New Interview with Meredith Eaton before the Season Finale tomorrow: https://cartermatt.com/305240/macgyver-inte...eason-2-finale/


Meredith Eaton teases season 2 finale, Matty’s many secrets
May 3, 2018

Meredith EatonThe MacGyver season 2 finale is coming up on CBS Friday night and if you’ve been watching, you know that we’re in the midst of a huge story for Matty Webber. Her history with MacGyver’s father is something that’s been hyped up for months and now the story is coming to a head in a finale where Mac is questioning whether or not he can even work with her anymore. There are many answers that could be coming your way over the course of a really exciting episode, so who better to help us preview it than the woman behind Matty herself?

Meredith Eaton discusses with us some of the buildup for the finale, what you can expect, and also what it is like playing one of the series’ biggest keeper of secrets.

CarterMatt – When did you first find out that Matty was linked to MacGyver’s personal history?
Meredith Eaton – Probably the same time you did (laughs). We are not privy to the process of writing and I think it’s fantastic because as an actor, you never want to become too comfortable in the storylines. It really lends to the creativity of my role to now know what’s going to happen down the road. I love that.

I always knew that Matty had a complicated past with Jack — everybody knows that — there’s a lot to be talked about with that. One of the main questions I get on Twitter is ‘what happened between you two?’. There is such a history there, but now, knowing that Matty also has a past with Mac’s dad, that’s going to be the next interesting card that people are fascinated with.

So for this final stretch, you were playing this character with this secret but didn’t know what the secret was? Did you think about possibilities in your head while you were playing her to think of motivations; or, were you hesitant?
I was hesitant, but at the same time, how could I not? I had all of these ideas about what could be or what wasn’t. Again, that helped me because I was so vague on it that I just had to go with my gut. Matty Webber’s been a part of me for two seasons and I infuse a lot of my feelings into this character. I didn’t want to make up my mind one way or another. I had a feeling it was going in a certain direction, but I just played it as best I could with the limited information that I had.

Do you think about Matty almost as this sort of keeper of secrets around the Phoenix Foundation?
Matty has a ton of secrets, and we haven’t even touched the surface yet. She has a really long history at the CIA that we just sort of uncovered this season — the huge episode with the car accident where she goes back and revisits her old stomping ground. Bozer asks her a question about if she misses her work and Matty almost opened up about that. I think there’s a lot more to be revealed in that sense — how did Matty leave the CIA, and how did Matty hook up with the Phoenix Foundation? There are so many fascinating plot points that haven’t been touched on just yet.

I really loved the scene last week where you and George [Eads] are getting into it about Jack breaking into Matty’s apartment and a lot of stuff comes out. The two of you are used to playing these more comedic scenes, so what was it like to do something that dramatic?
That was one of my favorite scenes I’ve done on the show. I’ll say this — George Eads is one of the most talented actors on TV. Any scene that I get to do with him elevates my performance, and because we have such a great chemistry and we’re friends, it works so well when we’re on-screen together. I think from that very first scene I did with George from when I walked into that war room until now, I look forward to them professionally because I never know how our chemistry is going to feed off of each other. That scene was so intense because it really encompasses all of the history and all of the behind-the-scenes stuff that he was doing because he felt betrayed and I felt betrayed. It was almost like two parents coming together to talk about protecting their child and the hurt that they both had towards each other.

It was really magical. I was so pleased with the way it turned out and with how many people were moved by it. It’s always humbling to hear great positive feedback, but those are the types of scenes that as an actor I love to do. Matty has emotional stuff, but she is the deliverer of the missions. She is the one who has to get across all the details about the foreign countries and the terrorists and all of that. So, when I have that to do, I love it. I just do.

Where do things pick up at the start of the finale?
Everything’s been building up until this point. Mac has a lot of mistrust towards Matty because he’s discovered things along the way with the help of Riley. We end this past episode with this drive that Riley gets and finds out this information because Matty gives them top clearance for this last mission. I will say that nothing Matty does is by accident and I think people know that by now. I think Matty is that step ahead of everybody else. She’s very thought-out and doesn’t do things without double-checking everything.

We come into this episode where Mac is wondering whether or not he should pursue this journey, whether he should let it go or continue to try and find his father. The coming attractions allude to the fact that Mac is wondering whether or not he is going to lead the Phoenix, which is a huge cliffhanger. We do know that Matty has a complicated past, possibly with Mac’s dad. That’s sort of where we are at.

What did you like about filming the finale, especially given it is almost encapsulating this entire season?
First of all, we were so excited to get the script because we don’t know things in advance. Then, I got the script and a lot of loose ends are tied up. Peter Lenkov, what he does is brilliant. He’s an incredible writer and our writing staff are extremely talented. They did a beautiful job answering a lot of questions, but then some new questions are going to emerge — jaws are going to drop, and people are going to be very upset that they’re going to have to wait until more episodes are filmed! They’re going to be like ‘oh my god, what?!’. That’s going to be their reaction because that was my reaction. It was exciting and in being in the middle of it, I was very pleased with what we got to do and what we got to give to the audience.

We have Tate Donovan, who is guest starring in a mysterious role, and that’s going to be very exciting. We also have a number of people coming back like Billy Baldwin and Kate Bond, who I adore. I think her role as Jill is so cool. We also have Lance Gross. We try our best to really give our audience just enough to answer some questions.

So is Peter’s philosophy about revealing things for next season the same as revealing things during the current season? Do you know anything? Are you completely in the dark about season 3?
Yes (laughs), which is great! Listen, Peter’s shows are successful for a reason and our whole staff works really hard at interweaving all of these stories. It’s gotten to the point where I am stopped millions of times a day and everybody says the same thing — they love MacGyver because it’s a family show that has such interesting storylines and infuses math and science and STEM, all of the great things that kids are learning in school. Then, there’s the creativity that Lucas Till brings to his role. I just think he is divine — I’m such a fan of Lucas and how hard he works. He’s incredible and I can’t even imagine someone else being in that role and doing anywhere near as good a job as Lucas.

People love our family dynamic — our team has really become a family and I love that because I really do see myself in that maternal role over them. Matty loves these guys and it’s developed where she has this relationship with each and every one of them. We also see that in the finale, which is great.

Are there any stories that you want to explore in season 3?
The possibilities are endless. I know the fans love the Matty – Jack dynamic and that could go miles. I personally love the relationship that Matty and Mac have and there’s been a lot of feedback from the fans about wanting to see more of that. It’s a very special relationship that has developed over time and they had to feel each other out. They had to build trust and now that trust is broken, so how do they resolve that to continue working together or not? I think more Matty and Bozer is always a good thing and I think that Matty and Riley have this relationship that could be really fun to develop. I think Matty believes in Riley more than Riley believes in Riley.

SPOILER ALERT!

They released 3 Sneak Peeks for tonight's Season Finale (2x23). Two are VERY spoilery and reveal Mac's father; the other one is with Riley, Elwood and Billy Colton. I won't embed them directly in here. Watch at your own risk: https://www.spoilertv.com/2017/09/spoilertv...ctor-table.html

Another Exclusive Sneak Peek was released via ET Tonight; also a scene of Mac and his father: https://www.etonline.com/macgyver-meets-his...-peek-exclusive

Henry Winkler did an interview with GQ recently. Here's the part where he talks about the Reboot: https://www.gq.com/story/henry-winkler-is-j...appy-to-be-here


And how’s MacGyver doing?
When they rebooted it, it was in my contract to be part of the series. I was supposed to be in name only, but I get along so well with the man who runs it, Peter Lenkov, that I go in and edit the show with him. We sit in the room and have a fabulous time together. It was picked up for a third season, so I’m doing nothing but saying thank you, thank you lord. A lot of shows never get to the third season. There’s an alchemy [to making a TV show] I don’t even get after all of these years. It’s a miracle! All you can do is the best that you can bring to the moment, that day, on the show. And everything else, you just have to let it melt into the cosmos. You have no control.

Don't think we ever posted this one...

New/Old Interview with Lucas and George at the TCA Event, back in August 2016.

MacGyver is nominated for the "13th International TV Audience Awards": http://www.mediametrie.com/eurodatatv/comm...rds.php?id=1894

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New/Old watermarked photo of Lucas Till and George Eads attending the TCA Summer Press Tour Event (August 2016) for some more MacGyver Promo.

Source: Shutterstock

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New/Old watermarked photo of Sandrine Holt and Lucas Till attending the TCA Summer Press Tour Event (August 2016) for some more MacGyver Promo.

Source: Shutterstock

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Hm. They don't look that comfortable to me. Guess they don't like red carpet photos all that much?

New/Old watermarked photo of Tristin Mays and George Eads attending the TCA Summer Press Tour Event (August 2016) for MacGyver Promo.

Source: Shutterstock

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They make it look like there's a new interview with Lucas coming, but I'm not sure if this isn't just the one he did in April 2017: https://www.instagram.com/p/BkSseFKnGOe/

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Good catch Dash. I just followed their link and it goes to the April 15, 2017 interview.


He has some nice, and interesting, things to say about George Eads.



https://www.sidewalkstv.com/interview-lucas-till/

I still don't understand why they chose to release a police car... did Mac ever drive one himself? Was there an episode where one was featured?

via https://www.instagram.com/p/BkjVDHfHTgC/

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Well I guess it's the police car that MDB drove in the episode as Nicholas Helman.

But it doesn't represent MacGyver at all.

I see it's available on Amazon.com

I don't know a lot about this stuff, but I think any car that played a role in the show (in general) usually gets released. And I believe there were police cars throughout the episodes aired so far. For example, chasing Mac and Jack, or the ones that appeared in the episode that revealed that Matty knew about Bozer/Leanna, etc. I think that the police may be involved somewhat in their missions in some episodes. Not that I would've released the police car as the very first tie-in vehicle, but whatever, lol.

I have no clue if I'm right, or if what I'm trying to say even makes sense, so if this sounds pointless, feel free to disregard it.

Yes, there were many cop cars through-out the series, but they never played a major role (besides maybe 1x10 when they try to evade the police in Mission City?). No one who's watched the series would name a cop car when being asked about what vehicles they remember.

Greenlight apparently uses the same police car model (Ford Crown Victoria) for all their cop car collectibles of modern shows - NCIS, CSI Miami, even for "The Walking Dead" and "Once Upon A Time", which is just weird. For a cop show, it makes at least some sense. For TWD, OuaT or MacGyver, not so much. Maybe Jack's GTO or Mac's Jeep (even though we've only seen twice so far), but a cop car? And the same model that they use for all their collectibles and that maybe even wasn't used for filming? (I didn't check on this, so I can't say.)

Even though it's not expensive, this feels like a cheap way to make money off Reboot fans because there's no other collectible that you can get easily your hands on, and that kinda p.... me off.

Yeah, it comes off as a cash grab. I wouldn't buy it. lol I have standards.

If you're gonna release a collectable, at least release something that is recognizable to the brand. Not a generic police car that is a dime a dozen. =P

I don't intend to buy it either. I have no interest in cars, lol.

But I do agree that a Jeep would have made more sense.

Personally, they need to do something more on the line of posters, maybe action figures.

Cereal! That might be fun! MacGyver cereal! Like with mini-marshmallows of Jeeps, SAKs, duct-tape, paperclips and Phoenix logo!

At least THAT would be recognizable. I mean, who wouldn't want to try MacGyver cereal at least once? XD Put little brain teaser games in it or something.

I should be in charge of their marketing team...

I've actually been wondering for a while now why they have no merch with the actors at all. The shirts and the hoodie on the CBS official webshop are "generic"; they apply to both new and original MacGyver - which is fine by me, but it would have been nice if there was somthing with the actor's faces like calendars, posters or T-shirts.

But I guess they can't do that since they never did an official team photoshoot.

Though George and Lucas did pose for a photoshoot back then for S1 promo - plus the additional one for the CBS Watch Magazine. Weird that they never used those S1 promo photos for anything else than social media promo.

Or at least Lucas' official poster. They used it for the whole promo, but never for posters or t-shirts, or stickers and stuff. I think they handed out posters for autographs at the screening for the Georgia Guard Soldiers, but they were never sold anywere. Even the red paperclip was exclusively handed out at San Diego Comic Con.

I would sign a petition to force CBS to release action figures. And not just of Mac and Jack. Make Riley, Matty, Bozer, and Murdoc too. I'd say make Cage, but I think she's gone, so why bother?

Looks like lucky Irish fans will get the Season 2 DVD on September 18: http://irishfilmcritic.com/macgyver-season...d-september-18/

The extras lists as follows:

“MacGyver in Cuba” Featurette
“Saving the Day, Season 2” Featurette
“MacGyver: Special & Visual Effects” Featurette
Gag Reel
Deleted Scenes

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My feelings now:

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New/Old portraits photos of George Eads. Source: Jutarnji

The left one I've seen before, but the one on the right was new to me. Why so serious?

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New/Old key-art concept. Note that there's still the old logo with the SAK in the name being used.

via Maybelle Pineda: http://maybellepineda.com/portfolio/key-art/

Not sure who made the ones that were being used in the end.

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Interestingly it looks like they combined this image with their "Mac upside down" image to make another one... you could say they MacGyvered it.

I like the first one better to be honest.... and I really like the logo with the SAK as the V. Which they had kept that.



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I still think it's funny that it looks like Mac is teetering on the edge of a wooden dining room table

Another New/Old key-art concept via Maybelle Pineda. Instead of an SAK, the "v" is partially a zipper, I think.

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Now that's all I can see!

Not sure what this is for. Can only assume it's a demo for an idea CBS was looking at using for some kind of promotional material.

CBS Motion Key Art: Macgyver from Matt Stone on Vimeo.

I can't help but think that looks dumb