Magnum, podcast - revisiting "Magnum P.I."

We preview our 2025 Member Special, which is about S3E1 of “Vega$”, “Aloha You’re Dead,” starring Robert Urich. It aired a month before the first episode of “Magnum” and features a lot of familiar locations, including Robin’s Nest itself. You can listen to that episode if you become an Incomparable member. In this teaser episode we also read a letter, discuss swearing, Jason brings up some recent news, and it’s basically our usual nonsense. We’ll be back later this year with a full season! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

We wrap up this season of “Magnum, podcast” with a blockbuster two-hour special that introduces us to Magnum’s ex-wife, yet not wife in the eyes of the Catholic Church or the Vietnamese government, Michelle. For an episode that we didn’t like, we try to find positive things where we can. And we muse about how introducing Michelle in season 2 might have pulled the rug out from under all of Magnum’s future romance ambitions. Keep those emails coming to magnum@theincomparable.com and we’ll see you next year! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

The ghosts of Pearl Harbor hang over this episode, which doesn’t really have a villain, except for that mobster who’s not really necessary for the plot, and that Admiral who’s just a stickler for the regulations, and… hey, Rick, can you do some research into old crimes? Anyway, Jason gets excited about his new TV show pitch, “Boat Cops,” and we end the episode in a sandwich reverie courtesy of Listener Adam. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Just like the proverbial dog who got run over by the pineapple truck, we’ve caught hold of an early “Magnum” episode that contains all the core tropes. Sexy stewardesses? Yup! The Lads chasing Magnum? Check! Rick’s character not entirely locked down? Uh-huh! Also, it’s some light entertainment about the Troubles in Northern Ireland with a surprise twist! Drink your wine. Life goes on. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Just before he was the dad in “A Christmas Story,” Darren McGavin took a trip to Hawaii to play pulp novelist Buck Gibson, a daredevil friend of Robin Masters. Do his misadventures teach us important lessons about how we appreciate our lives? What’s in a Bazooka? And we have several head-canon explanations for an anecdote about Magnum’s dad. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

They’re always after his Lucky Charms! Higgins’s Northern Irish half-brother arrives in Oahu and it’s all light comedy despite what’s going on back home. Meanwhile, Magnum investigates an unfaithful wife and, wow, does the tone of this episode shift dramatically from moment to moment. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

A guy in a blue sedan. A man with gold teeth. A woman (Marcia Wallace!) has come to Hawaii searching for her missing fiancé. Sounds like the plot to a good ol’ detective show, but forget all that—instead, it’s time to train for the Ironman Triathlon! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

We know what you’re thinking: Carol Burnett returns for a victory lap as the ramshackle, shambolic final season of “Magnum, p.i.” draws to a close. Also, the opening credits ruin a “Max Headroom” sized surprise! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Computer games! Mind games! Jenny Agutter appears (delighting Jason) in an episode that promises lots of Cesar Romero and doesn’t deliver (angering Phil). Jason explains 40- and 80-character mode in classic computers. There are multiple fake break-ins. Cesar Romero shoots off fireworks. Maybe it’s all a prank by those hang-glider people? Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Lance LeGault appears in this episode, but not as Buck Greene. We’re devastated. Instead, he’s a spy on the lookout for another spy who’s on the run—and missing in action? Magnum’s client is looking for that second spy, and she’s apparently got ESP? Oh, it’s going to be one of those episodes, isn’t it? Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

This early episode contains a disturbing scene of suggested suicide that should probably not have been anywhere on prime-time TV, let alone during a light action-adventure series! And yet “Skin Deep” has a lot going for it, including Ian McShane being very sweaty and shifty. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Many Weavers (but not Dennis Wheeler or Dennis Miller), some cowboy music, surprising “Star Trek” guest stars, and a plot that goes to some surprising places make this episode a winner. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

In the sequel episode nobody demanded, Magnum must protect the prince of Jororo from a kidnapping, despite the interference of Dr. FBI. In another surprise return, our segments about 1980s baseball and time zones also resurface. Hey hey hey, easy, easy, easy. The end! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

An old Rabbi friend of Higgins arrives in Hawaii, but his historic Torah has been stolen! Vic McCool and Dick Ling may be involved, as well as the owner of Shelby’s Fine Meats. Magnum’s Tigers hat works as a yarmulke! Honoring the sabbath can be very, very good for your health! And remember, when a light switch turns on, the darkness turns off… or something like that. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

We’re back. And what’s this? A car bombing, a travesty of justice, the culmination of our least-favorite “Magnum” storyline… it must be a season eight episode! We’re devastated. At least it’s got Lance LeGault in it, as well as the summary execution of dozens of happy little pears. The pears know what they did. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Thanks to Listener David, we return for this special episode where we react to the opening of an age-old pack of Magnum, p.i. Trading Cards. Images should appear in your podcast player as we go, or you can see them in the show notes on the website. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

It’s like “Witness,” but on a made-up Hawaiian island! We end this season of “Magnum, podcast” on the forbidden island of Kapu. There’s no phone, no light, no motor car—not a single luxury. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

This episode provides a missing archaeologist, a bitter academic dispute, and a goat, inspiring Phil to create a new segment: Is This Anything? Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

In an episode that teaches us that friendships are like sponges, Magnum and TC repeatedly commit crimes and visit jail. Meanwhile, Rick wins the lottery and meets a travel agent doing a survey of the hotels of the southwest. And a guy who drives a melon truck has the best day in the history of melon trucks. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Can a ghost explode from eating too many ghost pastries? This is a “Freaky Friday” episode that’s… not so freaky. Magnum and Higgins trade places, sort of? Come on shake your body baby do that conga! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

People, if you’re betting against the spread on youth basketball games, it’s a sign that you have a serious gambling problem. Especially if they’re coached by turkeys like Magnum and T.C. Brutal! What are you doing! Coach Wooden would never approve! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Under the sea, Under the sea Magnum will see a ghost so spookily Higgins and T.C. Think Magnum’s strange discovery Is purely buncombe (Mom is a drunk-um) Under the sea! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Magnum dreams he’s in the 1930s and tries to prevent an innocent man from being executed! But Rick, T.C. and Higgins are all there too… sort of. Shocking deaths! Surprising new investigative powers! The fate of Listener Allison’s argument with her husband stands in the balance! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

It’s October, which means it’s spooky season, which means it’s time for an episode where Rick and Magnum may have seen a g-g-g-g-g-host! Also, Kenneth Mars is a bizarre caretaker with a German accent, there’s an old weirdo with a creepy painting, and Rick is really unlucky in love. Plus, listeners are concerned about Magnum’s head injuries and need us to solve their marital disputes. Magnum, podcast is up for the challenge! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Listener Blair is back with a new selection to torment Phil, David, and Jason! But will they be tormented, or have they just stumbled on the Platonic ideal of a “Magnum, p.i.” episode? Also, Phil surprises Jason with a new segment! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a purloined idol and many, many, many suspects who want to steal it! And it’s all on a cruise ship! In Kauai! Magnum is no Poirot, for better or for worse. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Ride ‘em, Hawaiian cowboys! Magnum goes to the Big Island to foil a cattle-rustling ring, but things quickly get out of hand. Visit tinyurl.com/mauimagnum to join us and donate for Maui relief. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

You might love this episode, or it might leave you causing a racket when you say, “What the deuce?” Is it a net win or a net loss? Anyway, when you’re trying to run someone over, drive Volvo. Visit tinyurl.com/mauimagnum to join us and donate for Maui relief. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

We’ll be back for season 4 shortly! In this episode we reveal the first episode we’ll cover this season and also encourage you to donate to Maui relief. Visit tinyurl.com/mauimagnum to join us and donate. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

We wrap up our season with a festive holiday special about a two-part episode that features multiple surprise murders, a very surprising marriage proposal, and an extremely extended search for Alfonso Ribeiro. Also, David has an exciting holiday-themed quiz, and grinds the show to a halt with some horrible A.I. art. See you next summer! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

A clerk from the hall of records needs Magnum’s help to unravel a really stupid and convoluted plot involving her husband (hey, it’s that guy!) and artificial intelligence computer code that is so advanced it should probably never be used by anyone. But the real attraction is the episode’s visit to the U.S. Male adult entertainment show, which is perplexing in every possible way. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Ello, guvna! Ian McShane guest stars as a very, very sweaty racist ex-soldier who is convinced he’s about to be killed by the ghosts of the Mau Mau uprising. It’s an opportunity for thoughtful explorations of the legacy of empire and the damage it did to people on both sides, but this is “Magnum, p.i.” so instead it’s an abortive attempt to recreate “The Odd Couple” with Thomas and Higgins! Also: A series of poor accents, an amazing Pac-Man game, Rick takes one right to the head, and there’s a twist ending that’s anything but. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

What’s more dangerous than a box full of DANGER? Two boxes! In a helicopter! This episode features Elisha Cook Jr. as someone other than Ice Pick, a lot of comedy bits, a classic take to the camera, and a plot free of any sense. Corporate espionage, pshaw! Give me some Howard Hughes jokes instead! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Cliff Clavin is married to Doogie’s mom? Generic products that are legally distinct from Amway? A roast beef and Gefilte fish sandwich? This episode’s got a lot going for it, and a lot that makes no sense. But at its center is guest star Pat Hingle, and that means that most of our new segments this week are game shows. For some reason. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Noah Beery guest stars as, well, Floyd. All roads lead to him. He’ll cut Magnum off on the road leading to him, which leads to a costly Ferrari bumper repair because someone didn’t carry any auto insurance. His daughter Cindy is on the road to finding him after he abandoned her in order to go into not-secret witness protection. A couple of chicken-loving henchmen are also on the road to Floyd in order to safeguard the theft of… airline tickets? As for Floyd, he’s going to abandon his laughably small car in the middle of the road and run away. Oh, also apparently the Klan are involved? What? Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

This is an episode with nothing to apologize for. Stuart Margolin cranks up some cool tunes, TC wears suspenders with no shirt, a parole officer just wants to get out of her strange office, and Magnum is mistaken for a bunco guy. Also there’s marijuana trafficking involved, which leads us to an unexpected segment. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Luther Gillis is back, but this time he’s paired with the Butler—that’s Higgins—to sniff out an extortion plot. Meanwhile, the Big Guy (that’s Magnum) is wearing a suit and staring into a computer screen. The world is topsy-turvy! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

A dictator of a made-up country is going to be assassinated by a marine park dolphin who was kidnapped by a high-school friend of Magnum’s! Oh, no, this episode is not ridiculous at all. How have we done sixty episodes of this podcast? Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

This episode sounded a lot better on Magnum Dash Mania Dot Com, the official bible of “Magnum, podcast.” But it turned out to be… a lemon. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Why is guarding a valuable thoroughbred horse the subject of scorn? The answer is that this is Early Magnum, and so Magnum’s friends are kind of jerks. Also there’s a lady from Iowa whose relationship with Magnum is perplexing on multiple fronts. Then there’s the “Frankenstein Island” connection. It’s a weird episode. But we have many new segments, one invented by a listener! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

The winds! They stir the blood! And so begins a classic tale of Wind Noir, as a mysterious woman enters Magnum’s life and entwines him in a web of deception… and murder?! Tune your transistors to Radio Exposition and batten down the hatches—it’s going to be a windy ride. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Higgins is in love. Magnum is convinced the lady is up to no good, but Higgins is convinced Magnum is just jealous. Also, there are a couple of yo-yos. But when are we going to get to the tropical madness?! Thanks to Listener Allyson for winning the Listener Blair award for episode recommendations. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Sleazy magazine publisher Buzz Benoit has made a bet with Robin Masters! If Robin’s softball team, led by Thomas Magnum, doesn’t win a game against Benoit’s ringers, the estate is gone and Magnum and Higgins will have to start a sitcom about living together in a Real Nice Condo provided by Rick. (Doesn’t sound so bad.) Isn’t this supposed to be a show about crimes? No, friend, it’s a show about softball shenanigans! And… uh, actually, a whole lot of sexism. Let’s focus on the positives: More segments! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Rub a dub dub, three men on a podcast. And who do you think they be mad at? It’s probably Listener Blair, who asks us if this episode resembles the plot of recent film “The Batman”? It certainly resembles an episode of “Miami Vice,” right down to the Genesis montage. Riddle me this, Magnum! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

We return from our own summer school to discuss an episode featuring young Tate Donovan as young RJ “Robin Junior” Masters, who drives a green Ferrari and pretends to be Magnum. But this might be one case the kid is not ready for… Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

The turkeys from your favorite Magnum-related podcast are back for a new Summer of Magnum, but we have to start on a sad note. Roger E. Mosley, the secret weapon of the “Magnum” ensemble, died earlier this month. In his honor, we watch his favorite episode of “Magnum,” one he co-wrote and features heavily in. Also, and we can’t restate this enough: Never, ever go in a bathroom at the Honolulu airport. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

Mele Kalikimaka! It’s our holiday special, in which we watch two episodes of “The Rockford Files” that allow us to discuss the creation and formation of “Magnum, p.i.” The episodes in question are “White on White and Nearly Perfect” (S5E4) and “Nice Guys Finish Dead” (S6e7) featuring Tom Selleck as the luckiest private eye in L.A., Lance White. Consider this a big Christmas stocking stuffed full of new segments. The segments are your presents. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

We wrap up another season of “Magnum, podcast” with another episode about death. It’s Tanaka’s final episode, and what an unsatisfying conclusion it is. But there’s a Jan Hammer-style musical montage, and machine guns, and other things that remind us of “Miami Vice” and not “Magnum, p.i.” Fortunately, there’s also T.C. and Thomas debating the merits of baseball. We could watch that all day. You’ll miss us here at Magnum, podcast, the incoherence, the bizarre segments, the arguments… see you for our holiday special later this year! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

En garde! Dana Wynter returns, but this time she’s a former Higgins crush. Unfortunately, Higgins “accidentally” electrocutes her jerk husband with a fencing foil and is accused of his murder. But maybe the wife did it! Or her son, TV’s Spider-Man, Nicholas Hammond! Or maybe it’s the other guest star who we haven’t accounted for yet! We discuss Magnum’s limp and hand injury, find a lost bikini top, complain about awful looping, have a disagreement about the Atlanta Falcons, and Jason finally reads that listener letter. Also: A big announcement about the future of Magnum, Podcast! (Don’t worry.) Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

THIS! IS! DOUBLE JEOPARDY! In the first of two episodes featuring Dana Wynter as a guest star, we (once again) discuss how time works, Magnum turns into The Fall Guy, TC has a realization about how boring sets are, Tanaka embodies the spirit of Hawaiian Columbo, and David and Phil pre-empt Jason’s letters segment with segments of their own. Maybe we’ll hear that letter next week. This podcast has bad lighting and an incomprehensible script, but at least it features the Hawaiian coastline! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

More identical Higgins half-brothers! A plot to assassinate a world leader! Dance with me, Agatha! Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.