Friday, January 20, 2017

Dashboard's MacGyver Reboot Update #21

Although the next Episode won't air until February 3, Cast and Crew are busy filming the residual episodes for Season 1. Also, there's a certain Family of Bounty Hunters on set!


Episode 1x13 (via Gabriel Beristain)

(Spoiler Alert: You will get spoilered by reading this post and its comments or by clicking on the links provided!)

Working on Episodes 14, 15 and 16
After a premiere break of 3 weeks, cast and crew took their time to join in the promo of Episodes 12 (Screwdriver) and 13 (Large Blade). On January 6, Justin Hires posted some interesting pictures of Bozer and Riley in undercover costumes while Tristin Mays shared a rather disturbing video of herself walking around the set. Seems like she got herself a new face for the day!

Despite the high ratings of Episode 12 on January 6, Executive Producer Peter Lenkov didn't have much time to celebrate. He spent the weekend editing and sharing teasers on Instagram Stories. One of these teasers was a short video of MacGyver being handcuffed in an out-of-control car going backwards. Looks like an exciting Opening Gambit! The other videos consisted of a fight in a parking garage and of MacGyver mentally gearing up to work with his new boss.


Episode 1x15 (via Lucas Till)

During the premiere of Episode 13, Lucas Till posted a video from set to show that they were still filming. Tristin Mays shared videos on Instagram Stories. The crew likes to play the "Paperclip Game" between takes. There was also enough time to take some pictures with new cast member Meredith Eaton.

On the weekend, second unit was still filming at the Fox Theatre and in Piedmont Park for Episode 15. For bypassers, the nightshoot in Piedmont Park looked a bit like a horror movie set, though. As Second Assistant Director Cornell Willis stated, snow and the cold didn't stop them from doing their favorite job. 

Bounty Hunters on Set
On Monday, production moved to "Louisiana" (aka Dolly's Farmhouse Restaurant in Austell, Georgia) to start shooting for another episode. Several bypassers got a look at the filming process in front of the restaurant. Dolly's also shared some pictures on Facebook; stating that well over hundred people were swarming the location.

Episode 16 might be a special one for fans of the original show, because a well-known family of Bounty Hunters is back in town! Jermaine Rivers revealed on January 16 that he has been cast as Frank Colton. After asking if he might be one of the Colton's, Lance Gross confirmed to me on Twitter that he has been cast as Billy Colton. It didn't take long for Mama Colton (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and Jesse Colton (Javicia Leslie) to reveal themselves.



Episode 1x16 (via Sheryl Lee Ralph)

Interestingly, the restrictions of posting on social media seems to have been lifted. All members of the Colton family are posting on social media; sharing tons of pictures or videos from set and from inside the make-up trailer. It's nice to see that the new cast members did some homework and know the Coltons and the names of the actors who played them in the original show.

Premieres of Episodes 12 and 13
During the premiere of Episode 12 (Screwdriver) on January 6, Extras and cast members shared some more BtS pictures of the filming process back in November. Briana Lamb had been able to stand in (or sit in) for Amy Acker (she was usually Sandrine Holt's Stand-In) - which meant she got to wear a wedding dress and the crew to "play-fight" about who would be walking her down the aisle for practice. Preston Hillier posted a picture of the happy couple.

The premiere of Episode 12 not only brought recurring characters and surprising plot-twists, but also the third-highest ratings (8.42 millions) so far. The ratings for Episode 13 (Large Blade) weren't as high (7.64 millions), but these two episodes are also the best user rated episodes on IMDb. Also, the Hashtag #MacGyver keeps trending on Twitter, even long after the show has aired.


Episode 1x13 (via Zulay Henao)

Andrew Karlsruher, writer of Episode 13, tweeted along with the other MacGyver Writers; sharing some of the science behind this episode, but also a warning not to try THIS at home.

Overall, the ratings and the 18-49 demographic numbers are relatively solid (for now, the mean is 8.1 millions viewers / 1.14 per episode). If the numbers stay that way, chances are good for the show being renewed for another season.

Stills, Sneak Peeks and Press Releases
Only 3 days before its premiere, we got the first stills for Episode 13 (Large Blade). Just hours before the premiere, we got two additional sneak peeks

Production Assistant Kait C. shared the information that Episode 15 will be directed by Stephen Herek again (who had directed Episode 11 and the unaired "Young MacGyver" pilot back in 2003) while SpoilerTV revealed the title for Episode 17 (Ruler).

On January 19, CBS Express delivered the press release for Episode 14 (Fish Scaler). It will air on February 3 and was directed by Eagle Egilsson (CSI: Miami). I still don't know why they felt the need to rush production so they can premiere the show in September - only to take so many breaks in between anyway. I think it's quite annoying to wait so long; especially after a new regular cast member has joined the team.


Episode 1x14 (via CBS Express)

SAK Huntsman ad and other Promo
Blue Barn Creative recently had the opportunity to create a promo for CBS and Victorinox for the Huntsman Boy Scout Swiss Army Knife. They used the tagline "Always Be Prepared" and footage from the Pilot Episode. 

On January 13 - right before the premiere of Episode 13 - ET Online aired a promo video including a greeting from new regular cast member Meredith Eaton.

The video granted another glimpse at the Photoshoot for CBS Watch! Magazine. The Magazine will feature Lucas Till (Dresscode: Suit and Parachute) on the cover and will be available on January 23. Understandably, Lucas is very grateful to be on a major magazine cover for the first time. Justin Hires also gets a full photo-page in this issue.


CBS Watch! Magazine (via ET Online)

Cast, Crew and Character News
As noted above, the Coltons are coming back! Jermaine Rivers had revealed that his role as Frank Colton is a recurring one; so we should be prepared to see them again. You might have noticed that Jesse Colton is played by Javicia Leslie, which means Jesse is a girl in the Reboot. So far, we haven't seen a dog on set, though. I really hope they bring back Frog, too!

Central Casting Georgia is still looking for a professional pool shark. Other casting calls were made for Armenian men to portray bad guys, for upscale Dutch citizens and for adults with Beachcomber Bicycles (whatever that is).

On January 11, Meredith Eaton (NCIS, Boston Legal) had announced that she's joining the show. Two days later, it was confirmed that she will be the new head of the Phoenix Foundation.

Many fans were unhappy or even outraged about Sandrine Holt leaving the show and how her storyline was handled. How can the reinvented character of Pete Thornton be declared as a baddie without further explanation? It is worth to note that new boss "Matty Webber" is a clear notion to the original episode "Early Retirement" (Episode 3x12) and that Peter Lenkov has planned to bring Sandrine back soon. Do I smell a Season Finale Plot Twist coming? I sure hope so.

No comments:

Post a Comment