Mixed Doubles (3.10)

[Carol the Dabbler]

So, we finally get to see the Estate's legendary tennis court -- or am I forgetting a prior appearance?

While I was watching that scene, I didn't think it was actually filmed on the Anderson Estate. For one thing, it looked like there was a busy street (glints of sunlight from lots of cars going by) just the other side of the fence at the end of the court that we didn't see very often.

But then I had another look at the satellite view of the Estate (from the link on the Robin's Nest page of the main Magnum Mania site), and I think I have it figured out. The gray house in the background is the gate house (which we don't usually see that close up), and the busy street is the Kalanianaole Highway, which may look even closer than it really is, due to the lens used on the camera.

That's another difference between the real Anderson Estate and Robin's Nest -- on the show, when we see the road in front of the Estate, it seems like there's never much traffic, but in this scene, we can see that it's actually pretty busy.

[J.J. Walters]

I just saw this again recently. I missed the boat big time on the tennis/resort scenes. It didn't realize the whole thing was supposed to be at the King Kamehameha Club! This is despite the fact that it's the "Robin Masters Pro-Am Tournament" and there is a big sign on the side of the tennis court that says "King Kamehameha Club"! For some reason, I thought it was supposed to be at some unnamed resort! This is very interesting because this would be the ONLY time this setting is used for the KKC.

I also noticed a funny little scene, I guess you can call it a flub, that shows the real location of the tennis/resort scenes. Just after Magnum and Carrie are almost run over at the "King Kamehameha Club", Magnum jumps in the Ferrari and gives chase. After a while the bad guy, for some reason, heads right back to the club. As Magnum enters the club grounds, you can clearly see this sign:



The Kuilima Hyatt Resort Hotel (North Shore) is where most of this episode was filmed. This is a new discovery for me, as I thought it was the Turtle Bay Resort. But back in '83, there was no Turtle Bay Resort, it was the Kuilima Hyatt Resort Hotel!

One other thing I noticed. Every other ball that Carrie (Kim Richards) hits is "sky'd"! The ball basically goes straight up into the air!

[SelleckLover]

Are you sure you're not IslandHopper posting under James' screen name? Nice flub spotting James!

[IslandHopper]

Nice indeed James. Yeah, my son and I crack up every time we watch this episode and see Carrie hit balls up in the air and way off to the right. I suppose that is why the camera cuts in on her so close so we can't see that most of the balls are not even landing on her court. Ginger Grant is not much better.

[J.J. Walters]

Zora is dreadful, as well. Come to think of it, all of the supposed tennis pros in this episode have horrible swings! The only one who has a decent tennis swing is Magnum (Selleck)!

That first scene just kills me. In a practice session, Carrie hits one bad return after another (many shooting up to the sky). Then we bewilderingly see her mom and trainer watch on and gloat about how great she is (maybe the best ever!), and how she is going to tear up the tournament. Too funny!

I enjoyed this episode a lot more than I remembered it. I'm going to remove it from my "Bottom 10".

[IslandHopper]

Zora is dreadful, as well.

Maybe it was because Zora looked like she was cold the whole time she was playing. :shock:

[Doc Ibold]

Zora is dreadful, as well. Come to think of it, all of the supposed tennis pros in this episode have horrible swings! The only one who has a decent tennis swing is Magnum (Selleck)!

That first scene just kills me. In a practice session, Carrie hits one bad return after another (many shooting up to the sky). Then we bewilderingly see her mom and trainer watch on and gloat about how great she is (maybe the best ever!), and how she is going to tear up the tournament. Too funny!

I enjoyed this episode a lot more than I remembered it. I'm going to remove it from my "Bottom 10".

Oh yeah, baby!

First "Birdman of Budapest", then this one.

What's next? "One More Summer?"

[J.J. Walters]

LOL IH!

Actually, they ALL looked cold - Carrie, Ginger, Zora.

Doc, I seriously doubt I'll change my opinion about "One More Summer", but hey, you never know!

[IKnowWhatYoureThinking]

You think they could've came up with a better name than Ginger Grant. Why not just name her competitor Mary Ann?

[tomaui]

It's fun watching these again after my latest visit to Hawaii making notes about each episode. After looking at the biography of Kim Richards and realizing that she is Paris Hilton's aunt, it seems that Paris has modeled her career after her aunt's role as Carrie Reardon.

[lutherhgillis]

When you guys were mentioning teenaage tennis phenoms, don't forget Chris Evert from the 70s. She was 16 I believe when she began to gather attention.

I remember Tracy Austin very well. She was a great young player. Too bad the back injury cut her career short.

[IKnowWhatYoureThinking]

Tracy Austin is the first young phenom I remember. I always thought athletes were old until she came along. Now all of them are so young!

[Operation Chessboard]

I actually like this one for a number of reasons. First, it's a somewhat lighthearted case where we get to see Magnum as the overgrown kid he is. Gotta love the number of times he hangs his head in defeat. :lol: And while Carrie is annoying, they at least stay true to the character all the way through. There's no attempt to make her fall under Thomas' spell or become his friend. Instead, she simply admits, "No, he's right, I really am kind've a bitch." :?

It's also great to see Henry Gibson visiting the islands. Despite his long career, my favorite role of his will always be Dr. Werner Klopek in The `Burbs. ("My brother...the Dok-tor!") There's a nice scene where Ronald finally begins to tip his hand, and you can literally see Magnum's little voice trying to warn Thomas that, "Hey, there's something 'off' about this guy!" :idea: :!:

The ending is another one of those that manages to close out a routine episode on a memorable note. After insisting he wasn't much of a hero ("The guy was five-foot-three!" :lol: ), Magnum's final "goodbye" to Ginger is surprisingly poignant. Granted, it's not a great ending, but there's enough truth in it to stick with you longer than it should.

I'm a sucker for the endings where Magnum faces up to disillusionment or loss (ie. Double Jeopardy; Texas Lightning; etc). The show was never afraid to let reality disrupt the fantasy. This is one of the reasons why the show still manages to resonate today, and holds up much better than most of its 1980's peers.

That's a very astute analysis, Shermy. I enjoyed reading it! And I'm with you on Henry Gibson. Every time I see that guy I always think of his character from 'The Burbs.' My god that movie was hilarious! The only reason I really enjoy this episode is because of Kim Richards. Man, she was a babe. I wonder whatever happened to her?

[Doc Ibold]

Well, apparently she's Paris Hiltons aunt or godmother, or something along those lines.......

As for the Burbs w/ Henry Gibson I am TOTALLY on the same page.

I love that movie, however cheesetastic it is!

[IKnowWhatYoureThinking]

Count me in as another one that liked the Burbs. Bruce Dern's character cracked me up.