A Pretty Good Dancing Chicken (5.22)

[J.J. Walters]

This is the official MM thread for A Pretty Good Dancing Chicken (5.22). All discussions and reviews for this episode should go here. If you wish to rate the episode, please do so with the poll. The avg. score will be the official 'community rating', which will be used on the episode page (updated monthly).

This thread is also linked in the episode page of the Episode Guide.

Original Air Date: 4/4/1985
Magnum's behind bars when he goes undercover as a convict in order to seek clues about the disappearance of a 17-year-old girl.

[Doc Ibold]

So, watched this episode last night....

Overall, I'd call it so-so. Could have used more invesitgation behind bars.

And, maybe it's just me, but you think that another guard would have noticed that the cons hit the yard guard over the head with a shovel.

You're telling me there were NO other guards around when a truck was stolen and driven through the gate, a guard gets beat over the head with a shovel, a fight and conversation take place for several minutes and then Magnum is allowed to just run away (presumably for several miles) until he gets back to Robin's Nest. No APB, no one catches him, and then the police ask to make a thorough search of the grounds (where they know Magnum lives) and he can just hide out in the wine cellar (where they apparently won't check?!).

And this "prison"/work farm allows ALL this to happen?

James, don't know if this is a flub or not, but HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY improbabable.

However, Higgins at the topless bar was CLASSIC.

I can honestly say that I have never seen anyone look so put out at a topless bar.

The expression on his face is priceless!

Plus, is it just me or does Becky Damon's dad look like a skeleton?

[Shermy]

This one definitely strains for credibility. For starters, it takes Magnum way too long to actually get into the prison. Much like 'Mad Dogs and Englishmen', it's a plot that could've greatly benefited from being a two-parter.

Average episode, although the novelty of seeing Magnum in prison does make a nice little precursor to "An Innocent Man".

[J.J. Walters]

I agree, mediocre at best. But hey, what can you expect. One of the guys who came up with this story (Anthony Pellicano, a former "P.I. to the Stars") is currently sitting in jail himself awaiting trial on 110 counts of conspiracy and racketeering charges!

This episode does have two other great moments, though.

Higgins (re: Magnum): "He wakes regularly for long feedings." LOL!

and this scene:

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

[AJL]

Just finished watching this, I though it was pretty good, nothing amazing though.
As for seasen 5 as a whole, it started out amazing, but then ran out of steam, and the last ten og maybe even more episodes were generelly decent at best IMO.

_________________
Was vaccinated with a phonograph needle one summer break
Same summer that I kissed her on her daddy's boat
And shot across the lake
Singing all the way...
Oh I say mama
Living Ain't a luxury
Oh I say mama
And a lil' ain't enough for me

[lutherhgillis]

I agree that you must suspend disbelief in order to enjoy this one. The events are not very likely to happen in real life but what in TVland does happen in real life???

I remember wathcing this one during its first run. I was a little grossed out when they approached the car where the girl was left behind. The presumption was that her dead body was there. They pull a good twist by showing her alive and it gives the crud guy a big surprize. That twist alone qualifies the episode as at least 'pretty good' in my book.

Magnum going inside the pen to get the skinny on the crud was a dumb idea. I do not think that would happen in real life.

[J.J. Walters]

[golfmobile]

James,

That is HYSTERICAL!! (the rubber chicken in the gorilla's mouth)

I bet this is the kind of thing that the crew did a lot and possibly the leads never knew this stuff was even going on! A REAL "inside joke"! Because, as we have established, this was pre-DVD-play-the-episodes-over-and-over-again-and-look-at-every-detail -- and I bet the crew DELIGHTED in getting away with stuff like this because no one ever noticed.

A pity they aren't members here (or at least lurkers) to see how the MPI "specialists" here (I regret I'm not one, sadly) spot things like this. I think they would get a big kick out of seeing how their tricks ARE appreciated! And I'm sure this contributed to making the set fun to work on!

golf

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"Portside, buddy."

[J.J. Walters]

golf,

I could be wrong, but I think this was setup intentionally. It may have even been part of the script. In the closup shots of Magnum, the gorilla suit is framed perfectly just above his right shoulder. Also, "chickens", of different types, are featured in this episode - 1) the title of the episode, 2) Becky was a former "dancing chicken", 3) Earlier in the episode, Becky's dad briefly picks up Magnum's rubber chicken in the guesthouse.

Could it be that there was some sort of symbolism involved in this brief scene? Like something you'd see in an Orson Welles film. The gorilla suit represents Becky's dad who wasn't there for her when she needed him. The rubber chicken represents Becky, a former "dancing chicken". By consuming the rubber chicken, the gorilla suit has, in effect, .........

Oh, what do I know!

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

[golfmobile]

Yeah, I think it's easier to let it be a crew inside joke!

golf

_________________
"Portside, buddy."