Phoenix Foundation - A MacGyver Podcast

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: September 21st, 1987 —

MacGyver is reunited with his presumed dead ex-fiance and her formerly villainous husband.

MISSION: The Phoenix Foundation has been placed in charge of security for a priceless Chinese relic. Meanwhile, MacGyver learns a former flame he thought was dead is now married to a baddie from Mac’s past. Now she is being held hostage in exchange for the relic and MacGyver must circumvent a security system of his own design.

This week’s highlights include:

Homing pigeon (Communication)

The homing pigeon is a variety of domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) derived from the rock pigeon, selectively bred to find its way home over extremely long distances, using magnetoception. The wild rock pigeon has an innate homing ability, meaning that it will generally return to its nest and mate. This made it relatively easy to breed from the birds that repeatedly found their way home over long distances. Flights as long as 1,800 km (1,100 miles) have been recorded by birds in competitive pigeon racing. Their average flying speed over moderate distances is around 80 km/h (50 miles per hour) but speeds of up to 140 km/h (90 miles per hour) have been observed in top racers for short distances.

Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homing_pigeon.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: May 4th, 1987 —

MacGyver is once again tasked with smuggling a Russian dissident out of an asylum.

MISSION: MacGyver is reluctantly paired up with a face from his past to break a Russian dissident out of prison, but the prisoner won’t agree to emigrate without his wife in tow.

This week’s highlights include:

Whirly tube (Instrument)

The whirly tube, corrugaphone, or bloogle resonator, is a musical instrument which consists of a corrugated (ribbed) plastic tube (hollow flexible cylinder), open at both ends, which is swung in a circle to play. The faster the toy is swung the higher the pitch of the note it produces. It produces discrete notes in the harmonic series like a valveless brass instrument.

Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whirly_tube.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: April 27th, 1987 —

A bullet to the head erases MacGyver’s memory on the brink of an assassination attempt

MISSION: MacGyver is ambushed collecting intel from another doomed Tony. An assassination plot in unfolding but MacGyver’s memory is temporarily wiped by a bullet to the head. With the help of Carol Varnay, he must get word to Pete what is happening.

This week’s highlights include:

Here’s a link to Jaison Starkes’ crazy website.

By the way, we were wrong, Jared Hess has a new movie coming out. Check out the new trailer below.

Also, here’s what happens when Hydrochloric acid and Ammonia are near eachother.

Figwit (Fantasy)

Figwit is a fan-created name for an unnamed Elven escort in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, played by actor and musician Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords fame. The name Figwit derives from an acronym for “Frodo is grea…who is THAT?!?” [sic].

Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figwit.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: April 6th, 1987 —

What’s the only thing worse than getting kidnapped on your birthday? A clip show!

MISSION: MacGyver strongly considers resigning in the aftermath of a particularly dangerous mission and a clip show ensues.

This week’s highlights include:

Here’s a link to Nick Sweedo’s interview with Michael Greenburg.

Iguana meat (Nutrition)

Iguana meat has historically been important in the culinary traditions of Mexico and Central America; particularly in the states of Jalisco, Michoacán and Colima. Iguana meat is currently illegal in the United States of America and several other countries.

To prepare your own Breast of Lizard a la MacGyver. Roast an iguana over an open flame until the skin is blackened and then peel back the charred layer of skin. Serves two.

Check out the article on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguana_meat.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: March 23rd, 1987 —

The daughter of a POW unexpectedly tags along with MacGyver on a rescue mission.

MISSION: MacGyver is sent off the San Perez to rescue another downed pilot, but finds out late in the rescue that the POW’s daughter has stowed aboard and intends to join the cause.

This week’s highlights include:

Military simulation (military)

Military simulations, also known informally as war games, are simulations in which theories of warfare can be tested and refined without the need for actual hostilities. Many professional analysts object to the term wargames as this is generally taken to be referring to the civilian hobby, thus the preference for the term simulation.

Check out the article on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_simulation

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: March 2nd, 1987 —

MacGyver and Pete fall into the trap of a nemesis they thought was dead.

MISSION: MacGyver and Pete reminisce about the villain they where pursuing when they met, only to fall into his latest trap.

This week’s highlights include:

Bazooka (chewing gum)

Bazooka is a brand of bubble gum introduced in 1947.

Check out the article on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bazooka_(chewing_gum)

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: February 23rd, 1987 —

Jack Dalton returns from the grave to escape the clutches of corrupt government agents.

MISSION: MacGyver attends Jack’s funeral only to learn he is faking his death to avoid being murdered by corrupt agents with which he has unknowingly involved himself.

This week’s highlights include:

Here’s another link to that Kerry Lenhart interview.

In case you didn’t get our Too Many Cooks references.

Bronco Buster (Sculpture)

The Bronco Buster (also spelled “Broncho Buster” as per convention at the time of sculpting) is a sculpture made of bronze copyrighted in 1895 by American artist Frederic Remington. It portrays a rugged Western frontier cowboy character fighting to stay aboard a rearing, plunging bronco, with a stirrup swinging free, a quirt in one hand and a fistful of mane and reins in the other. It was the first and remains the most popular of all of Remington’s sculptures.

Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronco_Buster

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: February 16th, 1987 —

After accidentally intercepting a microfilm on vacation, MacGyver and Pete are targeted by mobsters.

MISSION: A spy hands off a microfilm to MacGyver seconds before an avalanche nearly kills him. A team of mafia hitmen, hellbent on getting the evidence back, kidnap Pete to get to Mac.

This week’s highlights include:

Monosodium glutamate (Chemistry)

Monosodium glutamate (MSG, also known as sodium glutamate) is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, one of the most abundant naturally occurring non-essential amino acids. Glutamate is found in tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, potatoes, mushrooms, and other vegetables and fruits.

Check out the article on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: February 9th, 1987 —

MacGyver must rescue a treasure hunter and her sunken prize from modern day pirates.

MISSION: A treasure hunter is robbed at sea and MacGyver is enlisted to bring the murderous pirates to justice.

This week’s highlights include:

Goat Island (Geography)

Goat Island (previously called Iris Island) is a small island in the Niagara River, located in the middle of Niagara Falls between the Bridal Veil Falls and the Horseshoe Falls. The island is at the southwest corner of the City of Niagara Falls (and of Niagara County), New York, in the United States and is part of Niagara Falls State Park.

Check out the article on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goat_Island_(New_York)

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: February 2nd, 1987 —

MacGyver’s fishing plans are derailed by a pregnant woman running for her life from ex-cons.

MISSION: MacGyver and a pregnant stranger are on the run from her abusive husband and find themselves trapped in a warehouse.

This week’s highlights include:

Here is a clip of Rob Garrison’s “body bag” line from The Karate Kid.

You can find “Carikazes” amongst other Key Terms Mr. Nihcolas Sweedo has tracked on the MacGyver Project website here.

Long Beach Assembly (Manufacturing)

Long Beach Assembly was a Ford Motor Company assembly plant located in Long Beach, California that operated from 1930 until 1957. The address was 700 Henry Ford Avenue, Long Beach, in a region called Cerritos Channel on Terminal Island. A bridge called the Henry Ford Bridge is still located at the former plant site. The Ford Model A was the first vehicle to be built, with operations beginning March 1930. The location was closed when the Los Angeles Assembly in Pico Rivera opened in 1958.

Check out the article on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Beach_Assembly