Magnum, podcast - revisiting "Magnum P.I."

What, two Carol episodes in a row? This is one of those episodes where Higgins bugs out under suspicious circumstances. But he can’t run away from his past. Also he is most definitely not Robin Masters, so all you conspiracy theorists need to give it up already. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Magnum was the star quarterback in the Army-Navy game, but that won’t help him get to Pasadena(!) in time for this year’s game. It’s all Carol’s fault. But don’t worry, he’ll surely have time to recline at home and watch the game on TV accompanied by an Old Dusseldorf… or is it Duesenberg? Stay out of the infrared beams! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

It’s Tommy Magnum, not a podcast! Magnum’s aunt visits. A new temporary helper at the estate is really into Magnum, but what’s her deal? (Turns out she’s just really into Magnum.) Jason has some information about Hungarian food. Shakespeare makes an appearance. And we all get a little sad about a sad episode of “Magnum, p.i.” Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

This episode is probably a backdoor pilot for a spin-off show about “Riptide.” Jason has a lot of opinions about pilots. Stay tuned through the final music, because the episode keeps going. Twice. While Phil eats pizza. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

It’s the one with the ballet dancer! Also, Phil interviews a random kid on the street! Would anyone like a donut? Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

The Manoeuvres! A team of paramilitary men in weird hats train to overthrow an unspecified government, but what does this have to do with Magnum? Maybe it’s related to the shocking fact that Higgins has been sacked! Jason disapproves of Magnum’s dad wardrobe. Higgins is on a flag. And we consider going to Magnum Day in Detroit in August. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

We’re warming up the Ferrari and getting ready for another season of this podcast. In this preview episode, we’ll tell you what we’re watching next time. Listener Other Eric sets us on a deep mystery involving “The Chinese Typewriter.” Listener Ned is using us as inspiration. There’s also some Yacht Rock talk, because why not? Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

The Magnum, podcast holiday special is here! We watched the failed 1979 pilot for Boston and Kilbride, “The Chinese Typewriter,” starring Tom Selleck (as Tom Boston) and James Whitmore Jr. (as Jimmy Kilbride). The dubbing! The fake signs! The weird casting! The original Al’s Automotive and Muffler King Tigers! We break down everything that makes this pilot a fitting failure, though with some admir...

Shuffle, and cluck, and tour jeté, and cluck cluck cluck. It’s a Magnum season finale, and ours too. See you in a little while, turkeys! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

It’s Higgins versus Magnum in a tit-for-tat, Roland for Oliver battle of pranks, hijinks, and accused felonies. There’s a long scene in an elevator. Our characters become as impervious to damage as cartoon characters. And put away your red string and conspiracy board, because there’s a terrible idea in this episode that receives the blanket condemnation and denouncement of the entirety of Magnum,...

Old cars versus helicopters, karate and seppuku, a helpful anecdote from Higgins, and a kidnapped guy who’s such a jerk that nobody (except maybe his wife?) wants to see him again. We watch a broken-down old episode from a writer who would go on to do better things, because what else can we do? We’re on the executive board of the Anglo-Hawaiian Friendship Society, after all. Jason Snell, Philip Mi...

This final episode of season two is strangely a leftover from season one, so far as we can tell. So many scenes from the opening credits! Julia Nickson is back! We meet Chekhov’s Security Guard, whose name is Ox! The Law of the Economy of Characters and the Fallacy of the Talking Killer are both on display! And, most importantly, we introduce perhaps our biggest bit of Official Magnum Podcast Head...

The most important supporting character in the show (the Ferrari) is sidelined and, oh yeah, Magnum is hospitalized! But is his amnesia a result of his head injuries, or is it more sinister? What does Thomas have in common with Superman and Batman? Jason focuses on island vibes, Phil gets to talk an awful lot about baseball, and we may or may not have subjected David to ’80s hypnosis. Jason Snell,...

Candy Clark returns as an ex-hooker who is a deeply unreliable partner. We get caught in the Island Breeze, which services a lot of local men who need their carpets cleaned on a regular basis, sometimes by an unlikely pair of janitors? Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Presented by Famous Big Hi-Rise Hotel on Waikiki, it’s “The Hotel Dick!” Magnum quits his job (?) to become a hotel detective (??) and foil a thief called the Cat Man of Kauai (???) with the help of a hooker with a heart of gold (???!) and no help from his boss, a mean man who might be up to no good. This is a “Magnum” like no other. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Sun, surf, and fake Beach Boys muzak can only mean one thing: It’s time for flashbacks! In this episode, we see Magnum, T.C., and Rick as they were before the pilot episode. Magnum’s a struggling P.I. on his first case. T.C.’s flying someone else’s helicopter. Rick is still doing that weird not-Bogart impression. Unfortunately there’s also a plot in the present day, and they’re connected, and neit...

Norman Fell menaces in hallucinatory flashbacks, a centipede bite causes mayhem, a spider steals Herman the Shark’s valor, and there’s some guy named Michaels. Unfortunately, this episode wants to be “Home from the Sea”, and even re-uses footage from that episode, which just reminds us that we’d rather be watching that episode. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

This earliest non-pilot episode of Magnum features weird music, dogs, shots from the opening credits, an unfortunate Chinese food joke, fast dialogue, and a kung-fu assassin with one fatal flaw: blinking. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Back to the early days of “Magnum” with this episode featuring dual Ferrers and dual Lockharts along with a single Scatman. This episode really sets the stage for what this show will be able to do, even with the unnecessarily complicated plot. But don’t hold it against the screenwriter—after all, he is a novelist. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Now lissen up, Pilgrim, there’s a fake Christopher Cross version of the Magnum Theme and a dead body in a trunk in this episode. We play a game of Bad Cop/No Cop with guest star Clyde Kusatsu! But… does it have the island vibes? Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

It’s our 100th episode spectacular! Major General Eyepatch threatens our friends with death! Rick faces death by remembering some guys on the 1969 Cubs, but can Phil remember those guys? Is Robert Forster chewing the scenery… for the CIA? Which episode template of “Magnum, p.i.” is this, anyway? And Clyde Kusatsu is the George freakin’ Washington of Cambodia. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David...

Academy award nominee Robert Forster chews all available scenery in part one of this two-part episode featuring a rogue mission to Cambodia. The gang travels upriver to the heart of darkness to the strains of a very bad Creedence Clearwater Revival cover. Death to the papists! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

It’s time for another Summer of Magnum, unless you’re one of our many Australian listeners, in which case you’ll just warm yourself with shots of 1980s Hawaii. In this episode, we spend a surprising amount of time doing nothing other than announcing our return and telling you what episode we’re watching next. Consider this a shakedown cruise. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

We preview our 2025 Member Special, which is about S3E1 of “Vega$”, “Aloha You’re Dead,” starring Robert Urich. It aired a month before the first episode of “Magnum” and features a lot of familiar locations, including Robin’s Nest itself. You can listen to that episode if you become an Incomparable member. In this teaser episode we also read a letter, discuss swearing, Jason brings up some recent...

We wrap up this season of “Magnum, podcast” with a blockbuster two-hour special that introduces us to Magnum’s ex-wife, yet not wife in the eyes of the Catholic Church or the Vietnamese government, Michelle. For an episode that we didn’t like, we try to find positive things where we can. And we muse about how introducing Michelle in season 2 might have pulled the rug out from under all of Magnum’s...