured west on several occasions.
Favorites
Season: season 1
Episode:
Vehicle: Jeep
Jacket: Brown bomber
House: Observatory
I just recently rewatched "The Eraser" and one thing that struck me is how likeable the Jimmy Kendall character is. I definitely like this character. Particularly in "The Eraser" we see how he becomes something of a father figure to MacGyver- Mac's like the son Jimmy never had. I enjoyed their interaction and their growing friendship. And I like how MacGyver helped Jimmy realize his dream- and then of course, how he had to help him keep it in place in "Back From the Dead". Both are great episodes and Jimmy's a pretty cool character. (Of course, Joe Santos is a great actor too- got some great acting chops from those years on The Rockford Files. )
"Dreams are important. Otherwise sleep is just eight hours of nothing."- Jimmy Kendall in "The Eraser"
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Season: season 5
Episode:Serenity
Vehicle: Jeep
Jacket: Brown bomber
House: House boat
I love Jimmy!
But as much as I like him, and as much as I enjoyed 'Back from the Dead', I just can't get over the way the writers threw in his daughter (and grandson) without qualifying them. Ol' Ralphie just pulled them out of a hat!
In my mind, even in the world of MacGyver, when a person is put under Witness Protection, the authorities keep track of their immediate families that are not protected. Even if Jimmy didn't tell Pete or MacGyver about her, there should have been records of who his death benefits were paid out to.
Quibbling, I know... but I think that they could have done it a little smoother... by having Ralphie kidnap the gawky pitcher that Jimmy was mentoring, or SOMETHING...
However... *waffles*... I LOVED how Jimmy was with his grandson!
It's just that I think that, sometimes, the writers of this series play the 'Surprise!Offspring' card waaaay too many times!
Still... I love every second of the episodes! Joe Santos
Everyone, sometimes, needs a camel.
Old troubleshooters never die... They just wait til the last moment and then rescue themselves!
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Season: season 5
Episode:Serenity, Passages, Humanity
Vehicle: Jeep
Jacket: Black/Navy flight
House: House boat
I voted good. I like the chemistry between Mac and Jimmy and the history Jimmy had. I like it when bad guys turn good.
The thing what's so likeable about Jimmy is actually his experience. He has seen and done everything in his business. And you can really see that he has had it with killing.
Jimmy is a real enjoyable grandfather, I think. He would've indeed fitted more into the show. He had a great storyline in The Eraser as hitman wanting to retire and comes Back From The Dead in the third season where stakes are a little higher.
Than again Jimmy Kendall is played by Joe Santos, no one better to do it. Didn't he had a few guest appearances in The Sopranos? He played a big role as the shouting captain in The Last Boy Scout.
QUOTE
Quibbling, I know... but I think that they could have done it a little smoother... by having Ralphie kidnap the gawky pitcher that Jimmy was mentoring, or SOMETHING...
Ralphie just gave the pitcher his number, he didn't kidnap him.
I think the poison that was used was applied to this knife, passed to the mutton when it was cut and then activated by the wine. - MacGyver. Sometimes you just have to die a little inside to be reborn and rise again as a stronger and wiser version of you. It's better to be a little sad than to be fake content.
Quibbling, I know... but I think that they could have done it a little smoother... by having Ralphie kidnap the gawky pitcher that Jimmy was mentoring, or SOMETHING...
Ralphie just gave the pitcher his number, he didn't kidnap him.
Loth's saying the story should have been that the pitcher was kidnapped rather than a daughter that just appears out of nowhere, because it feels like the writers just decided to throw her in to suit the story.
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Season: season 5
Episode:Serenity, Passages, Humanity
Vehicle: Jeep
Jacket: Black/Navy flight
House: House boat
Oh, now I see what she means.
I think the poison that was used was applied to this knife, passed to the mutton when it was cut and then activated by the wine. - MacGyver. Sometimes you just have to die a little inside to be reborn and rise again as a stronger and wiser version of you. It's better to be a little sad than to be fake content.
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Season: season 5
Episode:Serenity
Vehicle: Jeep
Jacket: Brown bomber
House: House boat
QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 6 October 2007 - 07:19 AM)
QUOTE (MacGyverGod @ 7 October 2007 - 12:11 AM)
QUOTE
Quibbling, I know... but I think that they could have done it a little smoother... by having Ralphie kidnap the gawky pitcher that Jimmy was mentoring, or SOMETHING...
Ralphie just gave the pitcher his number, he didn't kidnap him.
Loth's saying the story should have been that the pitcher was kidnapped rather than a daughter that just appears out of nowhere, because it feels like the writers just decided to through her in to suit the story.
Correct me if I wrong Loth.
X-actly!
's all good!
Everyone, sometimes, needs a camel.
Old troubleshooters never die... They just wait til the last moment and then rescue themselves!
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Season: season 6
Episode:Humanity
Vehicle: Jeep
Jacket: Brown bomber
House: House boat
I really like Jimmy Kendall. He is one of the more believable characters and he has a credible story. Joe Santos did a great job bringing this character to life. The interaction between Jimmy and MacGyver is convincing and easy. The dialog is well written and both actors are comfortable with their roles. Even when Jimmy betrays Mac by using him to get to the target he's supposed to kill, Mc doesn't resent him for it. Mac almost feels sorry for Jimmy, and stands his ground when facing down Jimmy's gun. Mac's attitude shows a trust that Jimmy will do the right thing and turn the intended victim over to MacGyver, which he does in the end.
This is one of the better written and definetly better acted characters in the series. Its too bad that Jimmy didn't have a few more appearances during the show.
I agree that Jimmy's daughter and grandson were handled awkwardly by the writer's I think the emotion effect of having them kidnapped added to the drama and the interaction between Mac and Jimmy. While Jimmy cares for his young baseball pitcher, knowing his daughter and grandsons's lives are at stake ups the ante and sharpens Jimmy's resolve to get them back. It also gives MacGyver a greater emotional stake in the game as well, especially since a child is involved.
Overall, I really like Jimmy Kendall. Well developed, well acted, and well scripted. The glitch with his daughter is to me, minor, compared to the greater ineraction and strengths of this character.
Imagination is more important than knowledge. Albert Einstein
The stuff is already here, I just find a different way to use it. MacGyver
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Season: season 3
Episode: Widowmaker
Vehicle: Nomad
Jacket: Leather Biker
House: House boat
I loved Jimmy Kendall. I could see how Mac was snowed by him in the first place. Very personable...
As Grrl said, he was very personable and believable as a retired hitman. A mobster with a heart. But then again, I have always loved Joe Santos. He'd always shine in any role. (Rockford Files junkie here...)
Too bad they only used him for 2 episodes... RDA had great chemistry with him.
I don't remember the second episode that much. It's been a while since it aired. Guess I need to drag out the DVDs again.
"My Jeep went over a cliff, I died... and went to Thanksgiving?"
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Season: season 3
Episode:
Vehicle: Jeep
Jacket: Brown bomber
House: House boat
The character Jimmy is one of my favorite characters, and he really was great in 'The Eraser', and 'Back From The Dead'.. I wish he appeared a little more throughout the show, I mean he was just awesome.
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Season: season 1
Episode:The Assassin & Partners
Vehicle: Motorcycle
Jacket: Leather Biker
House: House boat
Jimmy was pretty awesome. He had a great accent and was very likeable. I agree with whoever said it was weird about his fam not being protected, but he still was a good character.
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Season: season 1
Episode:Pilot
Vehicle: Jeep
Jacket: Brown bomber
House: Observatory
Jimmy was a likeable guy for being a professional hitman. He came to realize that his life as an enforcer was wrong and wanted to make amends for his violent past. Mac believed in Jimmy and offered to help. I found the episodes to be some of the best. Joe santos was a good choice to portray the character.
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Season: season 7
Episode:the stringer
Vehicle: Nomad
Jacket: Black leather
House: House boat
I like this character. This is how I explained the first episode he was in "The bad guy hired a bad guy to get another bad guy, but the bad guy let the other bad guy go, so the bad guy that hired the bad guy tried to get the bad guy he hired."