Phoenix Foundation - A Macgyver Podcast

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: February 29th, 1988 --- MacGyver's reeled into another one of Jack's get-rich-quick schemes, only this time Pete follows. MISSION: MacGyver agrees, reluctantly, to co-pilot a jewel delivery with Jack's fledgling airline Dalton Air. As usual, Jack hasn't done his homework and the land themselves in Toulon, France and a great deal of trouble. Pete is recruited to help bust them out. This week's highlights include: It appears I was mistaken. It wasn't the Hope Diamond. It was the Cullinan Diamond. Cessna Citation I (Aeronautics) The Cessna 500 Citation I is a turbofan-powered small-sized business jet that was built by the Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas. The Citation line of business jets encompasses several distinct aircraft families, and the Citation I was the basis for the first of those. The Citation I/SP aircraft is another member of this family.   Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_Citation_I. Watch S3E14: "The Odd Triple" on CBS

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: February 1st, 1988 --- MacGyver must coach a local hockey team through the championships in a friend's absence. MISSION: When Mac's old coach is hospitalized, MacGyver is tracked down to waste valuable Phoenix Foundation time coaching a minor league hockey team. Team leader Kirby has some lessons to learn about fair play if he intends to make the Olympic team. This week's highlights include:   Chekhov's gun (Literature theory)   Chekhov's gun is a dramatic principle that requires every element in a narrative to be irreplaceable, with anything else removed. Remove everything that has no relevance to the story. If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off. If it's not going to be fired, it shouldn't be hanging there. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chekhov%27s_gun. Watch S3E13: "Thin Ice" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this episode her

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: January 18th, 1988 --- A deadly accident is falsely pinned on Pete and MacGyver must prove his innocence. MISSION: A nuclear disarmament goes wrong and several Phoenix Foundation employees are killed. When Pete is blamed for the mistake, MacGyver must prove the accident was sabotage before Pete's nefarious replacement hatches an evil plan. This week's highlights include:     Shrunken head (History) A shrunken head is a severed and specially prepared human head that is used for trophy, ritual, or trade purposes. Headhunting has occurred in many regions of the world. But the practice of headshrinking has only been documented in the northwestern region of the Amazon rain forest, and the only tribes known to have shrunken human heads are of the Jivaroan tribes. These include the Shuar, Achuar, Huambisa and Aguaruna tribes, found in Ecuador and Peru. The Shuar call a shrunken head a tsantsa, also transliterated tzantza. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shr

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: January 4th, 1988 --- MacGyver must help cover up an ecological outbreak caused by a renegade Phoenix Foundation scientist. MISSION: MacGyver must locate a virus that mutated in space and prevent the outbreak from causing anymore damage than it already has. The scientist responsible thinks the ends justify the means in her quest to end world hunger. This week's highlights include:   Bushwhacked (Film) Bushwhacked is a 1995 comedy, action and adventure film starring Daniel Stern, Jon Polito, Anthony Heald and Brad Sullivan. This was Greg Beeman's last theatrical film before he moved on to direct television movies for Disney Channel. This also marked Sullivan's last theatrical appearance before his retirement in 2000 and his death in 2008. It was originally planned to be a spin off film to the Home Alone franchise with Daniel Stern reprising his role as Marv. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushwhacked_(film). Watch S3E11: "Kill Zone" on CBS's webs

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: December 21st, 1987 --- MacGyver must protect Nikki from a terrorist she accidentally witnessed bombing a post office MISSION: MacGyver intends to track down a team of terrorists setting bombs all over the city and calling for the release of a fellow terrorist. When Nikki accidentally encounters one of them, she finds herself in their collective crosshairs. This week's highlights include: Mythbusters tested the cement bomb in a mailtruck MacGyverism for their final season premiere just three weeks ago!   Eucalyptus (Plant) Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees and shrubs (including a distinct group with a multiple-stem mallee growth habit) in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia. The more than 700 species of eucalyptus are mostly native to Australia, and a very small number are found in adjacent areas of New Guinea and Indonesia. One species, Eucalyptus deglupta, ranges as far north as the Philippines. Only 15 species occur

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: November 23rd, 1987 --- A college physics contest turns sour when an overbearing professor pushes his son too far MISSION: MacGyver returns to one of his many Alma Maters to judge an annual physics competition, but things turn ugly when a student contestant cracks under the pressure of his professor father's judgement. This week's highlights include:   The Hall of Presidents (Education) The Hall of Presidents is an attraction located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom in the Walt Disney World Resort. The attraction is a multi-media presentation and stage show featuring Audio-Animatronic figures of all 43 individual U.S. Presidents. It opened on October 1, 1971, along with the rest of the Magic Kingdom and Walt Disney World. It is housed in a building that resembles Philadelphia's Independence Hall. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hall_of_Presidents. Watch S3E9: "Hell Week" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this epis

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: November 16th, 1987 --- In the wake of a friend's death, MacGyver's attacked by a familiar (heavily-scarred) face. MISSION: A climbing accident causes the death of a close friend of MacGyver. In his mourning, MacGyver is preyed upon by the returning master of disguise, Murdoch! This week's highlights include:   Graboid (Science fiction) The Graboid is a fictional species of sandworm that acts as the primary antagonist of the Tremors franchise. The creature made its debut in the 1990 film Tremors (although the name "Graboid" was only mentioned briefly), and reappeared in its four sequels and the Tremors television series. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graboid. Watch S3E8: "The Widowmaker" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this episode here.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: November 9th, 1987 --- MacGyver is baited down to Smiley, Arkansas by another of Jack's many get-rich-quick schemes. MISSION: When MacGyver learns Jack has been incarcerated in Arkansas, he sets off to bail him out, only to learn Jack was captured on purpose for a chance at finding buried treasure in a corrupt prison camp. This week's highlights include:   John Draper (Hacker) John Thomas Draper (born 1943), also known as Captain Crunch, Crunch or Crunchman (after Cap'n Crunch breakfast cereal mascot), is an American computer programmer and former phone phreak. He is a legendary figure within the computer programming world and the hacker and security community. Draper has long maintained a nomadic lifestyle; as of May 2013, he resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Draper. Watch S3E7: "Jack in the Box" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this episode here.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: November 2nd, 1987 --- MacGyver and Nikki Carpenter must destroy an experimental military plane downed behind enemy lines. MISSION: Mac and Nikki are racing against a soviet psychic to find and destroy a downed experimental plane to prevent the technology from being stolen. This week's highlights include:   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 S3E6: "GX-1" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this episode here.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: October 26th, 1987 --- MacGyver teams up with a deceased friend's sister to track down the jewel thief responsible. MISSION: After a friend is killed, MacGyver vows to track down whoever is responsible and in the process is paired up with Nikki Carpenter, much to his chagrin. This week's highlights include: Here's a link to our friend in the diamond business.   Diplomatic immunity (Law) Diplomatic immunity is a form of legal immunity that ensures diplomats are given safe passage and are considered not susceptible to lawsuit or prosecution under the host country's laws, although they can still be expelled. It was agreed as international law in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), though the concept and custom have a much longer history. Many principles of diplomatic immunity are now considered to be customary law. Diplomatic immunity as an institution developed to allow for the maintenance of government relations, including during periods of difficulties and armed confl

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: October 19th, 1987 --- During a routine mission for the Department of Interior, MacGyver is attacked by Bigfoot. MISSION: Investigating an abandoned ship in the Pacific Northwest, MacGyver comes face to face with the grandfather of cryptozoology himself. This week's highlights include: The MacGyver Project site had a chat with this episodes producer Calvin Clements Jr. which can be found here. Cryptozoology (Pseudoscience) Cryptozoology is a pseudoscience involving the search for animals whose existence has not been proven due to lack of evidence. The animals cryptozoologists study are often referred to as cryptids, a term coined by John Wall in 1983. This includes living examples of animals that are otherwise considered extinct, such as non-avian dinosaurs; animals whose existence lacks physical evidence but which appear in folklore, such as Bigfoot and Chupacabra; and wild animals dramatically outside their normal geographic ranges, such as phantom cats (also known as Alien Big Cats).

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: October 5th, 1987 --- Jimmy "The Eraser" Kendall reappears publicly, much to the dismay of MacGyver and witness protection. MISSION: When the Banning family encounters photographic evidence of The Eraser's presence in their town, MacGyver is dispatched to intercept his old friend and prevent yet another mafia hit. This week's highlights include: United States Federal Witness Protection Program (Government) The United States Federal Witness Protection Program, also known as the Witness Security Program or WITSEC, is a witness protection program administered by the United States Department of Justice and operated by the United States Marshals Service that is designed to protect threatened witnesses before, during, and after a trial. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Federal_Witness_Protection_Program. Watch S3E3: "Back From The Dead" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this episode here.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: September 28th, 1987 --- MacGyver's lost love is held hostage in exchange for a priceless Chinese relic. MISSION: The Phoenix Foundation has been placed in charge of security for a priceless Chinese relic. Meanwhile, MacGyver learns a former flame he thought was dead is now married to a baddie from Mac's past. Now she is being held hostage in exchange for the relic and MacGyver must circumvent a security system of his own design. This week's highlights include: SPECIAL GUEST: ANTHONY DE LONGIS! Anthony De Longis is more than just the awesome villain of MacGyver's first season finale (not to mention his reappearance in season 3). He's a weapons specialist and all-around nice guy. Hear us chat about his experiences on the set of MacGyver, acting and helping to choreograph fight scenes. We also discuss his various weapon skills and his experiences teaching iconic characters like Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones and Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman how to properly use a whip on set. Arnold Palmer 

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: September 21st, 1987 --- MacGyver is reunited with his presumed dead ex-fiance and her formerly villainous husband. MISSION: The Phoenix Foundation has been placed in charge of security for a priceless Chinese relic. Meanwhile, MacGyver learns a former flame he thought was dead is now married to a baddie from Mac's past. Now she is being held hostage in exchange for the relic and MacGyver must circumvent a security system of his own design. This week's highlights include: Homing pigeon (Communication) The homing pigeon is a variety of domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) derived from the rock pigeon, selectively bred to find its way home over extremely long distances, using magnetoception. The wild rock pigeon has an innate homing ability, meaning that it will generally return to its nest and mate. This made it relatively easy to breed from the birds that repeatedly found their way home over long distances. Flights as long as 1,800 km (1,100 miles) have been recorded by birds in com

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: May 4th, 1987 --- MacGyver is once again tasked with smuggling a Russian dissident out of an asylum. MISSION: MacGyver is reluctantly paired up with a face from his past to break a Russian dissident out of prison, but the prisoner won't agree to emigrate without his wife in tow. This week's highlights include: Whirly tube (Instrument) The whirly tube, corrugaphone, or bloogle resonator, is a musical instrument which consists of a corrugated (ribbed) plastic tube (hollow flexible cylinder), open at both ends, which is swung in a circle to play. The faster the toy is swung the higher the pitch of the note it produces. It produces discrete notes in the harmonic series like a valveless brass instrument. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whirly_tube. Watch S2E22: "For Love of Money" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this episode here.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: April 27th, 1987 --- A bullet to the head erases MacGyver's memory on the brink of an assassination attempt MISSION: MacGyver is ambushed collecting intel from another doomed Tony. An assassination plot in unfolding but MacGyver's memory is temporarily wiped by a bullet to the head. With the help of Carol Varnay, he must get word to Pete what is happening. This week's highlights include: Here's a link to Jaison Starkes' crazy website. By the way, we were wrong, Jared Hess has a new movie coming out. Check out the new trailer below. Also, here's what happens when Hydrochloric acid and Ammonia are near eachother. Figwit (Fantasy) Figwit is a fan-created name for an unnamed Elven escort in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, played by actor and musician Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords fame. The name Figwit derives from an acronym for "Frodo is grea...who is THAT?!?" [sic]. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figwit. Watch S2

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: April 6th, 1987 --- What's the only thing worse than getting kidnapped on your birthday? A clip show! MISSION: MacGyver strongly considers resigning in the aftermath of a particularly dangerous mission and a clip show ensues. This week's highlights include: Here's a link to Nick Sweedo's interview with Michael Greenburg. Iguana meat (Nutrition) Iguana meat has historically been important in the culinary traditions of Mexico and Central America; particularly in the states of Jalisco, Michoacán and Colima. Iguana meat is currently illegal in the United States of America and several other countries. To prepare your own Breast of Lizard a la MacGyver. Roast an iguana over an open flame until the skin is blackened and then peel back the charred layer of skin. Serves two. Check out the article on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguana_meat. Watch S2E20: "Friends" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this episode here.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: March 23rd, 1987 --- The daughter of a POW unexpectedly tags along with MacGyver on a rescue mission. MISSION: MacGyver is sent off the San Perez to rescue another downed pilot, but finds out late in the rescue that the POW's daughter has stowed aboard and intends to join the cause. This week's highlights include:   Joe Henderson's mock funeral from M*A*S*H Military simulation (military) Military simulations, also known informally as war games, are simulations in which theories of warfare can be tested and refined without the need for actual hostilities. Many professional analysts object to the term wargames as this is generally taken to be referring to the civilian hobby, thus the preference for the term simulation. Check out the article on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_simulation Watch S2E19: "Bushmaster" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this episode here.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: March 2nd, 1987 --- MacGyver and Pete fall into the trap of a nemesis they thought was dead. MISSION: MacGyver and Pete reminisce about the villain they where pursuing when they met, only to fall into his latest trap. This week's highlights include:   Bazooka (chewing gum) Bazooka is a brand of bubble gum introduced in 1947. Check out the article on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bazooka_(chewing_gum) Watch S2E18: "Partners" on CBS's website or check the alternative streamability of this episode here.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: February 23rd, 1987 --- Jack Dalton returns from the grave to escape the clutches of corrupt government agents. MISSION: MacGyver attends Jack's funeral only to learn he is faking his death to avoid being murdered by corrupt agents with which he has unknowingly involved himself. This week's highlights include: Here's another link to that Kerry Lenhart interview. In case you didn't get our Too Many Cooks references. Bronco Buster (Sculpture) The Bronco Buster (also spelled "Broncho Buster" as per convention at the time of sculpting) is a sculpture made of bronze copyrighted in 1895 by American artist Frederic Remington. It portrays a rugged Western frontier cowboy character fighting to stay aboard a rearing, plunging bronco, with a stirrup swinging free, a quirt in one hand and a fistful of mane and reins in the other. It was the first and remains the most popular of all of Remington's sculptures. Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronco_Buster W