Dashboard's MacGyver Reboot Update #15

Seems there might be more updates to write than I had planned since the reboot has been picked up for a full season of 22 episodes!

Episode 1x06: Wrench (via SpoilerTV)

(Spoiler Alert: To avoid spoilers, I won't post any pictures that are too revealing, but you will get spoilered by reading this post or by clicking on the links provided!)

Getting ready for more episodes
Cast and crew are still busy bees; producing more episodes than the 13 that they had initially planned to film: On October 17, we got the news that CBS has ordered a full season of 22 episodes. 

While I'm not all that happy how the reboot is handling the characters and storylines, I think the full-season pick-up order is a good thing: Now we have the chance that the writers and producers listen to us to make the necessary changes for the rest of the season. We might have the chance to get a reboot that rightfully deserves its title. Also, the show will be picked up in other countries so that many more people get a chance to discover MacGyver - hopefully also the original show and therefore the talented RDA and his creation of a very likeable and humble hero, an awesome theme and some great TV show music along the way.

Working on Episodes 6, 7, 8 and 9
Executive Producer Peter Lenkov shared some tidbits on Instagram; e.g. a look at Episode 5 (Toothpick), Friday Night Editing (probably of Episode 6: Wrench) a First Look at Episode 7 (Can Opener) and Jack and MacGyver climbing a wall.

Episode 1x06: Wrench (via Emerson Brooks)

Episode 6 will reveal some more of MacGyver's bomb defusal days. Emerson Brooks revealed that wearing a bomb defusal suit in a bright-lit studio in summer for 13 hours isn't very fun. On October 21, he posted an additional picture of him doing voice-over work. Episode 7 will be set in prison. Many extras have posted prison set pictures during the last few weeks. 

Cornell Willis shared a picture of another interesting looking set. Don Mosley revealed that some scenes in an upcoming episode will feature an US Embassy. Lucky Harmon will play an extremist on Episode 9. On October 27, cast and crew were seen filming in Piedmont Park. 

According to Stand-In Briana Lamb, fall has come to the MacGyver set. She also posted a BtS picture of the battered rubber duckies that are usually seen in very well condition in MacGyver's home. I'm still not sure if the duckies are an hommage to MacGyver or to Richard Dean Anderson (who is known to have a special bond with rubber duckies).

Episode 1x05: Toothpick (via Brian Durkin)

We got another example of the script writer's way of visualization; this time on Episode 5. It's good to know that you don't need artistic skills on top of writing skills to write a script; so maybe there's still hope for me (ahem).

And as Lucas Till revealed: If you're working hard on set, you deserve a Twitter Break every now and then. (Although, maybe he's just hiding from the Girl Scouts that visited the set recently.)

Premieres of Episodes 4 and 5
We don't see much BtS-material anymore from the main cast members. Mostly, they retweet or post stills or trailers for the upcoming episodes. George Eads' official accounts are still disabled - I guess he wasn't that fond of social media to begin with, but rather "pressured" into signing up for promotional reasons. Both Lucas Till and Tristin Mays shared a picture of themselves with Elya Baskin, though - he's the first guest star of the original show and appeared on Episode 4 (Wire Cutter).

Episode 1x04: Wire Cutter (via Lucas Till)

Battlecat Stunts shared a short video and a picture of Episode 5. It's quite impressive how smooth the "bad guys" drop from a rig onto a narrow train roof. Good thing I'm not a stuntwoman doing stuff like this on a daily basis; because this looks scary.

Ratings had been dropping since the premiere of the Pilot until Episode 4 (Wire Cutter, 7.44 million), but went up again for Episode 5 (Toothpick, 7.95 million). Overall, the ratings hold up for the preferred demographic group. Also, the Hashtag #MacGyver is still trending on Twitter every time an episode airs for the first time. 

The previews for Episode 6 seem very action-driven and "Wrench" is the precursor of the well-advertized Halloween Episode of Hawaii 5-0, so it's possible the ratings will rise some more this Friday.

Stills and Press Releases
SpoilerTV provided us with official stills and press releases for Episode 6 (Wrench) and 7 (Can Opener). Both episodes are directed by Alec Smight who has worked with George Eads before (on CSI: Las Vegas).

Episode 1x07: Can Opener (via SpoilerTV)

Sneak Peeks and Previews
We got several sneak peeks and previews of Episode 5.

The official preview for Episode 6 (that will be deleted like all the other previews on the official YT-Account, sigh) does make me curious, though. There seems to be potential for a storyline that might not be finished in a single episode, for an insight into Mac's psyche and for a Murdoc-like villain. CBS also provided a sneak peek of one of the explosive stunts. 

TVLine shared an exclusive clip of Mac trying to defuse a bomb in Episode 6. This clip needs a huge spoiler alert warning, though and it's not the first time I wonder why CBS decides to hand out an entire MacGyverism scene.

Since it's only a few days until Halloween, CBS wants to help us finding an appropriate costume - but you sure don't have to be MacGyver to come up with this idea on your own...

via Briana Lamb

Cast, Crew and Character News
Central Casting Georgia has made several casting calls; e.g. for US Embassy Personnel, for a photo double and a hand double and for a mother with a 2 or 3-year-old daughter.

Rhett Allain is the Technical Consultant for the reboot. He published an article on October 16, explaining how and why the body-bag-freefall-stunt in Episode 3 (Awl) would work. 

I don't remember if I've already mentioned this, but another well-known character name of the original show will pop up in today's Episode 6: Charlie Robinson from "Countdown" (Season 1), this time played by Emerson Brooks.