Murder, She Wrote - Magnum on Ice

Rate, review & discuss the Simon & Simon and Murder, She Wrote crossover episodes

Moderator: Styles Bitchley

How Would You Rate This Episode?

10 (Perfect!)
1
2%
9.5 (One of the Best)
3
7%
9.0 (Excellent)
3
7%
8.5 (Very Good)
7
16%
8.0 (Pretty Good)
9
20%
7.5 (Decent)
2
5%
7.0 (Average at Best)
4
9%
6.5 (Not So Good)
6
14%
6.0 (Pretty Bad)
4
9%
5.0 (Just Awful)
5
11%
 
Total votes: 44

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Little Garwood
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Re: Murder, She Wrote - Magnum on Ice

#46 Post by Little Garwood »

thechickinthemiddle wrote:LOL the review/recap blog isn't mine, it's run by a fine gal from Australia. It's a real gem to read though, what with all the guest stars shared between MSW and MPI. MSW and DM were definitely in a similar league, with all the TV and film legends guest-starring. Magnum had that too, but with the main cast skewing a bit younger, you weren't gonna see on that show an episode-long homage to cop shows or sci-fi or Mission: Impossible.
It's not your website? :oops: Then just credit yourself for promoting it with such enthusiasm! :wink:

It was the Mannix crossover episode that really got me to take note of DM, though I haven't seen all that many episodes. You're right about it--and MSW--being a great way to catch up with so many familiar faces (or unfamiliar faces, depending on who their plastic surgeon was).
"Popularity is the pocket change of history."

~Tom Selleck

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Mrs. Higgins
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Re: Murder, She Wrote - Magnum on Ice

#47 Post by Mrs. Higgins »

Just watched it again....

Jessica Fletcher? What the hell was Higgins thinking? He should have called the Equalizer.

I liked this episode when it aired, and I still kinda do. There's just something about MSW....I don't know if it was the crappy, thrown-together scripts, or the endings where Jessica had to explain who was the culprit and why. Still, it's Magnum and Higgins and that's all that matters.
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K Hale
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#48 Post by K Hale »

Shermy wrote:This one makes a pretty seamless transition from the "Magnum portion" of the story, and I really like the way Jessica's theme music reflects the Hawaiian setting. But I'm a little surprised that Magnum and Jessica didn't really team up that much over the course of these episodes. I guess I was expecting them to draw on Magnum's admiration of Miss Marple, and somehow work that into the plot.
I found this episode to be an obvious attempt to let J.B. Fletcher show Magnum up. You can certainly tell it was written by MSW writers.
It's interesting that Higgins can do nothing about Magnum's $100,000 bail. The experience obviously taught him not to rely too heavily on Mr. Masters' approval, as he has no qualms about personally borrowing $300,000 just two episodes later.
Plot hole caused by writers lacking familiarity with the show. After all, it's his money, so he should be able to do what he wants with it. :wink:
Magnum also tells Jessica if she agrees not to turn pro, he won't go out and buy a typewriter. Of course, Magnum reneges on this deal just five episodes later in Murder By Night.
They didn't try to be consistent at all between this episode and everything else. :roll:
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KingKC
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Re: Murder, She Wrote - Magnum on Ice

#49 Post by KingKC »

This crossover was an attempt to lift the sagging ratings of MPI and I think it was just hastily put together. In some ways I think they took a planned episode of MPI and poorly rewrote it to bring Jessica Fletcher into the plot. In any event it was a thorough disappointment.

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Turkey
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Re: Murder, She Wrote - Magnum on Ice

#50 Post by Turkey »

Yeah, I didn't enjoy this one a whole lot - have only seen it once, so far
Make it two weeks.

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Little Garwood
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Re: Murder, She Wrote - Magnum on Ice

#51 Post by Little Garwood »

K Hale wrote: I found this episode to be an obvious attempt to let J.B. Fletcher show Magnum up. You can certainly tell it was written by MSW writers.
This has always irked me. As I mentioned in a previous post, a guest star should be made even cooler than they are on their own series, so that new viewers are actually interested in that character. Jessica was her usual perfect self, but Magnum--who was most likely referred to as "Magim" or "Mangum" by cranky, disinterested MSW viewers--does not benefit from this, even though he later saves Jessica's miserable life. :lol:
K Hale wrote: Plot hole caused by writers lacking familiarity with the show.
The "Weeeoooawaaa" stereotypical Hawaiian music score in this episode is another dead giveaway that this was put together by the MSW producers.

Philip DeGuere and writer Bob Shayne did a much better job portraying the MPI crew alongside the Simon brothers in Magnum's earlier crossover, "Ki'i's Don't Lie."
"Popularity is the pocket change of history."

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K Hale
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Re: Murder, She Wrote - Magnum on Ice

#52 Post by K Hale »

I agree that the Simon & Simon ep was a lot better, though IMO Higgins was a little out of character in both of them. Not bad but a bit of a fanfic feel.
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Little Garwood
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Re: Murder, She Wrote - Magnum on Ice

#53 Post by Little Garwood »

K Hale wrote:I agree that the Simon & Simon ep was a lot better, though IMO Higgins was a little out of character in both of them. Not bad but a bit of a fanfic feel.
I'd chalk that up to Hillerman's cold rather than any deficiencies in the script; Gerald McRaney also sounded like he was down with a bug (of the non-"Will Kill Pest Control" variety). :wink:

Despite the many "issues" with Magnum on Ice, I still find it to be highly enjoyable (and I'm by no means a MSW fan); I completely understand that most others don't.
"Popularity is the pocket change of history."

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K Hale
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Re: Murder, She Wrote - Magnum on Ice

#54 Post by K Hale »

Little Garwood wrote:
K Hale wrote:I agree that the Simon & Simon ep was a lot better, though IMO Higgins was a little out of character in both of them. Not bad but a bit of a fanfic feel.
I'd chalk that up to Hillerman's cold rather than any deficiencies in the script; Gerald McRaney also sounded like he was down with a bug (of the non-"Will Kill Pest Control" variety). :wink:
It's not that he was hoarse, it's something about the lines he was given. They were a little too stereotyped, just not quite right in some way. As if written by someone who knew the character, but didn't know him well and hadn't written for him before.
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Little Garwood
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Re: Murder, She Wrote - Magnum on Ice

#55 Post by Little Garwood »

K Hale wrote:It's not that he was hoarse, it's something about the lines he was given. They were a little too stereotyped, just not quite right in some way. As if written by someone who knew the character, but didn't know him well and hadn't written for him before.
Not to put you on the spot, but the next time you watch it--if that time should ever come--I'd be interested in knowing which lines those would be.
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K Hale
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Re: Murder, She Wrote - Magnum on Ice

#56 Post by K Hale »

Little Garwood wrote:
K Hale wrote:It's not that he was hoarse, it's something about the lines he was given. They were a little too stereotyped, just not quite right in some way. As if written by someone who knew the character, but didn't know him well and hadn't written for him before.
Not to put you on the spot, but the next time you watch it--if that time should ever come--I'd be interested in knowing which lines those would be.
My first impression is to say "All of them," haha. I'll try, but can't guarantee I will be able to put my finger on what sounds off to me.
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K Hale
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Re: Murder, She Wrote - Magnum on Ice

#57 Post by K Hale »

Visited the beautiful Royal Hawaiian Hotel a couple of weeks ago with an eye to finding the room where Higgins and the ladies confront Victor Salyer. I found it. There have been some changes, new floor tile, wheelchair ramps added, new railings, windows added, and a shop doorway removed, but it was easily identifiable.

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thechickinthemiddle
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Re: Murder, She Wrote - Magnum on Ice

#58 Post by thechickinthemiddle »

Excellent work K Hale! :D

I love how most places like this and Honolulu Airport look almost exactly the same as they did 30+ years ago.

Also, Jessica Walter's expression is gold.

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K Hale
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Re: Murder, She Wrote - Magnum on Ice

#59 Post by K Hale »

thechickinthemiddle wrote:Excellent work K Hale! :D

I love how most places like this and Honolulu Airport look almost exactly the same as they did 30+ years ago.

Also, Jessica Walter's expression is gold.

Image
Haha! I didn’t like Paula and Amy but I got a kick out of Joan. Get it, girl!
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Re: Murder, She Wrote - Magnum on Ice

#60 Post by Chris109 »

K Hale wrote:
thechickinthemiddle wrote:Excellent work K Hale! :D

I love how most places like this and Honolulu Airport look almost exactly the same as they did 30+ years ago.

Also, Jessica Walter's expression is gold.

Image
Haha! I didn’t like Paula and Amy but I got a kick out of Joan. Get it, girl!
It was implied she did 'get it' on that trip.


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