MacGyver is an American action-adventure television series created by Lee David Zlotoff which follows the intelligent, optimistic, laid-back, resourceful secret agent Angus MacGyver, who prefers a non-violent resolution to violence where possible and refuses to handle a gun.
MacGyver works as a troubleshooter for the fictional 'Phoenix Foundation' in Los Angeles. Educated as a scientist with a background as a Bomb Team Technician/EOD in Vietnam and from a fictional government agency, the Department of External Services, he is a resourceful agent able to solve complex problems with everyday materials he finds at hand, along with his ever-present duct tape and Swiss Army knife.
The series aired in the USA on ABC from 29 September, 1985 to 21 May, 1992. There are 139 hour-long episodes in seven seasons.
MacGyver aired in South Africa on Friday nights on the old SABC service in the 1980s and early 1990s. It later aired on DStv's M-Net Series channel from 6 September, 2000 to 30 April, 2003 and on SABC3. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 7 premiered on SABC3 on Friday 17 August 2012, at 12h00. New episodes broadcast daily, on weekdays. There are 14 episodes in the seventh and final season.
Synopsis
MacGyver (Richard Dean Anderson) is a different kind of hero: he doesn't use weapons, he's afraid of heights, and he's an expert at making complicated machines out of ordinary things quickly.
He works in the employ of The Phoenix Foundation, a think tank dedicated to improving mankind. Pete Thornton (Dana Elcar) gives MacGyver his assignments, occasionally getting involved himself or lending Foundation resources for MacGyver's various personal endeavours.
Another sometimes accomplice is Jack Dalton (Bruce McGill), a long-time friend with a penchant for getting himself into trouble and relying on MacGyver for helping him out of it.
MacGyver also has an arch-enemy, Murdoc (Michael Des Barres), who tries to kill MacGyver many times, often through the use of ruses and elaborate traps.
MacGyver's first name was a secret until the final season, when we learned just why he chose not to use it.
Seasons
Note: broadcast dates for the original run of the show on the old SABC service are not available.
Season 1 (22 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Series | Premiere: 6 Sep 2000 | Finale: 31 Jan 2001 | Wednesdays, 18h00
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 22 Feb 2012 | Finale: 22 Mar 2012 | Weekdays, 12h10
Season 2 (22 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Series | Premiere: 7 Feb 2001 | Finale: 4 Jul 2001 | Wednesdays, 18h00
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 23 Mar 2012 | Finale: 23 Apr 2012 | Weekdays, 12h00
Season 3 (20 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Series | Premiere: 11 Jul 2001 | Finale: 21 Nov 2001 | Wednesdays, 18h00
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 25 Apr 2012 | Finale: 22 May 2012 | Weekdays, 12h00
Season 4 (19 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Series | Premiere: 28 Nov 2001 | Finale: 3 Apr 2002 | Wednesdays, 18h00
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 23 May 2012 | Finale: 18 Jun 2012 | Weekdays, 12h00
Season 5 (21 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Series | Premiere: 10 Apr 2002 | Finale: 28 Aug 2002 | Wednesdays, 18h00
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 19 Jun 2012 | Finale: 17 Jul 2012 | Weekdays, 12h00
Season 6 (21 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Series | Premiere: 4 Sep 2002 | Finale: 22 Jan 2003 | Wednesdays, 18h00
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 18 Jul 2012 | Finale: 16 Aug 2012 | Weekdays, 12h00
Season 7 (14 episodes)
Channel: M-Net Series | Premiere: 29 Jan 2003 | Finale: 30 Apr 2003 | Wednesdays, 18h00
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 17 Aug 2012 | Finale: 5 Sep 2012 | Weekdays, 12h00