I don't think they offered RDA a specific part -- hell, they probably said "Just come do a cameo and everyone will know we're just great!" But he's become a regular on the con scene, and I would guess that he knew damned well that the reboot was nothing about the existing fans, except for the small vocal minority of 20 and 30something entitled white fanboys. They aren't the ones who've been putting their money where their hearts are for years, but just try getting Hollywood dudebros to realize that.
I actually give them positive points for the bit of the original theme music they did use -- it was one of the few really good nods to the original. I gather that the Hot New Thing right now is not to have any theme music or credits at all?
The split screens weren't too bad, and the captioned overlays could have been a brilliant technique for making the MacGyverisms work -- I can tell you from deep experience that it is an unholy bitch of a challenge to write strong, well-paced action sequences that use MacGyverisms. They're a pace killer. The voice-overs are also really tricky: unless done carefully, in support of the story, they're distracting and annoying. Guess what they were this time?
The two biggest issues I have, at this point in moderate retrospect, are that the storytelling was just plain lame -- all Moments!! and no actual plotline, basically. Even worse is the staggering ethical void. This title character has no problem with body count -- he's cool with blowing up the bad guys. Worse, he's fine with his dudebro buddy shooting and torturing, as long as Mac himself isn't actually doing the dirty work. WHUT?!?
I'm convinced that old Hollwood dudebros wanna believe they're still "as hip as 20 something dudebros", so they Gary Stu themselves into a lot of the series they produce to impress women. "Hey babe, I don't wanna brag, but that character's love of aviation is actually based on me."
The original MacGyver theme is cheesy discoballs, but AMAZINGLY catchy. I can see why opting to not have theme music gives more time for storytelling, but it also gives up that all-important mimetic BRANDING.
I've seen split screens work, but the few minutes I watched of "McGuyver" looked more like screen fillers, as though it had been shot with a cell phone held portrait, not landscape, and they had to fill in the blank space.
> he's fine with his dudebro buddy shooting and torturing, > as long as Mac himself isn't actually doing the dirty work
This is the definition of a supervillian + hired thugs! No wonder RDA washed his hands of the reboot.
Even worse is the staggering ethical void. This title character has no problem with body count -- he's cool with blowing up the bad guys. Worse, he's fine with his dudebro buddy shooting and torturing, as long as Mac himself isn't actually doing the dirty work. WHUT?!?
That sounds horribly familiar. The total ethical void has been readily apparent in both the new "Hawaii 5-0" and the new "Ironside". It just about works in H50, as there are other main (ish) characters who aren't like that, but it killed "Ironside" right out of the gate. It's likely to look just as bad here too if there's nobody to off-set it. And, as we all know, it's Mac himself who should be doing that in the first place!
I flogged 50 a couple of years ago because the show was developing Chuck Norris Syndrome - the hero is always, always, always right. I watched Friday because it was on right after Mac and i admit to a certain amount of idle curiosity. There was a looooong extended chase sequence with Steve who, despite last season's injury and liver transplant, appeared to be auditioning for American Ninja Warrior.......
Liver transplant?! Blimey. Mind you, is that any worse than "Firefly", when Reynolds needs CPR, and jumps straight back into a fight?! Television does not do well with medical realism. :)
I bailed on H50 after season one, when I realised that I only really cared about Kono and Chin, and they only ever got about a line each per week.
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I actually give them positive points for the bit of the original theme music they did use -- it was one of the few really good nods to the original. I gather that the Hot New Thing right now is not to have any theme music or credits at all?
The split screens weren't too bad, and the captioned overlays could have been a brilliant technique for making the MacGyverisms work -- I can tell you from deep experience that it is an unholy bitch of a challenge to write strong, well-paced action sequences that use MacGyverisms. They're a pace killer. The voice-overs are also really tricky: unless done carefully, in support of the story, they're distracting and annoying. Guess what they were this time?
The two biggest issues I have, at this point in moderate retrospect, are that the storytelling was just plain lame -- all Moments!! and no actual plotline, basically. Even worse is the staggering ethical void. This title character has no problem with body count -- he's cool with blowing up the bad guys. Worse, he's fine with his dudebro buddy shooting and torturing, as long as Mac himself isn't actually doing the dirty work. WHUT?!?
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The original MacGyver theme is cheesy discoballs, but AMAZINGLY catchy. I can see why opting to not have theme music gives more time for storytelling, but it also gives up that all-important mimetic BRANDING.
I've seen split screens work, but the few minutes I watched of "McGuyver" looked more like screen fillers, as though it had been shot with a cell phone held portrait, not landscape, and they had to fill in the blank space.
> he's fine with his dudebro buddy shooting and torturing,
> as long as Mac himself isn't actually doing the dirty work
This is the definition of a supervillian + hired thugs! No wonder RDA washed his hands of the reboot.
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That sounds horribly familiar. The total ethical void has been readily apparent in both the new "Hawaii 5-0" and the new "Ironside". It just about works in H50, as there are other main (ish) characters who aren't like that, but it killed "Ironside" right out of the gate. It's likely to look just as bad here too if there's nobody to off-set it. And, as we all know, it's Mac himself who should be doing that in the first place!
Yuck. :(
Come on, modern telly. Grow up.
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I bailed on H50 after season one, when I realised that I only really cared about Kono and Chin, and they only ever got about a line each per week.