Birdman of Budapest (3.16)

[MaiTaiMan]

[J.J. Walters]

Anybody else recognize this guy?



I did too, but couldn't recall his name... Fritz Feld! He's been in tons of movies, going back to the silent days. He always has a pencil-thin mustache, and has a trademark move where he "pops" his mouth by slapping it with the palm of his hand, usually to indicate an annoyance. Well, sure enough, he does it in this episode! Right after he tosses the monkeys at the zoo some food, he "pops" his mouth with his hand, presumably because he's annoyed at them for something.

Ah, so many interesting actors have made their way through Magnum.

_________________
Higgins: It's not a scratch! It's a bloody gouge!

[rubber chicken]

I'm disappointed in myself. I can't remember him, even though I've seen many of the movies he's been in, at least back into the 1930s. My only excuse is that I haven't seen any of them recently. In the show I think it's immediately apparent that he's been in the business a long time though. The scene is all about his unique character.

I can picture the character living in the same world as Magnum, maybe he has a small house close to the zoo in Kaimuki. Perhaps next door to Aiko Tamura from Almost Home, or Rodney Radcliff from Old Acquaintance.

[Doc Fred]

Seems to me that since Magnum relieved Higgy Baby of the KBG chick, and how much Higgy detested her, that Higgy would have been much more tolerant of Magnum in the future episodes.... He seems to forget Magnum's good deed. But, that would have taken much away from future episodes...

[Doc Fred]

I also don't know why he didn't look at her picture in Robins High School yearbook. Of course, and also mentioned, this would also prove that Higgins isn't Robin.

Looking in the yearbook wouldn't necessarily prove Higgins isn't Robin... it could just as easily have proven that he was. Of course, after all those years from hs graduation till Higgy's present age, people don't necessarily look the same.. And, let's not forget that the woman who went to the estate was NOT the teacher, so she wouldn't know what Robin Masters looked like, just like everyone else.

[Doc Fred]

Regarding the relationship between TS and Jacqueline.... He adopted her son from a previous marriage when they married, and treated him like his own son. I kinda think that even though they were divorced, or in the process, during the filming of this show, that the bitterness on her part in the show was purely acting. Also, if they truly didn't get along, no doubt she'd never have had the two parts she was given....

[Seaver41]

there can be no doubt that the whole Robin is Higgins thing is dead with this episode. Didn't Magnum come running into the den looking for Robin's yearbook? Certainly from the tone of his voice and conviction where it was it gives the distinct impression that he has seen it before.

People can change in 20-25 years...but not to the point you wouldn't recognize someone you knew.

The whole Robin mystery was concocted later on even with the inconsistencies of early episodes disproving such a theory. Pretty sloppy of the writers.

I did take note that his ex was credited as 'Selleck' and given 2nd billing behind Sylvia. I would throw down a guess this was a bone to her and her career if they were parting ways. Maybe she could get work on his name alone...that plus she wasn't exactly ugly. Seems like one of those classic couples where one spouse experiences success and the other struggles. By that age her modeling career had to be winding down.

[Styles Bitchley]

[Seaver41]

I have to disagree............syndication was not new......it had been around and would provide ample opportunities for people to see the early episodes. I won't use sloppy...I'll use cheap as in cheap stunt for ideas.

Obviously this was a case of Chuck Cunningham in Happy Days. One day he's at the table eating and then he is simply forgotten. I'm sure these writers simply felt the audience would swallow it anyways and move on.......effectively re-programming the Magnum character to forget his training and expertise and then deduce Higgins is Robin. Actually, I will go back to sloppy........sloppy idea that a Naval Intelligence officer and PI couldn't figure it out?

I never did like that sub plot.

[Styles Bitchley]