# Did you know MacGyver is a TV show on TV right now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 7, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257 "2017-10-07T20:09:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/1 "2017-10-07T20:09:18Z")
No, no the Richard Dean Anderson one we all remember. There is a re-make on TV right now. While I may have vaguely heard something about this possibility years ago, I had no idea it was on and is now in its second season. Did you know this? Folks who watch it. How is it? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/2 "2017-10-07T20:23:39Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > No, no the Richard Dean Anderson one we all remember. > > There is a re-make on TV right now. While I may have vaguely heard something about this possibility years ago, I had no idea it was on and is now in its second season. > > Did you know this? > > Folks who watch it. How is it? I heard about it, got excited about it, heard more about it, lost some interest. Watched the first episode, haven’t seen the second. Didn’t know it got a second season, bit surprised about that. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/3 "2017-10-07T20:25:51Z")
I watch it regularly. It’s funnier than the previous one, and MacGyver has a team he works with this time. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/4 "2017-10-07T20:29:38Z")
Yes, I knew that. I never watched the old one; I doubt I’ll watch this one. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/5 "2017-10-07T20:33:29Z")
Watched the first episode of the new one. The first episode. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/6 "2017-10-07T21:01:18Z")
Yes, I knew there was a new MacGuyver. CBS seems to be reviving a lot of old shows. Hawaii Five-O. And there’s a new S.W.A.T coming on. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/7 "2017-10-07T22:22:54Z")
My friends used to call me “Evil MacGyver”. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/8 "2017-10-07T22:45:47Z")
They is also a series of _Lethal Weapon_. From what little I’ve seen, the TV versions of the characters have approximately 0.0001 percent of the chemistry and charisma as the movie versions. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2017, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/9 "2017-10-07T23:42:16Z")
The original MacGyver worked alone and didn’t use guns. The new MacGyver works with a team, some of whom use guns. One of new MacGyver’s team is a hacker (of course!) who can magically get into any computer system and make it do anything in just a few seconds. In other words, the charm of the original MacGyver is missing from the new show. It used to be fun to watch him work himself out of scrapes with whatever he could find. Now he does it with a team of invincible wizards behind him. Also, Lucas Till plays MacGyver as a sort of smug jerk. Richard Dean Anderson created a more likeable character, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/10 "2017-10-08T00:02:43Z")
They heavily retooled the pilot before it began, basically ripping out everything that was emulating the original series which, for whatever reason, didn’t work for them this time. I haven’t watched it, though, because I wanted [a female MacGyver](https://imgur.com/gallery/8iJfb), a niece or cousin or something of the original Mac. I thought that would’ve been cool. A complete clean reboot seemed unnecessary, and they really cast it weirdly. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/11 "2017-10-08T00:20:06Z")
I’ve seen most of the first episode and have been meaning to watch a full one sometime, but… Anyhow, I find it weird that they paired him with some sort of military weapons expert, instead of a goofy bush pilot always pulling him into crazy hi jinx. I find it too distracting that the guy has a faux-hawk. Is there a satirical reason for it? Is it supposed to throw the bad guys off and not take him seriously or is it to lighten the demeanor of the character? Or do they think they need something more advanced then a mullet? CBS seems to have a formula of putting a nerd under the protection of some sort of protector. There was Numb3rs where Rob Marrow wasn’t the nerd this time, and Person of Interest where I was surprised to learn Harold wasn’t the lead character. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/12 "2017-10-08T01:10:06Z")
I knew there was a re-make, and was excited when I first heard of it, until the details started coming out and it became clear that it had nothing in common with MacGyver. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/13 "2017-10-08T01:27:58Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Yes, I knew there was a new MacGuyver. CBS seems to be reviving a lot of old shows. Hawaii Five-O. And there’s a new S.W.A.T coming on. I came in here, vowing to do a full chug if I saw someone misspell the character’s/show’s name in precisely the above way. _ **\** _ ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/14 "2017-10-08T01:48:57Z")
I heard about it a few years ago, didn’t know it was on or that it actually lasted more than one season. It seemed like a horrible idea. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/15 "2017-10-08T01:59:31Z")
So I’m the first one to say that I loved the original series, and I also love the reboot and have watched every episode. That said, it was never the science/gadgetry that I enjoyed, but the characters, and particularly the chemistry between Mac and Pete (I still miss you, Dana :() The new show has switched things up a bit, but I love the chemistry between Mac and Jack (George Eads is wonderful and very funny). I thought what they did with (female) Pete was interesting (you had to watch through the season to see the story), and I was even more excited when they brought on another favorite of mine, Meredith Eaton. It is definitely a show that does not require 100% of my attention, but if I just need to relax in front of some mindless entertainment, it’s a great choice. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/16 "2017-10-08T02:05:47Z")
I’ve never seen the show (for that matter, I never watched the original series) and I wasn’t aware of it until a couple of weeks ago. But I happened to see an ad for the series. My reaction was pretty much like the OP’s; _“There’s a new MacGuyver series? When did that happen?”_ ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/17 "2017-10-08T02:08:08Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > I came in here, vowing to do a full chug if I saw someone misspell the character’s/show’s name in precisely the above way. > > _ **\** _ Big deal. We all know we’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/18 "2017-10-08T02:13:05Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > That said, it was never the science/gadgetry that I enjoyed, but the characters, and particularly the chemistry between Mac and Pete What about between Mac and [Guest of the Week That He Definitely Never Worked With Again](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9E1sNl0lVY)? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2017, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-macgyver-is-a-tv-show-on-tv-right-now/798257/19 "2017-10-08T02:25:35Z")
It’s fine. The guy playing Jack is great. The guy playing MacGyver is very good unless he’s actually called upon to act, then it’s cringeworthy. The supporting characters try not to be too bland. The boss lady is played by the short actress from Boston Legal, and she doesn’t act well. Over all, though, it’s campy fun. And they just added a pretty blonde.