The Best Show Ever

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308GTS · #1 Post by **308GTS** » Sat May 23, 2009 5:50 pm

After watching the entire series (for the 3rd time in 3 years) I'd have to conclude, for me at least that MPI was the best all round show ever on TV.

Before the advent of DVD's, I had around 20-25 shows taped on VHS tapes dating back to 1981...! when the show was first aired on TV here in the UK. I'd watched some of those episodes, especially Memories Are Forever, Italian Ice, Operation Slient night and at least another 4-5 at least 20 times. From the word go, I was hooked on the show for all the reasons that we've all stated on this site so many times.

Why am I making this statement. Well, I really don't know, perhaps after this most recent viewing I've come to appreciate the show more than ever, despite the fact that some other shows were more popular or better scripted, case in point, The Rockford Files was pure TV heaven, Colombo was and remains arguably the greatest detective TV show, Kojak was great, Starsky & Hutch was addictive because of the chemistry of it's two stars, Hill Street Blues was just fantastic quality TV and so on and on but it's this show that will always hold a special place for me. I grew up with the show from leaving college to starting work and serious relationships, and so many up's and downs back in the 80's.

For me, my Magnum DVD collection is priceless. Can't wait to start all over again with Season 1...soon.

#2 Post by **ConchRepublican** » Sun May 24, 2009 2:22 am

I concur!

#3 Post by **J.J. Walters** » Sun May 24, 2009 4:15 pm

Hear, hear!

lutherhgillis · #4 Post by **lutherhgillis** » Sun May 24, 2009 5:28 pm

There's no other show that I watch regularly on DVD and there is no other series that I own on DVD so I suppose I agree!

N1095A · #5 Post by **N1095A** » Sun May 24, 2009 7:50 pm

Ditto. MPI is the only series I own on DVD. I liked a lot of shows in my time, Northern Exposure Comes to mind mainly because I had such a crush on Janine Turner back in my early 20s

, but so far MPI is the only series that never went stupid like N.E. or MacGyver (which became almost unwatchable in it's last few seasons). MPI never jumped the shark, always stayed true to it's original concept, and delivered first rate quality entertainment across the whole run of the series. Sure there were some far fetched episodes, but they were also very believable. The greatest TV show ever? I agree 100%.

308GTS · #6 Post by **308GTS** » Sun May 24, 2009 11:04 pm

Actually, I have to confess to owning the entire 4 seasons of Starsky & Hutch. As a teenager this was my favourite show. Also, in one of the episodes of S&H, can't remember which one there were 3 recurring characters from MPI in one episode! Luther Gillis being one of them, I'll look it out and post some screenies. I am contemplating getting the entire series of Rockford, simply because the show was so good. James Garner was truly excellent in that role and much like MPI many of the recurring characters were solid too, such as Angel, Dennis and of course Rocky. A great, great show but right now the DVD's are still pretty expensive so it'll have to wait.

N1095A, I gotta agree about Northern Exposure, another superb show. Rob Morrow and Janine Turner were brilliant. I have the 1st season on DVD and am considering the 2nd at some point. Excellent stuff from the 90's. There were so many good shows and I'd need to be a millionaire to be able to buy them all. Remember Petrocelli? that was another hugely enjoyable show, I really like Barry Newman. Harry-O was excellent too. Mannix, Baretta, Simon and Simon, The Fall Guy, Taxi, Barney Miller, Kate and Allie...Just Kidding)...geez the list goes on and on.

I know it sounds cliched, but they really don't make like that anymore.

lutherhgillis · #7 Post by **lutherhgillis** » Mon May 25, 2009 1:03 am

N and 308,

I also enjoyed Rockford and Northern Exposure. Rockford stayed true throughout and NE almost made it. It got really silly at the end and the finale episode is bonkers. If I were to buy other series on DVD, it would be Rockford and NE.

I also loved Hawaii 5-0 but not enough to buy it on DVD. Anyone else like the Beverly Hillbillies? It's stupid funny but I have to admit that I like it...

N1095A · #8 Post by **N1095A** » Mon May 25, 2009 1:14 am

lutherhgillis Believe it or not, I've never seen a single episode of H50, although I have seen the clips posted here. I did loose interest in N.E. after the new doctor arrived. Funny how Rob Morrow thought his career would take off if he could only get out of his contract. i understand how important Rockford was to MPI, but for the life of me, I just can't get into it as much. I enjoy watching it from time to time, but I couldn't see myself sitting down to watch 3,4,5, episodes in a row. Interesting, I've noticed the parking lot where Rockford kept his trailer, and more so, the resturant across the lot where he got his tacos in a lot of tv shows.
308GTS Interesting you mention Petrocelli, that's the first tv show I can remember watching, although I couldn't describe an episode now, I do remember the pickup truck, and his building a house in the desert. I believe Susan Howard was his wife in the show. I'm thinking that must have been around 1973-1974.

Frodoleader · #9 Post by **Frodoleader** » Mon May 25, 2009 9:27 pm

Ditto to all comments. MPI is the only TV show we have the entire set of episodes for. We have a mixture of Star Trek episodes, but have no desire to own any others.

308GTS · #10 Post by **308GTS** » Mon May 25, 2009 9:54 pm

Petrocelli was based in a fictional place called San Remo (actually Tucson) and yes he did live with his wife, the lovely Susan Howard in a trailer. They never actually got to finish off the house he was building. Great show, Barry Newman is a such a wonderful actor but it never really took off so presumably that's why it was cancelled after the 2nd season. It was quite popular here around 1977-78 if my memory serves me well. I'm hoping that it might get a DVD release one day.

Jaybird · #11 Post by **Jaybird** » Wed May 27, 2009 1:08 am

I'll join the crowd. MPI is the only series I own on DVD. It was, without a doubt, the best series on TV although Star Trek fanatics would disagree.
I would love to see a 2 hour reunion episode. I find it interesting that with all the "nostalgia" going on, bands, etc., that a reunion episode hasn't been done.
Look how many people return to Hawaii for a vacation year after year. I don't even bother with anywhere else. Heck! Rock bands from the 60's and 70's are still going strong. TV has become a veritable wasteland of reality TV and game shows and, gasp! "news entertainment" and political
commentary. It would be refreshing to see the gang again, 20 years later!

IKnowWhatYoureThinking · Wed May 27, 2009 3:10 pm

I agree! I never tire of watching Magnum, and it seems like the show is still very fresh no matter how many times I have seen the episode!

Waltstasz · #13 Post by **Waltstasz** » Wed May 27, 2009 3:29 pm

I doubt you'll get many people disagreeing with you on a Magnum fan site, but anyway...

l have to agree as well!!

For me, Magnum is the only 80s show that still holds up. Most of the stuff I liked then is unwatchable now (for the sake of niceness and not humiliating myself, I'll decline to mention specific shows

). People who have never seen Magnum before enjoy the show when I put in the DVDs.

The only other shows that I like as much are Lost and Firefly. Lost isn't finished yet and how the show ends will have a big impact on it's repeat viewability (is that a word?) for me. Firefly was like a spark of greatness that never had a chance to ignite. But to that point, it was only one season...

Sure, Magnum has some bad episodes, but overall it has a very high percentage of great writing, interesting characters, social/political commentary, action, comedy and hot babes. It is the best ever!!

308GTS · #14 Post by **308GTS** » Wed May 27, 2009 4:40 pm

Waltstasz wrote:I doubt you'll get many people disagreeing with you on a Magnum fan site, but anyway...

l have to agree as well!!

For me, Magnum is the only 80s show that still holds up. Most of the stuff I liked then is unwatchable now (for the sake of niceness and not humiliating myself, I'll decline to mention specific shows ). People who have never seen Magnum before enjoy the show when I put in the DVDs.

The only other shows that I like as much are Lost and Firefly. Lost isn't finished yet and how the show ends will have a big impact on it's repeat viewability (is that a word?) for me. Firefly was like a spark of greatness that never had a chance to ignite. But to that point, it was only one season...

Sure, Magnum has some bad episodes, but overall it has a very high percentage of great writing, interesting characters, social/political commentary, action, comedy and hot babes. It is the best ever!!

Regarding 80's shows, well say no more. On repeat viewings the A-Team looks incredibly bad, not to mention unrealistic. I mean, honestly, they shoot everyone to pieces, blow up jeeps and yet the baddies walk away unscathed. Miami Vice is another prime example of the excess of the 80's. It's so serious all of the time and Crockett drives around in a $200,000.00 Ferrari that's supposedly on loan from the Miami PD...! and he wears $1000.00 Hugo Boss suits, all for undercover work...?

Simon and Simon was a good 80's show, I also liked Spenser For Hire, mainly because Robert Urich was so cool, RIP. He was also good in Vegas. Moonlighting was good too, mainly because of Mr Willis. Chips was entertaining especially when Jon and Ponch went disco dancing at the end of some of the episodes...!!!

Yes, I know our hero drives around in a 308GTS but it's owned by Robin or Higgins.

zebra3 · #15 Post by **zebra3** » Fri Nov 12, 2010 6:12 pm

308GTS wrote:Actually, I have to confess to owning the entire 4 seasons of Starsky & Hutch. As a teenager this was my favourite show. Also, in one of the episodes of S&H, can't remember which one there were 3 recurring characters from MPI in one episode! Luther Gillis being one of them, I'll look it out and post some screenies.

Having seen each episode a few times I need to know where this was.