Get your swiss army knife and duct tape ready. Mac is back! Twice!
First up, there is a series of shorts promoting a Mercedes van in which Richard Dean Anderson reprises his role as MacGyver.
Next up, a much younger Mac returns in a new comic book
All these point to the fact that MacGyver is still a beloved, iconic character so it does seem strange that the movie version really doesn't seem to have much momentum behind it. As a huge MacGyver fan I'm in two minds about this - on the one hand I find it difficult to imagine anyone other than Anderson in the role of Mac. He is as much one with the character as Harrison Ford is with Indy. The flip side to this is - if it was done correctly - it could be a really terrific movie. Its already been spoofed (MacGruber) so thankfully they won't go the Starsky & Hutch parody route (what a waste of a concept that was - a proper S & H movie, done Lethal Weapon style, could have been terrific).
So I'm undecided about the movie. But its good to see MacGyver back in some degree.
Get your swiss army knife and duct tape ready. Mac is back! Twice!
Next up, a much younger Mac returns in a new comic book
All these point to the fact that MacGyver is still a beloved, iconic character so it does seem strange that the movie version really doesn't seem to have much momentum behind it. As a huge MacGyver fan I'm in two minds about this - on the one hand I find it difficult to imagine anyone other than Anderson in the role of Mac. He is as much one with the character as Harrison Ford is with Indy. The flip side to this is - if it was done correctly - it could be a really terrific movie. Its already been spoofed (MacGruber) so thankfully they won't go the Starsky & Hutch parody route (what a waste of a concept that was - a proper S & H movie, done Lethal Weapon style, could have been terrific).
So I'm undecided about the movie. But its good to see MacGyver back in some degree.
On the plus side, the comic is co-written by Lee David Zlotoff, the creator of MacGyver. I'll be checking it out.
The comic book will be a five-issue mini-series. (Ha! Just saw it says as much right on the cover!) I believe the guy responsible for coming up with Mac's "inventions" on the show was also involved in creating new ones for the comic. I'm looking forward to checking it out.
On the plus side, the comic is co-written by Lee David Zlotoff, the creator of MacGyver. I'll be checking it out.
As a long term MacGyver fan, I've always thought Zlotoff gets way too much credit for the character of MacGyver because so much of what was developed was not by him but by others.
Sure, Zlotoff came up with the basic concept of a hero who uses brain more than brawn and utilises every day objects to get out of fixes. And it was Zlotoff who gave Mac his swiss army knife.
But Zlotoff wasn't involved in the series at all after the pilot episode and so much of the character was established after that first episode. All the stuff about Mac's dislike of weapons, his childhood in Minnesotta, him being r aised by his Granpa Harry, none of these were Zlotoff's ideas (indeed Mac shoots an AK47 at a bunch of badies in the pilot episode),
Mac's sense of humour was far more refined later on and important supporting characters like Pete Thornton and Jack Dalton were all created by others. Even Mac's first name (Angus) wasnt Zlotoff's idea - the original script had him as "Stace MacGyver".
Can't take away from the fact that Zlotoff originated the idea but it is a real stretch to say he created the character as we know him.
On the plus side, the comic is co-written by Lee David Zlotoff, the creator of MacGyver. I'll be checking it out.
As a long term MacGyver fan, I've always thought Zlotoff gets way too much credit for the character of MacGyver because so much of what was developed was not by him but by others.
Sure, Zlotoff came up with the basic concept of a hero who uses brain more than brawn and utilises every day objects to get out of fixes. And it was Zlotoff who gave Mac his swiss army knife.
But Zlotoff wasn't involved in the series at all after the pilot episode and so much of the character was established after that first episode. All the stuff about Mac's dislike of weapons, his childhood in Minnesotta, him being r aised by his Granpa Harry, none of these were Zlotoff's ideas (indeed Mac shoots an AK47 at a bunch of badies in the pilot episode),
Mac's sense of humour was far more refined later on and important supporting characters like Pete Thornton and Jack Dalton were all created by others. Even Mac's first name (Angus) wasnt Zlotoff's idea - the original script had him as "Stace MacGyver".
Can't take away from the fact that Zlotoff originated the idea but it is a real stretch to say he created the character as we know him.
Do anyone besides me remember that the pilot episode was directed by the infamous "Alan Smithee". Still it turned out to be a great series after all.
Do anyone besides me remember that the pilot episode was directed by the infamous "Alan Smithee". Still it turned out to be a great series after all.
Indeed, and it wasn't the only episode that this nom de plume was used either. From memory there were a few in the first series. I specifically recall one - The Heist - because that is one of the best episodes from the first series (Theres a fantastic MacGyverism where Mac cracks a safe by replicating the keypad tones by playing on glasses of wine).
Incidentally the pilot was actually directed by Jerrold Freedman who also adopted the Alan Smithee name for his TV film about OJ Simpson.
Great news! Mac is a childhood hero of mine (although I find the series quite silly when I watch it now).
It is very silly and all the baddies are cut from the same two dimensional cloth. But I still find it terrific entertainment and think Mac is genuinely an original hero. I actually can't think of a more falable action hero - the way Mac hurts his hand when he punches someone, can hold his own with one baddie but generally can't deal with two and (something I love) will often get into a MacGyverism when it isnt necessary (in Phoenix Under Seige for example he goes to great lengths to tie up a baddie using flex from a desk lapm, only to turn the baddie over to see he has a pair of handcuffs on him or in The Enforcer Mac goes to pick a lock with his SAK only to find the door is already unlocked).
I didn't really get into the pilot but after watching The Prodigal (the 2nd episode the BBC showed) I was hooked and have been a fan ever since.
And yes I do own a SAK - but Not because I'm a Macgyver uber-fan (even though I am) - I've owned them since I was a kid (invaluable when making home movies). Actually need to get a new one, my current model is about 20 years old now and a bit beaten up and blunt. Its well used though and, sad ex-boy scout that I am, I do generally carry it around in my jeans (not in my business suit though - ruins the lines and tends to set off the metal detectors in the High Court).
If anyone is interested Mac did not have one specific SAK - He used loads of different models throughout the 7 series although they were predominantly Victorino branded. The most common he used was the Spartan and the Tinker (essentially the same but the Spartan has a phillips-head screw driver and the Tinker has a cork screw).
