Magnum Mania!

The Ugliest Dog in Hawaii

Episode ID: 8
Episode Number: 1.8
Air Date: 1/29/1981
Writers: Allan Cole, Chris Bunch, Frank Lupo
Director: Lawrence Doheny
Producer: J. Rickley Dumm
Exec Producer: Donald P. Bellisario

Guest Stars

Michael V. Gazzo (Victor DiGorgio), Shawn Hoskins (Sharon Karns), Paul Gale (Steve Caldwell), Michael Nader (Mitch Caldwell), Kathleen Nolan (Gloria Marston), Jake Hoopai (Kono), Robert Harker (Chauffeur), Michael Hasegawa (Pier Guard)

Plot Outline

After an attempted dog-napping, Higgins volunteers Magnum's services to guard a wealthy socialite's quarantined dog. Things get complicated when the dog's former owner, Victor DiGiorgio, who also happens to be a notorious gangster, tries to get him back. In time, "Sir Algernon Farnsworth" finds himself to be the most wanted dog in Hawaii.

Rating

8.0 (17 votes) MM Episode Forum Thread & Poll

Notes

1 In the closing credits, mixed in with various shots from the story, are several bloopers and outtakes from the episode involving Tom Selleck and John Hillerman (visual only, an extended version of the closing credits theme song plays over them). This is one of only a handful of episodes to showcase bloopers or outtakes in the closing credits.

2 The familiar Mike Post & Pete Carpenter theme song [audio] is heard for the first time in the closing credits, as well as variations of it in in-episode music. This score will soon become the standard opening credits theme song, replacing the original Ian Freebairn-Smith version [audio] in three episodes time (in "Thicker than Blood"). It should be noted that this version is looped and has a slightly different form than the version that will be used for the rest of the series. The guitar and bass in particular are noticeably different, as well as the time signature.

3 Honolulu International Airport is used as a filming location.

4 There appears to be more than one brown and orange 1980 GMC Jimmy used in this episode. One had the rear tire carrier removed, a large dent in the passanger side door, standard late 70's-'80 plaid seats, and a loose headliner (behind the sun roof). The other has the spare carrier in place, no dent, leather and sheepskin seats, and the headliner is not loose. Also, notice in the shots where "Sir Farnsworth" is in back, how messed up the interior is. (Noted by N1095A)

5 The "bananna plantation" chase scenes were filmed at Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens. The subsequent pier scene was filmed at the Makai Research Pier at Makapuu Point, on the windward coast of Oahu. A different angle of Rabbit Island can be seen in the background. The pier will later be used as the homebase for T.C.'s Island Hoppers heli-charter business.

6 Tennis greats Jimmy Connors and Bjorn Borg are mentioned by Higgins. He implies that they are going to be staying on the estate for a short time while they are in Hawaii!

Quotes

1
Magnum: There are times when one human being really shouldn't take advantage of another, but this wasn't one of them.

2
(Magnum and Sharon are being chased by aging mobster Victor DiGorgio, and his nephews Steve and Mitch, through a bananna field, when they stumble upon two pot farmers with rifles)
Magnum: Hi guys.
Pot Farmer #1: Hey, you're tresspassing. I have the right to shoot tresspassers.
Sharon: We're not tresspassing. We're being chased.
Pot Farmer #1: You're being chased?
Sharon: Yes. Besides, the bannana plantations were converted back to the government when the leases ran out, so we can't be tresspassing, especially since I work for the gov...
Magnum: Me! She works for me! We got a couple of guys following us from 5-0 on our tail.
Sharon: I thought you said they weren't from 5-0?!
Magnum: Well, not all of them. The Justice Department always sends a couple of local cops with one of their federal agents.
Pot Farmer #1: You've got the Feds after you?
Sharon: No!
Magnum: Yes! We came up here in our pickup truck with a load of c-leaves. We were looking for our patch when they jumped us. You see, we didn't realize you guys were already up here. I'm sorry.
Pot Farmer #1: That's ok.
Magnum: How far is the highway from here?
Pot Farmer #1: About a mile down.
Sharon: Thomas!
Magnum: What?
Sharon (Points to pot plants): This is cannabis! Grass!
Magnum: Yes! Yes, I know it is. Uh, your stuff looks much healthier than ours anyway.
Pot Farmer #1: Well, you should try our Puna buds, bra.
Magnum: Yeah, right. That's good stuff. Let's go! Let's go!

(Magnum and Sharon run for a bit, then stop)

Sharon: Come on.
Magnum: Just a minute, I wanna try to get a fix on where we are so I can let them [the cops] know about their little "patch".

(Multiple shotgun blasts heard off in the distance)
(Cut to Victor, Steve, and Mitch)

Steve (re: pot farmers): Who the hell are they?
Victor: They gotta be moonshiners. There's gotta be a still around here somewhere.
Mitch (looks at Victor): They're growin' grass! We've stumbled upon their patch!
Victor: Grass? Why would anybody be growing grass in a bananna patch?

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