40th Anniversary Watch Party

[Styles Bitchley]

We never had more than about 50-60 in my few years in television production. Those were long days. Typically a dozen or fewer was common, reused over and over in scene after scene. How do I remember the numbers? That’s one thing a lowly PA like myself was responsible for, keeping track of all the paperwork for the extras. The 2nd unit director often placed them in the scene and directed their actions. When there weren’t any extras to direct, the second unit would shoot fill in shots like you have described. They worked very quickly because they didn’t record sound.

Nice insider info, amigo! Would love to see more outtakes that capture some of this spirit on the set. There aren't a lot of those for Magnum.

[Pahonu]

We never had more than about 50-60 in my few years in television production. Those were long days. Typically a dozen or fewer was common, reused over and over in scene after scene. How do I remember the numbers? That’s one thing a lowly PA like myself was responsible for, keeping track of all the paperwork for the extras. The 2nd unit director often placed them in the scene and directed their actions. When there weren’t any extras to direct, the second unit would shoot fill in shots like you have described. They worked very quickly because they didn’t record sound.

Nice insider info, amigo! Would love to see more outtakes that capture some of this spirit on the set. There aren't a lot of those for Magnum.

I forgot to mention that we had lots of extras that worked on many episodes throughout the season. I got to know a few of them by name after seeing them so many times. I wasn’t surprised at all that Lady X and other extras have been spotted in several episodes of MPI. Every once in a while the director would ask an extra to say something in a scene, which was a big deal for them. It meant a bump from an extra voucher to a SAG scale rate, which was several hundred dollars more for the day back in the 90’s.

There were all kinds of rules for extra pay including what they call “bumps”. Appearing in a bathing suit gets a bump, changing wardrobe for different scenes, gets a bump. Getting wet or having a lot of makeup were others. There were a lot more. That doesn’t include calculating overtime. Time and a half after eight hours. Double time came after ten, and “golden time” or triple pay came after twelve hours. Golden time happened a few times a season and I didn’t complain about the extra money. I remember the producers going after the directors about the delay, because they didn’t plan for that long of a day. It also required a second meal from catering. $$$

I haven’t thought about some of this stuff in over 25 years!

[Styles Bitchley]

We never had more than about 50-60 in my few years in television production. Those were long days. Typically a dozen or fewer was common, reused over and over in scene after scene. How do I remember the numbers? That’s one thing a lowly PA like myself was responsible for, keeping track of all the paperwork for the extras. The 2nd unit director often placed them in the scene and directed their actions. When there weren’t any extras to direct, the second unit would shoot fill in shots like you have described. They worked very quickly because they didn’t record sound.

Nice insider info, amigo! Would love to see more outtakes that capture some of this spirit on the set. There aren't a lot of those for Magnum.

I forgot to mention that we had lots of extras that worked on many episodes throughout the season. I got to know a few of them by name after seeing them so many times. I wasn’t surprised at all that Lady X and other extras have been spotted in several episodes of MPI. Every once in a while the director would ask an extra to say something in a scene, which was a big deal for them. It meant a bump from an extra voucher to a SAG scale rate, which was several hundred dollars more for the day back in the 90’s.

There were all kinds of rules for extra pay including what they call “bumps”. Appearing in a bathing suit gets a bump, changing wardrobe for different scenes, gets a bump. Getting wet or having a lot of makeup were others. There were a lot more. That doesn’t include calculating overtime. Time and a half after eight hours. Double time came after ten, and “golden time” or triple pay came after twelve hours. Golden time happened a few times a season and I didn’t complain about the extra money. I remember the producers going after the directors about the delay, because they didn’t plan for that long of a day. It also required a second meal from catering. $$$

I haven’t thought about some of this stuff in over 25 years!

Sounds like a fun way to make a few extra bucks. Must be plenty of those opportunities out your way. I can see why they were willing to pay Lady X a few extra swim suit bucks. Although Magnum didn’t over do it with the bathing beauties. I watched a few episodes of Riptide a few years ago after watching it in the first run. I was surprised how many sexy girls in swimsuits there were. Like a Sports Illustrated swimsuit special!

[Pahonu]

We never had more than about 50-60 in my few years in television production. Those were long days. Typically a dozen or fewer was common, reused over and over in scene after scene. How do I remember the numbers? That’s one thing a lowly PA like myself was responsible for, keeping track of all the paperwork for the extras. The 2nd unit director often placed them in the scene and directed their actions. When there weren’t any extras to direct, the second unit would shoot fill in shots like you have described. They worked very quickly because they didn’t record sound.

Nice insider info, amigo! Would love to see more outtakes that capture some of this spirit on the set. There aren't a lot of those for Magnum.

I forgot to mention that we had lots of extras that worked on many episodes throughout the season. I got to know a few of them by name after seeing them so many times. I wasn’t surprised at all that Lady X and other extras have been spotted in several episodes of MPI. Every once in a while the director would ask an extra to say something in a scene, which was a big deal for them. It meant a bump from an extra voucher to a SAG scale rate, which was several hundred dollars more for the day back in the 90’s.

There were all kinds of rules for extra pay including what they call “bumps”. Appearing in a bathing suit gets a bump, changing wardrobe for different scenes, gets a bump. Getting wet or having a lot of makeup were others. There were a lot more. That doesn’t include calculating overtime. Time and a half after eight hours. Double time came after ten, and “golden time” or triple pay came after twelve hours. Golden time happened a few times a season and I didn’t complain about the extra money. I remember the producers going after the directors about the delay, because they didn’t plan for that long of a day. It also required a second meal from catering. $$$

I haven’t thought about some of this stuff in over 25 years!

Sounds like a fun way to make a few extra bucks. Must be plenty of those opportunities out your way. I can see why they were willing to pay Lady X a few extra swim suit bucks. Although Magnum didn’t over do it with the bathing beauties. I watched a few episodes of Riptide a few years ago after watching it in the first run. I was surprised how many sexy girls in swimsuits there were. Like a Sports Illustrated swimsuit special!

LOL! I can’t judge Styles. I worked on Baywatch! Lots of people locally pick up extra bucks doing it like you said. A lot of them are working toward other goals. In my circumstances, there were many models doing it. I remember some of them talking about their boob jobs and who had paid for it. Occasionally there were some college students who were also very attractive and willing to do it. I remember talking to one young woman who was reading from a Poe anthology during a meal break. She stood out to me for that alone. The women often didn’t eat the meals for obvious reasons, sadly. I’ll never forget that she wore a Texas flag bikini, and well , but she was studying literature at UCLA and really interesting to talk to. That was not the case usually.

I really liked Riptide when it first aired. I honestly think it inspired me to live at a marina. I wanted to live aboard too, but then I got married. I have some friends who do though. I actually bought the series DVD’s several years ago after seeing the yacht in our marina. I went to the visitor dock and met the owner who had restored the boat beautifully. It was an ELCO 54 and they were out of Wilmington. They’ve since moved to the Seattle area, but it was a pretty boat. He showed me around. There’s still a wooden boat club that cruises from Santa Barbara to San Diego each summer and stop in here mid-August each year. That’s what they were doing when I spotted it. Two of the club members have boats slipped in my marina. Anyway, here’s a shot of Riptide:

https://ibb.co/Ytk6P9m

Somewhere I have a shot right by my townhouse in my marina.

[Styles Bitchley]

Wow! The actual Riptide boat! Gotta revisit that one.

[Pahonu]

Wow! The actual Riptide boat! Gotta revisit that one.

The show is a lot of fun, and holds up reasonably well. If you like 80’s detective shows?

I found the photos from our marina. Our place is just out of frame to the left in the long shot.

https://ibb.co/Hzs8GvZ

The owner added the hard Bimini and new lettering on the stern, but otherwise it’s pretty similar outside. He said it was a wreck when he bought it years later out of San Pedro. King Harbor in Redondo Beach, is where they filmed the show. He did an incredible amount of work restoring her, as she’s all wood!

I had a friend who lived aboard in King Harbor in the late 90’s. It was a pretty fun place but that was long after the show filmed. My wife and I stayed at a hotel there about two years ago and it was in the middle of a major renovation and expansion. I kind of liked the old place, especially a small fresh seafood shop and restaurant called Captain Kidd’s. I’m curious how it all turned out.

Now that I think about it, I had another friend who lived aboard in San Pedro... with his wife! I don’t think I could have talked my wife into that, but I’m not complaining about living at the marina with my sailboat slipped here. I think the show just got me interested in living aboard, that and Miami Vice with Crockett living aboard an Endeavour.

[Styles Bitchley]

The show is a lot of fun, and holds up reasonably well. If you like 80’s detective shows?

I found the photos from our marina. Our place is just out of frame to the left in the long shot.

https://ibb.co/Hzs8GvZ

The owner added the hard Bimini and new lettering on the stern, but otherwise it’s pretty similar outside. He said it was a wreck when he bought it years later out of San Pedro. King Harbor in Redondo Beach, is where they filmed the show. He did an incredible amount of work restoring her, as she’s all wood!

I had a friend who lived aboard in King Harbor in the late 90’s. It was a pretty fun place but that was long after the show filmed. My wife and I stayed at a hotel there about two years ago and it was in the middle of a major renovation and expansion. I kind of liked the old place, especially a small fresh seafood shop and restaurant called Captain Kidd’s. I’m curious how it all turned out.

Now that I think about it, I had another friend who lived aboard in San Pedro... with his wife! I don’t think I could have talked my wife into that, but I’m not complaining about living at the marina with my sailboat slipped here. I think the show just got me interested in living aboard, that and Miami Vice with Crockett living aboard an Endeavour.

You're living the dream, amigo. I think the live aboard would get tired pretty fast, especially sharing the space with someone - or, like Crockett, an alligator. So I think being right in the marina with a boat nearby is ideal. Think I'm going to see if I can dig up some Riptide episodes now. Oh, and also prep for this week's 40th Anniversary episode: Don't Say Goodbye

I can't believe you were on Bay Watch. I would have found it impossible to concentrate on anything with those babes bouncing along the beach.

[Pahonu]

The show is a lot of fun, and holds up reasonably well. If you like 80’s detective shows?

I found the photos from our marina. Our place is just out of frame to the left in the long shot.

https://ibb.co/Hzs8GvZ

The owner added the hard Bimini and new lettering on the stern, but otherwise it’s pretty similar outside. He said it was a wreck when he bought it years later out of San Pedro. King Harbor in Redondo Beach, is where they filmed the show. He did an incredible amount of work restoring her, as she’s all wood!

I had a friend who lived aboard in King Harbor in the late 90’s. It was a pretty fun place but that was long after the show filmed. My wife and I stayed at a hotel there about two years ago and it was in the middle of a major renovation and expansion. I kind of liked the old place, especially a small fresh seafood shop and restaurant called Captain Kidd’s. I’m curious how it all turned out.

Now that I think about it, I had another friend who lived aboard in San Pedro... with his wife! I don’t think I could have talked my wife into that, but I’m not complaining about living at the marina with my sailboat slipped here. I think the show just got me interested in living aboard, that and Miami Vice with Crockett living aboard an Endeavour.

You're living the dream, amigo. I think the live aboard would get tired pretty fast, especially sharing the space with someone - or, like Crockett, an alligator. So I think being right in the marina with a boat nearby is ideal. Think I'm going to see if I can dig up some Riptide episodes now. Oh, and also prep for this week's 40th Anniversary episode: Don't Say Goodbye

I can't believe you were on Bay Watch. I would have found it impossible to concentrate on anything with those babes bouncing along the beach.

Honestly, production is pretty tedious work, with crazy hours. I turned down a contract for a third year and all my friends thought I was crazy. I went back and got a teaching credential and eventually my masters. I was young and it was an experience, but I don’t regret leaving at all.

Enjoy Riptide! The first season is the best by far, but even the third and final season is miles ahead of Baywatch!

[T.Q.]

March 26th, 1981

[CBS 8:00] Magnum, P.I. [Reg]: Don't Say Goodbye
Season 1, episode 15
W: T.J. Miles, Babs Greyhosky D: Winrich Kolbe

With Andrea Marcovicci (Amy Crane), Ted Danson (Stewart Crane), Mercedes McCambridge (Agatha Kimball), Wally Landford (Fat Jack), Kanani Choy (Eunice), Lawrence Rodrigues (Caretaker), Harry Chang (Doctor), James Reynolds (Frank La Rue), Shirley Rogers (Denise), Bobbi Dorsch (Girl).

Agatha Kimball, a wealthy blind woman, is being blackmailed by someone who has threatened her granddaughter, and she hires Magnum to deliver the payment.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

Too funny, T.Q.! Don't know how you do it!

[ConchRepublican]

The show is a lot of fun, and holds up reasonably well. If you like 80’s detective shows?

I found the photos from our marina. Our place is just out of frame to the left in the long shot.

https://ibb.co/Hzs8GvZ

The owner added the hard Bimini and new lettering on the stern, but otherwise it’s pretty similar outside. He said it was a wreck when he bought it years later out of San Pedro. King Harbor in Redondo Beach, is where they filmed the show. He did an incredible amount of work restoring her, as she’s all wood!

I had a friend who lived aboard in King Harbor in the late 90’s. It was a pretty fun place but that was long after the show filmed. My wife and I stayed at a hotel there about two years ago and it was in the middle of a major renovation and expansion. I kind of liked the old place, especially a small fresh seafood shop and restaurant called Captain Kidd’s. I’m curious how it all turned out.

Now that I think about it, I had another friend who lived aboard in San Pedro... with his wife! I don’t think I could have talked my wife into that, but I’m not complaining about living at the marina with my sailboat slipped here. I think the show just got me interested in living aboard, that and Miami Vice with Crockett living aboard an Endeavour.

You're living the dream, amigo. I think the live aboard would get tired pretty fast, especially sharing the space with someone - or, like Crockett, an alligator. So I think being right in the marina with a boat nearby is ideal. Think I'm going to see if I can dig up some Riptide episodes now. Oh, and also prep for this week's 40th Anniversary episode: Don't Say Goodbye

I can't believe you were on Bay Watch. I would have found it impossible to concentrate on anything with those babes bouncing along the beach.

Honestly, production is pretty tedious work, with crazy hours. I turned down a contract for a third year and all my friends thought I was crazy. I went back and got a teaching credential and eventually my masters. I was young and it was an experience, but I don’t regret leaving at all.

Enjoy Riptide! The first season is the best by far, but even the third and final season is miles ahead of Baywatch!

That's some great info, thanks for sharing Pahonu! That must have been some experience, I can see burning out on it if you're not "buying into the scene", and since the lit major caught your eye, I can tell "buying into the scene" wasn't your scene.

I also liked Riptide and have the first season on DVD but haven't gotten around to a rewatch yet. Heck, I can't keep up with our Anniversary Watch Party!

[Styles Bitchley]

That Danson gif is the best!

[ConchRepublican]

That Danson gif is the best!

Indeed! I need to update T.Q.'s rank to include GIF Master!

[Pahonu]

That Danson gif is the best!

Indeed! I need to update T.Q.'s rank to include GIF Master!

Agreed!

[Pahonu]

The odd thing for me about my experience is that it wasn’t long after MPI went off the air, about 5 years. It seems so long ago! I became very familiar with the process of filming an hour long drama. I’m sure many things have changed, like all the digital technology, but I can speak to the process at the time. Baywatch actually debuted as a network series the year after Magnum ended, so they are definitely of the same era... if NOT quality! Seriously, I learned almost immediately that the writing is so important. Decent actors can make a great script work. The most talented can’t rescue a dog!