MacGyver episodes: Second season
SECOND SEASON
(Note: Dana Elcar joins Richard Dean Anderson among regular cast members.)
023 The Human Factor
Airdate: 22 September 1986
Writer: Robin Bernheim
Director: Charles Correll
Guest Cast: June Chadwick as Dr. Jill Ludlum, Peter Haskell
as Col. Scott Woodward, Peter Kwong as Steven Lee.
Nielsen ratings: 15.4 rating, 24 share, 3rd (33rd overall).
A malfunctioning computer interprets MacGyver's test of its
security system as the real thing, trapping MacGyver and
the computer's designer inside a top-secret lab with only
30 minutes of air.
024 The Eraser
Airdate: 29 September 1986
Writer: Stephen Kronish
Director: Paul Krasny
Guest Cast: Joe Santos as Jimmy Kendall, Morgan Stevens as
Simmons, Richard L. Jamison as Ralph, Henry Jones as
Charles Banning.
Nielsen ratings: 14.0 rating, 22 share, 2nd (49th overall).
MacGyver inadvertently leads a hit man to his target, a man
the Government wants alive for selling information to the
East Germans, and the mob wants dead for double-crossing
some foreign clients.
025 Twice Stung
Airdate: 06 October 1986
Teleplay: Mark Lisson & Bill Froehlich
Story: Phil Combest, Mark Lisson, & Bill Froehlich
Director: Paul Krasny
Guest Cast: Pamela Bowen as Joanna Remmings, Al Fann as
Kelly Sutton, Richard Romanus as James Crowe, Rex Ryon
as Carl, Steve Eastin as Tony.
Nielsen ratings: 13.9 rating, 22 share, 3rd (50th overall).
MacGyver and Thornton operate a private sting to get
back the life savings of a friend who was swindled by a
dangerous con artist. (First clear evidence MacGyver is now
working for Phoenix Foundation).
026 The Wish Child
Airdate: 20 October 1986
Teleplay: Stephen Kandel & Bill Froehlich
Story: Stephen Kandel, Brian Lane, & Stephen Kronish
Director: Charles Correll
Guest Cast: Leon Fan as Paul Chan, James Hong as Lee Wenying,
James Paz as Ston, George Takei as Dr. Shen Wei, Tia Carrere
as Lisa Chan, Clyde Kusatsu as Sam.
Nielsen ratings: 13.1 rating, 20 share, 3rd (44th overall).
In Chinatown, MacGyver tries to rescue a friend's brother
from a scam in which he's being passed off as the
reincarnation of an ancient Chinese legend.
027 Final Approach
Airdate: 27 October 1986
Writer: Rob Hedden
Director: Alexander Singer
Guest Cast: Ramon Franco as Ramon, Pamela Gidley as Gina,
Ricky Paull Goldin as Tommy, David Harris as Luther.
Nielsen ratings: 10.3 rating, 15 share, 3rd (61st overall).
MacGyver and four street youths on a rehab program that he's
bringing home from a camping trip struggle for survival after their
plane crashes in the mountains.
028 Jack of Lies
Airdate: 03 November 1986
Writers: Kerry Lenhart & John J. Sakmar
Director: Charles Correll
Guest Cast: Bruce McGill as Jack Dalton, Patricia McPherson
as Michelle "Mike" Forester, Silvana Gallardo as Elena,
Kevyn Mayor Howard as Sonny, Gregory Sierra as Colonel Antunnez.
Nielsen ratings: 14.3 rating, 22 share, 3rd (47th overall).
Jack Dalton needs MacGyver's help to free a "botanist"
who's being held hostage in Central America by drug smugglers.
(Introduces Jack Dalton. Some commentary on MacGyver's years right
after college with Jack and Mike.)
029 The Road Not Taken
Airdate: 10 November 1986
Teleplay: Stephen Kronish
Story: Chuck Bowman
Director: Cliff Bole
Guest Cast: Marilyn Jones as Debra Easton, Salome Jens as
Sister Margaret, Patrick Gorman as Gilbert Arnaud,
Dana Lee as Chanthara, Arsenio "Sonny" Trinidad as Kahn.
Nielsen ratings: 14.9 rating, 23 share, 3rd (41st overall).
MacGyver meets up with his former love on a job in
Southeast Asia, where they're being pursued by government
troops after a plan to rescue a nun and some orphans.
030 Eagles
Airdate: 17 November 1986
Writer: George Lee Marshall
Director: Paul Krasny
Guest Cast: Julie Cobb as Susan Cooper, Chris Stone as Curry,
Michael MacRae as Ghant, Peter MacLean as Mr. Nistrum,
Danny Cooksey as Darin Cooper.
Nielsen ratings: 14.6 rating, 22 share, 3rd (40th overall).
While on assignment, MacGyver runs afoul of an escaped felon
who's shot and wounded a rare golden eagle.
031 Silent World
Airdate: 24 November 1986
Writer: Stephen Kandel
Director: James L. Conway
Guest Cast: Mary Beth Barber as Carrie Linden, Jack Colvin
as Abel Makepeace, Geoffrey Lewis as David Crane.
Nielsen ratings: 14.4 rating, 22 share, 2nd (36th overall).
The recurring nightmares of MacGyver's deaf friend may be
the clue to finding arms dealers who have stolen a
missile-guidance system, piece by piece.
032 Three for the Road
Airdate: 15 December 1986
Teleplay: Kerry Lenhart & John J. Sakmar
Story: Rob Hedden & Mark Lisson
Director: Alan Crosland
Guest Cast: Edward Mulhare as Guy Roberts, Anne Rogers as
June Roberts, Richard Hatch as Michael Talbot,
Dennis Stewart as Tom, Michael Rider as Phil.
Nielsen ratings: 13.7 rating, 21 share, 3rd (44th overall).
MacGyver gets involved with an aging actor and his wife when his
contact is shot and dumps the evidence for a counterfeiting group
(a satchel of phony $20's) in the couple's `56 Caddy convertible.
033 Phoenix Under Seige (sic)
Airdate: 05 January 1987
Teleplay: Stephen Kronish
Story: John I. Koivula
Director: Gilbert Shilton
Guest Cast: John Anderson as Harry Jackson, Tricia O'Neil
as Victoria Charles, Richard Lineback as Phillips, Harry
Beer as Fred.
Nielsen ratings: 12.9 rating, 18 share, 3rd (52nd overall).
MacGyver and his grandfather are hunted by terrorists while
trapped at the Phoenix Foundation building.
Flashbacks reveal deaths of MacGyver's father and grandmother.
034 Family Matter
Airdate: 12 January 1987
Writer: Paul A. Magistretti
Director: Alexander Singer
Guest Cast: T. Scott Coffey as Michael Thornton, Penelope
Windust as Connie Thornton, Donald Gordon as Frank Bonner,
Beau Billingslea as Boone, Jeffrey Josephson as Obadiah Moss.
Nielsen ratings: 16.1 rating, 23 share, 3rd (31st overall).
Thornton's ex-wife and son are kidnapped and held hostage
by old DXS colleague who wants Thornton in exchange for
their release.
035 Soft Touch
Airdate: 19 January 1987
Writers: Joan Brooker & Nancy Eddo
Director: Charles Correll
Guest Cast: Teri Hatcher as Penny Parker, Robert Donner as
Vince, Vincent Schiavelli as Lyle, Michael Ensign as
Derek, Elya Baskin as Yuri Demetri.
Nielsen ratings: 16.7 rating, 23 share, 3rd (34th overall).
MacGyver becomes embroiled in an assassination plot when his
scatterbrained friend Penny Parker sees thugs torturing a Federal
agent.
036 Birth Day
Airdate: 02 February 1987
Writer: Rob Hedden
Director: James L. Conway
Guest Cast: Toni Kalem as Elaine Harryman, Joseph Lambie as
Andrew Harryman, David Crowley as Eric, Paul Drake as
Mitch, J.E. Freeman as Karl.
Nielsen ratings: 14.8 rating, 22 share, 3rd (42nd overall).
MacGyver is trapped inside an abandoned factory with a
pregnant woman who's being chased by her husband because
she has evidence that could send him back to prison.
037 Pirates
Airdate: 09 February 1987
Writer: Stephen Kandel
Director: Bruce Kessler
Guest Cast: Marta Dubois as Dr. Barbara Ortega, Stephen M.
Gagnon as Commander Nelson, Cliff Potts as Gar Manning.
Nielsen ratings: 16.3 rating, 23 share, 3rd (31st overall).
Modern-day pirates, using Navy SEAL tactics, steal an 18th
century Spanish captain's log that could lead them to a
sunken treasure fleet.
038 Out in the Cold
Airdate: 16 February 1987
Writer: Stephen Kronish
Director: Cliff Bole
Guest Cast: Jonathan Goldsmith as Jack, Deborah Wakeman as
the Ski Patrolwoman, Robert Pastorelli as Arnie, Michael
Constantine as Sam Leland.
Nielsen ratings: 17.5 rating, 24 share, 3rd (27th overall).
On a skiing trip, MacGyver is targeted by the mob after
a man secretly slips him some microfilm.
039 Dalton, Jack of Spies
Airdate: 23 February 1987
Writers: Kerry Lenhart & John J. Sakmar
Director: Bob Sweeney
Guest Cast: Bruce McGill as Jack Dalton, Lee Purcell as Shadow,
Alan Fudge as Jay Michaels, Curt Lowens as Stanley Berrenger,
Duane Tucker as Al, Frank L. Annese.
Nielsen ratings: 15.8 rating, 23 share, 3rd (35th overall).
Jack Dalton fakes his death to duck a CIA operation that
was supposed to ferret out a mole in the agency, but things
get complicated when he and MacGyver are framed for murder.
040 Partners
Airdate: 02 March 1987
Writers: Bill Froehlich & Mark Lisson
Director: Cliff Bole
Guest Cast: Bruce McGill as Jack Dalton, Iris Alhanti as
Sara, Michael Dea Barres as Murdoc.
Nielsen ratings: 15.1 rating, 22 share, 3rd (35th overall).
On the 7th anniversary of their mutual meeting, MacGyver
and Thornton are lured into a trap by an assassin they
thought had been killed on the first case they worked
on together. (This account of Mac & Pete's first meeting conflicts
with the story presented in "Deathlock.")
First appearance of arch-nemesis Murdoc.
041 Bushmaster
Airdate: 23 March 1987
Writer: Rob Hedden
Director: Don Chaffey
Guest Cast: Sandy McPeak as Moore, John Shuck as Joe Henderson,
Rene Estevez as Kelly Henderson, Bert Rosario as Lt. Paul
Para, Alex Colon as General Salazar.
Nielsen ratings: 15.5 rating, 23 share, 3rd (35th overall).
The daughter of an American cargo pilot being held prisoner
in Latin America tags along on MacGyver's rescue mission.
042 Friends
Airdate: 06 April 1987
Writer: Stephen Kronish
Director: Cliff Bole
Guest Cast: John Anderson as Harry Jackson, Robin Curtis as
Kate Connelly, Michael W. Goodwin as Craig Bannister,
Teri Hatcher as Penny Parker, Bruce McGill as Jack Dalton,
Tim Rossovich as Mike Desmond.
Nielsen ratings: 15.4 rating, 24 share, 3rd (29th overall).
At a surprise birthday party thrown for MacGyver by Pete Thornton
& his friends, MacGyver reviews his life-threatening career
and ponders resignation.
043 D.O.A.: MacGyver
Airdate: 27 April 1987
Writer: Jaison Starkes
Director: Cliff Bole
Guest Cast: Joh Pleshette as Lancer, Clive Revill as Braddock,
Priscilla Morrill as Helen, Kim Miyori as Tara, Rockne
Tarkington as Jules, Nana Visitor as Carol Varnay.
Nielsen ratings: 12.6 rating, 21 share, 2nd (40th overall).
An amnesiac MacGyver is hunted by terrorists who believe
he knows of their plan to assassinate U.S. military
figures with an explosive device.
044 For Love or Money
Airdate: 04 May 1987
Writer: Doug Heyes, Jr.
Director: James L. Conway
Guest Cast: Deborah Adair as Diana Rogers, Walter Addison
as Anton Dubcek, Oksana Olijar as Viera Dubcek, Reuven
Bar Yotam as Krug.
Nielsen ratings: 12.3 rating, 20 share, 3rd (39th overall).
MacGyver and a ruthless, free-lance mercenary pose as
honeymooners in Czechoslovakia to free a political
prisoner from asylum.