Magnum Mania!

Hi All,

I grew up in the 70s and 80s and I was a big fan of both Magnum and Simon & Simon. I watched both during their run and lot of Magnum concurrently in syndication. Really, those shows were the last two shows I ever watched with any regularity.

Turn the clock forward to COVID and I revisited Magnum via DVD and Amazon prime watching all 162 episodes sequentially over a year and a half or so. I really enjoyed that and introduced my daughter to Magnum all these years later.

Now, I'm going to do the same for Simon & Simon. With direct inspiration taken from Magnum Mania! user ENSHealy's Magnumometer, I've decided to do Simonometer for each episode:

Famous Guest Stars:
Key Supporting Characters:
Contacts:
Rick's Hats:
A.J. Playing Sports:
Disguises [actual costumes, not just personas]:
Gadgets:
Gun Play [shots actually fired]:
Body Count [killed by Simons]:
Bullet Wounds [taken by Simons]:
Mexico Trips:
Brothers' Squabbles:
Total:

Season 1 Episode 1 Details at 11
Famous Guest Stars: 1 Peter Graves
Key Supporting Characters: 3 Janet, Myron, Cecilia
Contacts: 1 Enrique (helps cross Mexican border)
Rick's Hats: 2
A.J. Playing Sports:
Disguises [actual costumes, not just personas]:
Gadgets: 1.5 Lock pick gadget + hidden camera (I'll give camera 0.5)
Gun Play [shots actually fired]: 1 shooting at library
Body Count [killed by Simons]: 0
Bullet Wounds [taken by Simons]: 0
Simon Mexico Trips: 2
Brothers' Squabbles: 1
Total: 12.5

Season 1 Episode 2 Love, Christy
Famous Guest Stars: 0
Key Supporting Characters: 3 Janet, Myron, Cecilia
Contacts: 1 Manuel (Mexican chop shop operator)
Rick's Hats: 1
A.J. Playing Sports: 2 Hang gliding, Skateboarding (I know, it's a stretch)
Disguises [actual costumes, not just personas]: 1 A.J. as stock broker
Gadgets:
Gun Play [zhots actually fired]: 0
Body Count [killed by Simons]: 0
Bullet Wounds [taken by Simons]: 0
Simon Mexico Trips: 2
Brothers' Squabbles: 1
Total: 10.0

Magnum Simon P.I. wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2024 12:14 am Hi All,

I grew up in the 70s and 80s and I was a big fan of both Magnum and Simon & Simon. I watched both during their run and lot of Magnum concurrently in syndication. Really, those shows were the last two shows I ever watched with any regularity.

Turn the clock forward to COVID and I revisited Magnum via DVD and Amazon prime watching all 162 episodes sequentially over a year and a half or so. I really enjoyed that and introduced my daughter to Magnum all these years later.

Now, I'm going to do the same for Simon & Simon. With direct inspiration taken from Magnum Mania! user ENSHealy's Magnumometer, I've decided to do Simonometer for each episode:

Famous Guest Stars:
Key Supporting Characters:
Contacts:
Rick's Hats:
A.J. Playing Sports:
Disguises [actual costumes, not just personas]:
Gadgets:
Gun Play [guns actually fired]:
Body Count [killed by Simons]:
Bullet Wounds [taken by Simons]:
Mexico Trips:
Brothers' Squabbles:
Total:

Well done and may I say, on my behalf at least, welcome to Magnum Mania. I am a big fan of Simon and Simon as well, but for the life of me I can't fathom why it isn't rerun more
often. Its been years since I have seen an episode. Do you know the reason, is there some legal problem? Heck, it was well made, good writing and fine actors, and unlike Magnum
both of it's theme songs were first rate.

Luther's nephew Dobie wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2024 6:29 am

Magnum Simon P.I. wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2024 12:14 am Hi All,

I grew up in the 70s and 80s and I was a big fan of both Magnum and Simon & Simon. I watched both during their run and lot of Magnum concurrently in syndication. Really, those shows were the last two shows I ever watched with any regularity.

Turn the clock forward to COVID and I revisited Magnum via DVD and Amazon prime watching all 162 episodes sequentially over a year and a half or so. I really enjoyed that and introduced my daughter to Magnum all these years later.

Now, I'm going to do the same for Simon & Simon. With direct inspiration taken from Magnum Mania! user ENSHealy's Magnumometer, I've decided to do Simonometer for each episode:

Famous Guest Stars:
Key Supporting Characters:
Contacts:
Rick's Hats:
A.J. Playing Sports:
Disguises [actual costumes, not just personas]:
Gadgets:
Gun Play [guns actually fired]:
Body Count [killed by Simons]:
Bullet Wounds [taken by Simons]:
Mexico Trips:
Brothers' Squabbles:
Total:

Well done and may I say, on my behalf at least, welcome to Magnum Mania. I am a big fan of Simon and Simon as well, but for the life of me I can't fathom why it isn't rerun more
often. Its been years since I have seen an episode. Do you know the reason, is there some legal problem? Heck, it was well made, good writing and fine actors, and unlike Magnum
both of it's theme songs were first rate.

I hope you’ve both seen the remake of the Simon and Simon opening done several years ago that included John Hamm???

If not, here it is:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nN1bmTI5qjg

Tks, Luther's Nephew Dobie. Not sure about any legal problems, etc. re: Simon & Simon's limited syndication. I think Magnum has a lot going for it in terms of Tom Selleck's star power and the Hawaii backdrop to keep it more "alive".

Re: the remake of the S&S opening, Pahonu, yes I've seen it. Great stuff!

Magnum Simon P.I. wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2024 5:30 pm Tks, Luther's Nephew Dobie. Not sure about any legal problems, etc. re: Simon & Simon's limited syndication. I think Magnum has a lot going for it in terms of Tom Selleck's star power and the Hawaii backdrop to keep it more "alive".

Re: the remake of the S&S opening, Pahonu, yes I've seen it. Great stuff!

Also, welcome to the forum!

Pahonu wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2024 4:39 pm

Luther's nephew Dobie wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2024 6:29 am

Magnum Simon P.I. wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2024 12:14 am Hi All,

I grew up in the 70s and 80s and I was a big fan of both Magnum and Simon & Simon. I watched both during their run and lot of Magnum concurrently in syndication. Really, those shows were the last two shows I ever watched with any regularity.

Turn the clock forward to COVID and I revisited Magnum via DVD and Amazon prime watching all 162 episodes sequentially over a year and a half or so. I really enjoyed that and introduced my daughter to Magnum all these years later.

Now, I'm going to do the same for Simon & Simon. With direct inspiration taken from Magnum Mania! user ENSHealy's Magnumometer, I've decided to do Simonometer for each episode:

Famous Guest Stars:
Key Supporting Characters:
Contacts:
Rick's Hats:
A.J. Playing Sports:
Disguises [actual costumes, not just personas]:
Gadgets:
Gun Play [guns actually fired]:
Body Count [killed by Simons]:
Bullet Wounds [taken by Simons]:
Mexico Trips:
Brothers' Squabbles:
Total:

Well done and may I say, on my behalf at least, welcome to Magnum Mania. I am a big fan of Simon and Simon as well, but for the life of me I can't fathom why it isn't rerun more
often. Its been years since I have seen an episode. Do you know the reason, is there some legal problem? Heck, it was well made, good writing and fine actors, and unlike Magnum
both of it's theme songs were first rate.

I hope you’ve both seen the remake of the Simon and Simon opening done several years ago that included John Hamm???
If not, here it is:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nN1bmTI5qjg

I never saw this remake of the opening before, thanks for sharing, it was fun.

Welcome to the forum!

"Love, Christy" with the lovely Liberty Godshall as Christy was my introduction to the series - way back in 1997. Don't remember much about it other than the Simon brothers both having the hots for Christy (who could blame them?) as they try to find who stole her Porsche I think it was. I also remember Henry Darrow was the baddie at the end and either A.J. or Rick being sent off a cliff in a hang glider to his impending doom. Oh, I also clearly remember at the time being almost dead certain that Christy was played by Heather Locklear. Later I discovered it was the much less known but equally beautiful Liberty Godshall, who incidentally guest starred on an episode of THE A-TEAM which also dealt with a chop shop operation - "Chopping Spree". Interesting note about Liberty - she's married to the fairly prominent movie director Edward Zwick, who directed such celebrated films as GLORY, LEGENDS OF THE FALL, THE LAST SAMURAI, BLOOD DIAMOND. They've been married since 1982 - good for them!!

Season 1 Episode 3 Trapdoors

One of my favorite episodes for sure. Great story line (and precursor to Wargames). As a D&D player bitd (and still now) I love the Angels & Demons stuff, the polyhedra dice, the tunnels. This episode is dripping with early 80s nostalgia in a good way. The bank vp is ruthless and so is AJ. When rick falls into the surf, AJ points the gun at the criminal and says, "You better pray he surfaces". This is the one of the few I remember quite a few things from originally seeing it.

Famous Guest Stars: 0
Key Supporting Characters: 3 Janet, Myron, Cecilia
Contacts: 0
Rick's Hats: 1
A.J. Playing Sports: 0
Disguises [actual costumes, not just personas]: 0
Gadgets: 1 Parabolic Microphone
Gun Play [shots actually fired]: 1 the bank mgr on the cliff
Body Count [killed by Simons]: 0
Bullet Wounds [taken by Simons]: 0
Simon Mexico Trips: 0
Brothers' Squabbles: 1
Total: 7.0

Season 1 Episode 4 A Recipe for Disaster

Another good episode, although a little hurt by a sometimes overly annoying girl. Cool use of a voice stress analzyer gadget. Rick very endearing to take the case, no more questions asked when he realized it was to get a girl back to the mother. Very good helicopter v. Simons in the convertible action scene.

Famous Guest Stars: 0
Key Supporting Characters: 3 Janet, Myron, Cecilia
Contacts: 0
Rick's Hats: 1
A.J. Playing Sports: 0.5 (we see A.J. coming back from a tennis match)
Disguises [actual costumes, not just personas]: 0
Gadgets: 1 Voice Stress Analyzer
Gun Play [shots actually fired]: 1 helicopter v. Simons in car
Body Count [killed by Simons]: 0
Bullet Wounds [taken by Simons]: 0 (although Rick takes a fall and cracks a rib)
Simon Mexico Trips: 1
Brothers' Squabbles: 3
Total: 10.5

Season 1 Episode 5 The Least Dangerous Game

First trip the the San Diego Zoo. Good, ruthless bad guy. Early integrity of the brothers not to be used as pawns by their client.

Famous Guest Stars: 0.5 (future Jameson Parker wife Darleen Carr)
Key Supporting Characters: 3 Janet, Myron, Cecilia
Contacts: 0
Rick's Hats: 1
A.J. Playing Sports: 1 (basketball with Rick)
Disguises [actual costumes, not just personas]: 2 AJ undercover as zoo tour guide, Rick as zoo animal worker
Gadgets: 0.5 (A.J. repairing answering machine)
Gun Play [shots actually fired]: 1 zoo henchman fires tranquilizer gun
Body Count [killed by Simons]: 0
Bullet Wounds [taken by Simons]: 1 A.J. shot with tranquilizer
Simon Mexico Trips: 0
Brothers' Squabbles: 0
Total: 10.0

Magnum Simon P.I. wrote: ↑Sat Nov 30, 2024 5:50 am Season 1 Episode 5 The Least Dangerous Game

First trip the the San Diego Zoo. Good, ruthless bad guy. Early integrity of the brothers not to be used as pawns by their client.

Famous Guest Stars: 0.5 (future Jameson Parker wife Darleen Carr)
Key Supporting Characters: 3 Janet, Myron, Cecilia
Contacts: 0
Rick's Hats: 1
A.J. Playing Sports: 1 (basketball with Rick)
Disguises [actual costumes, not just personas]: 2 AJ undercover as zoo tour guide, Rick as zoo animal worker
Gadgets: 0.5 (A.J. repairing answering machine)
Gun Play [shots actually fired]: 1 zoo henchman fires tranquilizer gun
Body Count [killed by Simons]: 0
Bullet Wounds [taken by Simons]: 1 A.J. shot with tranquilizer
Simon Mexico Trips: 0
Brothers' Squabbles: 0
Total: 10.0

Thank you for sharing this. Perhaps - just a suggestion - if you run across a good/witty/poignant line of dialog you could include that as well. Keep up the good work.

[Rick & A.J. are trying to talk Town into letting them look at a car in the police impound]
Rick Simon: Town, now this assignment you got, it's probably gonna be very tiring, right? And you could use a rest... well we're gonna be doing a big celebration when this is all over,
y'know, we're gonna do a kind of a blow-out weekend over in Vegas... why don't you kinda tag along with us, y'know, we'll comp you to the Robert Goulet show... it'll be great.
Lt. M.P. 'Downtown' Brown: Robert Goulet? If you're gonna bribe me, at least make it interesting. I'll give you half an hour.
Rick Simon: Barry Manilow.
Lt. M.P. 'Downtown' Brown: 20 minutes.
A.J. Simon: Uh... Wayne Newton!
Lt. M.P. 'Downtown' Brown: 10 minutes.

Season 1 Episode 6 The Dead Letter File

The first of many old time/nostalgic episodes, as the murder occurred decades earlier. Janet stays one step ahead of Rick and A.J. in this one, never going on vacation, and instrumental in moving the case forward.

Famous Guest Stars: 0
Key Supporting Characters: 3 Janet, Myron, Cecilia
Contacts: 1 Officer Matt (AJ's racquetball partner, slowly reads AJ his rights to allow Rick to find gun in fireplace)
Rick's Hats: 1
A.J. Playing Sports: 0
Disguises [actual costumes, not just personas]: 2 AJ as mariachi player, Rick as mariachi player
Gadgets: 0
Gun Play [shots actually fired]: 0
Body Count [killed by Simons]: 0
Bullet Wounds [taken by Simons]: 0
Simon Mexico Trips: 0
Brothers' Squabbles: 0
Total: 7.0

Season 1 Episode 6 The Hottest Ticket In Town

Fast paced episode. Starts out with a bang as a nervous guy shoots a guy in cold blood for some fake concert ticket. Three groups, including the Simons, triangulate to get the tickets. Great addition of a musical hearthrob character and a cool scene with Rick saving a guy and fighting another on the catwalk. Lot of fisticuffs in this one, too.

Famous Guest Stars: 0.5 (Joey Travolta who plays a Rick Springfield type character pretty well)
Key Supporting Characters: 3 Janet, Myron, Cecilia
Contacts: 0
Rick's Hats: 1
A.J. Playing Sports: 0
Disguises [actual costumes, not just personas]: 0
Gadgets: 0
Gun Play [shots actually fired]: 2 (killing in opening scene, Rick fires warning shots at goon on catwalk)
Body Count [killed by Simons]: 0
Bullet Wounds [taken by Simons]: 0
Simon Mexico Trips: 0
Brothers' Squabbles: 1
Total: 7.5