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Pleasure Principle

Episode Screen Caps Episode Number: 151
Season Number: 8.2
Air Date: 10/14/1987
Writer: Jay Huguely
Director: Corey Allen
Producer: Tom Selleck
Exec Producer: Donald P. Bellisario

Recurring Characters
Kathleen Lloyd (Carol Baldwin), Jeff MacKay (Lt. "Mac" MacReynolds), Gillian Dobb (Agatha Chumley), Kwan Hi Lim (Lt. Tanaka), Amy Yasbeck (Diana)
Guest Stars
Julia Migenes (Rosita Esteverdes), Gregory Sierra (Miguel Torres), Dennis Robertson (Dr. Lawrence Hallert), Holly Smith (Danielle)
Episode Brief
Still healing from his near-death ordeal and experiencing Mac's ghost, Magnum is surprised when Higgins hands over his Estate duties to be able to take some time off. In a bizarre twist, Higgins starts living the fast and loose life, wears loud Hawaiian shirts and becomes irresponsible, while Thomas assumes Higgins' stuffy personality and ways, going so far as to wear a suit. Curious about Higgins's sudden change in personality, Thomas investigates and discovers that Higgins is seeing a woman on the sly, and becomes concerned that she is taking Higgins for a ride.
Rating
8.4(39 votes)Rate Episode
Notes
1 This is the thirteenth and final "Higgins-centric" episode of the series, following "Tropical Madness" (2.7), "The Elmo Ziller Story" (2.21), "Black on White" (3.6), "Foiled Again" (3.8), "Faith and Begorrah" (3.23), "Letter to a Duchess" (4.6), "The Case of the Red Faced Thespian" (4.12), "Holmes Is Where the Heart Is" (4.18), "Luther Gillis: File #001" (5.10), "Professor Jonathan Higgins" (5.13), "Who is Don Luis Higgins?..." (6.19) and "Autumn Warrior" (7.13).

2 The Complete Eighth Season DVD features excellent episode commentary by longtime Magnum P.I. writer/producer Jay Huguely.

3 Mendelssohn's "A Midsummer Nights Dream Overture" and "Wedding March" are featured, as is Miami Sound Machine's "Conga" (1986). "Conga" is used five different times in the episode! "Come on, shake your body baby, do the conga. I know you can't control yourself any longer"...

4 Robin Masters' novel Die, and Die Again is seen on Higgins' desk. The novel was first mentioned in Season Five's "The Man From Marseilles" (5.20).

5 Gregory Sierra (Miguel Torres) is familiar to fans of Barney Miller as Detective Sergeant Chano Amenguale, and as Julio Fuentes, the Puerto Rican neighbor on Sanford and Son.

6 Future Wings star Amy Yasbeck begins her small role as Honolulu police officer Diana (incorrectly credited as "Diane" in this episode). She will be seen again in "Tiger Fan" (8.4) and the series finale "Resolutions" (8.12 & 8.13).

7 The climax was filmed at the Oceania Floating Restaurant at Pier 6 in Honolulu Harbor. Dick "The Giant" Jensen (Chief Mano in "Kapu") used to perform there in the mid-1970s. The restaurant was previously used in Season Two's "Memories Are Forever" (Magnum & Michelle's wedding) and Season Three's "Birdman of Budapest" ("Dragon Bar" scene). (Noted by Sam & rubber chicken)

8 Ala Moana Beach Park is used as a filming location (when Magnum and Carol are following Higgins), as is the Neil S. Blaisdell Center (inside, for the concert hall segment when Magnum and Agatha run into Rick and Danielle). (Noted by Tim)

9 Magnum is knocked out cold at two different times - once with a punch, once with a kick!

10 T.C. is a fan of Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko.

11 Tanaka is seen walking on crutches, but there is no mention as to why he needs them.

12 The rarely seen Higgins bedroom set is used for a brief scene.

13 Rick has a new girlfriend, a highbrow lady named "Danielle". She loves classical music and poetry.

14 Magnum smokes his fifteenth cigar of the series in this episode. (Noted by Jay-Firestorm)

15 Higgins briefly mentions Operation Hambone, a WWII deception operation run in early 1944 to support the invasion of Normandy.

16 Magnum is seen reading an issue of The National Review (with Jack Kemp on the cover). The National Review is one of Tom Selleck's favorite magazines.
Quotes
1
Magnum: Oh, I get it. You're getting in shape for your vacation. What's it going to be this year? Kayaking down the treacherous Noatak River? Scaling the mighty Kanchenjunga? Leading a camel caravan from Khandahar to Kabul? What?
Higgins: Actually, I've decided to spend two quiet weeks at home.

2
Magnum: There's a funny thing about paradise. Every day is pretty much the same as every other day. One slides into another, weeks become months. And before you know it, you could lose several years without REALLY knowing where you were going. That's why there are "hurricanes", to shake everything up. To give you a chance to take stock in what you have left after the "winds" have died down.
(short while later)
.... A further note about "hurricanes" - they arn't all weather conditions. Once in a while, a "tropical storm" blows into your life to give you a chance to take a more personal inventory. A chance to look at what's worth salvaging AND what you might as well "toss out".
(short while later)
.... Observation #3 about "tropical storms", the weather kind, or the person kind - once you know they are on their way there is nothing you can do to stop them. All you can do is batten down the hatches, keep alert and hope for the best.
(short while later)
.... A final thought about "tropical storms" - no matter how many times you have to go through them, you're still never quite prepared for it when the next one comes around. (Narration)

3
Magnum: If this keeps up, I'm afraid I'll have no alternative but to call Robin.
Higgins: I see, so there IS a Robin Masters when YOU need him!!
Flubs
1 About minute 25, when Higgins moves from his office to the foyer (followed by Magnum), a boom mic can be seen over Magnum outside the double doorway, in front of the chandelier. (Noted by Andrei Conovaloff)


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