Published by Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr
Three yo-yos from the 2020s watch selected episodes of one of the greatest TV shows of the 1980s, “Magnum, p.i.” There are a lot of segments. E-mail magnum@theincomparable.com to suggest episodes or insult other listeners.
Listen on Apple PodcastsWhy are we here at this waterfall? Who has a gun? FLASHBACK! It’s a very silly episode that we admire for its silliness and lament for its laziness. Also, when are baseball games played? Talk about a flashback… <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
Time for zany action as Magnum goes undercover as a stock boy at a convenience store! And what does this all have to do with the colorful set of senior citizens who are about to be evicted from their run-down retirement home? Can a charity Bingo game save the day? What about a pickled egg? <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
We avoided this episode because we thought it was going to be a sad episode about internment camps. But while the damage done to Japanese-Americans in World War II is definitely discussed, there are also wild car accidents, classic Magnum takes to the camera, optimal Magnum-Higgins bickering, and Macho Taco! Is this a core episode of “Magnum”? Follow the Kool-Aid Man. <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
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. <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
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! <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
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.” <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
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. <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
It’s the one with the ballet dancer! Also, Phil interviews a random kid on the street! Would anyone like a donut? <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
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. <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
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? <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
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 admiration about how it does a lot with almost zero budget. Also: you, the listeners, introduce many segments. See you next year! <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
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! <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
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, podcast. <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
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. <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
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 Canon yet: Miłosz. <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
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. <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
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? <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
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. <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
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 neither of them makes a lot of sense, and it’s kind of a disaster all around. But: One of the all-time great Higgins speeches! Also, Jason almost forgets the blockbuster segment he introduced to the show last time! <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>
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. <p>Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.</p>