Who do the producers turn to in order to find "MacGyverisms?"

    Can Mac fix acid leaks with candy bars in real life? Not exactly. And in fact, Anderson admits that he is no science genius. "Growing up, my house was filled with art, music and books," he explains.  And seeing that the writers concentrate on creating story and plot ideas (and they are in no way scientists themselves), they turn to John Koivula.  Koivula is the show's science advisor. He is a gemologist (scientist who studies the structure of gems). And to know that, one has to know lots of chemistry and physics.  Ironically, John always carries a Swiss Army Knife, hates guns, comes up with neat sciences fixes for his own problems.

[Source:  3-2-1 Contact. March, 1989.  In an article by Renee Skelton]

          Would all of the MacGyverisms work in real life?

    Unfortunately not.  Most of us viewers know that the "MacGyverisms" are, perhaps, 75% knowhow, and 25% luck.  All luck aside...the science advisor (John Koivula) comes up with some nifty ways of pulling Mac out of trouble.  However, the show has to be careful.  When MacGyver is making something dangerous or explosive, one ingredient is left out in the TV formula. This way, the kids don't accidently blow up the kitchen.

Also, some of the events are exaggerated.  For example, in the first show, MacGyver stopped an acid leak with a couple of candy bars. Well, there IS a compound in chocolate (sugar) that would stop sulfuric acid, but it would actually take about 40 pounds of chocolate to do it.  He had a couple of Hershey Bars on him. But the correct theory was there!

[Source: 3-2-1 Contact. March, 1989. By Renee Skelton]

Why is MacGyver soo stand-offish towards women & relationships?

Those who watch the show will find that every relationship that Mac has with a women ends in her death, her disappearance, or her betrayal.  This is the leading cause of his reluctant nature towards women.  Another cause is the fact that both his parents and his grandmother died and MacGyver feels, in some way, responsible.  He is in afraid that whomever gets close to him, will suffer the same fate as his parents and grandmother did.  And on another case...the women fans of MacGyver can be held responsible for the fact that MacGyver remained single throughout seven seasons.  For example, Maria Romburg, introduced in "The Wall."  The show received such a hail-storm of hatemail that Maria only appeared in one more episode, "MacGyver's Women."

How was Richard Dean Anderson cast as the role of MacGyver?

In 1985, Richard Dean Anderson was called in for an audition and was asked to "cold read" an unfamiliar script.  Anderson, being very nearsighted, reached into his bag to get his reading glasses.  Henry Winkler, one of the show's producers, recalls being so impressed by this "very human act" that they decided to cast him on the spot.                                         [Source: RDA Biography, by Kate]

                           Who is Lee David Zlotoff?

He is the show's creator.  In the past, he was a writer and supervising producer for the 1st season of the show "Remington Steele." 

Is Dana Elcar (aka Peter Thornton) going blind in real life?

Unfortunately, the answer to that question is "yes."  Dana Elcar was diagnosed with glaucoma, a deterioration of the eye that eventually leads to blindness, more than 25 years before the episode "Blind Faith" (The episode where Pete reveals to Mac that he is going blind).  Dana realized the severity of this disease while on a night location shoot for "MacGyver."  He is now legally blind and must have his scripts read to him.

Has there been a time when a MacGyverism has saved a viewers life?

Obviously, there are many people who cleverly recall an episode of MacGyver and are able to fix a problem(such as bad reception, burnt fuse, or the starter of a car) MacGyver-style.  I am not positive that the story to the right is true (mainly b/c it was taken from Weekly World News or something) but I have no question in my mind that something like this could occur and turn out for the better because of a MacGyverisms. 

In an attempt to save your eyes...I will try my best to summarize this article for you (I got the image somewhere, a while ago).  Joan was kidnapped, locked in a closet (her hands handcuffed behind her back, and her mouth taped). While on her back and striving to breath, she thought to herself "what would MacGyver do?  Unfortunately, I can not make out the rest of the text.  If anyone can blow the image up and tell me how she broke lose...I would appreciate it.  

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