Synopsis
Includes:
Magnum, P.I.: Novel Connection (1986)
Magnum, P.I.: L.A., Part 1 (1986)
Magnum, P.I.: L.A., Part 2 (1986)
Magnum, P.I.: Straight and Narrow (1986)
Magnum, P.I.: A.A.P.I. (1986)
Magnum, P.I.: Death and Taxes (1986)
Magnum, P.I.: Paper War (1986)
Magnum, P.I.: One Picture Is Worth (1986)
Magnum, P.I.: Kapu (1986)
Magnum, P.I.: Missing Melody (1986)
Magnum, P.I.: Death of the Flowers (1986)
Magnum, P.I.: Autumn Warrior (1986)
Murder, She Wrote: Magnum on Ice (1986)
Magnum, P.I.: Little Girl Who (1986)
Magnum, P.I.: Limbo (1987)
Magnum, P.I.: Murder by Night (1987)
Magnum, P.I.: The Aunt Who Came to Dinner (1987)
Magnum, P.I.: Out of Sync (1987)
Magnum, P.I.: The People vs. Orville Wright (1987)
Magnum, P.I.: Laura (1987)
Magnum, P.I.: Forty (1987)
Magnum, P.I.: Solo Flight (1987)
Magnum, P.I.: On the Fly (1987)
Magnum, P.I.: Novel Connection
Angela Lansbury guest stars as crime novelist and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher in this crossover episode with Lansbury's own series Murder, She Wrote. When one of Robin Master's guests (Dorothy Loudon) is marked for murder, Magnum finds himself working with--and against--the redoubtable Ms. Fletcher to root out the killer. A man who likes to deal in facts and logical deductions, Magnum is continually flustered by Jessica's intuitive approach to crime-solving, much to the (presumed!) delight of the viewer. Ending on a cliffhanger, this episode was originally Part One of a two-part story which concluded with the Murder She Wrote episode "Magnum on Ice"; however, a new ending which neatly wraps up the storyline was filmed for the Magnum, P.I. syndication package. (Curiously, the story remains open-ended in the DVD version of "Novel Connection".) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: L.A., Part 1
Season Seven of Magnum, P.I. begins with a two-part episode (originally telecast in a single two-hour timeslot) largely set in Los Angeles. Magnum (Tom Selleck) arrives in La-La-Land to deliver some legal papers on behalf of Robin Masters. Befriending a comedienne named Marti Jensen (Mona Miller), Magnum ends up a prime suspect when the woman is found murdered in his hotel room. In his subsequent efforts to clear himself and find the real killer, Magnum works side by side (and sometimes closer than that!) with attractive entertainment lawyer Cynthia Farrell (Dena Delany). Meawnhile, back in Hawaii, Rick (Larry Manetti), T.C. (Roger Mosley) and Higgins conduct an intensive search for teenager Kenny (Alfonso Ribeiro), who has witnessed two murders. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: L.A., Part 2
In the conclusion of Magnum, P.I.'s two-part Season Seven opener (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), Magnum is still in Los Angeles, still trying to solve the murder of comedienne Marti Jensen with the help of sexy entertainment lawyer Cynthia Farrell (Dana Delaney). Along the way, Magnum and Cynthia have fallen in love--and thus are both in the crosshairs of the well-connected drug cartel which ordered the murder. And back in Hawaii, teenage murder witness Kenny (Alfonso Ribeiro) continues to elude Magnum's friends, who are trying to prevent him from becoming the next victim. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Straight and Narrow
Already laid up with a sprained ankle, Magnum (Tom Selleck) braces himself for more pain when call girl Leslie Emory (Candy Clark), who'd given him plenty of trouble during a previous assignment, sashays back into his life. Insisting that she's given up her former profession and gone straight, Leslie asks Magnum to locate her missing sister Patty (Cindy Fisher), who is still a "working girl." Before long, Magnum finds out that his injured ankle is the least of his problems! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: A.A.P.I.
French detective Claude Fornier (Paul Verdier), whose exploits have inspired several of Robin Masters' novels, is murdered just after presenting Magnum (Tom Selleck) with the "PI of the Year" award. Though anxious to solve Fornier's murder, Magnum finds that he'll have to wait in line as every other detective attending the awards ceremony (many of whom closely resemble popular TV gumshoes!) insists upon taking a crack at the case. Elisha Cook Jr., usually cast as shady businessman Ice Pick, reprises his characterization of weasely "gunsel" Wilmer from The Maltese Falcon in a dream sequence; and appearing as chief of security at the ceremony is prolific TV producer Stephen J. Cannell. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Death and Taxes
Traditionally, Magnum (Tom Selleck) spends the Fourth of July holiday all by himself; this year he's alone again, but not by choice, and at the worst possible time. A serial killer identified by the media as "The Ripper" has been tormenting Magnum by calling him up and reciting nursery rhymes and riddles just before each murder. As if this wasn't vexing enough, the unseen killer seems to know all about Magnum's Vietnam tour of duty--right down to the most intimate of details. "Flashbacks" taken from the Magnum, P.I pilot episode are interspersed throughout the story. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Paper War
Because of a typically silly misunderstanding, Magnum (Tom Selleck) and Higgins (John Hillerman) are locked in a wide-ranging "war or wills", in which each one tries to top the other with practical jokes, public humiliation and trashing of personal property. This battle of reciprocal destruction tends to slow down Magnum's current investigation of a big-time gambling ring, but he insists upon soldiering on. Ultimately, the two combatants face off for a showdown--only to find themselves trapped in an elevator just before the building around them is to be demolished! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: One Picture Is Worth
Magnum (Tom Selleck) offers protection to Linda Andrews (Stephanie Dunham), a deaf artist who is the only witness to a bank holdup in which four people were murdered. Holed up in Robin's Nest, Linda endeavors to identify the killers via her artwork, which even by non-detective standards is most impressive. Meanwhile, the villains formulate a scheme to bring the hapless girl out in the open. Prominent in the guest cast is former football pro Tim Rossovich, who had been series star Tom Selleck's roommate at USC. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Kapu
When the beautiful Makua (Marlene Sai) witnesses a murder, Magnum (Tom Selleck) does his best to protect her from the killers. But his best may be none too good when he is knocked unconscious and nearly drowned. Awakening in a semi-amnesiac estate, Magnum discovers that he is on the "forbidden" island of Kapu--and that he is the prisoner of the island's highly superstitious natives. Prolific cartoon voiceover actress Jeannie Elias appears as a cousin of Magnum's friend Rick (Larry Manetti). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Missing Melody
The spotlight in this episode is on T.C. (Roger E. Mosley, who coincidentally also wrote the script!), whose daughter Melody (Martina Stringer) is kidnapped for a $300,000 ransom. Forced to sell his helicopter to raise the money, T.C. must also endure the additional trauma of a "reunion" with his ex-wife Tina (Fay Hauser). Meanwhile, Magnum (Tom Selleck) is determined to find out if Tina's current boyfriend was responsible for the kidnapping. Former Diff'rent Strokes regular Shavar Ross (aka "Dudley Ramsey") appears as T.C.'S son Bryant. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Death of the Flowers
Deputy DA Carol Baldwin (Kathleen Lloyd) begins to suspect that her beloved mentor, Judge Hannibal Kearns (Michael Constantine), has been accepting bribes. Even more disturbingly, it appears that Kearns is in the pocket of shady businessman Ice Pick (Elisha Cook Jr.), who happens to be the role model and spiritual godfather of Magnum's friend Rick Wright (Larry Manetti). The likelihood that their respective idols have feet of clay results in a bitter quarrel between Carol and Rick...and there's worse to come. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Autumn Warrior
Higgins (John Hillerman) takes a group of youngsters from a prison farm for what he hopes to be a character-building "survivalist" weekend in the wilds. Unfortunately, the event is nearly ruined when three of the tougher inmates stage an escape, committing murder in the process. Now Higgins must draw upon his wartime commando experiences to save the lives of himself and the remaining campers. And back at Robin's Nest, yet another wild party comes acropper for T.C. (Roger E. Mosley) and Rick (Larry Manetti). Featured in the cast is former Playboy Playmate Pamela Jean Bryant. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Murder, She Wrote: Magnum on Ice
This episode is the conclusion of a two-part "crossover" story, which began as "Novel Connection", an episode of Magnum PI. While in Hawaii to help one of her myriad of friends, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) crosses paths with freewheeling private detective Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck) and Magnum's mysterious boss Jonathan Higgins (John Hillerman). Although he's reluctant to do so, Magnum accepts Jessica's help when he is accused of murdering a hit man whose target remains unknown--and then is tagged for a second murder. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Little Girl Who
Magnum's ex-wife Michelle (Marta DuBois), introduced in the previous episode Memories are Forever (clips from which are seen in the course of this story), comes back into the detective's life. Having left her husband, a high-ranking Vietnamese officer, Michelle is on the lam from a gang of uniformed assassins. Pausing in mid-flight, Michelle leaves her 5-year-old daughter Lily (Kristen Carreira) with Magnum (Tom Selleck)--who begins to wonder if Lily is actually his own child. (More than one observer has noted that the famously "impenetrable" security system at Robin's Nest is surprisingly inadequate in this episode!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Limbo
Season Seven of Magnum, P.I comes to spectacular conclusion--one that was originally intended to be the series' final episode. Wounded in a violent shootout, the comatose Magnum (Tom Selleck) hovers between life and death. From his vantage point in "Limbo", Magnum tries to communicate with his friends, to warn them that his ex-wife Michelle may soon be murdered. Coming to Magnum's rescue--in a manner of speaking--is the spectre of his old Navy buddy "Mac" MacReynolds (Larry Manetti). Though Magnum, P.I. had indeed been cancelled at the end of its seventh season, the series was brought back the following year by public demand--necessitating a hasty "rethinking" of this episode's now-famous closing image. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Murder by Night
Filmed in black-and-white, this episode is both an homage to and a spoof of The Maltese Falcon and other "hard-boiled detective" movies of its ilk. In 1941 San Francisco, cynical gumshoe Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck) tries to solve the murder of the much-despite publishing baron William Tyler Maxfield. Along the way, he meets the other Magnum, P.I. regulars, recast as "film noir" stereotypes. The story comes to a climax with obligatory revelation scene, in which Magnum gathers all the suspects together in the same room--and is HE surprised by the outcome! Only at the very end do we discover precisely why and how Magnum has been transplanted to another time and another place. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: The Aunt Who Came to Dinner
Barbara Rush guest stars as Magnum's beloved Aunt Phoebe, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright known for her extremely vivid imagination. When Phoebe insists that she is being stalked by a murderer, Magnum (Tom Selleck) wonders if the old dear is suffering from the early stages of Alzheimers'. As it turns out, she is--but that doesn't necessarily mean that her life isn't in danger. As an added complication, Magnum must do all of his investigating on the sly: thanks to a bureaucratic oversight, his detective's license has expired. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Out of Sync
Looking forward to a passionate reunion with his erstwhile LA-based fiancee Cynthia Farrell (Dana Delany), Magnum (Tom Selleck) is torn away at the last minute by a pressing business matter. Cynthia is understandably put out to discover that Magnum has been hired by a sexy actress named Andrea Lisa Blount). As it turns out, all thoughts of romance must be held in check--perhaps permanently--as Magnum tracks down a sleazy porn director whom Cynthia accuses of making "snuff" films. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: The People vs. Orville Wright
Rick (Larry Manetti) is arrested for the murder of a hit man who had been hired to kill the missing Ice Pick (Elisha Cook Jr.). Though Magnum (Tom Selleck) would like to prove his friend's innocence, this may be an impossible task: Rick has already signed a full confession. The ending of this episode is curious indeed, suggesting that the producers were preparing to write "finis" to Magnum, P.I. at the close of the seventh season--a theory that would seem to be borne out even further by the NEXT episode. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Laura
Frank Sinatra makes a rare TV dramatic performance in the role of retired NYPD detective sergeant Michael Doheny. Engaging the services of Magnum (Tom Selleck) to locate a missing person, Doheny neglects to tell the detective that he is seeking vengeance against the dirtbag who kidnapped and murdered his 7-year-old granddaughter during his retirement party. Once Magnum tumbles to what Doheny is up to, he races against time to prevent the embittered detective from becoming a murderer. The audience response to this episode was so overwhelmingly positive that a followup was planned for the following season: alas, this followup was never filmed due to scheduling conflicts, and thus "Laura" represents the very last acting assignment for Frank Sinatra in any medium. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Forty
Magnum (Tom Selleck) approaches his fortieth birthday with fear and loathing--mainly because he has just lost his lucky $2 bill. How will this catastrophe affect his investigation of arms-smuggling ring which moonlights as an extortion outfit? Also, will he be able to win a special surf-ski race? And as long as we're asking questions, what exactly is the connection between Magnum's current woes and the omnispresence of perky TV reporter Linda Lee Ellison (Patrice Martinez)? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: Solo Flight
A dour Magnum (Tom Selleck) retreats to a mountaintop to mull over the recent failures in his life--specifically, an investigation from which he was fired, and the apparent loss of his most treasured friendships. In mid-meditation, Magnum stumbles upon the wreckage of a WW2-vintage airplane. Ultimately he finds himself helplessly pinned under the wreckage, miles from any help. . .or hope. The "flashbacks" in this episode consist of choice clips from such previous Magnum, P.I. entries as "Home From the Sea", "Distant Relative", "Paper War", "Did You See the Sunrise?", "The Man from Marseilles" and "Death and Taxes". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Magnum, P.I.: On the Fly
Two warring Mexican crime families have one thing in common: They both want Magnum (Tom Selleck) dead. This is because a "friend" who has been impersonating Magnum has taken it upon himself to blackmail one of the crime bosses. Needless to say, this turn of events seriously compromises Magnum's efforts to get a pilot's license--and the consequences are even worse for his pal T.C. (Roger E. Mosley)! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
