tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post531902118802462439..comments2024-03-27T00:26:22.316-05:00Comments on The MacGyver Project: #21: The Battle of Tommy GiordanoNicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-64796753368130314462021-07-12T17:36:22.896-05:002021-07-12T17:36:22.896-05:00The term “go to the mattresses” comes from the fir...The term “go to the mattresses” comes from the first Godfather movie it refers to when two rival mafia families go to wardjshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12303939088257599614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-45301479871170598052021-02-22T07:51:40.241-06:002021-02-22T07:51:40.241-06:00Did anyone notice that the score included a scene ...Did anyone notice that the score included a scene that began with the first five or six notes of the theme from The Godfather? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-76517890357946996932017-04-05T19:04:48.062-05:002017-04-05T19:04:48.062-05:00The kid really looks like a 6 years old boy, but W...The kid really looks like a 6 years old boy, but Wikipedia says he was born in 1981, if the data is correct, he could probably be 8 or 9 years old here. <br /><br />Amazing actor...he did a great job here. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17394882482485108932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-14259505780914430622015-03-14T07:41:46.585-05:002015-03-14T07:41:46.585-05:00I think you’ve said it all! I agree, Tony Dakota w...I think you’ve said it all! I agree, Tony Dakota was excellent (but I’m with Nick, he can’t be a day over 6) as was the character of Joe Caetano and his increasing dislike of his nephew. The boy and the old man’s relationship was played out well so that by the end the viewer has almost total sympathy with a ruthless mob boss. Richie is unredeemably vile from the beginning - ‘go back to law school, jerk’ is a great line; its hard to believe he’s supposed to be a surgeon. Its good to see Mary Ruth, whose confidence has been shattered by her awful husband, coming in to her own, protecting her child, being awesomely quick –thinking at the motel and confident in her actions (all under the tutelage of MacGyver of course!).<br /> Enjoyed MacGyver knowing the latin name of the fish – even he knows it’s a bit too clever with his slightly smug smile and shrug after he’s said it. He also later knows what the Fed means when he says Joe Caetano has ‘gone to the pads’ (?) . I’ve never heard that before and neither, it seems, has the Internet, so any info on that phrase is very welcome!<br />Great reflex southpaw punch from MacGyver as he comes through the door but ouch! as he bounces off the window. Mary Ruth doesn’t seem to be very concerned about him after she runs out but I guess that’s understandable in the circumstances.<br />I like it when MacGyver puts on his sunglasses to look more Californian as he uses the numerology trick to get the right motel room. Thanks for the trivia about the tv hockey game - would never have spotted that! A good SAK lock-pick, this time using the tweezers! I agree, The motel scenes are full of suspense and MacGyver jumping on the van and creeping about the ranch full of mobsters is exciting; There are jumpy moments when the phone rings next to him and when one of the mob gets up to go to the fridge when MacGyver’s just by the door. The MacGyverism that needs resetting is a nice touch. but somehow the ending seemed all a bit too easy after all the build-up. <br />Back at the office MacGyver is sporting another cool stripey tshirt and having fun with the remote control toy that he really doesn’t want to hand over to Pete!<br />I agree ,the music is great throughout and constantly reminiscent of the Godfather theme tunes but with its own riffs. Difficult to rank somehow , I think its in the early 60’s for me- lots to enjoy but not a truly great one.<br />Alnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-74624281899177954532015-03-13T00:34:12.387-05:002015-03-13T00:34:12.387-05:00Interesting the impact of the music on my top 20. ...Interesting the impact of the music on my top 20. Like this particular episode, I didn't go into it remembering that I loved the music so much, but it must have made a subconscious impression on me and is one of the major reasons why I enjoy watching this one so much. Nicholas Sweedohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-55927165042494709782015-03-13T00:23:21.070-05:002015-03-13T00:23:21.070-05:00Nice job picking up on that - that is MacGyver tri...Nice job picking up on that - that is MacGyver trivia that only the most knowledgeable fans would ever notice! Nicholas Sweedohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-21007943111604309882015-03-13T00:21:26.841-05:002015-03-13T00:21:26.841-05:00This model looks somewhat familiar - maybe this i...This model looks somewhat familiar - maybe this is what we had. I remember the big yellow bulbs and that it worked in water too.<br />http://www.museumofplay.org/online-collections/1/17/109.9532Nicholas Sweedohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-33139932209066677552015-03-13T00:14:44.289-05:002015-03-13T00:14:44.289-05:00Yeah - like Mark, I didn't connect with this o...Yeah - like Mark, I didn't connect with this one the same way you did. (It's #117 on my list.) The asshole dad using his kid like some kind of one-upmanship token grates me a lot. And the middle of the episode is kind of flat. All of the action happens at either end. I like my stories to move at a little bit steeper angle than this one. <br /><br />Though, I agree - Tommy's a great kid. Smart too. I like him and 'Uncle' Joe.Highlander_IIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12390532917085374247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-5366573300002094572015-03-13T00:10:00.767-05:002015-03-13T00:10:00.767-05:00I have a vague recollection of commercials for Cap...I have a vague recollection of commercials for Capsela. I don't remember wanting it, but I remember the ads. =)Highlander_IIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12390532917085374247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-48833213698111921672015-03-13T00:07:30.547-05:002015-03-13T00:07:30.547-05:00I mentioned the hockey game in my review: http://h...I mentioned the hockey game in my review: http://highlander-ii.dreamwidth.org/592214.html =)Highlander_IIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12390532917085374247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-34192413751624346772015-03-12T23:35:02.755-05:002015-03-12T23:35:02.755-05:00I think you're the first person I've talke...I think you're the first person I've talked to who remembers it. Usually when I bring it up today I get blank stares of confusion.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04953380288384883179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-19696445479897967702015-03-12T23:33:01.804-05:002015-03-12T23:33:01.804-05:00I don't need to google - I remember Capsela! ...I don't need to google - I remember Capsela! I actually thought of it too when seeing Tommy's toy but it didn't look quite the way I remembered so I didn't mention it (maybe there were different versions). My older sister had a set but I played with it some - I remember thinking it was a lot of fun. Nicholas Sweedohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-84032550748312057162015-03-12T23:25:48.821-05:002015-03-12T23:25:48.821-05:00Whoa, nice piece of trivia on the Thin Ice/tv hock...Whoa, nice piece of trivia on the Thin Ice/tv hockey game - that's awesome! I'm going to go back and check that out right now. And I still have to check out the Brainwashed / Gold Rush set comparison - unfortunately I am dead tired so will do that another night. I don't see this as a "social worker" episode at all like many of the ones in Season 6 - surprised to hear that others see it that way. <br /><br />And nice we got your 109 out of the way! Looks like your lowest left is 97. Nicholas Sweedohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-24360903531570098702015-03-12T23:24:16.886-05:002015-03-12T23:24:16.886-05:00Another interesting personal connotation with this...Another interesting personal connotation with this episode....<br /><br />I was in the fifth grade this year and one day, when we were all staying in the classroom rather than going outside during recess, I ventured to the games in the back of the classroom and found this interesting little toy called Capsela. It was a slightly less sophisticated version of the toy Tommy had in this episode, a remote control toy where an assemblage of battery-powered gears wrapped in plastic bubbles were connected like tinker toys. I got such a kick out of it that I asked for it for Christmas in 1988. It was not cheap (like $80 way back in 1988!!) but my parents did get it for me and I got a fair amount of enjoyment out of it. I remembered recognizing the toy instantly when I watched this episode and breaking it out of the closet to mess around with after watching it on the first run and after the ABC rerun in June 1989. Now I almost want to tear apart the folks' attic and basement the next time I go home and see if I can find it again!!! <br /><br />Google "Capsela" and you might get a useful photo of the toy.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04953380288384883179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-9706507274056735832015-03-12T23:17:48.171-05:002015-03-12T23:17:48.171-05:00You're right that this was never a "wow&q...You're right that this was never a "wow" factor episode for me but I did enjoy it and really can't think of anything bad to say about it beyond it being the episode generally considered the catalyst for the "MacGyver: Social Worker" genre often cited as a jump-the-shark moment for the series. I don't agree with that assessment though and think this episode was on the mark in introducing a young boy who was very relatable to a lot of the young boys out there who were "MacGyver" fans in 1989. Tommy was an impressive kid and Tony Dakota, the actor who played him, really hit the mark in making him believable and not the least bit annoying the way some child actors may have played the role. Not sure of the actor's name, but Richard was a perfect sleaze all around and he also played Carlo in "Rock the Cradle". Compared to Carlo--gunned down climbing the fence by the counterfeiters--Richard Giordano should be happy the worst he got was Uncle Joe's right hook!<br /><br />Joseph Wiseman was great as Uncle Joe and he and Tommy had some really chemistry as well. Wiseman actually has a perfect mobster vibe but I don't think he played too many mobsters over the years. He was fresh off of two years as a semiregular on the 1960s-era Michael Mann-produced mob show "Crime Story", which ran from 1986-1988, before playing the vaguely similar role of Uncle Joe in this 1989 "MacGyver" episode. Uncle Joe had more personality than his "Crime Story" character though and allowed Wiseman to really show off his acting chops. I was less impressed with the hit men who seemed a few ticks less than professional in their very casual manner. One fun little piece of trivia from the motel scene though. When the hit men have the "hockey game" on their TV as MacGyver is piggybacking on their phone line, the "game" footage is actually lifted from the "MacGyver" hockey episode "Thin Ice" from season 3, and you can clearly hear "Thompson" telling the announcer "that kid Kirby seems to know where to put the puck...he could be just the material the Mustangs are looking for". A friend of mine who isn't that big on MacGyver absolutely loved "Thin Ice", and he rented the DVD of this episode just so he could watch that scene and see for himself.<br /><br />Very nice of Penny Peyser who played Mary Ruth to respond to your questions. I remember seeing her name on a couple of my other 80s action show favorites and am pretty sure she guest starred in a 1984 episode of "The Fall Guy". I enjoyed Mary Ruth's Mama Bear instincts kicking in throughout the episode and getting the opportunity to save the day with her frying pan grand entrance at Uncle Joe's estate. Good point though that MacGyver would have been better off foiling the hit men at the motel than following them to Uncle Joe's and having two more people to take on. And how did MacGyver seem to instinctively know that Uncle Joe wouldn't shoot him on the spot when he made his "I've come to take Tommy home" declaration? I'd have figured Joe was as bad as everybody else in the house if I was MacGyver. I enjoyed the remote control toy bit with the alcohol, ammonia, and acid surprise (similar formula to what he used to create the chemical fog in "DOA MacGyver" and "Hell Week) that ultimately foiled one of the bad guys. Solid all around episode and, as I said, not one I have any serious faults with, but I didn't connect with it the way you did. I ranked this one #109.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04953380288384883179noreply@blogger.com