Dashboard's MacGyver Reboot Update #17

While the reboot is taking a break and airing reruns, cast and crew are working on the mid-season finale. Also, Amy Acker and Tracy Spiridakos are back on set!

via Gabriel Beristain

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


Working towards Christmas Break
As I mentioned before, we don't see much exclusive stuff anymore from the main cast. They're busy bees to wrap up the initially ordered episodes before Christmas Break. As Tristin Mays revealed on Twitter, they're often still filming while the new episodes air and don't get to see the premiere.

Lucas Till posted more pictures of MacGyver doing bad, bad things like aiming a gun and being friendly with terrorists. Of course, this led to David Dastmalchian pulling out a big gun of his own (ahem, this doesn't look as R-rated as it sounds). Tristin shared that Episode 9 (Chisel) has been her favorite episode to film so far besides Episode 4 (Wire Cutter). 

Justin Hires' Stand-In Kevin Marshall Pinkney posted a picture of him sitting in a 60's Volkswagon while working on Episode 12. Guess we just got to see Bozer's car? Interesting choice!

via Peter Lenkov

On November 14, Just Jared shared paparazzi pictures of Lucas on set. As several crew members (e.g. Cornell Willis or Kait C.) revealed, they were filming in a church on November 21. Thanks to Camera Operator Tiko Pavoni, we got a glimpse at MacGyver's "back yard".

Brian Durkin revealed how the writer's crew tested MacGyver's escape in Episode 8 (Corkscrew). The script writers also provided the original diagram of the Chinese Lantern Surveillance Drone in Episode 9 (Chisel) and the math equations that Tech Advisor Rhett Allain did to estimate how much paper MacGyver would need to stop a bullet.

On November 11, Lucas' Mom had visited the set. She shared some pictures on social media. While filming outside on November 14, the set got visited by an elementary class. Learning about TV production directly from cast and crew on set is sure more interesting and memorable than regular class!

via MacGyverWriters

Premieres of Episodes 8 and 9
As expected, Episode 8 (Corkscrew, 7.65 million) got better ratings than the previous episode - although they weren't as high as I expected (it was the return of beloved Murdoc, after all). Overall, New Murdoc's first appearance was well received on Twitter and even got praise by Original Murdoc Michael Des Barres.

The most recent Episode 9 (Chisel, 8.12 million) made the third-highest ratings of this season.

Upcoming Episodes
SpoilerTV provided us with a press release for Episode 10 (Pliers - although thanks to the Phoenix Foundation Podcast, that episode will always be "Pilers" to me). Episode 10 will air on December 9 because the show is taking a break and CBS airs reruns on Fridays instead. Tonight, they will show Episode 3 (Awl). 

Looking at the surprisingly high ratings from last week, I'm not sure if it's a wise decision having a break of 3 weeks, now with so many people stating on social media that the episodes are getting better and that they finally started to like the show.

Interviews, Articles and other Promo
On November 16, CBS uploaded some more BtS-pictures; mainly from Episode 7 (Can Opener). They also provided a Survival Guide for Thanksgiving. CBS Watch! Magazine provided another picture of their photoshoot with Lucas and George for ManCrushMonday.

via CBS Watch! Magazine

ET Online visited Lucas Till in his Hometown. We got to meet his mom, his younger brother and a high school friend. In an interview with TVLine, Lucas talked about Nikki, Murdoc and his favorite MacGyverism.

The soundbites aren't new, but in an interview with TV Insider posted on November 25, Executive Producer Peter Lenkov affirmed that he's still planning on a crossover with Hawaii Five-O.

In case you wondered what had happened to the huge Wall Painting on Hotel Figueroa in LA that was made back in the first promo wave: It got painted over with an ad for Apple's iPhone.

Cast, Crew and Character News
Central Casting Georgia has made several casting calls; e.g. for men who are trained with guns, for business men and women who own expensive luggage, for wedding guests, groomsmen and bridesmaids and for hispanic looking males with upscale wedding guest style attire.

The masks of the Asian General and George Washington were made by Larry Torro. He provided a picture of the president's mask from Episode 8 on Instagram. I think the masks look very good and I really hope we'll see more of them, now that Bozer has joined the team.

via Larry Torro

Amy Acker recently revealed at a convention in Asia that she will be back on the show. On November 18, Peter Lenkov posted footage of a scene of Amy's character Sarah with Jack; confirming that she's already been filming her scenes. On the same day, Tracy Spiridakos posted a picture on Instagram that confirmed she was also back on set. 

Interestingly, Preston James Hillier (who's played Amy's boyfriend / fiancé Jeff on Episode 2) also tweeted on that day; saying that he enjoyed to work with Lucas and George again. What's even more interesting is a comment on that tweet that was later removed (after I pointed out to this person that this tweet might be a spoiler - you've been warned!).

The deleted tweet complimented Preston and made a statement about being a proud mother of the groom. We already know that there will be a wedding scene in this season and that they've been filming in a church; so I'll predict that Jack will get his heart broken in the mid-season finale (for now, Preston is listed for Episode 12 on IMDb).