...By Its Cover

Episode Number: 61
Season Number: 3.21
Air Date: 3/31/1983
Writers: Rogers Turrentine, Donald P. Bellisario, Rob Gilmer
Director: Mike Vejar
Producer: Chas. Floyd Johnson
Exec Producer: Donald P. Bellisario

Guest Stars

Stuart Margolin (Rod Crysler), Carlene Watkins (Ms. Gordon), Robert Feero (Dolphie Crenshaw), Ronald Hunter (Emmet Donner), Ted Gehring (Herm Dunbar), Clay Wai (Tony), Robert Apisa (Mack), Peter Bourne (Ray), Tom Lupo (Peters - uncredited)

Episode Brief

A friend of Magnum's from his Navy days, "Hot" Rod Crysler, is being blackmailed by a corrupt narcotics officer into delivering marijuana, and when Magnum stumbles onto this, he seeks to clear his friend's name.

Rating

8.1

(52 votes)

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Notes

¹ This episode opens with a great psychedelic, Doors-esque rock song ("Rod's Song"), composed by Mike Post & Pete Carpenter.

² "Hot" Rod Chrysler is an old friend of Magnum's. They went to the Naval Academy and served time in Vietnam together. When Magnum and T.C. went MIA after they were captured by Col. Ivan, Rod took a 30-day leave of absence to spend time with Magnum's mother.

³ Stuart Margolin (Rod Crysler) is a Rockford Files (1974-1980) alum. He played the recurring character of Angel Martin, a close friend of Rockford's. Stuart Margolin also directed "Legacy From a Friend" (3.19) a few episodes earlier.

⁴ The Thomas Magnum look-alike (Peters) is played by an uncredited Tom Lupo. Tom Lupo is Tom Selleck's stunt double for the series! (Noted by Jay-Firestorm)

⁵ The climactic ending with T.C. landing the chopper on the roof of the hotel was filmed at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel (today known as the ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel). (Noted by Sam)

⁶ The headline in Rod's newspaper ("Oahu P.I. Helps Break Aerial Dope Ring") is a reference to the events in the previous episode "Two Birds of a Feather" (3.20).

⁷ This episode features some nice views of the Hawaii Kai area of Oahu.

⁸ The ending features a great 3-on-3 brawl involving Magnum (with his Tigers hat on backwards) and Rick (and Rod).

⁹ "5-0" (from Hawaii Five-0) is mentioned again; T.C. says to Magnum, "I still can't understand why 5-0 couldn't chauffeur you around, man".

¹⁰ There is a reference to Tom Selleck's 1977 TV movie Bunco with Robert Urich.

¹¹ The mysterious "Hungarian acrobats" are referenced for the fourth and final time. They were previously mentioned in "Past Tense" (3.5), "Of Sound Mind" (3.13) and "Birdman of Budapest" (3.16).

¹² Ted Gehring (Herm Dunbar) appeared with Tom Selleck in the 1979 television movie (and failed pilot) The Gypsy Warriors.

Quotes

¹
Rod Crysler: Hey man, I'm so clean it smells good!

²
(T.C.'s chopper is landing on a beach)
Ray: You don't think that could be Da kine, huh?
Tony: Yeah, definitely, brah! That's Da kine! The whirlybird express!

³
(Higgins & Magnum are discussing the newlywed guests of Robin Masters who are staying at the estate)
Higgins: The Baron sent word that he and Miss Elle would be leaving this afternoon.
Magnum: They sent word!?
Higgins: Yes, they havn't left their suite since they arrived on Thursday.
Magnum: Five days!?
Higgins: I just keep sending in food and drink. It's absolutely decadent.

Flubs

¹ Rod attempts to sell Higgins a set of Milford's Encyclopedias at Robin's Nest. How did a solicitor like Rod gain access onto the estate? The estate is supposed to be impenetrable to everyone except Magnum. (Noted by IslandHopper)

² While still on the estate, Rod hands Magnum a photo of his (supposed) son, and as Rod says "Rodney Charles Crysler, Jr." you can see the photo of Rodney, Jr., in Magnum's hand. This particular photo of Rodney Jr. is cropped closley around little Rodney's head and shoulders so you don't see any background. However, seconds later, the camera cuts to a frontal shot of Magnum holding the photo and he says "Hey, a little Hot Rod." As Magnum says this the camera cuts to a close-up of the photo supposedly being held by Magnum (probably done in post production). This photo is a photo of the same child, but it is a different photo than the one Rod just gave Magnum a second before. You can tell it is a different photo as the child is facing in a different direction, and instead of just seeing the child's head and shoulders as in the previous photo, the child is further in the background in this photo so he appears smaller, and you can actually see a lot of background in this photo. (Noted by IslandHopper)

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