Magnum Mania!

Magnum on Ice

(Murder, She Wrote Crossover Episode)

Episode Number: 3.8 (Murder, She Wrote)
Air Date: 11/23/1986
Writer: Robert Swanson
Director: Peter Crane
Producer: Robert F. O'Neill
Exec Producer: Peter S. Fischer

Main Cast

Angela Lansbury (Jessica Fletcher)

Guest Stars

Tom Selleck (Thomas Magnum), John Hillerman (Jonathan Higgins), Jessica Walter (Joan Fulton), Dorothy Loudon (Pamela Bates), Ramon Bieri (Capt. Frank Browning), Kwan Hi Lim (Lt. Tanaka), John McMartin (Jason Bryan), Andrew Prine (Victor Salyer), Jared Martin (Arthur Houston), Rhonda Aldrich (Maid), Harry Endo (Desk Clerk)

Plot Outline

Magnum has been arrested for murder and it's up to super sleuth Jessica Fletcher to prove his innocence and find the real killer before it's too late.

Rating

8.0 (8 votes) MM Episode Forum Thread & Poll

Notes

1 This Murder, She Wrote (1984-1996) episode continues the storyline that began in the Magnum P.I. episode "Novel Connection" (7.9). As with the Simon & Simon crossover story in 1982, there are two different versions of the Magnum episode (which started off the storylines in both cases) -- the original broadcast version and the syndication version. The original broadcast version ends with a cliffhanger, then continues on with the Murder, She Wrote episode. The syndication version has a different ending which wraps up the story in one episode (so the Murder, She Wrote episode doesn't have to be viewed in syndication).

2 "Magnum on Ice" opens with a recap of the events seen in "Novel Connection". Angela Lansbury (Jessica Fletcher) has the following narration:

"Previously on Magnum P.I.... Jonathan Higgins had met three ladies at the airport - Joan Fulton, her secretary Amy Salyer, and an old friend of mine Pamela Bates. A man following Amy was spotted by a private investigator Thomas Magnum. Joan's husband had died three months ago and left her with a business to run. There had been some misunderstanding. Mr. Magnum was convinced Mayfield had a contract to kill one of the ladies. Apparently, he was right. We all heard two shots, but Mr. Mayfield was found shot in the back and unarmed..."

3 The guest stars are listed in alphabetical order, sans Tom Selleck and John Hillerman who are billed last as 'Special Guest Stars'.

4 The Complete Seventh Season DVD features a six-minute mini-documentary on the MPI-Murder, She Wrote crossover story called "Inside the Ultimate Crime Crossover" (Disc 2). It features commentary from Angela Lansbury, Robert Swanson (MSW executive producer), Chas. Floyd Johnson (MPI producer) and Jay Huguely (MPI producer/writer).

5 The historic Royal Hawaiian Hotel (the "Pink Palace of the Pacific") is used extensively in this episode as a filming location. The end credits credit the hotel for "Production Assistance".

6 Jason Bryan's house (where the shooting takes place) is located in Kahala, on Kahala Avenue [map]. (Noted by rubber chicken)

7 Magnum mentions Dashiell Hammett, again.

8 Higgins, in a rare sight, gets into a one-on-one fight (with Victor Salyer) ... and holds his own! [pic]

Quotes

1
Magnum: Murder One? Come on Lieutenant, he shot at me first.
Tanaka: With what Magnum? He was unnarmed and he was shot in the back.
Magnum: You think I did it?
Tanaka: I think you should stop showing up at murder sites.

2
Higgins: Make another move at your own peril, Salyer. Hi-Ya!
(unleash "Karate Chop of Doom"!)

3
Magnum: So, Jessica. What do you say we make a deal? If you don't take out a private investigator's license...
Jessica Fletcher: Yes.
Magnum: I won't buy a typewriter.
Jessica Fletcher: Deal!
(Magnum and Jessica slap hands and smile ... roll end credits)

Flubs

1 In the final scene at the hotel, while Jessica is speaking to Joan Fulton (before Magnum appears on the window sill), a boom operator is visible for several seconds on the left side of the screen, in a mirror. (Noted by higgybaby1)

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