This is one I've always liked. It's a good episode, and it's also a clear window into the 1980s. I had a friend over to watch the ep last night, and we kept asking "Hey, how did he know that?" or "Why did he do that"?
How did David Banister get the bike Magnum rode in the Ironman in Beauty Knows No Pain? He must have snuck on to the estate at some point!
I always found it a reach that Kate Sullivan's career was hurt because she had an obvious war injury. Isn't that the kind of thing that enhances a journalistic career? She's also a little too defensive about not needing help and doing things herself. She even snaps at Thomas for offering to get her coffee.
And I was disappointed in Thomas for not correcting Russler when he dropped a "P.I." on him. I guess he was too angry with Kate to notice the slight.
My girlfriend noticed that Thomas has a hole in the crotch of his jeans that you can see just after he shoots the nun that works on Sunday. So...we know what she was checking out during the crucial scene!
Ensign Healy
Research Assistant
The Institute for Advanced Magnum, P.I. Studies
ENSHealy wrote: ↑Sat Jan 08, 2022 11:37 pm
My girlfriend noticed that Thomas has a hole in the crotch of his jeans that you can see just after he shoots the nun that works on Sunday. So...we know what she was checking out during the crucial scene!
That is absolutely hilarious. Nice catch to your girlfriend. @Conch, you will have to add that to the notes section of the Episode guide...or is that a flub? Or a recurring character?
I still haven't had time to watch this one. Heavy workload, unfortunately. I'll have to set aside some catchup time!
"How fiendishly deceptive of you Magnum. I could have sworn I was hearing the emasculation of a large rodent."
[CBS 8:00] Magnum, P.I. Computer Date
Season 2, episode 13
With Charles Aidman (James Randolph), Nancy DeCarl (Claudia Randolph), Edward Bell (J. Weston Reese), Wayne Ward (Dixon), Olga Marr (Lady Ashley), Douglas Mossman (Kaapa).
While investigating a case of corporate computer espionage, Magnum is hired by one of the company's presidents, who suspects that his wife is having an affair.
Knocking my rubber chicken or my sloppy habits is within the rules, but you're attacking my character. I would like to think you don't mean that.
I understand that Computer Date isn’t the best in terms of plot, but it has some really great elements that make it a stand out episode.
Magnum wearing his suit with blue jeans was way ahead of its time. The addition of that tie with the squared off tip (Pahonu must know the name of such ties) is so of the era it really pulls you into history.
The secondary plot with Higgins determined to whip himself into shape with Magnums guidance is absolute classic Magnum PI. It marks another important evolution in the Magnum/Higgins relationship.
There’s something I also like about the computer-based plot line. Like the suit and jeans and squared tie, the computer theme with Mac playing the resident whiz speaks to the early 80s bump in computer themed shows and plot lines (Whiz Kids, Cloak and Dagger, the nerdy guy on Riptide, Revenge of the Nerds…).
Maybe it was clumsily executed, but Magnum’s moral dilemma over his sense of professionalism and loyalty to his buddy shows a side of Magnum we’re not entirely aware of. Clearly he takes his profession seriously if he won’t let in to his buddy that his girlfriend’s husband is on to him. Maybe it’s not realistic but interesting nevertheless. They hinted at this affair having a new short encounters but they don’t say whether he actually sleeps with her. Thoughts?
And let’s not forget TC’s memorable expletive: “Fooey!” How is there not a gif of that??
"How fiendishly deceptive of you Magnum. I could have sworn I was hearing the emasculation of a large rodent."
So if I'm to understand this correctly, the Randolphs:
1. Knew Rick was a friend of Magnum's.
2. Had Claudia start an "affair" with Rick.
3. Hired Magnum to find the spy.
4. Asked Magnum to look into Claudia's affair as a way of distracting him from the investigation, so he doesn't find the embezzling, but only the spy?
That's a whopper. (Presumably the board knew about the spy, so Randolph had no choice but to hire someone to look into that?)
Always fun when Mac is in an episode, and of course the Higgins training sequences are legendary, but I'm not a fun of episodes where Rick is a gullible, over-reacting dunce. But I suppose subtlety of character is not one of 80s TV's strengths, at least for the sidekicks? But it seems like they take Rick over the top too many times.
Also, why not just hire a middle aged actress, rather than load up Lady Ashley with enough makeup to paint the Prince Albert Memorial?
Great ending though, with JQH lighting up.
As usual, it's a mix of the OK, the silly, and just enough classic moments to hold it all together.
Ensign Healy
Research Assistant
The Institute for Advanced Magnum, P.I. Studies
Styles Bitchley wrote: ↑Sat Jan 15, 2022 3:32 pm
I understand that Computer Date isn’t the best in terms of plot, but it has some really great elements that make it a stand out episode.
Magnum wearing his suit with blue jeans was way ahead of its time. The addition of that tie with the squared off tip (Pahonu must know the name of such ties) is so of the era it really pulls you into history.
The secondary plot with Higgins determined to whip himself into shape with Magnums guidance is absolute classic Magnum PI. It marks another important evolution in the Magnum/Higgins relationship.
There’s something I also like about the computer-based plot line. Like the suit and jeans and squared tie, the computer theme with Mac playing the resident whiz speaks to the early 80s bump in computer themed shows and plot lines (Whiz Kids, Cloak and Dagger, the nerdy guy on Riptide, Revenge of the Nerds…).
Maybe it was clumsily executed, but Magnum’s moral dilemma over his sense of professionalism and loyalty to his buddy shows a side of Magnum we’re not entirely aware of. Clearly he takes his profession seriously if he won’t let in to his buddy that his girlfriend’s husband is on to him. Maybe it’s not realistic but interesting nevertheless. They hinted at this affair having a new short encounters but they don’t say whether he actually sleeps with her. Thoughts?
And let’s not forget TC’s memorable expletive: “Fooey!” How is there not a gif of that??
Hey Styles,
Cloak and Dagger, Whiz Kids, and Boz on Riptide are all great references! I watched them all. The character was Murray Bozinski and his robot was the Roboz. I actually went aboard the Riptide many years ago when it was tied up on the long dock at the Marina I live in. I think I mentioned it here before. It’s currently in the Puget Sound area.
All I know about that style of tie is that it’s called a knit tie. They were quite popular in the early 80’s. I wore one a few times in middle school. Because of the knit pattern, they are not tapered, being parallel on each side, and the bottom is square for the same reason. They are considered less formal than a traditional tapered and pointed silk tie, so they would actually be more appropriate with jeans, though that was a new thing during the series original run. I think Alex P. Keaton from Family Ties wore them.
Pahonu wrote: ↑Sat Jan 15, 2022 5:15 pm
Hey Styles,
Cloak and Dagger, Whiz Kids, and Boz on Riptide are all great references! I watched them all. The character was Murray Bozinski and his robot was the Roboz. I actually went aboard the Riptide many years ago when it was tied up on the long dock at the Marina I live in. I think I mentioned it here before. It’s currently in the Puget Sound area.
All I know about that style of tie is that it’s called a knit tie. They were quite popular in the early 80’s. I wore one a few times in middle school. Because of the knit pattern, they are not tapered, being parallel on each side, and the bottom is square for the same reason. They are considered less formal than a traditional tapered and pointed silk tie, so they would actually be more appropriate with jeans, though that was a new thing during the series original run. I think Alex P. Keaton from Family Ties wore them.
"How fiendishly deceptive of you Magnum. I could have sworn I was hearing the emasculation of a large rodent."
Pahonu wrote: ↑Sat Jan 15, 2022 5:15 pm
Hey Styles,
Cloak and Dagger, Whiz Kids, and Boz on Riptide are all great references! I watched them all. The character was Murray Bozinski and his robot was the Roboz. I actually went aboard the Riptide many years ago when it was tied up on the long dock at the Marina I live in. I think I mentioned it here before. It’s currently in the Puget Sound area.
All I know about that style of tie is that it’s called a knit tie. They were quite popular in the early 80’s. I wore one a few times in middle school. Because of the knit pattern, they are not tapered, being parallel on each side, and the bottom is square for the same reason. They are considered less formal than a traditional tapered and pointed silk tie, so they would actually be more appropriate with jeans, though that was a new thing during the series original run. I think Alex P. Keaton from Family Ties wore them.