For Your Information:
A "MacGyverism" is just one of the tricks you've come to expect out of MacGyver on every show. (i.e. Like using a paperclip to disarm a bomb, or winching a helicopter, or using a paperclip, shoelaces, and a wrench to stop two men armed with bazookas).
I got this list from J.J. Dippel's (DXS Mac) page. I added some stuff to the episodes where I noticed a few other neat things MacGyver did that weren't mentioned. I also put in two things that weren't really "MacGyerisms", but were good anyway, because I wanted every episode to have some sort of MacGyverism.
D I S C L A I M E R
Some of the information contained in this document has the potential to cause serious injury or damage. The writers, compilers, and distributors of this document are not responsible for any injuries or damage resulting from the attempted reproduction of any of the ideas or concepts contained herein. Such attempts at reproducing these "MacGyverisms" are irresponsible and potentially injurious, and are not recommended. The purpose of this document is to inform and entertain.
MacGyver is a trademark and copyright of Paramount Pictures. Publication of these MacGyverisms in not intended to infringe on any of Paramount's rights with regard to MacGyver. The MacGyverisms from each of the previously aired episodes are presented without the prior consent or knowledge of Parmount Pictures. Paramount Pictures does not encourage live replication of the MacGyverisms presented in the individual episodes. Although Paramount Pictures and the producers of MacGyver were careful to ensure that elements shown in the episodes of potentially dangerous MacGyverisms were left out or changed to render them harmless if attempted, there is no way to be sure that any versions attempted might include some unintentional error or oversite that might change the outcome of a particular MacGyverism. In other words,
DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!!!
Episode Tricks
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1st. SEASON
001 PILOT
Disarmed missle with a paperclip
Matches & rope got rifle to shoot itself
Smashed pistol barrel to use as rocket thruster
Kicked grate to test for hidden laser
Lit cigarette with hidden laser
Smoked cigarette to find hidden laser
Used binocular eyepiece to catch laser beam
Aimed laser beam at source to "kill" it
Knotted fire hose to build up water pressure
Used said hose to lift steel beam
Tested heat on door with a stick (it caught fire)
Milk Chocolate candy stops sulphuric acid leak
Used shirt to filter gases
Sodium metal & cold capsule explosive
Flipped lights in morse code
002 CRUSHER/THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE
Picked up thieves in car with heavy duty magnet
Inflate raft to pop a flare
Bamboo thing with alcohol & fire ash
Winched a helicopter
003 PEGASUS/THIEF OF BUDAPEST
Stole horse, got it picked up with helicopter
Lightbulbs between boards simulate flat tire sound
Weed Killer Bomb
Magnifying Glass using hair & white wine
Mess up traffic signal with credit card
004 THE MAP/THE GAUNTLET
Used SAK to push key out of lock other side of door
Key fell on map previously slid under door
Slid map out with key on it
Used map as pea shooter distraction
Rolled map around bar to knock bad person
Slid down sand dune on map
Used map & duct tape to patch hole in hot air balloon
Camera timer & "silly putty" explosive
Noise: Duct tape, firecrackers, candle on church bell
Hooked cable wire on car axle to stop car
Used Kate Connally's compact as rear view mirror
Threw Kate Connally on someone for distraction
Made car go w/ belt thru steering wheel & stick shift
005 THE HEIST
Distraction: String & paper clip women's dress zipper
Buffed dice with powder soap on shoe shine machine
Hid buffed dice in drink after winning (GOT CAUGHT!)
Electric cord tied door handle shut
Pushed bar cart by igniting CO2 tanks
Magnet in Chris' shoe messes up roulette wheel
Marked card with Chris' ring
Picked lock with SAK (TWICE IN THIS EP!)
Wired fuse box lights to alarm clock with hands
Picked 2:10 as time because wires would touch
Coat hanger & Mirror on camera to fool security camera
After sneak in room, yank above device off w/string
Found laser beam with cigar ashes
Plastic tube used to "route" the laser
Limbo'd under above tube
Let bird out of cage to set off motion detector
Faked musical notes with wine-filled crystal goblets
Used piece of glass lamp for funnel
"Funneled" diamonds down the drainpipe
Fire ext. & car jack
Put parachute on car
Drove car out of plane at 30,000 feet
006 WHITEWATER/TRUMBO'S WORLD
Used SAK to snitch towel off laundry line
Moved shower pipe on fire, "hot water"
Log lifted door out
Kerosene soaked rope lit so bad guys can't follow
Jumper Cable, generator, money makes arc welder
Rope over post, twist to lift canoe off person
Hose, metal pipe, gasoline = flame thrower
Nitrate, cellulose, acid = nitro manite
Melted garden hose spread on net = ant-repel suit
Blew up ants with aforementioned nitro manite
007 LAST STAND
Bike bars, rust, flare, used as torch
Cotton, Engine Starter Fluid, fertilizer = bomb
Wrap above in newspaper and duct tape
Light bulb melt ice down a tube
Above water went to door lock, froze, broke door
Knocked down motorcyclist by spraying hose at him
Hung on for dear life on an airplane rudder
Daveism-Knocked guy down with helicopter
008 HELLFIRE
Used gum wrapper to fix fuse
Tested nitroglycerin on barrel
Fix truck with pen spring
Drove truck with nitro downhill w/o brakes
009 THE PRODIGAL
Hot wired car with paper clip
Used SAK to pick trunk lock
Loosened lug nuts of bad guys car
Used string to turn on saw
Distraction: Drywall & wood chips thru a saw
Drained radiator on bad guys car
Soda, fizzies, dry ice simulated smoke
Posed as tow truck driver to take Paulie
Dropped car off truck in narrow alley to block chasers
Used string & rod to trip someone
Used SAK to pick ANOTHER lock
Rod & electrical cord used as harpoon
Telescope, camphor balls, cleaning fluid, cloth
to "fire" the harpoon
Went across harpooned cord with pulley and handles
010 KITCHEN MAGIC/TARGET MACGYVER
Pick Lock with SAK
Stack pans on ice, heat w/Toaster Oven
Spread cooking oil on floor
Use hose as "trip wire"
Cover "bad guys" with outdoor chaise
Reeds under wood to "fake" breathing
Blowdart, using reeds & anesthetic-type plant
Decoy using a stuffed jacket
Pine cones & pine pitch as "land mines"
Used "loco weed" as anesthetic
Grain dust down a funnel, light it
Harry strung wire to use a "remote tripper"
Sawed post halfway
Harry used pine nuts as "blasting caps"
011 NIGHTMARES (even while drugged, Mac comes thru!)
LISAISM-Alarm from string, goblet, silverware
Gum wrapper fishing lure
Hid evidence in concrete base of lamp post
Water down belt into electrical outlet is "shocker"
Cot springs & cot used to "sling shot" the door open
TV tube, jumper cable, battery "shocked" bad guys
Fire hose out window faked out bad guys
Air out of tire with nail
Water jugs hung on rope, let go, WHAM
Lit rope on fire to activate smoke alarm
Hit iron bar on fire hydrant to make magnet
012 FUNERAL IN BERLIN/DEATHLOCK
James Bond Trick! Casket becomes a jetski
Held armor out to test for booby traps
Metal bowl & electric juicer jam TV signals
Batteries, wires, mixer, rubber band, cart move armor
Vinegar & Baking Soda smoke screen
Spread out metal duct pipe for "warning alarm"
Rewired & disconnected "bad guys" TV signals
Used mirror as periscope
Got some "trigger" to squirt water at bad guy
013 FLAME'S END
Notice hole is blown IN, not out, with magnesium oxide
Cut wires to speed up time clock to open door
Use a pistol as a wrench
014 COUNTDOWN
Made a robot to open fridge and grab eggs
Turned cargo net into a rapel line
Dental probe coated with vasoline to go thru seal
HOW TO DEFUSE THIS VACUUM BOMB:
1. Score neon tube with sharpening stone
2. Break at score, quickly plug w/cork
3. Slide neon tube SLOWLY thru silicon seal
4. Pop cork against sharp object inside bomb
5. Release of neon sucks phosphorus inside tube
6. Pull tube out, you will hear a BANG
7. Milk & dash of liquid oven cleaner in pastry tube
8. Remove cylinder seals, sniff for chemical content
9. Put milky stuff in each cylinder
10. After liquid clears, drain cylinders
11. AW MAN!!! secondary part activates!!!!!!!
12. Tell Pete you'll play golf (you HATE golf!)
13. Tell Pete to do some cross matches
14. Pete comes back and tells you who is VIKING
15. "Innocently" ask the bad guy which fuse to pull
16. Purposely do the exact opposite!
015 THE ENEMY WITHIN
Fixed brake line while car was in motion
Nylon = adiphic acid, hexmethylene diamene, & iron
Mirror, wires, spiral ash tray for hypnosis
Candle holder, electric cord, rubber = "Heart starter"
016 EVERY TIME SHE SMILES
Used coat rack to break wall
Hooked coat wire on conveyor to break wall wire
Rode on conveyor belt
Speeded up merry-go-round
Dropped rings in merry-go-round mesh gears
The rings messed up the gears and threw off bad guys
Made gas from pest control, soap flakes, tile cleaner
Fused with lard, newspaper, oven cleaner
Placed above on cookie sheet with gas jet
Jumped on oil truck
Put hose on oil truck exhaust
Mixed above with water for explosion
017 TO BE A MAN
Rewired booby trap to prevent detonation
Used satellite parts & plastic shield as hang glider
Used Butane burner as torpedo
Fixed gasket on manual water pump
Hid under straw and knocked support down
Fire Extinguisher, water, & spike; broke off boulder
018 UGLY DUCKLING
Speaker & oscillator hurt bad guys ears
"Kateism"-made transistor radio into SAR-SAT
"Kateism"-jumper cables & battery burned off bars
Cooled Hot bars with hydrocarbon spray can
Cactus juice powered a transistor radio
Triangulation: 2 radios, car antena, watch, wire, sun
Headlight, mirror, binocular lens to fire gun
Got missle to counteract another missle
019 SLOW DEATH
No matter what, MacGyver will NOT miss a train!
Made doll from handkerchief and sock
Salt, Seltzer, green olives as distraction
Moonshine & matches to force bad guys off
Rewired starter on train to overload
Lie Detector from Blood Pressure pump & alarm clock
020 THE ESCAPE
Ball, kerosene, newspaper, cotton = hot air balloon
Spatula attached to ceiling fan simulates helicopters
PCP & "volitle liquid" on clothes for explosive
Wire, washtub, ice, PCP for timed explosive
Tape recorder against microphone simulated sirens
Emptied grenade powder on cement for explosive
021 A PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE
Potato on tailpipe caused car to backfire
Blanket, gas, rope, life jacket jammed boat gears
Hanging bucket with mop slid thru simulated "mopping"
Caulk & "hardening agent" got someone stuck on bucket
022 THE ASSASSIN
Put board across exit "wheel gougers" to drive over
2nd. SEASON
023 THE HUMAN FACTOR
Got past security checkpoint hanging under car
Newspaper, magnify glass, watch crystal = telescope
Tightrope walked over laser trap floor
Plaster dust & coat simulated handprint for sensor
Mirror, mop, & pail redirected and shorted laser beam
Used pants to hang on pipe over boiling water
Magnets, matches, & paper shorted heat seeking robots
Cut cable to stop fan from sucking out air
Used wires to short fuses to start electrical overload
Used overloaded sparking cable to destroy computer
Opened mined door, hoping Pete had detonated mines
024 THE ERASER
Rode ON elevator, instead of IN it
Used wire to short a keypad combination lock
Rewired car phone to lock car doors on incoming call
Used metal tube, rag, & gas as tordedo
Mirror image of guy shot, fake blood included
Run foil between lips to simulate police siren
025 TWICE STUNG
Fire hose attached to elevator broke door
Flashlight battery & matches connect to floodlight
reversed wiring to short out lock
026 THE WISH CHILD
RC Toy used as distraction to "bad" teenager
Watch crystal, firecracker to burst crate
Rope & umbrella used as grappling hook
Gunpowder & bandana in keyhole, hit door, burst lock
Fire extinguisher smoke screen
Block door with fire extinguisher pin
027 FINAL APPROACH
Made parachute into tent
Forced snake away with "fire smoke"
Log bark used as water trough
"Watered" mountain lion away with above trough
Tube and earpiece from headset used as stethoscope
Sighting tool from branches & earrings
Got kids to make mud trough
Hollowed log as "spare tire" on airplane
028 JACK OF LIES
Unscrewed lightbulb with cardboard tube
"Sling shotted" an oxygen cylinder
Plugged fuel leak with stick
"Sneaked in" in a coffin
Poured wine on battery to charge it up
Hooked battery to rope and prop for snare
029 THE ROAD NOT TAKEN
Baseball string tied to door as "alert system"
Animal Fat & Kerosene in can as flare
Made vines into a sling shot
Rosary beads in sun made flame set sling shot off
Used wire from broom as a saw
Fertilizer and rag in can inside bamboo for rocket
030 EAGLES
Broke arrow to splint eagle's wing
Used Pen as bird feeder
ball bearing, propane stove & grinder blew up shed
Used Bicycle inner tube as sling shot
Hang glided eggs down from nest
031 SILENT WORLD
Plastic trash bag, branch, made delayed starter
Put snare outside front door
032 THREE FOR THE ROAD
Used paper clip for fuse (didn't work!)
Used convertible top cover to stop car
Used convertible top to stop car
Used Ball point pen case to fix fuel line
Muffler, seat stuffing, gas, knob used as cannon
Collected gas from tank with tail light cover
Horn, handle, horseshoe, battery, wire is doorbell
Made flowers from newspaper
033 PHOENIX UNDER SIEGE
Electro magnet from dry cell, copper wire, iron pipe
Create static electricity on wire, zap electric lock
"Harryism"-rubbed ropes against chair to free feet
"Harryism"-kicked phone buttons to say on 5th floor
Disarmed a bomb with hockey ticket
034 FAMILY MATTER
Sneaked directional watch under car
Put coat on Oar, tied it to boat
Float money in life jacket as "message"
Wire & rope made remote starter for engine
Explosive with gas can & oil soaked rag
Bamboo bazookas filled with methane mud
035 SOFT TOUCH
Wheel Chair Magnesium, rags, pipe shattered lock
Roped someone with speaker wire
036 BIRTH DAY
Made driving ramp with boards & barrels
Lifted Jeep with boat crane
Weight on fishing pole, knocked out someone
Water soaked sail bag, signal flags, helium filled
037 PIRATES
Shot polystyrene balls with vaccuum cleaner
Bilge pump water into boat bumper (didn't work!)
Compressed Gas under water burst boat hatch
Kept mine trip wire taut with string
Used nail to wedge button on land mine
038 OUT IN THE COLD
The Parachute thru the ski pole trick!
Squirted someone in face with packet of soy sauce
Used water as magnifying lens on broken microscope
Hid in dry clean bag on conveyer
Electrified fence by putting wire against it
039 DALTON, JACK OF SPIES
Released side car from bike to go thru narrow alley
Shoved motor bike at bad guys
Distraction: Cannon and powder
Hid inside crate
Braced dump truck to stop sledge mechanism
Used hooked bar to turn off sledge
Goofed, turned on the dumper instead
HUNG ON FOR DEAR LIFE while dump truck drove
040 PARTNERS
Shoestring, wrench, door handle attached to gas pedal
"Peteism" Pulled Mac off bed with displacement charge
Oil can, pantyhose, battery, exhaust blew off door
041 BUSHMASTER
Used rock & string to make rifle shoot itself
Sent mouse thru drain to get freon
Used freon to shatter lock
Put egg whites on radiator to clog holes in radiator
042 FRIENDS
Clips of old MacGyverisms
Greatest 'ism of all, didn't let retirement beat him- stayed with Phoenix
043 D.O.A. MACGYVER
Slap 2X4 against concrete, sounds like a gun
Muriadic Acid & Amonia make fog screen
Made name plate into bicycle chain guard
Kicked boat stand down to knock bad guy down
Figured out, from conversation, coat was a bomb
Stuffed said coat into jar, threw under bad guys' car
044 FOR LOVE OR MONEY
Made fake blood from red wine and ketchup
Carbon, oxygen, & glove smoke bomb in potato dish
Nitro tablet & alcohol explosive
Attached baling wire to ignition to "stun"
Scared everyone with grenade with explosive removed
3rd. SEASON
045 LOST LOVE (Two Part ep)
046 Rode down log carrier
Entered building thru vent pipe
Duct tape over latch so vent won't close
Lowered himself with rope & carabriners
Found hidden laser with climber's chalk
Arnold Palmer's birthday unlocks combination lock
Breathed on window, wrote numbers on vapor
Hydraulic suctions, plastic tube, remote lift glass
Used clamps for pressure to "fake out" weight lock
Post-It note and rope for "distraction" to escape
Kisses Lisa, pulls out her hair pin to pick handcuffs
Used handcuffs to pick lock
047 BACK FROM THE DEAD
Used fire hose to slide across high wire
Used SAK to drop net on someone
Threw spear at dial, steam pressure hit bad guys
048 GHOST SHIP
Made oars from branch & tent bag
Extracted water from stone with metal tube
Fishing reel & line as trip wire, pole as slingshot
Put ?? in pipe, flush water??????
049 FIRE & ICE
Attached hose to rake head, used as climbing rope
Graphite from pencil to make fingerprints show up
050 GX-1
Pine needles between shirt layers for warmth
Made shoes from duct tape and plastic mat
Made hot air balloon from shed, tent, gas cylinders
051 JACK IN THE BOX
Made acetylene from carbide & water
Hooked bad guy up to cable, cable drug him to mud
Put dynamite in suitcase
052 THE WIDOWMAKER
Car antenae, jump cable, battery used as arc welder
Belt & rope used to climb pole
Cut phone wire to tap morse code
Used a bracelet for above morse code
053 HELL WEEK
"Rymanism"-Fix leak with gum
Acedic Acid & Ammonia smoke screen for motion detector
Jam elevator with dustpan
Defuse bomb by "cooking" mercury with wires
054 BLOW OUT
Tear Gas: Hot water bottle, soda, vinegar, spices
Hung dripping yellow paint under car
Moved desk to displace weight for weight bomb
Fill bomb truck with cement
055 KILL ZONE
Used Transmitter from satellite as a radio
Tubing, freon, & gas to seal silicon leak
Hot wired an elevator to speed it up
056 EARLY RETIREMENT
Steam Pressure Hose Smoke Screen
057 THIN ICE
Replaced solenoid spring with flashlight spring
058 THE ODD TRIPLE
Fire hose on the bad guys trick!
used wine to wriggle out of having hands tied
Nitro cannisters on wine cask to break down wall
DALTONISM! Smoke flare in the suitcase
059 THE NEGOTIATOR
Fire extinguisher to get rid of chase car
Used jumper cables to zap Deborah
060 THE SPOILERS
Smoke screen
061 MASK OF THE WOLF
Copper & zinc mixture to lift tomb door
Used a hemp fuse for above
062 ROCK THE CRADLE
Fixed plane landing gear while in mid air
Built a baby crib from Hockey sticks
Distract bad guys with a remote control plane
Used Fire Hose on bad guys
063 THE ENDANGERED
Matches & rum for diversion
Took distributor cap from bad guys' car
Speared bandana across river to fool bad guys
Forked branch, pegs, fishing line sling shot a dart
Logs & limonite make pointing arrow
Covered ranger with branches
Rope, matches, and coat on vine simulated "approach"
Flashlight barrel & cord used to shoot dart
064 MURDERER'S SKY
Hi-Fi speakers & cable simulate "sonar"
Knocked out lights with window cleaner
Hid behind paper "rock walls"
4th. SEASON
065 THE SECRET OF PARKER HOUSE
Pencil Erasers & Clay on skull remade Aunt Betty
Lit Candle detected draft to find secret door
Pipe on pressure steamer to torpedo the wall
066 BLOOD BROTHERS
Young Mac made a cart from a bicycle
Drain Cleaner & Phenolphthalen Solution=fake blood
067 THE OUTSIDERS
Used barrels to support "dirt tunnel"
068 ON A WING AND A PRAYER
Threw lantern on crates for diversion
Patched sea-plane gash with lifejacket material
Rope plane and rev up for take-off on short runway
MacGyver "flew economy" on a sea-plane!
069 COLLISION COURSE
Made new gasket from racing flag
Silver nitrate tests for chlorine in water
070 THE SURVIVORS
Climber's pick and ropes to slide between rock walls
Stuffed a coat to look like a person
071 DEADLY DREAMS
Used motor oil to see thru frosted window
Soaked matches with water to keep from exploding
"Zitoism"-torn book cover plastic used as cup
"Zitoism"-Drain Cleaner & water simulate heart attack
"Zitoism"-Transport mixture via toilet paper roll
"Crossism"-Tape matches to door, light propane
"Crossism"-Phosphorus lanterns in plastic jugs
072 MA DALTON
Used lug wrench to disconnect himself from car
073 CLEO ROCKS
Tested sulfur on spoon over torch
String & SAK released a wire
Stunned Murdoc with electric cord
074 FRATERNITY OF THIEVES
Sodium Thiosulft. & Dis. Water antidote prussic Acid
Rewired Helipad signal lights
075 THE BATTLE OF TOMMY GIORDANO
Hot wired phone for listening to calls in next room
Sock over the tailpipe, so car couldn't start
Used telephone wire to bolt door shut
Alcohol-Ammonia-Acid used with toy for smoke screen
076 THE CHALLENGE
Used alcohol to test ink print
077 RUNNERS
Tied car to garbage dump with hose
078 GOLD RUSH
Used pin and map to amplify old dictaphone
Vodka, string, oxygen to blow out snow
Disarm weight mine with backpack pole
Rode plane cargo door like sled
079 THE INVISIBLE KILLER
Remote Sling Shot to throw leaves & dirt in guy's face
Shot vinegar & pepper through the telescope
Rope Snare Trap with pulley in fire lookout
080 BRAINWASHED
Figured out the "programming"
Threw medal to enemy to get her to turn Pete off
081 EASY TARGET
Replaced grenade pin with lift ticket wire
Took explosisve from grenade, blew out door
Jammed door, had Pete hold a "trip" wire
Rewired walkie talkies for "short" distraction
Made an electro magnet "short" itself
082 RENEGADE
Hot wire elevator with SAK
Light bulb aim at motion detector to hide motion
Yanked "any old wire" to defuse bomb
Roped prop on helicopter
083 UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Daltonism-Used Feet knock Deborah down w/rock
Clips from past shows
Used fishing rod to knock gun away
5th. SEASON
084 LEGEND OF THE HOLY ROSE (Two part ep)
085 Stowed away in a hot tub crate
Built a two seat airplane for rescue
Used his shoes to escape from pendulum torture
Used flag to climb castle to rescue Zoe
Used bellows as a pea shooter
086 THE BLACK CORSAGE
FROGISM-pushed door open with nose
FROGISM-dog rerouted Mac & Colton out of fish chopper
Cut ropes on fish teeth
Start Merry Go Round to distract bad guys
Used SAK to pick lock
Rigged cord to shut cover when jewelry picked up
087 CEASE FIRE
Wire, battery, jumper cable as "arc welder"
Lisa "doubletalks" bad guys
Rope self to cable car
Cut off bomb with SAK
088 SECOND CHANCE
Shot a syringe through rolled up paper
Exploded a gate lock
089 HALLOWEEN KNIGHTS
Pool Chalk, candle wax makes thumbprint impression
Apple & cabbage deflects rifle with motion detector
Garbage Can Lid deflects rifle with motion detector
Tent cloth prevents motion detector from working
Pouring kerosene on self repels snakes
090 CHILDREN OF LIGHT
Vise Grip forced heavy pipe to burst down door
Used metal pole to slide down cord used as rope
091 BLACK RHINO
A bunch of fighting
Made filter out of cloth
Rode down drainage pipe
092 THE TEN PERCENT SOLUTION
Earring, tube, light bulb broke thru metal door
093 TWO TIMES TROUBLE
Climbed out of elevator, and up shaft
Camera lens = magnifying glass
Got fingerprint with tempura paint and tape
Figured out double life, dressed up as Carla
While underwater in tank, breathed on bubble pipe
Kicked light bulb, cut straightjacket on broken glass
094 THE MADONNA
Rolled stage on barbells
095 SERENITY
Used flag as rope to climb down from roof
096 LIVE & LEARN
Glycerol & water to recover a burned paper
Lifted cement slab off someone
097 LOG JAM
Squirt fire hose at a killer (didn't work too long!)
098 THE TREASURE OF MANCO
Used SAK to dig out grout seal on rock
Stood on stone to activate Inca mechanism
099 JENNY'S CHANCE
Wire & microchip makes high frequency noise
Everybody was somebody else!!!!!
100 DEEP COVER (2nd appearance of DEXTER!)
Flare, oxygen, wire, popped submarine cover
Pinned bad guys with raft
Hooked boat to dock
Cable "hooked" bad guy
101 THE LOST AMADEUS
LULUISM-took key while looking over someone's shoulder
LULUISM-"Therapied" guy to distraction, then hit
Hid inside grate
Hair pin opens lock
Lit kerosene lamp in trash, activates CO2 Extinguisher
Cut ropes against scroll saw blade
102 HEARTS OF STEEL
Swung on Cable to knock bad guy down
Heavy electro-magnet lifted car
103 RUSH TO JUDGEMENT
Used SAK to pick lock on soft drink dispenser
Made soft drink dispenser shoot cans for distraction
Pushed cart to knock bag lady down
Spilled perfume to put dogs off scent trail
Dressed manequins in Mac's clothes to fool dogs
104 PASSAGES
HARRYISM-Gum wrapper fishing lure
Fire hose threaded on boat axle winches door open
Used boat cable to jump from ship
Drew symbol in baby powder to tell Pete something
6th. SEASON
105 TOUGH BOYS
Picked lock w/SAK
Cowboy roped a bomb w/electrical cord
Attempted to disarm bomb w/ string & copper tube
Didn't work, got lucky, bomb was phony
Paint can handle & lawn mower rope pull lift door bolt
Used uzi as wrench to turn on fire hose
Thread said hose thru ladder, squirt bad guys
106 HUMANITY
Phone & Speaker to listen to "clicks" in comb. lock
Threw bomb in safe after opening it
107 THE GUN
Used (??) to pry box open
Explosive: Grenade detonator, copper wire, dry cell
108 TWENTY QUESTIONS
Last computer file accessed = next house robbery
Threw picture for distraction
Lamp, small figure, table, = LARGE shadow on curtain
Chained truck so it wouldn't go over edge
109 THE WALL
Signal Flare to detect laser beam
Used "slimy goo" to get ropes off hands
Used hand puppet as distraction
Toy Blimp as distraction
Dropped snare drum on bad guy
110 LESSON IN EVIL
ZITOISM-Use pin to pick lock (how original!)
Mac deciphered Zito's code
Jumped on bell rope, caused bell to hit Zito
111 HARRY'S WILL
SAK to pick lock
Used wire to pull air pump hose
Inflated doubled-over inner tube to raise car
DIVINE INTERVENTION gave clue to Harry's puzzle
112 MACGYVER'S WOMEN
Used belt hook to cut ropes
Roped building, horse pulled building down
Alcohol poured on seeds in stove mimics gunshots
Used metal bar to cut ropes
Used a metal rod to pick up the wooden bar and open the door
113 BITTER HARVEST
Sunglasses, Nail Polish Remover, Lamp = spectroscope
Used homemade spectroscope to analyze stick for "fix"
Kicked off welded bar, cut ropes on welds
Breathed oxygen from hole left from kicking bar
Squirted wine from tank at bad guy
114 THE VISITOR
SAK to pick lock
VORTEX caused distraction
VORTEX posts Mac's bail
VORTEX shorts out the flame thrower
Uranium, ammonia, nepalm, wires = chemical plasma
Spear salted wires to power lines = chemical plasma
115 SQUEEZE PLAY (3rd appearance of DEXTER!)
Pull out brick to listen in room
Record tone dials to figure out phone number
Kent McCord bats ball to cause sign to fall
116 JERICO GAMES
Jerico pin picks lock
Mac escaped by hanging on under truck
Metal rod pushed window out of incinerator
Used same rod to push incinerator handle to OFF
Rod & string to open latch on incinerator door
117 THE WASTELAND
Used rope from van to reel himself and Willis in out of a bog
Propeller Parachute man to hospital
118 EYE OF OSIRIS
Sugar/Water to dry Sand impression for plaster mold
119 HIGH CONTROL
Found Biotoxin in Teddy Bear
Used broken glass to break ropes
Squirt ether thru pump hose to knock someone out
Mixed explosive, put on bike, hit car with it
120 THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE
Stapled coat to ground, person was in coat
Blown up rubber glove & light bulb thing
121 BLIND FAITH
Steam Pressure Hose Shot Gun
Used grinder to cut ropes
Jam Door with a Crowbar
Used Display Shelf as Bullet Proof Barrier
Used Jumper Cables to make "stunner"
122 FAITH, HOPE & CHARITY
Made a Crutch from Hat Rack
Ropes against saw to cut binds
Made wheelchair from Baby Carriage
Saw thru stair support to stop bad guys
Found a secret tunnel
Cayene Pepper on a mop in someone's face
Pull Stair Carpet runner to trip someone
Vaccuum Cleaner in the Chili, squirt at someone
123 STRICTLY BUSINESS
Used Rifle to prop Booby Trap wires
124 TRAIL OF TEARS
T-Bar inside tube for rocket to break door
Used feather as cotter pin to stop bomb
125 HIND-SIGHT
Clips of old MacGyverisms
Another great 'ism, stuck by Pete through his tough time
7th. SEASON
126 HONEST ABE
Use Flashlight Morse Code to access helicopter
"Waxed" cloth thru candle for a fuse
Threaded above fuse into keyhole
Poured Brandy into bellows, flushed thru keyhole
Lit fuse by stiking metal hoop on concrete floor
Fired helicopter weapons by shaving & flashing mirrror
127 THE 'HOOD
Speared skeleton hand to pull lever
Candle Wax enhanced printing on burned matchbook
Hid in Laundry Cart, kicked someone
Knocked scaffolding down w/ fire hose & elevator
128 OBSESSED
Used shoes to pull cart with nitrogen toward him
Used Nitrogen to break rope
Stuffed cloth in the intake of rocket to mess it up
Squirted "409 Cleaner" on light bulb for diversion
Murdocism-Dart in payment briefcase
129 THE PROMETHEUS SYNDROME
Used bomb to break down door
Pulled bomb pin with officer badge
Used above pin to unhook motion sensor in bomb
Used walkie talkie magnet against bomb circuit
130 THE COLTONS
Got the dog to bring acid to him to cut rope
131 WALKING DEAD
Grabbed rope thru knothole in coffin
Knotted rope, swaying truck broke coffin
Threw Mama L.'s "magic dust"
Wire, brick, barrel as distraction
Escaped in cloud of magic powder
132 GOOD KNIGHT MACGYVER (Two part ep)
133 "Ducked" on horse to prevent joust jab
Cowboy-roped a knight
Sliced standing rope with SAK
Lit a match (This WAS the 7th Century!!!!!)
Pewter goblet, 4 eggs, & (?????) for poison antidote
Alcohol, candle, wire, metal, glass; isolated tinadium
Soda & vinegar in bag is fire extinguisher
Corkscrew on SAK pulled Mac out of pits
High pitch dog whistle from metal tube & paper?
Lighter & "black powder" make letters show up on rock
Polished barrette with ammonia to make mirror
Wet cloth strips, quills, silk, knife makes kite
Vitriol & zinc make hydrogen gas in a boda bag
Used said gassed boda bag to fly kite
Said kite caught fire and blew off jail door
134 DEADLY SILENTS
Open SAK with one hand!
SAK thru wallet, poke curtain, slide down curtain
Used shoe as "grappling hook"
Pulled prop down on "bad guys"
135 SPLIT DECISION
Homemade boxing training devices
Sodium Thiosulfate & water is "chill bag"
Knocks window with crane truck
136 GUNZ 'N BOYZ
Tore off Air Conditioner to get in warehouse
Lit whiskey covered kindling in wastebasket for flame
Used flame, Duct Pipe, cinch belt to torpedo beer keg
Picked lock with champagne cork wire
137 OFF THE WALL
Used SAK to pick lock
Heat Coil & Coat hanger to break plastic hand ties
Threw bomb down chute, hit car
138 THE STRINGER
Water Pressure Hose "Turbo" Lift
Smoke screen down a funnel
139 THE MOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
Test tube & scarf to split wire
Put stopper in door to jam it so it wouldn't lock
MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES
140 THE LOST TREASURE OF ATLANTIS
Replaced Medal used to hold bars with lens cap
Now, HOW did they get out of the rock pile???
How to get out of Jail with an electrically
charged floor:
1. Attach chain to wooden chair.
2. Place chair on electric floor.
3. Make sure you don't step on electric part!
4. Hop on chair, don't touch floor.
5. Lean back in chair.
6. Fill keyhole with butane gas from lighter.
7. Jump off chair.
8. Push light hanging from cord against door
to ignite the butane.
9. BAM, door is open.
Take apart gun, use pin to pick handcuff locks.
How to get a car with no engine to "go:"
1. Put booster rockets on side of car
2. Hook the car to a box of grenades.
3. BAM, building door is blown off, car goes.
Used the booby trap stalactites to cut rope
Candle in armor to burn rope for distraction
Used SAK to start the plane
How to get out of a volcano:
1. Thread rope thru funnel
2. Throw funnel with rope to top
3. Hope it "catches," it does
4. Loop rope thru pulley
5. Put coat over steam pipe
6. The pressure of steam forces coat out
7. Rope moves, hang on, get out
141 TRAIL TO DOOMSDAY
Air nozzle w/powder to distract bad guy
Wet rag w/charcoal used as gas mask
Used eyeglasses as magnifier
Use belt as a pole grip to climb pole
Used vaccuum switch and hose to distract bad guy
Screw driver blocks door
Tone generator of oscilloscope rewired uranium separator
Used insulation to crawl on "hot" uranium pipes
Red & Black lead wires and tennis racket used as tricket wrench
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Here is some of a transcript of a letter from Rick Drew, one of the show's writers.
While writing the show, the MacGyverisms were usually developed out of the nature of the story. We seldom if ever came up with an idea for a MacGyverism then built story elements around it. More often than not, they evolved from the location of the story itself. Given that I (and others) were on location, we often developed ideas at the last minute due to location restrictions. For example, a writer in LA may have written an elaborate stunt to take place in a auto plant, but when it came down to shooting, the location might be changed to something like a saw mill or an abandoned fish cannery -- as a result, the elements necessary for the MacGyverism conceived in the original script would no longer be available, and we would have to brainstorm something based on what would logically be available on the new location. In short, to create MacGyverisms, we had to think like MacGyver.
One of my favourites was in "Murderer's Sky"; MacGyver was trapped in a subterranean hidden room in Chinatown. Knowing that Vancouver's Chinatown is (supposedly) honeycombed with tunnels and opium dens from the last century, I thought this would be an interesting place to trap he and the boy he was locked up with. The problem then became, how do I get him out? While watching our art department build a cave set for an up-coming episode, I came up with an idea: They would use industrial aluminum foil to create a rough surface, then spay it with liquid styrofoam, which was then painted. I then wrote in a stove and packing paper to be placed in the room, and had MacGyver and the boy disguise themselves as rocks! It proved to be a lot of fun...
Steve Downing had a phrase that always guided such notions "Simple but memorable". I'm sure you will agree, the best ones were based more on creative ingenuity, rather than a vast knowledge of scientific theory.
We had two researchers proved extremely helpful, John Koivula in LA, and Jim Green in Vancouver. When we were stuck, they would help us brainstorm, and would provide us with the scientific theory behind the ideas. Whenever we created anything "bomb-like" or otherwise destructive, we took pains to be certain we were not being instructional, by leaving out or changing a key element. We all were disturbed when every now and then, we'd read in the paper that some kid did some damage or blew something up based on what he'd seen on MacGyver. This was never the case.
As for the ideas for episodes in general, they came from as many different areas as there are episodes. Recalling a few of my own...
THIN ICE: Was my first original episode. It was inspired by the upcoming winter Olympics at the time, and the fact that Richard Dean Anderson was the honourary captain of the US Olympic hockey team. We felt we could take our "non-violent" theme and apply it to the blood sport of hockey.
BLOOD BROTHERS: This was an effort to examine why MacGyver never used a gun. Steve Downing (a former police officer) has very strong views about gun control, shared by all of us. Though the shooting of (the young) MacGyver's friend did not occur in R.D.A.'s life, the shooting of the bird did. He told me about an incident when he was a kid when he shot at a bird casually, and actually hit it. He was sickened by the fact he had taken a life so casually, and never shot at anything again. I borrowed this true incident as a set up for the accidental shooting. A point of trivia; the fellow playing the sheriff of MacGyver's home town was actually Rick's best friend when they were kids. There was a storm of controversy about the episode because ABC bowed to pressure from the NRA, and refused to air a message at the end of the show stating the facts about deaths related to handguns and children. Also, it marked the US network debut of Jason Priestly, who was still a local Vancouver actor at the time. In a way, it was his first big break into prime time TV.
CLEO ROCKS: Murdoc as the Phantom of the Opera. I had just come back from having seen Phantom in London, and I couldn't resist. John Sheppard and I had fun with that one. As always, Michael had fun chewing the scenery as Murdoc. It was also a chance to show off Teri Hatcher (now Lois Lane on "Lois and Clark"). The song she did was written by Michael. It was fun to feel like a Broadway producer for a little while.
JENNY'S CHANCE: Also written with John. It was inspired by a true incident in England where ultra sonic signals were being broadcast from a riding crop to throw off other horses in a race. I had worked on a couple of movies with Linda Blair, so it seemed like a nice idea to create a vehicle for her. "Stings" such as these are hellish to write.
THE WALL: I remember when the wall came down in Berlin, I thought "Freedom rushed in, but what got out?" The rest of it was based on research from the New York Times magazine about Stazi agents left out in the cold. G. Gordon Liddy, who had been on the show as an actor proved to be a helpful and inspirational resource for information and wild ideas.
EASY TARGET: Was based on an article Liddy wrote for OMNI magazine suggesting that terrorists could cripple an area by generating an electromagnetic pulse that would ordinarily accompany a nuclear explosion. The episode came out pretty lame for a number of reasons. It was written to be shot at a local power plant, but they backed out at the last minute for technical reasons. The rest of it just came off like a lame 50's sci-fi flick. Not one of my favorites, and easily my worst experience writing the show.
THE SECRET OF PARKER HOUSE: John and I rewrote it based on the original by one of our producers. [name deleted], who took a pen name due to the re-write. The explosion scene got out of hand, and several windows in the old house we were using were shattered as a result.
Another bit of trivia: "The Endangered" (one of the few spec scripts we ever bought), was written by Peter Felardi, who went on to write the successful "Flatliners".
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John Rich revealed in his book of memoirs, "Warm Up the Snake: A Hollywood Memoir", on pages 167-168, about the creation of some of the MacGyverisms on the show. During MacGyver's production, a monetary reward was offered to anyone who could come up with a workable MacGyverism for the show. One fan wrote a letter with the idea for MacGyver to crack open an egg to plug up radiator leaks, which was actually used in the "Bushmaster" episode.