120: "Compulsion" (S5E14)

Breaking down our day at Comerica Park, surrounded by hundreds or thousands of Magnums — and a few loyal listeners! Hosts Jason Snell, Philip Michaels, and David J. Loehr.

We’ve had a spooky vision! It’s your “Magnum, podcast” season finale live from Detroit on Magnum Day weekend! Your hosts introduce segments… in person! We differ on the quality of this episode, which a majority of our hosts really liked! Is it the prototypical Magnum episode, or is the psychic woo-woo too much? Is this a secret backdoor pilot? Is that how journalism works? We get to the bottom of it! [Last show of the season. But see you next year and we have some special plans in the meantime!] Hosts Jason Snell, Philip Michaels, and David J. Loehr.

Hey, it’s the one with Ernest Borgnine! He’s a wrestler down on his luck, which means we have to turn to Phil to get a read on the wrestling nonsense in this episode. Sit down next to me on the same side of the sushi table, Mag, real natural like. Detroit Death Grip Dept.: We will be in Detroit THIS SUNDAY, August 16, for Magnum P.I. Day at the Detroit Tigers. We are going to try to meet listeners post-game at Union Assembly near the stadium. Failing that, email us at [email protected] if you’re going to be around and we’ll try to let you know where we are. Hosts Jason Snell, Philip Michaels, and David J. Loehr.

Texas lightning? You gotta get inside when that happens. Oh, wait, it’s just the nickname of some con artist who claims to be a spy? Magnum wears a tuxedo and plays high-stakes poker? This episode forces Phil to introduce a very popular new segment, “That’s not how it works!” The segment recurs. A lot. Hosts Jason Snell, Philip Michaels, and David J. Loehr.

Why are we here at this waterfall? Who has a gun? FLASHBACK! It’s a very silly episode that we admire for its silliness and lament for its laziness. Also, when are baseball games played? Talk about a flashback… Hosts Jason Snell, Philip Michaels, and David J. Loehr.

Time for zany action as Magnum goes undercover as a stock boy at a convenience store! And what does this all have to do with the colorful set of senior citizens who are about to be evicted from their run-down retirement home? Can a charity Bingo game save the day? What about a pickled egg? Hosts Jason Snell, Philip Michaels, and David J. Loehr.

We avoided this episode because we thought it was going to be a sad episode about internment camps. But while the damage done to Japanese-Americans in World War II is definitely discussed, there are also wild car accidents, classic Magnum takes to the camera, optimal Magnum-Higgins bickering, and Macho Taco! Is this a core episode of “Magnum”? Follow the Kool-Aid Man. Hosts Jason Snell, Philip Michaels, and David J. Loehr.

What, two Carol episodes in a row? This is one of those episodes where Higgins bugs out under suspicious circumstances. But he can’t run away from his past. Also he is most definitely not Robin Masters, so all you conspiracy theorists need to give it up already. Hosts Jason Snell, Philip Michaels, and David J. Loehr.

Magnum was the star quarterback in the Army-Navy game, but that won’t help him get to Pasadena(!) in time for this year’s game. It’s all Carol’s fault. But don’t worry, he’ll surely have time to recline at home and watch the game on TV accompanied by an Old Dusseldorf… or is it Duesenberg? Stay out of the infrared beams! Hosts Jason Snell, Philip Michaels, and David J. Loehr.

It’s Tommy Magnum, not a podcast! Magnum’s aunt visits. A new temporary helper at the estate is really into Magnum, but what’s her deal? (Turns out she’s just really into Magnum.) Jason has some information about Hungarian food. Shakespeare makes an appearance. And we all get a little sad about a sad episode of “Magnum, p.i.” Hosts Jason Snell, Philip Michaels, and David J. Loehr.