Synopsis
Includes:
Magnum, P.I.: Murder 101 (1984)
Magnum, P.I.: Mac's Back (1984)
Magnum, P.I.: Under World (1984)
Magnum, P.I.: The Legacy of Garwood Huddle (1984)
Magnum, P.I.: Kiss of the Sabre (1984)
Magnum, P.I.: Echoes of the Mind, Part 2 (1984)
Magnum, P.I.: Luther Gills - File #001 (1984)
Magnum, P.I.: Tran Quoc Jones (1984)
Magnum, P.I.: Blind Justice (1984)
Magnum, P.I.: Fragments (1984)
Magnum, P.I.: Echoes of the Mind, Part 1 (1984)
Magnum, P.I.: Let Me Hear the Music (1985)
Magnum, P.I.: Mrs. Jones (1985)
Magnum, P.I.: The Man From Marseilles (1985)
Magnum, P.I.: A Pretty Good Dancing Chicken (1985)
Magnum, P.I.: Professor Jonathan Higgins (1985)
Magnum, P.I.: All for One, Part 1 (1985)
Magnum, P.I.: Little Games (1985)
Magnum, P.I.: All for One, Part 2 (1985)
Magnum, P.I.: The Love-For-Sale Boat (1985)
Magnum, P.I.: The Treasure of Kalaniopu'u (1985)
Magnum, P.I.: Torah, Torah, Torah (1985)
Magnum, P.I.: Compulsion (1985)
Magnum, P.I.: Murder 101
While teaching a college investigation class, Magnum (Tom Selleck) tries to stem the alarming dropout rate by agreeing to take a case from one of his students on a pro-bono basis. At first, it appears that all Magnum has to do is locate the student's missing fiancee--but as the plot thickens, our hero becomes enmeshed in an entirely different mystery(or is it?) Guest star Tom Shadyac is better known for his latter-day accomplishments as a writer, director and producer on such Jim Carrey projects as Ace Ventura, Pet Detective, Liar Liar and Bruce Almighty. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Mac's Back
Stilling reeling from the suicide of Diane Dupres, Magnum is ill-prepared for the sudden reapparance of his old Navy friend Mac (Jeff MacKay)--especially since Mac had been killed two years earlier. Can this really be a return from the grave, or is Magnum losing his mind? As this question is being pondered, the viewer is treated to poignant highlights from the previous episodes "Echoes of the Mind", "Memories are Forever", "Did You See the Sunrise?" and "Distant Relative". Without giving away too much of the plot, it can be noted that this episode marks what may be the only instance in which a previous TV-series regular returns to the same series with the same character name--but as an entirely different character! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Under World
Ever on the lookout for a quick buck, T.C. (Roger E. Mosley) agrees to deliver a mysterious briefcase to Oahu. En route, T.C.'s chopper plunges into the ocean, and he ends up in the hospital in a comatose state. Flying in the face of convential wisdom, Magnum (Tom Selleck) is certain that the crash was no accident, and he is determined to bring in the men responsible for T.C.'s plight. Joining Magnum in this mission is T.C.'s visiting brother Gerald (Richard Lawson)--who turns out to be pursuing an agenda of his own. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: The Legacy of Garwood Huddle
Veteran bank robber Garwood Huddle (Pat Hingle) escapes from prison--and since Garwood is an old friend of Higgins (John Hillerman), it is only logical that Magnum (Tom Selleck) should end up assisting Huddle in his flight. Fancying himself a modern-day Robin Hood, Huddle insists that he has escaped with the noblest of intentions: his grandson has been kidnapped, and he hopes to be the ransom by digging up a cache of cash he'd stolen back in the 1940s. But when the two men arrive at the burial site, it appears that someone has beaten them to it! Featured in the supporting cast is Nancy DeCarl, the real-life wife of series regular Larry Manetti--and listen for the voice of Phil Hartman as a TV newscaster. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Kiss of the Sabre
At the behest of Robin Masters, Magnum (Tom Selleck) is forced to allow pesky novelist Betty Windom (Cassie Yates) to accompany him on an insurance-fraud investigation. As the story progresses, Betty decides that the case at hand is excellent grist for her creative mill, and thus she formulates the plotline of a novel based on the investigation, in which Magnum is reborn as the dashing "Sebastian Steele" and she herself is the lucious "Colette". Alas, in her innocent zeal to transform fact into fiction, Betty has placed herself and Magnum in a potentially deadly situation! The episode's final moment is a glorious takeoff of the "beach scene" in From Here to Eternity. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Echoes of the Mind, Part 2
In the conclusion of Magnum, P.I.'s two-part Season Five opener, Magnum (Tom Selleck) doesn't know who to believe when twin sisters Diane and Deidre Dupres (both played by a pre-Basic Instinct Sharon Stone) accuse each other of having murderous intentions. Meanwhile, Higgins (John Hillerman) has managed to wriggle out of his engagement to Lady Ashley (Carolyn Seymour), but it may be more difficult to shed his other "fiancee" Agatha Chumley (Gillian Dobb). The climax of this episode is one of the most shocking in the series' history--and that's all you're going to get out of us! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Luther Gills - File #001
Magnum (Tom Selleck) is simultaneously solicited by Higgins (John Hillerman) and Robin Masters (still unseen, but voiced by Orson Welles) to help them with a pair of delicate and potentially damaging cases. Higgins is being blackmailed for helping a woman with an illegitimate son, while one of Robin's friends has been implicated in an embezzlement scheme. Unable to handle both cases at once and do justice to both, Magnum reluctantly returns to fellow private eye Luther Gillis for help. A cute inside reference to Citizen Kane is heard in honor of what turned out to be Orson Welles' final "appearance" on Magnum P.I.. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Tran Quoc Jones
Magnum's latest client is a little Vietnamese street kid named Tran Quoc Jones (Ronald Harrah III). An illegal alien, the boy has come to Hawaii in search of his missing dad, an American G.I. Can it be that Magnum's friend T.C. (Roger E. Mosley) is the man Tran Quoc seeks? And why has pompous politician Dick Hasley (Rick Lenz) chosen to exploit the child's plight as a means of publicizing his campaign? The answers, of course, are not immediately forthcoming--in fact, it will require a murder for the truth to be revealed! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Blind Justice
As a personal favor, Deputy DA Carol Baldwin (Kathleen Lloyd) asks Magnum (Tom Selleck) to investigate the alleged murder of a young mother, a death witnessed by the victim's little daughter. It is highly possible that the woman committed suicide and that the main suspect may be guilty of an even worse crime, but Carol hopes to spare the youthful witness the trauma of testifying. But how can Magnum get his job done now that he has been deprived the use of Robin Masters' Ferrari? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Fragments
Samantha Eggar guest stars as psychic Laura Bennett, who has been experiencing eerie visions of her own murder. Though skeptical about Laura's ability to foretell the future, Magnum agrees to provide protection to the woman, while simultaneously attempting to collect his fee from a shifty previous client (Kenneth Mars). Need we add that both of Magnum's seemingly unconnected missions are inextricably linked together by episode's end? Meanwhile, Higgins (John Hillerman) becomes more insufferable than usual as he tries to put together a fundraising variety show. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Echoes of the Mind, Part 1
In the first episode of Magnum, P.I's two-part Season Five opener, Magnum (Tom Selleck) is hired by socialite Diane Dupres (a pre-Basic Instinct Sharon Stone) to protect her from her evil twin sister Deidre. Magnum's client claims that Deidre has been a psychotic ever since she was kidnapped as a child, and now she intends to "purge" herself by murdering Diane. Meanwhile, a flustered Higgins likewise has "double trouble" when he ends up engaged to two women: his old friend Agatha Chumley (Gillian Dobb) and his former flame Lady Ashley (Carolyn Seymour). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Let Me Hear the Music
Country-western singer Lacy Fletcher (Dennis Weaver) hires Magnum (Tom Selleck) to locate five lost love songs, written by the legendary George Lee Jessup just before his fatal plane crash in 1954. The investigation hits a roadblock when Laurie Crane (Susan Oliver), the fabled inspiration for the songs, not only insists that the tunes never existed, but also denies that she ever even met Jessup. This episode can be regarded as a family affair, with guest star Dennis Weaver's sons Robby Weaver) and Rusty Weaver appearing respectively as the late Georgie Lee and as the younger Lacy Fletcher. And there's also a whole lot of singin' goin' on, with Robby Weaver performing his dad's compositions "Cheatin' Kisses" and "I Just Want to Hold You", and singer-songwriter Amanda McBroom rendering the standards "Texas (When I Die)" and "When Will I Be Loved". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Mrs. Jones
Ms. Madeline Jones (Margie Impert), the rules-are-rules Hall of Records clerk who has made life difficult for Magnum (Tom Selleck) in several early episodes, now turns to the detective to help. Her husband Ray (played by Sam Anderson of Lost fame), a computer expert, has turned up missing--and more ominously, Ray has committed to memory several megabytes of top-secret information that certain disreputable characters would love to get their hands on. Ray Austin, who directed this episode, shows up in a supporting role. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: The Man From Marseilles
Magnum (Tom Selleck) is contacted by legendary French detective Jean Claude Fornier (Paul Verdier), whose exploits have served as inspiration for several of Robin Masters' novels. M. Fornier needs Magnum's help to locate a missing heir, or so he claims. The two detectives' investigation ultimately leads to a drug-trafficking ring--and, possibly, to an early grave for Assistant DA Carol Baldwin (Kathleen Lloyd), who idolizes Fornier. The episode's high point is Tom Selleck's ear-shattering rendition of "Misty" in a karaoke bar! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: A Pretty Good Dancing Chicken
Magnum (Tom Selleck) is asked by Deputy DA Carol Baldwin (Kathleen Lloyd) to help locate her 17-year-old cousin Becky (Linda Grovenor). The one person who may know the girl's whereabouts is her former boyfriend Darryl (Asher Brauner), who is now serving time on a prison farm. In order to pry the necessary information from Darryl, Magnum goes undercover as a hardened convict--with the expected violent results. Ironically, this final episode of Magnum, P.I's fifth season was cowritten by real-life "private eye to the stars" Anthony Pellicano, who later wound up behind bars himself on a variety of charges! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Professor Jonathan Higgins
It was perhaps inevitable that, somewhere along the line in Magnum, P.I.,Higgins (John Hillerman) would end up emulating his namesake Professor Henry Higgins, the hero of Shaw's "Pygmalion"--which of course was the source material for the musical hit "My Fair Lady." In this episode, Higgins takes on the job of transforming his punk-rocker cousin Sally Ponting (played by Jillie Mack, future wife of series star Tom Selleck) into a proper lady in time for her marriage to wealthy young Timothy Finch (David Traylor). Meanwhile, Magnum (Tom Selleck) is kept busy tracking down the con artist who caused Higgins' friend Agatha (Gillian Dobb) to lose her life savings in a crooked investment scheme. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: All for One, Part 1
In the first episode of a two-part story, Magnum (Tom Selleck) is asked by soldier-of-fortune Tyler McKinney (Robert Forster) to help him rescue a mutual friend from his Vietnamese captors in the jungles of Cambodia. Though Magnum has no reason to trust the disreputable McKinney, he ends up accompanying him on his mission, with T.C. (Roger E. Mosley), Rick (Larry Manetti) and even Higgins (John Hillerman going along for the ride. Only upon arrival does Magnum discover McKinney's true motives--and it might mean instant death for at least one of the series' regulars. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Little Games
While playing a video game called "Dungeon Master", Magnum manages to mess up the computerized security system at Robin's Nest. Enter security expert Krista Villaroch (Jenny Agutter), who is hired to get the system up and running in time for a jewelry exhibit being held at the estate. The capricious Magnum dares Krista to test out the system with a phony heist--little realizing (at first) that she is actually the daughter of infamous jewel thief Doc Villaroch (Cesar Romero), who despite his advanced age is far from retired! This episode was written by actress Deborah Pratt, then the wife of Magnum, P.I. executive producer Donald P. Bellisario. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: All for One, Part 2
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Magnum (Tom Selleck), T.C. (Roger E. Mosley), Rick (Larry Manetti) and Higgins (John Hillerman) have managed to sneak into Cambodia to rescue a former war buddy from the clutches of ruthless Vietnamese torturer Major Thieu (Seth Sakai). Alas, things don't go as planned, and soon several of the "good guys" have themselves been captured. Eluding Thieu's minions, T.C. (Roger E. Mosley) assumes the task of saving his comrades--providing he can avoid betrayal at the hands of duplicitous soldier-of-fortune Tyler McKinney (Robert Forster). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: The Love-For-Sale Boat
Rick (Larry Manetti) borrows $20,000 from Ice Pick (Elisha Cook Jr.) to purchase a luxury boat, fully equipped with bikinied geisha girls, from the redoubtable Mac (Jeff MacKay). Turns out, however, that the boat wasn't Mac's to sell, and now the real owners are out for Rick's blood. As if this wasn't enough trouble, a gang of Japanese gangsters likewise insists upon laying claim to the boat--and don't forget Ice Pick, who is a bit put out about losing that 20 grand and wants it back post-haste! This episode is highlighted by a climactic fight scene, which manages to be both thrilling and sexy at the same time. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: The Treasure of Kalaniopu'u
To publicize his latest novel, Robin Masters stages a million-dollar treasure hunt, with the clues adroitly hidden with the pages of his book. Unfortunately, one of the contestants doesn't see the need to play fair, and before the day is over Magnum (Tom Selleck) and the other treasure-hunters (among them several of the series' regulars) are being held at gunpoint on the edge of a steep cliff. In fact, the episode begins with this perilous situation, then works itself backward in the form of tantalizing flashbacks. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Torah, Torah, Torah
When a priceless Torah is stolen by a particularly mean-spirited smuggler, Magnum (Tom Selleck) teams with Higgins' old friend, Rabbi Asher Solomon (Nehemiah Persoff), to retrieve the sacred document. A battle-scarred survivor of European persecution against the Jewish race, Rabbi Solomon had managed at great personal sacrifice to save the Torah from destruction during the Holocaust, and he's not about to give it up to thieves at this point. Not surprisingly, as the case progresses, the viewer learns that there is lot more than the Torah at stake! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Compulsion
Deputy DA Carol Baldwin (Kathleen Lloyd) thinks that she has envisioned sinister omens, indicating that her next case will be her last. Though at first Magnum (Tom Selleck) is certain Carol is imagining things, he soon finds himself the only line of defense between Carol and a demented stalker who bears a long-standing grudge against her family. Elsewhere, T.C.(Roger E. Mosley) and Rick (Larry Manetti) come to the rescue of Higgins, who is forced to pose as the owner of Robin's Nest when several of his old school chums come calling. This episode was directed by actor David Hemmings (Blow-Up), who also appears in the role of Lord Binkie. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
