What to watch next

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

I would suggest JAG because it's Bellasario's second best show. You'll recognize a bunch of faces from Magnum and it has some similar themes. Some of it is available to stream on Paramount+, but if you want the whole thing you'll have to go the DVD route or it may still be running on the Heroes & Icons channel, if you get that.

I don't know about JAG. I could never really get into it. A bit on the dull side. Actually I think NCIS was an improvement on JAG. To me the two best from Bellisario were MAGNUM and AIRWOLF.

I never liked Airwolf. It was too silly for me. I still watch NCIS (the original only), but I've never thought it was as good as JAG. NCIS is just a procedural, JAG had more variety from episode to episode. There was mystery, court room drama, action, adventure, family drama, politics, and a little romance occasionally and all that Navy stuff is interesting! It had a few episodes that were dull, but what show doesn't? Plus, I've never gotten over Gibbs accusing Harm of murder in the back door pilot!

AIRWOLF, like KNIGHT RIDER or THE A-TEAM, is a high concept show which focuses on a particular "prop" (vehicles in all these cases) and follows a certain formula week to week. Lots of 80s show were like this and if you're a product of the 80s then this stuff was right up your alley. We don't have shows like this anymore which is why I don't watch modern TV. It's all so interchangeable and generic. JAG and NCIS sort of follow this pattern too. There's no hook there to reel you in. When that helicopter rose from behind the sand dunes in the AIRWOLF intro or you saw KITT coming out of the desert in that show's intro (accompanied by those wicked theme songs) you knew you wanted to stick around. But yet another modern-day CSI or NCIS iteration or yet another medical or courtroom drama and it's... yawnsville. For me, at least.

I guess MPI was kind of unique because it didn't really follow a particular formula like many 80s shows did and I don't think you could call it a "high concept" show - the Ferrari was a big draw but it wasn't tricked out with gadgets or anything. But the show still had that *something*. In any case vehicles still played a big part - from the Ferrari to TC's copter and more. Gotta love that about the 80s! That intro with the copter "falling" into the ocean is a great hook! They don't make 'em like that anymore.

[MagnumsLeftShoulder]

I agree that the helicopter was cool. I just think Jan Michael Vincent was a lousy actor. I like Borgnine, but he wasn't enough.

[SeamanWolfe]

Not sure if it is available, but I remember really liking tour of duty. It was a late 80s show about Vietnam (after platoon won an Oscar there was a need for a show about Vietnam). Anyone else remember this one and has anyone seen it this millennium to let me know if it holds up?

Sopranos or xfiles would both be good ones to rewatch. Cheers too, but you would need to do 2 episodes a day.

[Pahonu]

I agree that the helicopter was cool. I just think Jan Michael Vincent was a lousy actor. I like Borgnine, but he wasn't enough.

He was really struggling with alcoholism and other drugs at that point in his career, and had a tragic end a few years ago. Some of his earlier guest roles in TV were quite good, like Police Story. Big Wednesday was also a good performance.

Ernest Borgnine was fantastic. My wife randomly met him at a Costco of all places! I was a bit jealous if I’m completely honest. Marty was his breakthrough but there are so many others. I really enjoyed Pay or Die from 1960, Flight of the Phoenix, and of course, The Wild Bunch. He was the epitome of the working-man actor and of course he was great with “The Mags” and “Punky” in Mr. White Death.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

I agree that the helicopter was cool. I just think Jan Michael Vincent was a lousy actor. I like Borgnine, but he wasn't enough.

I have to disagree about Jan-Michael Vincent. He was a very good actor and as Strinfellow Hawke he was downright EXCELLENT! I can't imagine anyone else playing the brooding tortured loner and ace combat pilot as good as him. He fit the role like a glove, the way Selleck fit the Magnum role. Yes, it's true that alcohol and drugs took a toll on him pretty soon after the show took off (no pun intended). By season 3 he was really spiraling out of control - looking drunk, sleepy, slurring his lines in some of the episodes. Which is why the show was cancelled. Plus there were the high costs associated with filming all those aerials. But JMV's problems certainly were the primary factor, especially since he was the highest paid actor on TV at the time. Can't be paying all that money to a drunk/druggie who can't keep his composure during filming.

So if you judge his performance by what you see later in the show's run then I guess he can come across as a lousy actor. But if you look at season 1 or better yet check out the pilot episode - the man could really bring it emotionally! Watch any of the scenes between him and Gabrielle. Watch him after Gabrielle gets killed by Moffat (David Hemmings) I still get a lump in my throat every time. Or his obsession with finding his MIA brother "Sinjin". Or his distrust of Archangel and the FIRM. When he was on his game no one could do brooding as well as JMV!

Ernie Borgnine of course is a legend, both on film and TV as well as in real life. That laugh/cackle - priceless! When you look up the word "gregarious" I'm sure it has Ernie's picture there.