Phoenix Foundation - A Macgyver Podcast

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: April 25th, 1992 --- A long-lost relative of MacGyver's teams up to protect another important tape for Mei Jan. MISSION: MacGyver must help Mei Jan broadcast new evidence of abuse by the Chinese Government and a stranger arrives to change the course of Mac's life. This week's highlights include: Here's a list of other shows that shot on board the SS Lane Victory. Buprestidae (Entemology) Buprestidae is a family of beetles known as jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles because of their glossy iridescent colors. The family is among the largest of the beetles, with some 15,000 species known in 450 genera. In addition, almost 100 fossil species have been described. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buprestidae. Watch S7E13: "The Stringer" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this episode here.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: December 30th, 1991 --- A potentially illicit urban renewal development threatens the home of an acquaintance of MacGyver's. MISSION: MacGyver is out to uncover the illegal eviction of a series of tenants from a building being sold for a massive urban renewal development. This week's highlights include: Dont ask me to explain how this works, but it seems to. Schrödinger's cat (Theoretical physics) Schrödinger's cat is a thought experiment, sometimes described as a paradox, devised by Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger in 1935. It illustrates what he saw as the problem of the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics applied to everyday objects. The scenario presents a cat that may be simultaneously both alive and dead, a state known as a quantum superposition, as a result of being linked to a random subatomic event that may or may not occur. The thought experiment is also often featured in theoretical discussions of the interpretations of quantum mechanics. Schrödinger coined the

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: December 16th, 1991 --- MacGyver is caught in the crossfire of the gang violence that plagues the city. MISSION: Kids from the Challenger club are repeatedly recruited into gang life as MacGyver and their parents try to talk them out of it. This week's highlights include: The Indian actor I mentioned from 40 year old virgin was actually convicted of attempted premeditated murder, not actual murder. His name is Shelley Malil. He also played one of the yuppies in the Superbowl Budweiser commercial with everyone screaming "What are YOU doing!?" It turns out, a Stargate trilogy was indeed in the works, but who knows if that's still happening. Dirty Harry (Franchise) Dirty Harry is the name of a series of films and novels featuring fictional San Francisco Police Department Homicide Division Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan who is notorious for being extremely violent and ruthless in his methods, and a danger for any partner assigned to him. Actor Clint Eastwood portrayed Inspector Harry Call

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: May 15th, 1989 --- Earl Dent needs MacGyver's training to punch his way to custody of his daughter MISSION: Earl Dent convinces MacGyver to train him for an upcoming boxing match with a twenty-five thousand dollar grand prize. He needs the money to prove to the Department of Children's Welfare that he makes enough money to provide for his estranged daughter. This week's highlights include: Here's a link to The MacGyver Project's interview with writer David Rich (evidently no relation to John.) ...and here's some info on that Tales From the Crypt reboot! Michael Buffer (Sports) Michael Buffer (born November 2, 1944) is an American ring announcer for boxing and professional wrestling matches. He is known for his trademarked catchphrase, "Let's get ready to rumble!", and for pioneering a distinct announcing style in which he rolls certain letters and adds other inflections to a fighter's name. His half-brother is UFC announcer Bruce Buffer. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.w

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: November 18th, 1991 --- An aging silent film star recruits MacGyver to rescue his lost films from thieves. MISSION: Phoenix Foundation has signed on to restore Pinky Burnette's long lost silent films, but after a screening for MacGyver at Pinky's home, the prints are stolen. MacGyver and Pinky chase the film thieves to a now-defunct film studio across town. This week's highlights include: Buster Keaton (Actor) Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American actor, director, producer, writer, and stunt performer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face." Keaton was recognized as the seventh-greatest film director by Entertainment Weekly. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Keaton the 21st greatest male star of Classic Hollywood Cinema. Critic Roger Ebert wrote of Keaton's "extraordinary period from 1920 to 1929, [

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: November 11th, 1991 --- In the exciting conclusion of MacGyver and Merlin's medieval adventures we learn MacGyver's first name! MISSION: Merlin and Mac continue wizarding their way to Morgana's castle to rescue the bride-to-be of Sir Galahad. MacGyver continues a personal quest to clear his families name (and learn his own?). This week's highlights include: Here is that leaked footage of Wolverine... Take a gander at the amazing filmography of Mr. Scott. Shaw. Also, Ty Burrell has an Awesome Hitler Story. A live cam of the world's longest continuously running light bulb! Brown note (Audio) The brown note is a hypothetical infrasonic frequency that would cause humans to lose control of their bowels due to resonance. Attempts to demonstrate the existence of a "brown note" using sound waves transmitted through air have failed. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_note. Watch S7E8: "Good Knight MacGyver: Part 2" on CBS's website or check the alternati

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: November 4th, 1991 --- MacGyver is transported through time to King Arthur's court by a magical flower box. MISSION: MacGyver is given the opportunity to clear the name of his ancestors by traveling back to medieval times to save the lives of Galahad and his betrothed with the help of Merlin under orders from King Arthur himself. This week's highlights include: Electrolysis (Chemistry) In chemistry and manufacturing, electrolysis is a technique that uses a direct electric current (DC) to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction. Electrolysis is commercially important as a stage in the separation of elements from naturally occurring sources such as ores using an electrolytic cell. The voltage that is needed for electrolysis to occur is called the decomposition potential. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolysis. Watch S7E7: "Good Knight MacGyver: Part 1" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this episode here.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: October 21st, 1991--- A kidnapped friend of MacGyver's is transformed into a zombie by a local voodoo gang. MISSION: MacGyver takes a crash course in zombies from Mama Lorraine to save a friend who has been abducted and zombified to scare people into believing an evil offshoot of voodoo. This week's highlights include: Toxoplasma gondii (Disease) Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular, parasitic protozoan that causes the disease toxoplasmosis. Found worldwide, T. gondii is capable of infecting virtually all warm-blooded animals, but felids such as domestic cats are the only known definitive hosts in which the parasite can undergo sexual reproduction. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii. Watch S7E6: "Walking Dead" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this episode here.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: October 14th, 1991 --- MacGyver cameos briefly in a case handled entirely by the bounty hunting Colton family. MISSION: Jesse, Frank, Billy, Mama Colton, and Frog Dog are on the case when a series of gang killings threaten the life of a young woman. This week's highlights include: Dimetrodon (Dinosaur) Dimetrodon (meaning "two measures of teeth") is an extinct genus of synapsid that lived during the Early Permian period, around 295–272 million years ago (Ma). It is a member of the family Sphenacodontidae. The most prominent feature of Dimetrodon is the large sail on its back formed by elongated spines extending from the vertebrae. It walked on four legs and had a tall, curved skull with large teeth of different sizes set along the jaws. Most fossils have been found in the southwestern United States, the majority coming from a geological deposit called the Red Beds in Texas and Oklahoma. More recently, fossils have been found in Germany. Over a dozen species have been named since the genus

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: October 7th, 1991 --- A series of explosions rock the city as a mad bomber challenges MacGyver's wits. MISSION: A bomber calling himself (or herself) Prometheus detonates a series of intricate bombs and MacGyver teams up with the Fire Department to track down the person responsible. This week's highlights include: Prometheus (Mythology) Prometheus (/prəˈmiːθiəs/ prə-mee-thee-əs; Greek: Προμηθεύς [promɛːtʰeús], meaning "forethought") is a Titan in Greek mythology, best known as the deity in Greek mythology who was the creator of mankind and its greatest benefactor, who stole fire from Mount Olympus and gave it to mankind. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus. Watch S7E4: "The Prometheus Syndrome" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this episode here.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: September 30th, 1991 --- MacGyver's recurring nightmares of Murdoc come true on the eve of an important court case. MISSION: Phoenix Foundation has been hired to maintain security for an upcoming trial. MacGyver is plagued with visions of Murdoc that call his focus into question. This week's highlights include: Liquid nitrogen (Chemistry) Liquid nitrogen is nitrogen in a liquid state at an extremely low temperature. It is a colorless clear liquid with a density of 0.807 g/ml at its boiling point (−195.79 °C (77 K; −320 °F)) and a dielectric constant of 1.43. Nitrogen was first liquefied at the Jagiellonian University on 15 April 1883 by Polish physicists, Zygmunt Wróblewski and Karol Olszewski. It is produced industrially by fractional distillation of liquid air. Liquid nitrogen is often referred to by the abbreviation, LN2 or "LIN" or "LN" and has the UN number 1977. Liquid nitrogen is a diatomic liquid, which means that the diatomic character of the covalent N bonding in N2 gas is retai

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: September 23rd, 1991 --- A case of mistaken identity lands one of MacGyver's new neighbors in a morgue. MISSION: MacGyver is immediately caught up in a life-or-death situation with his new neighbors who have stumbled upon evidence of a conspiracy to commit murder. This week's highlights include: Jake Johnson vs. bears Louis CK summarizes dating. Warning: Language. Wayans family (Entertainment) The Wayans family is an African-American family including a number of successful directors, screenwriters, comedians and actors. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayans_family. Watch S7E2: "The 'Hood" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this episode here.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: September 16th, 1991 --- On the way to a bar mitzvah, MacGyver is hijacked by a wacky CIA agent. MISSION: MacGyver is tasked with picking up a friend's father and escorting him to a Bar Mitzvah, but things get complicated when MacGyver wakes up from having been drugged in a military helicopter landing in a foreign country. This week's highlights include:   Here's that music video I worked on where MacGyver was filmed. Fun fact: One of these angsty kids later became Skrillex. Zener cards (Parapsychology) Zener cards are cards used to conduct experiments for extrasensory perception (ESP), most often clairvoyance. Perceptual psychologist Karl Zener (1903–1964) designed the cards in the early 1930s for experiments conducted with his colleague, parapsychologist J. B. Rhine (1895–1980). Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zener_cards. Watch S7E1: "Honest Abe" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this episode here.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: May 6th, 1991 --- Pete schedules surgery for his glaucoma and MacGyver shows up to relive the past. MISSION: MacGvyer and Pete embark on the lamest clip show thus far. Pete is prepped for surgery and MacGyver is offended he didn't get an invite. This week's highlights include: Trebeculectomy (Medical) Trabeculectomy is a surgical procedure used in the treatment of glaucoma to relieve intraocular pressure by removing part of the eye's trabecular meshwork and adjacent structures. It is the most common glaucoma surgery performed and allows drainage of aqueous humor from within the eye to underneath the conjunctiva where it is absorbed. This outpatient procedure was most commonly performed under monitored anesthesia care using a retrobulbar block or peribulbar block or a combination of topical and subtenon (Tenon's capsule) anesthesia. Due to the higher risks associated with bulbar blocks, topical analgesia with mild sedation is becoming more common. Rarely general anesthesia will be used, in

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: April 29th, 1991 --- MacGyver goes for a spirit walk while a power plant development threatens nearby "Indian" land. MISSION: After Phoenix Foundation testifies against the Lakota tribe in court, MacGyver intends to make things write by proving a hundred-year-old land treaty actually protects their ancient holy grounds. This week's highlights include: Counting coup (History) Counting coup refers to the winning of prestige against an enemy by the Plains Indians of North America. Warriors won prestige by acts of bravery in the face of the enemy, which could be recorded in various ways and retold as stories. Any blow struck against the enemy counted as a coup, but the most prestigious acts included touching an enemy warrior with the hand, bow, or coup stick and escaping unharmed. Touching the first enemy to die in battle or touching the enemy's defensive works also counted as coup. Counting coup could also involve stealing an enemy's weapons or horses tied up to his lodge in camp. Risk of in

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: April 8th, 1991 --- HIT has contracted Murdoc to clear up the only blemish on his record... MacGyver. MISSION: MacGyver once again finds himself in Murdoc's crosshairs. This time, the tables turn when MacGyver loses his memory and Murdoc convices a secluded family that HE is MacGyver and MacGyver is Murdoc. This week's highlights include: Terminator (Character) The Terminator (also known as T-800 and T-850) is a fictional autonomous robot from the Terminator franchise portrayed by both Arnold Schwarzenegger and numerous actor stand-ins digitally overlayed with Schwarzenegger's likeness. The Terminator itself is part of a series of machines created by Skynet for infiltration-based assassination missions, and while an android for its appearance resembling a human, it is described as a cybernetic organism for consisting of living tissue over a robotic endoskeleton. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminator_(character). Watch S6E19: "Strictly Business"

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: March 18th, 1991 --- Wounded MacGyver recovers in the care of sisters who run a bed and breakfast. MISSION: MacGyver steps in a bear trap and finds himself in a Rear Window, Arsenic and Old Lace, Misery scenario at a bed and breakfast plagued with suspicious deaths. This week's highlights include: Arsenic and Old Lace (Film) Arsenic and Old Lace is a 1944 American dark comedy film directed by Frank Capra, starring Cary Grant, and based on Joseph Kesselring's play Arsenic and Old Lace. The script adaptation was by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein. Capra actually filmed the movie in 1941 because of star Cary Grant's availability, but it was not released until 1944, after the original stage version had finished its run on Broadway. The lead role of Mortimer Brewster was originally intended for Bob Hope, but he could not be released from his contract with Paramount. Capra had also approached Jack Benny and Ronald Reagan before learning that Grant would accept the role. Boris Karloff pl

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: March 4th, 1991 --- Pete's failing vision gets in the way of protecting a political fugitive and ex-girlfriend. MISSION: Pete has been diagnosed with Glaucoma and he needs MacGyver's help to protect his ex-girlfriend, a political fugitive from San Pablo. This week's highlights include: Here is a comparison of MacGyver Blind Faith and X-Files Soft Light. ...and here's a link to Andrea Seitz's updates on the MacGyver reboot! It looks like this is the Power Rangers vs. Ninja Turtles episode that listener Jeff Orr mentioned. Spontaneous human combustion (Phenomenon) Spontaneous human combustion (SHC) is a term encompassing reported cases of the combustion of a living (or very recently deceased) human body without an apparent external source of ignition. In addition to reported cases, examples of SHC appear in literature, and both types have been observed to share common characteristics regarding circumstances and remains of the victim. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wiki

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: February 18th, 1991 --- MacGyver infiltrates a homeless community to solve a string of murders in the community. MISSION: After the murder of a pastor friend of MacGyver's, he must work together with the homeless community to scrounge clues as to who is responsible. A local business with a shady past has a vague motive. This week's highlights include: Hoboken, New Jersey (Geography) Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005, having grown by 11,428 (+29.6%) from 38,577 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 5,180 (+15.5%) from the 33,397 in the 1990 Census. Hoboken is part of the New York metropolitan area and is the site of Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoboken,_New_Jersey. Watch S6E16: "There But For the Grace" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this epis

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: February 11th, 1991 --- MacGyver is enlisted to help convince Earl Dent's parole officer that he's a good guy. MISSION: Earl Dent is trying to turn over a new leaf but his old gang keeps pulling him back in. MacGyver helps Earl tow the line and convince his parole officer that he means well. This week's highlights include: Methamphetamine (Narcotics) Methamphetamine in the United States is regulated under Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act. It is approved for extremely limited pharmacological use in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and treatment-resistant obesity, but it is primarily used as a recreational drug. In 2012, approximately 1.2 million Americans reported using methamphetamine in the past year; 440,000 reported using the drug in the past month. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methamphetamine_in_the_United_States. Watch S6E15: "High Control" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this ep