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MacGyver (1985 TV series) season 2

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(Redirected from The Human Factor (MacGyver))

MacGyver
Season 2
"His Mind Is the Ultimate Weapon"
No. of episodes22
Release
Original networkABC
Original releaseSeptember 22, 1986 (1986-09-22) –
May 4, 1987 (1987-05-04)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 1
Next →
Season 3
List of episodes

The second season of the American television series MacGyver, consisting of 22 episodes, began on September 22, 1986, and ended on May 4, 1987 and aired on the ABC network. The region 1 DVD was released on June 7, 2005.[1]

Episodes

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateRating/share
(households)
231"The Human Factor"Charlie CorrellRobin BernheimSeptember 22, 1986 (1986-09-22)15.4/24[2]

When MacGyver is sent in to test security at a top secret military lab, the artificially intelligent central computer malfunctions and traps him and the scientist who built the AI inside, and he has to outsmart it to help them escape.

Note: This is the first episode to feature Dana Elcar in the opening credits, after several guest starring roles in the first season.
242"The Eraser"Paul KrasnyStephen KronishSeptember 29, 1986 (1986-09-29)14.0/22[3]
A hitman passes himself off as a father looking for his lost son, causing MacGyver to help him find his target.
253"Twice Stung"Paul KrasnyStory by : Bill Froehlich & Mark Lisson & Phil Combest
Teleplay by : Mark Lisson & Bill Froehlich
October 6, 1986 (1986-10-06)13.9/22[4]
When a friend of MacGyver's attempts suicide over losing his life savings from a scam, Mac, Pete and a foundation employee devise a scam on the very con artist to steal back the money from he stole.
264"The Wish Child"Charlie CorrellStory by : Stephen Kronish & Brian Lane & Stephen Kandel
Teleplay by : Bill Froehlich & Stephen Kandel
October 20, 1986 (1986-10-20)13.1/20[5]

MacGyver must rescue the brother of a friend when the boy gets tricked by scam artists to pass himself as the fulfillment of ancient Chinese legend.

This episode features James Hong, Tia Carrere, George Takei and Michael Paul Chan.
275"Final Approach"Alexander SingerRob HeddenOctober 27, 1986 (1986-10-27)10.3/15[6]
MacGyver is stranded in the wilderness with a group of teenage gang members; he must get them to put aside their differences long enough to survive the ordeal.
286"Jack of Lies"Charlie CorrellKerry Lenhart & John J. SakmarNovember 3, 1986 (1986-11-03)14.3/22[7]

MacGyver's friend, Jack Dalton, tricks him into going to Central America to rescue a botanist, but it turns out to be an old friend of theirs.

Note: First appearance of Bruce McGill as Jack Dalton.
297"The Road Not Taken"Cliff BoleStory by : Chuck Bowman
Teleplay by : Stephen Kronish
November 10, 1986 (1986-11-10)14.9/23[8]
MacGyver runs into an old girlfriend when he and Pete go into Southeast Asia to help a group of orphans escape a rogue militia group with intent on killing them.
308"Eagles"Paul KrasnyGeorge Lee MarshallNovember 17, 1986 (1986-11-17)14.6/22[9]
MacGyver is sent up into the mountains to locate two endangered eagles; he also finds poachers trying to kill him after he witnessed the whole operation.
319"Silent World"James L. ConwayStephen KandelNovember 24, 1986 (1986-11-24)14.4/22[10]
A group of international thieves try to steal a top secret missile, and MacGyver's deaf friend dreams are the only key to help catch the bad guys.
3210"Three for the Road"Alan CroslandStory by : Mark Lisson & Rob Hedden
Teleplay by : John J. Sakmar & Kerry Lenhart
December 15, 1986 (1986-12-15)13.7/21[11]
A stranded MacGyver hitches a ride with a retired actor and his wife — unaware that they are in possession of stolen counterfeit money while on the run from the mob.
3311"Phoenix Under Siege"Gilbert M. ShiltonStory by : John I. Koivula
Teleplay by : Stephen Kronish
January 5, 1987 (1987-01-05)12.9/18[12]
MacGyver and his grandfather stop by the foundation on their way to a hockey game to pick up the tickets; terrorists are there setting a bomb and trap MacGyver and his grandfather in the building.
3412"Family Matter"Alexander SingerPaul MagistrettiJanuary 12, 1987 (1987-01-12)16.1/23[13]
When Pete's ex-wife and son are kidnapped by a disgruntled former agent, MacGyver must come to the rescue.
3513"Soft Touch"Charlie CorrellJoan Brooker & Nancy EddoJanuary 19, 1987 (1987-01-19)16.7/23[14]

After rescuing a Russian political prisoner from Siberia, MacGyver must foil a plot to assassinate a South American government official after Mac's lady friend, Penny Parker, witnesses the death of a federal agent at the hands of assassins.

Guest starring: Teri Hatcher as Penny Parker.
3614"Birth Day"James L. ConwayRob HeddenFebruary 2, 1987 (1987-02-02)14.8/22[15]
MacGyver must help a pregnant woman escape her ex-convict husband who intends to murder her after she discovers a secret about him.
3715"Pirates"Bruce KesslerStephen KandelFebruary 9, 1987 (1987-02-09)16.3/23[16]
MacGyver must rescue a friend when she is kidnapped by pirates convinced she can lead them to sunken treasure.
3816"Out in the Cold"Cliff BoleStephen KronishFebruary 16, 1987 (1987-02-16)17.5/24[17]
MacGyver and Pete are skiing when a mob informant plants microfilm on MacGyver; after getting back home the mob comes after them.
3917"Dalton, Jack of Spies"Bob SweeneyJohn J. Sakmar & Kerry LenhartFebruary 23, 1987 (1987-02-23)15.8/23[18]
Jack fakes his own death and MacGyver must help him clear his name after he is accused of murdering a CIA agent by two corrupt CIA agents.
4018"Partners"Cliff BoleMark Lisson & Bill FroehlichMarch 2, 1987 (1987-03-02)15.1/22[19]

Murdoc, a master-of-disguise assassin who was long thought dead, lures MacGyver and Pete into a trap; while trying to escape they reminisce over their previous encounter with him.

Notes:
This episode also details on Mac's first meeting with Pete and joining the Phoenix Foundation.

First appearance of Michael Des Barres as Murdoc.
4119"Bushmaster"Don ChaffeyRob HeddenMarch 23, 1987 (1987-03-23)15.5/23[20]
When MacGyver goes to South America to rescue a downed pilot, but the pilot's daughter stows away on the trip to try to help.
4220"Friends"Cliff BoleStephen KronishApril 6, 1987 (1987-04-06)15.4/24[21]
Jack Dalton lures MacGyver to the Phoenix Foundation for a surprise birthday party where many of his friends from past adventures are waiting; this makes him reconsider his recently tendered resignation.
4321"D.O.A.: MacGyver"Cliff BoleJaison StarkesApril 27, 1987 (1987-04-27)12.6/21[22]
MacGyver's friend is killed after telling him of a bomb to be planted at a funeral; while escaping his friend's killers, he receives a head injury which causes amnesia. Can MacGyver regain his memories and stop the bombing in time?
4422"For Love or Money"James L. ConwayDouglas Heyes, Jr.May 4, 1987 (1987-05-04)12.3/20[23]

MacGyver must team up with an agent that he despises like in order to break a political prisoner out of Czechoslovakia while avoiding GRU agents.

Note: This is the last episode to be filmed on location in Los Angeles until season 7; filming and production relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia for seasons 3–6.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Season 2 DVD Information". TVShowsOnDVD.com. July 6, 2005. Archived from the original on June 12, 2008. Retrieved May 9, 2009.
  2. ^ "NBC on a roll; wins first week of fall season". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 4. October 6, 1986. p. 48. ProQuest 1014719938.
  3. ^ "NBC goes 2 for 2 in prime time". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 15. October 13, 1986. p. 64. ProQuest 1016915015.
  4. ^ "NBC keeps on rolling". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 16. October 20, 1986. p. 38. ProQuest 1014736998.
  5. ^ "Mets-Sox deliver NBC another win". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 18. November 3, 1986. p. 54. ProQuest 1016898182.
  6. ^ "Game seven, 'Cosby' lift NBC to victory". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 19. November 10, 1986. p. 73. ProQuest 1016910246.
  7. ^ "NBC rolls a lucky seven". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 20. November 17, 1986. p. 52. ProQuest 1285762482.
  8. ^ "NBC wins prime time and news in week eight". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 21. November 24, 1986. p. 52. ProQuest 1016917184.
  9. ^ "Nine in a row: NBC ties second-best season streak". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 22. December 1, 1986. p. 88. ProQuest 1014739802.
  10. ^ "NBC narrowly wins week 10". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 23. December 8, 1986. p. 102. ProQuest 1014720590.
  11. ^ "NBC continues winning ways". Broadcasting. Vol. 111, no. 26. December 29, 1986. p. 63. ProQuest 1016911139.
  12. ^ "CBS wins its second in a row". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 3. January 19, 1987. p. 210. ProQuest 1016906203.
  13. ^ "NBC wins prime time and news". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 4. January 26, 1987. p. 58. ProQuest 1016900438.
  14. ^ "Super Bowl was super for CBS". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 5. February 2, 1987. p. 70. ProQuest 1016913996.
  15. ^ "Prime time and news go to NBC". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 7. February 16, 1987. p. 56. ProQuest 1016919377.
  16. ^ "'Amerika' premiere pushes ABC to second". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 8. February 23, 1987. p. 74. ProQuest 1016922703.
  17. ^ "NBC overcomes ABC's 'Amerika'". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 9. March 2, 1987. p. 56. ProQuest 1016911964.
  18. ^ "NBC on another winning streak". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 10. March 9, 1987. p. 44. ProQuest 1016912824.
  19. ^ "'Manhattan' does well, but not well enough to beat NBC". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 11. March 16, 1987. p. 64. ProQuest 1016919049.
  20. ^ "NBC wins news and prime time". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 14. April 6, 1987. p. 89. ProQuest 1014739440.
  21. ^ "NBC wins another as season draws to a close". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 16. April 20, 1987. p. 60. ProQuest 1016914413.
  22. ^ "No prime time summer slump for NBC". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 19. May 11, 1987. p. 78. ProQuest 1016918442.
  23. ^ "NBC continues summer run". Broadcasting. Vol. 112, no. 20. May 18, 1987. p. 96. ProQuest 1014717874.
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