One More Summer (2.17)

[Operation Chessboard]

Thanks for that info, IH. I completely forgot about Staubach. I guess Annapolis isn't like West Point where it's mandatory to serve four years active duty as a CO after graduation. I need to look that up.

[IslandHopper]

No problem OC. I can't remember for sure, but I think Staubach may have served on active duty before he went to the cowboys, but by the time McCallum and Robinson came out the rules were somewhat relaxed and I believe they were allowed to serve in the reserves while they played in their respective leagues (NFL & NBA), but again, I'm not 100% sure.

[Shermy]

One thing that sticks out about this episode is that Magnum doesn't catch Dorsey's stalker. He has no clue that the kid exists as a threat, and really just happens to be present when the kid stages a reckless assassination attempt in broad daylight. Even then, he plays no part in taking the kid down.

Of course, there's an effort made to gloss over this fact by having the team's owner stage an equally foolish assassination attempt on Magnum! But even though he uncovers the plot to sabotage Dorsey's shoulder...it doesn't really make any difference. Dorsey still opts to risk further injury, and everything we've learned about him suggests he'll continue on in this manner. So I'm not sure Magnum actually does anything in this episode.

It's a filler episode for me, but there's still some fun to be had. I really love the scene where Higgins realizes he misses Magnum's presence at the estate. It's also interesting that dog repellent was introduced here, yet Higgins is stunned to discover that Magnum has a can later on in Season 3 (The Arrow That Is Not Aimed).

Another oddity is the fact that TC- a man who is constantly too busy when Magnum needs him on a case- suddenly has time to try out for a professional football team. Not to mention the fact that he's in his late thirties and trying out for a professional football team. Or that he somehow manages to make the cut.

Lastly, the title always reminds me of Magnum's baseball-themed speech to Mad Buck Gibson, where he offers his father's advice about only getting "one summer...no matter how long it lasts".

[IKnowWhatYoureThinking]

Thanks for that info, IH. I completely forgot about Staubach. I guess Annapolis isn't like West Point where it's mandatory to serve four years active duty as a CO after graduation. I need to look that up.

Staubach did serve active duty as did David Robinson. Napoleon McCallum was a really good back for the Mids in the 80's and he served his active duty stint before a few years in the pros.

[robfg67]

I just found this forum and starting watching this series thanks to the Netflix service with the Roku box.

In the first practice scene in Aloha Stadium, a close-up shot of the football reveals that it is an official NFL ball. It has the signature of the commissioner at the time, Pete Rozelle.

[Jay-Firestorm]

My second review of double review Friday. Not such a fan of this one.

[rating=7.5]

When someone tries to kill a Naval Academy friend, now a pro footballer, Magnum is persuaded to join the team undercover to keep an eye on him – and must endure the tough poundings of training. Not very interesting, especially if you’re not a sports fan…

-----

While I can probably think of worse episodes in the ‘Magnum, p.i.’ barrel, especially from later in the run, ‘One More Summer’ is not exactly one of my favourite episodes.
Part of this is due to the fact that (American) Football is a U.S. game (I’m a Brit, though I don’t talk like Higgins!), and even beyond that I’m not a sports fan, so the episode was slightly lacking in appeal from the start for me.
And even when taking that into account, the episode is rather basic and, I have to say, a bit dull in places.

One oddity of this episode is Pat Morita. He who played Arnold in some seasons of ‘Happy Days’, and would go on to play Mr. Miyagi in ‘The Karate Kid’ movies. He is billed at the beginning with the guest credits, yet we only see him in the opening scene, with just a couple of lines. I wonder if more was filmed with him but dropped for timing reasons. Either way, it’s a real shame, as I would have liked to have seen a whole episode written around this likable actor.

David Wilson is fairly well cast as carefree Dorsey, although the character does become a bit tiresome after a while and never really goes anywhere.

The episode gets off to a slow start, and was one of those that I felt really could have used a b-plot. There are some funny moments (I like Magnum giving the big speech to the player who turns out not to speak English), but, especially coming after such strong episodes as ‘Try To Remember’ and ‘Italian Ice’, it is clear that the episode isn’t exactly one of the best of the season.
It can sometimes be funny watching Magnum being put through his paces – I think back to one of my favourite first season episodes, ‘Beauty Knows No Pain’ – but in ‘One More Summer’ they just didn’t seem to have their finger completely on the pulse.

There is a good scene as Higgins is left with “the lads” all alone on the Estate after Magnum has left, but more could have been done with this. Maybe it could have been worked into the b-plot that I feel the story could have done with.

The best thing about the episode is the great ending, with Dorsey heading off to play, knowing that his shoulder isn’t up to it and he’ll likely be badly injured. It quite reminds me of the end of ‘Mad Buck Gibson’ earlier in the season, with both characters going to meet their fate.

All-in-all, maybe watchable once, but not one of the better episodes of the season.

-----

Other notes, bloopers and misc.:

* On the DVD version of this episode, all of the commercial breaks are abridged.

* A possible flub similar the one already mentioned on the episode’s main page, with Pat Morita going from wet to dry; After T.C. has pushed the giant player (can’t remember his name) into the pool near the end of the episode, a few shots later when he is sitting down, he appears to be dry!

* When Channel 5 broadcast this episode in 2002, they edited out the sequence of the (same) giant player continually smashing his head against his locker, presumably because they were worried that young viewers may try to imitate it!

[gmt16750]

It's all worth the Higgins/Magnum relation. All their scenes together are quite fantastic and best scene in my opinion is Higgins' monologue with great shot of the estate that seems so desolated without Magnum.
When Magnum tells him that he's leaving, seeking for a place without dogs, Higgins' facial expression is better than thousand words.
I thought James J. Walters' quote : "Higgins: As a matter of fact, the aura of pastoral serenity that has permeated the estate since your departure is positively delightful. The birds sing. The Lads frolic..." was from this episode.
Well, it's not and i still wonder which episode does this masterpiece quote come from?

[J.J. Walters]

I thought James J. Walters' quote : "Higgins: As a matter of fact, the aura of pastoral serenity that has permeated the estate since your departure is positively delightful. The birds sing. The Lads frolic..." was from this episode. Well, it's not and i still wonder which episode does this masterpiece quote come from?

It's from "The Hotel Dick".

[gmt16750]

Thank you James!
i'll watch it again tonight as for me Higgins/Magnum confrontations are what i more enjoy in this show
And because i can't remember having ever congratulated you, thanks for this great forum full of magnum-maniacs and helpful informations!

[Jaybird]

I guess you either loved it or hated it from the way the ratings came out. I rated it a 9 as I thoroughly enjoyed it. Maybe I liked it because, coincidentaly, it's now early September and football season is gearing up!

Plus there are some classic TM vs. Higgins lines. Simply classic!

[charybdis1966]

Some may say the story is a bit lame, but the character dialogue is quite sharp at times.
I especially like it when Higgins points out the superiority of rugby to "American football" - exactly the sort of thing you'd expect him to say.
"I don't see the necessity for all the padding" he says(or something similar) - having watched rugby it is a very savage contact sport and any professional player has a 1 in 3 chance of being injured at any time during the season because of impact injuries.
I like the "Win one for the dipper" misquote - wasn't that one of Ronny Reagan's catchphrases ?

[SelleckLover]

This episode is average at best, but my favorite scene is where Dorsey and Magnum are in the locker room relaxing in their respective whirlpool baths and the female owner of the team comes in and introduces herself to Magnum. She extends her hand to shake his, but he does not reciprocate because he is covering his private parts with his hands. Hilarious!

[charybdis1966]

..and then when she's about to leave she flicks some water in TM's face. Very playful and flirty, but yes a only "slightly better than mediocre" episode.

[CrazyWaltChambers]

I have to give this Episode a "10" and throw off the scale a bit. I give it a 10 because I got to play football with Tom and the gang all week, and it was fun to shoot on location at Aloha Stadium. I especially thought the kid who played the killer (CrazyWaltChambers) was especially good ! It was his first acting job, and it was just a fun time. As far as,Pat M. or Dick B, I was in the show and I didn't see either of them ! Although, Dick and I shared a dressing room on opposite day, so I know he was around. I be back in Hawaii next week, after being away for almost 30 years, and really am looking forward to it. As for favorites, "Infinity & Jelly Donuts" is up there ~ just for the title, alone! Aloha.

[J.J. Walters]

Welcome CrazyWalt!

So this is you, huh?



Wait, sorry, wrong screen cap!



Must have been a blast!

"Hey Dorsey, I'm your biggest fan."