40th Anniversary Watch Party

[Mark de Croix]

Hey Mark,
Styles is correct about the producers intentionally introducing returning female characters. I
[...]

Good to know I've got girls coming my way. You point out well how TS was protective of the actors. He told about getting mentored in that regard from James Garner in a series with him.

I agree that TS was very considerate and even protective of the whole cast and crew. James Garner was known for this on The Rockford Files and Selleck did consider him a mentor. He seemed to have learned well. Selleck didn’t want to do an eighth season of MPI. He was exhausted after seven seasons being in about 80-90% of all scenes. I recall in an interview that he stated when he realized his singular decision to end the show would put over 100 people out of work, he decided to do a limited eighth season of the series.

Yeah, that's consideration plus and when life imitates art.

[Mark de Croix]

Styles, that's good feedback about the greenhouse 4th wall. Although a long time fan, I am actually (and happily) seeing many episodes for the first time. Since the first episode I've been curious about these 4th walls. Good to know this present one is one of the finest. (I felt it special myself.)

[...]

There are many fewer in seasons 4-6 than in season 1-3. Still working my way through Season 7…and then it will be onto Season 8.

ENSHealy, thanks for the welcome, the intel about the 4ths, and accepting my congratulations on your induction into the IAMS.

[Mark de Croix]

Illogic Award

Higgins says: "Please do not splash cheap rye whiskey on Mr. Masters' sofa."
[...]

Higgins has used the cheap rye whiskey phrase more than once. I think it’s simply meant to be a dig at TM in general, no matter where the whisky came from. It’s definitely not so today, but little over a decade ago rye whisky was often viewed as low class and the choice of drunks. There’s a pretty long history in Hollywood in that respect. Compared to Scotch or blended whiskies like Irish and Canadian, and even more developed Bourbon, I’m pretty sure Higgins is using it to imply low quality and status. It’s also a distinctly American spirit, and he never shies away from touting his British heritage. Higgins also referenced “tawdry divorce cases” more than once, in the same way I think, low class.

Edit:

Here’s an interesting article I just found on rye whiskey:

https://coolmaterial.com/food-drink/his ... e-whiskey/

Further to previous note, looking at the scene we can only see one decanter of spirits, no other vessel or container even on the end table next to Rick. All the possible scenarios are too strange socially speaking. So Higgins and Rick are drinking from the same decanter. By his words then, Higgins demeans himself as well. Of course I agree the disrespectful words fit with the Higgins character and adds humor, but because of the lapse of the studio production, illogical dialog results.

[Pahonu]

Hey, bro, thanks for the intel. I see the accent was on rye. Ah, ha, but how did it get into the mansion?? ? I don't think it would be the drink of choice by either Rick or TC and surely not TM. Absolutely not Higgins's.

It likely wasn’t even rye whisky in the glass, rather Higgins used the comment as a jab at Magnum. I believe it was in Flashback that Higgins accused Magnum of reeking of cheap rye whisky. He wouldn’t know what kind of alcohol he was smelling on his breath. I imagine connoisseurs can detect the malt in Scotch or other notes in various whiskies, but that’s the whisky itself. I don’t believe anyone can recognize anything other than the basic scent of alcohol on someone’s breath. Again, I think Higgins was simply criticizing TM.

[Mark de Croix]

If so, and that is a stretch, the script is still illogical. There are many ways in the same scene to convey what you claim is the purpose. That may be the purpose but the studio failed in not doing a top-notch job. The acting is superb by all three but the Prop Dept. and the Director failed miserably.

[Styles Bitchley]

Hey, bro, thanks for the intel. I see the accent was on rye. Ah, ha, but how did it get into the mansion?? ? I don't think it would be the drink of choice by either Rick or TC and surely not TM. Absolutely not Higgins's.

I think most people who enjoy nice whiskey keep a cheap bottle around for guests who have no palette or are big drinkers. I know I do!

[Mark de Croix]

Hey, bro, thanks for the intel. I see the accent was on rye. Ah, ha, but how did it get into the mansion?? ? I don't think it would be the drink of choice by either Rick or TC and surely not TM. Absolutely not Higgins's.

I think most people who enjoy nice whiskey keep a cheap bottle around for guests who have no palette or are big drinkers. I know I do!

Are you saying that "most [whiskey drinkers keep cheap whiskey in order to switch for guests who drink a lot of the good stuff]? And do you and others tell the guests for them the switch is made to cheap stuff?

[Pahonu]

Hey, bro, thanks for the intel. I see the accent was on rye. Ah, ha, but how did it get into the mansion?? ? I don't think it would be the drink of choice by either Rick or TC and surely not TM. Absolutely not Higgins's.

I think most people who enjoy nice whiskey keep a cheap bottle around for guests who have no palette or are big drinkers. I know I do!

LOL! My wife and her sister have a running joke about they’re grandma’s “guest gin”. It’s just as you explained but the joke began when she had no qualms about pulling out the bottle and making them a drink, AFTER telling them it was for that purpose! They bonded thereafter over only meriting the guest gin on visits to grandma.

[Styles Bitchley]

I wouldn’t tell someone it was good scotch and actually put them a J&B. I just keep the good stuff tucked away for people I know will know the difference. I mean, we’re talking 2x, 3x, even 4x the price. No sense in wasting it on someone intent on topping up their glass with Coca-Cola! And don’t spill that cheap stuff on my couch either…

[Mark de Croix]

I wouldn’t tell someone it was good scotch and actually put them a J&B. I just keep the good stuff tucked away for people I know will know the difference. I mean, we’re talking 2x, 3x, even 4x the price. No sense in wasting it on someone intent on topping up their glass with Coca-Cola! And don’t spill that cheap stuff on my couch either…

An honest man you are, Styles. Good for you. Isn't there kinda like a biblical story like this but serving guests wine? Probably most people don't tell the guest about the switch. I don't wanna spoil the party but this switching is unrelated to MPI here. Following yours and Pahonu's logic, Higgins made the switch with Rick. The problem is he's already told Rick. That's counter-intuitive.

Remember in a previous episode TM saved Higgin's life. There's a lot of tension between them but at the end of the day, Higgins greatly respects TM if not admires him though he will never admit it. Now at the time of TM's possible death, at least when TM's two best friends are mourning or brooding about him, do you think Higgins would be so callous as to disregard/disrespect their feelings and the memory of TM??? No, no, not even Higgins would do that. He is too well bred to disrespect even his enemies.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

I also liked how they used the scene of Thompson shooting actual pigeons to cue to the audience that this guy has a really dark side. This scene could have been out of a James Bond flick.

Yep, like in THUNDERBALL. Where Largo and Bond try to one up each other in a skeet shoot.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

I also read that Selleck auditioned for the role of Han Solo. He was one of an enormous list that included Al Pacino, Nick Nolte, Kurt Russell, Christopher Walken, and many others.

Pacino as Han Solo???!!! Why do I see images of a ranting and raving Han Solo running around yelling "ATTICA!!! ATTICA!!!"

Heck, why not cast Ahnuld Schwarzenegger as Mr. Rogers??? "Dees ees how we fold our paaants, yah. Now, who ees your da-dee and what does hee dooo?"

[Styles Bitchley]

I also read that Selleck auditioned for the role of Han Solo. He was one of an enormous list that included Al Pacino, Nick Nolte, Kurt Russell, Christopher Walken, and many others.

Pacino as Han Solo???!!! Why do I see images of a ranting and raving Han Solo running around yelling "ATTICA!!! ATTICA!!!"

Heck, why not cast Ahnuld Schwarzenegger as Mr. Rogers??? "Dees ees how we fold our paaants, yah. Now, who ees your da-dee and what does hee dooo?"

[charybdis1966]

I found this episode a bit mediocre and not an especially interesting story, but strangely I found myself thinking that TS and the guest star looked uncomfortable filming in the rough conditions of the deserted island.
Perhaps the camaraderie shown by Rick, Higgins and TC was noteworthy but this is not one I’ll revisit much.
Maybe because I’ve no interest in card playing the core of the story left me indifferent, particularly during to the gambling portion of the boat scenes.

The most bizarre thing about this episode is the "relationship" between TM and Jeannie, especially at the end! That's the one thing I can't get over. For the duration of the episode they can't stand each other's guts, then all of a sudden at the end TM runs out after her almost teary-eyed. Like she was his one true love. You'd think she was Michelle or something. Where did this come from? Did we miss an extra 30-45 minutes (at least) where this love was shown to be blossoming??? There's just no explanation for any of this. It's like someone took the end of another episode and attached it to this episode.

Absolutely - this new found romance came out of nowhere and followed the familiar TV trope of a couple who hate each other eventually (or all of a sudden in this instance) finding out they love each other.

Perr-lease !!

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

I found this episode a bit mediocre and not an especially interesting story, but strangely I found myself thinking that TS and the guest star looked uncomfortable filming in the rough conditions of the deserted island.
Perhaps the camaraderie shown by Rick, Higgins and TC was noteworthy but this is not one I’ll revisit much.
Maybe because I’ve no interest in card playing the core of the story left me indifferent, particularly during to the gambling portion of the boat scenes.

The most bizarre thing about this episode is the "relationship" between TM and Jeannie, especially at the end! That's the one thing I can't get over. For the duration of the episode they can't stand each other's guts, then all of a sudden at the end TM runs out after her almost teary-eyed. Like she was his one true love. You'd think she was Michelle or something. Where did this come from? Did we miss an extra 30-45 minutes (at least) where this love was shown to be blossoming??? There's just no explanation for any of this. It's like someone took the end of another episode and attached it to this episode.

Absolutely - this new found romance came out of nowhere and followed the familiar TV trope of a couple who hate each other eventually (or all of a sudden in this instance) finding out they love each other.

Perr-lease !!

Yep, plus I can never see Julie Sommars as anything but an "older" woman. She looks and sounds (something about her voice) like someone in her late 40s/early 50s. I think it's the years and years of watching her on MATLOCK, where she was the prosecutor often butting heads with Andy Griffith but who was also his "significant other". She may have been 16 years younger than him but she just had this natural "older" look to her which made their relationship believable.