Episode Guide Index
2.1 018 10/08/81 Billy Joe Bob
written by Jeff Wilhelm
directed by Ray Austin
guest stars James Whitmore jr., Marla Pennington
Billy Joe, a cowboy from Texas, searches for his sister Carol Ann. When
he finds that she has been murdered, Billy Joe desperately wants to find
her murderer.
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The address for the K. K. C.: 3880 Old Pali Road (not the Pali Highway).
James Whitmore Jr., who starred with Selleck and Manetti in one ep. of
_Rockford_, re-appears in "Did You See the Sunrise?".
2.2 019 10/15/81 Dead Man's Channel
written by Diane Frolov
directed by Ray Austin
guest stars Wendy Girard, Ina Balin
The young biologist Marion Hammond misses her father who didn't come
back from a boat-trip to the Nihoa-Channel. Magnum investigates...
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Actress Ina Balin (_Black Orchid_) returns in the ep. "L. A."
2.3 020 10/22/81 The Woman on the Beach
written by Andrew Schneider
directed by Donald P. Bellisario
guest stars Judith Chapman, Jack Hogan, Kenneth Mars
Rick's new girlfriend Sara - Just a Phantom?
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We know from ep's such as "Forty Years from Sand Island" and "Resolutions"
that Thomas Magnum loves cigars. Notice how he strolls out alone on the
beach to light a cigar at the end of this ep. This is when he sees the
ghost. Nearly the exact same thing happens to him at the end of "Mac's Back"
when the ghost of Mac actually lights his cigar for him!
2.4 021 10/29/81 From Moscow to Maui
written by Andrew Schneider
directed by Michael Vejar
guest stars Jeffrey Pomerantz, Susan Helford, Allan Rich
Magnum becomes involved with a defected Soviet pilot, a Soviet Olympic
track star, and the K.G.B.
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The khaki colored SEAL issue swim shorts worn by Thomas here and in many
later ep's are the first of many small indicators in the series that
Thomas is a graduate of that most difficult military school. By the 1990s
it had become fashionable for popular media heroes who had Navy backgrounds
to be former SEALs. It has almost become ubiquitous in movies and
television. But in 1981 the Navy's special warfare group still was widely
unheard of in the civilian world. Thomas Magnum is perhaps the first
former SEAL ever portrayed in the popular media.
2.5ab 022 11/05/81 Memories are Forever
written by Donald P. Bellisario
directed by Ray Austin
guest stars Marta DuBois, Clyde Kusatsu, Paul Burke, Brian Fong
One night, Magnum dreams of Michelle. The next morning he sees her on a
yacht in the harbor...
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Notable prop developments: the "Magnum" belt buckle with Navy Surface
Fleet badge appears for the first time, Thomas lapses back to an old
mistake by once again wearing his Team Ring on the left hand, and after
he fires eight rounds from his .45 it's slide does not lock back to show
the pistol is empty as it should. He puts the pistol to General Hue's
chest as if to shoot, but he has already fired the maximum capacity of
his unaltered .45 without reloading! We get a clear look at Thomas'
driver's license. His social security number is 546-10-8740 and his
address is listed as 11435 18th Ave., Honolulu, HI (46816). This is
not (and cannot) be the address at the estate which is out of town on
the Kalanianaole Highway. We can speculate, though, that since he's been
at the estate for only a year his license still shows his old address
at wherever he lived in town before he was "hired" by Robin (as shown in
"Dream A Little Dream"). In reality, this address was just a few doors
down from MCA's Magnum, P.I. production office at 520 18th Ave. His
license is shown again in "Murder 101". This ep. contains the first
reference to Higgins' memoirs. And it is the first of several times the
Parke Memorial Chapel on Breretania street in Honolulu's Queen Emma Square
is used as a filming location. Marta DuBois (_Tales From The Gold Monkey_)
begins her role as Magnum's wife which continues in "Little Girl Who" and
"Limbo". Soon Tech Oh begins his role as her husband, General Nguyen Hue.
He also appears in "Two Birds of A Feather" and "Kiss of the Sabre".
Clyde Kusatsu appears in many episodes, including "All For One" and
"This Island Isn't Big Enough". Paul Burke plays Admiral Hawkes in
"Did You See the Sunrise?" and "Blood and Honor".
2.6 023 11/12/81 Tropical Madness
written by Robert Hamilton
directed by Larry Doheny
guest stars Devon Ericson, Roy Dotrice, Bruce Johnson
Magnum only gets refusals from the beautiful Jennifer. She is fond of
Higgins instead. Magnum thinks that there must be something wrong and he
examines her background. Soon he steps into problems . . .
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The VMO2 cap appears. The Valley of the Temples is used for the first
time. It also appears in "Did You See the Sunrise?",
"The Arrow that Is Not Aimed", "Torah, Torah, Torah", "Little Girl Who",
and "Tigers Fan".
This ep. contains the only time Thomas and Higgins come to blows (although
they come pretty close in "Paper War"!).
2.7 024 11/19/81 Wave Goodbye
written by Reuben Leder
directed by Sidney Hayers
guest stars Vic Morrow, W.K. Stratton, John Calvin
When Magnum's friend Kacy is found murdered on the beach he determinedly
tracks down her killer.
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The bartender returns as Kika the petticab driver in many later episodes,
including "The Treasure of Kalaniopu'u".
2.8 025 11/26/81 Mad Buck Gibson
written by Robert Hamilton
directed by Rick Kolbe
guest stars Darren McGavin, Vera Miles, Wally Landford
Buck Gibson, an old friend of Robin's and a legend for his early novels
and macho lifestyle, arrives in Hawaii. It becomes Magnum's lot to protect
the hell-raiser from himself.
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See the surf ski for the first time. Gillian Dobb appears the first of
three times ("The Elmo Ziller Story" and "Ki'i's Don't Lie") prior to her
regular role as Agatha Chumley.
2.9 026 12/03/81 The Taking of Dick McWilliams
written by Diane Frolov
directed by Rick Kolbe
guest stars Irene Yah-Ling Sun, Guy Stockwell
Magnum's old friend Dick McWilliams is kidnapped. His Wife Mitsu wants to
pay the $500.000 ransom without telling her greedy father. Magnum should
deliver the money...
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This ep. contains the first of many references to Magnum's "little voice",
that instinct he talks about frequently in voice-over.
2.10 027 12/17/81 The Sixth Position
written by Babs Greyhosky
directed by Sidney Hayers
guest stars Andrea Marcovicci, Signe Hasso, Corinne Michaels
Magnum acts as a bodyguard for one of the best female ballet dancers.
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Higgins takes security matters into his own hands but comes up short,
so to speak.
2.11 028 12/24/81 Ghost Writer
written by Caroline Elias
directed by Ray Austin
guest stars P. Mackenzie, Elisha Cook, Alan Fudge
Virginia Fowler, a successful ghostwriter, writes a biography for the mad
millionaire Harold Faber. Somebody tries to suppress that, so she takes
Magnum as her guard.
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This is Elisha Cook Jr.'s (_Salem's Lot_) first appearance. Later he
takes over the role of Ice Pick.
2.12 029 01/07/82 The Jororo Kill
written by Alan Sutterfield, Reuben Leder, Andrew Schneider, Donald P. Bellisario
directed by Alan Levi
guest stars Tyne Daly, Ed Fernandez
An assassin dressed like a nun blows up a car in southern France. Kate
Sullivan, a friend of Magnum's and a former war reporter, hunts the big
story.
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The character "Russler" will return in "Jororo Fairwell" played by a
different actor. Actress Tyne Daly (_Cagney and Lacey_) guest stars.
2.13 030 01/14/82 Computer Date
written by Babs Greyhosky
directed by Robert Thompson
guest stars Charles Aidman, Nancy DeCarl
Lady Ashley wants to visit Higgins. He wants to lose weight to be in
better shape. Magnum wants to coach him. Magnum searches for a spy in the
marketing section of a big firm. He notices that somebody illegal has
access to the firm's computer system. Also, the firm's manager wants
Magnum to shade his wife, whom he thinks has a lover...
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Thomas and Rick come to blows here and in "Distant Relative".
2.14 031 01/28/82 Try To Remember
written by Andrew Schneider, Reuben Leder
directed by Michael Vejar
guest stars Nancy Grahn, Mark Withers
While investigating a case, Magnum has a car accident and awakes lying
in intensive care. He can't remember what happened - and police found his
Detoit Tigers cap next to a murdered body...
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8/8/44 (Bellisario's birthday) is established as Thomas Magnum's birthday.
In later episodes it is a point of error. This episode is Doc Ibold's
first and Lieutenant Tanaka's first.
2.15 032 02/04/82 Italian Ice
written by Donald P. Bellisario
directed by Gilbert Shilton
guest stars Ann Dusenberry, Mimi Rogers
Magnum flies to Sicily at the request of Robin to rescue the daughter of
a friend. She becomes enamored with Thomas and takes her desire to a
deadly extreme.
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Kalakaua Dr. is incorrectly given as the Robin's Nest address. Thomas is
compared to Burt Reynolds here and again in "L. A." Mimi Rogers (_Divorce
Wars_) guest stars.
2.16 033 02/11/82 One More Summer
written by Reuben Leder, Del Reisman
directed by Rod Daniel
guest stars Louise Sorel, David Wilson, Dick Butkus
Magnum wants to protect his old friend and football player Dorsey from
murder, so he joins the team, which is in Hawaii for training. But the
murderer doesn't give up...
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Pat Morita (_The Karate Kid_) and Dick Butkus (_The Legend of Sleepy
Hollow_) guest star.
2.17 034 02/18/82 Texas Lightning
written by Robert Hamilton
directed by Michael Vejar
guest stars Julie Sommars, Jack Hogan
Jeannie Lowry takes Magnum as a bodyguard to a high-stakes poker game
at sea.
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It supposedly is Magnum's birthday.
2.18 035 02/25/82 Double Jeopardy
written by Babs Greyhosky, Reuben Leder
directed by Robert Totten
guest stars Dana Wynter, Larry Pennell, Kathleen Nolan
A film team shoots a movie at Robin's estate. Magnum agrees to be a
stuntman, after he learns that his co-actor is Olivia Ross.
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Dana Wynter appears again in "Foiled Again".
2.19 036 03/04/82 The Last Page
written by Andrew Schneider
directed by Alan Levi
guest stars Robert F. Lyons, Kam Fong
Magnum is hired by a Vietnam War veteran presumably to locate his
girlfriend. In truth, the veteran is after a different target.
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Ice Pick is mentioned for the first time. Joanna Kerns (_Growing Pains_)
guest stars.
2.20 037 03/25/82 The Elmo Ziller Story
written by Robert Hamilton
directed by Michael Vejar
guest stars Robin Manetti, Barbara Rhoades, Med Flory
A cowboy appears with the same face as Higgins'. His name is Elmo Ziller
and he works in a Rodeo Show. Elmo is a half-brother of Higgins. According
to his daughter Lexi, Elmo is pursued by killers...
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John Hillerman plays his first of four dual roles. He plays Elmo Ziller
here, Father Patty in "Faith and Begorrah", Don Luis Mangueo in
"Who Is Don Luis, Higgins, and Why Is He Doing These Terrible Things To Me?",
and his own father Albert Stanley Higgins in "Deja Vu".
2.21 038 04/01/82 Three Minus Two
written by Robert Van Scoyk
directed by Sydney Hayers
guest stars Jill St.John, Beverly Garland
Jan Kona organizes a fashion-exhibition. She fears to be the next victim
after the death of her business-partner Alan.
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Notice Higgins' use of a silent dog whistle. Magnum uses one in
"Holmes Is Where The Heart Is".