Computer Date (2.14)

[lutherhgillis]

For me, this was a good episode. It took a while for me to put the whole story together (the first time I watched, of course). All along, Magnum and Rick were being set up. Pretty clever writing.

I enjoy watching this one now just to see the old computer equipment and security stuff. Wow, talk about out of date... And its always good to see Mac.

BTW, I always thought his name tag said Mac Reynolds as opposed to McReynolds or MacReynolds. Did aanyone hear him ever called anthing except Mac? (Ski doesn't count or was it Skeet?)

[J.J. Walters]

Yet another episode that features some unused footage in the end credits...



I could be wrong, but I believe this is the only time in the series we see Higgins smoke a cigarette.

For those that watch American Idol (I used to, but not anymore), doesn't Paulo look a heck of a lot like David Archuleta (from Season 7)? Weird.

[J.J. Walters]

Here's another fun little observation sent to me by my friend J.G.. I'm not going to put it in the episode guide, so I'll reference it here:

When Magnum pulls up in front of the Global Industries Corporation building to meet with James Randolph (Charles Aidman), the tower clock behind him reads about 10 o'clock a.m. When Magnum enters Mr. Randolph's office, Mr. Randolph pours himself a bourbon and soda in a highball glass. Either the clock is wrong, or Mr. Randolph starts drinking at 10 a.m. at the office during the workday!

Ah, the good old days - wet bar in the office, ashtray on the desk, secretary calling you on the intercom.

[Frodoleader]

Here's another fun little observation sent to me by my friend J.G.. I'm not going to put it in the episode guide, so I'll reference it here:

When Magnum pulls up in front of the Global Industries Corporation building to meet with James Randolph (Charles Aidman), the tower clock behind him reads about 10 o'clock a.m. When Magnum enters Mr. Randolph's office, Mr. Randolph pours himself a bourbon and soda in a highball glass. Either the clock is wrong, or Mr. Randolph starts drinking at 10 a.m. at the office during the workday!

Ah, the good old days - wet bar in the office, ashtray on the desk, secretary calling you on the intercom.

Or is it - chasing the secretary around your desk?

[Jay-Firestorm]

Tuesday / Wednesday’s review. Not an outstanding favourite, but not bad either.

[rating=8.5]

While Higgins struggles to get in shape for the visit of an old flame, Magnum works on a case of computer espionage. But when the company president asks him investigate his wife’s possible affair, Magnum finds that the woman is seeing Rick! A reasonable ep…

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At this point, things feel to be slowly maturing in the show, working away from the ‘easy going’ feel of the first season, and gradually gliding towards the more serious, character based stories that would feature more prominently in late seasons.
And indeed, ‘Computer Date’ does feel in many ways like one of those later episodes.

Thankfully, the opening trailer does not spoil the revelation that Rick is having an affair, leaving it to come as a surprise in the episode. (Unfortunately for me, I had already read about it before I saw this episode!)

The woman Rick is having an affair with, Claudia Randolph, is played by Larry Manetti’s then-wife Nancy DeCarl. However, I never felt that their on-screen matching was totally convincing, and didn’t fully buy that Rick would sink into a relationship with this woman.
Feeling betrayed by Magnum not telling him that he was working for Claudia’s husband, Rick throws a punch at him – resulting all of the main co-stars having punched Magnum (T.C. in the first season’s ‘Thicker Than Blood’, and Higgins in ‘Tropical Madness’ earlier this season).

The fact that one of the four main characters of the series is having an affair goes against the clean-cut feel of many of the other shows around at the time. Magnum himself embarks upon a brief affair in the sixth season’s ‘The Kona Winds’.

The episode is one of the few examples of the series where Magnum is torn by ethics, split between taking the case and telling his friend. It is a nice touch, and I like how he subtly sounds Higgins out for advice.

The subplot, of Higgins trying to get in shape, provides the comedy of the episode. In a mostly serious plot, it is welcome relief, even if the final scene, when Lady Ashley (also mentioned in a few other episodes) arrives, is rather strange.

This episode isn’t one of my favourites, but it is one of the better of the season and a fair watch.

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Other notes, bloopers and misc.:

* Rick’s (possible) house is seen for a third time, after appearing in ‘The Woman on the Beach’ and ‘The Sixth Position’ position previously in the season.

* Rick is seen to drive his second car of the series, a convertible silver Mercedes, for the firs time (I’m not a car expert so don’t know the exact model).

* The DVD version of this episode has all of the commercial breaks abridged.

* Magnum wears his camo shorts for the first time at the end of the episode.

* The closing credits contain a little used variant of the theme. It was previously used on ‘Billy Joe Bob’ and ‘The Sixth Position’ (I had forgotten it was used on this episode too).

* …And as mentioned previously in this thread, the closing credits feature an extra, unused shot of Higgins smoking, from the final scene. (I can’t remember if this is the only occasion where we see him smoking; my mind is nagging me that there is one other instance, but I’m not certain).

[Jay-Firestorm]

I've just thought of at least one other occasion when Higgins is seen smoking - when he is waiting for Jenny to arrive in 'Tropical Madness'.

"My dear, you look wonderful. A little champagne?"

[Doc Ibold]

He asked for a smoke in "Try To Remember".... and I think he may have smoked in "Birdman of Budapest"

[MACattack]

The punch that Rick struck across Magnum's face looked really fake.

And what about the wimpy assailant saying " I was only tryin to scare you a little" to Magnum. This was definetly one of the poorly written episodes during the early days. Not one of my faves.....

[Styles Bitchley]

I love this episode in a cheesy, campy, retro sort of way.

The concept of applying technology to dating reminds me of this awesome '80 video dating montage on youtube. If you haven't seen it, make the time!

[charybdis1966]

This episode was quite/fairly good in my opinion although it did benefit from Nancy DeCarl's presence in full icey blonde mode, as she played in Buck Rogers.

The story wasn't the most intriguing and there was no particularly clever twist either but the character development made up for some deficiencies in the episode.

[robspace54]

I think this was "we need a story that uses computers" kind of thing, and it wasn't that great. And to be honest some of the acting was less than stellar. But interesting to see Larry M's wife - not on Buck Rogers.

I did enjoy Higgins sweating and puffing. I'll bet cast and crew got a big grin out of putting John through his paces.

Rob

[Milo Minderbinder]

Haven't been able to watch any Magnum for awhile, so I'm glad to be back.

I liked the plot, even though the pace and action were a bit lagging. The bit at the end when Higgins keeps on his poker face while being disappointed with Ashley, and then lights up a cigarette in relief that she was accompanied by a young "travelling partner," and because he was no longer feeling the need to appear fit.

Also, I thought the part about Magnum getting Higgins in shape was classicly ironic. Magnum seems to jump at the chance to put Higgins through the paces even though he knows a week isn't long enough to show any real improvement, but then he gets so distracted with his case that he can't properly enjoy Higgins' suffering. Of course, Higgins turns the tables on him by boring him with another story after the car chase.

Great to see such nice story telling!

[charybdis1966]

I just watched this episode on Sleuth. I just found out that Claudia is Larry Manetti's real wife. I think they met when they both were on Battlestar Galatica in the late seventies...I thought I read that Larry's wife Nancy Decarl was on Battlestar Galactica,
but now I can't find it.
They met before she appeared on the episode "Computer Date" because their son was born in October or November of 1980.

The episode of the original Battlestar Galactica in which the delectable Nancy deCarl appeared was "The Long Patrol" which aired on the 15th of October 1978.
She played a settler type character complete with an Irish accent for some reason.
She was also in another Glen Larson production, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, the episode "Plot to kill a city" where she played a leather clad mind-reading villainess. This aired on 11 October 1979.

[J.J. Walters]

She was also in another Glen Larson production, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, the episode "Plot to kill a city" where she played a leather clad mind-reading villainess. This aired on 11 October 1979.

[charybdis1966]

She was also in another Glen Larson production, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, the episode "Plot to kill a city" where she played a leather clad mind-reading villainess. This aired on 11 October 1979.

Wow...yowser.

I feel like I'm 13 again.