Jeff MacKay Movies

Conspiracy film specialist Alan J. Pakula turned journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's best-selling account of their Watergate investigation into one of the hit films of Bicentennial year 1976. While researching a story about a botched 1972 burglary of Democratic Party headquarters at the Watergate apartment complex, green Washington Post reporters/rivals Woodward (Robert Redford, who also exec produced) and Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) stumble on a possible connection between the burglars and a White House staffer. With the circumspect approval of executive editor Ben Bradlee (Jason Robards), the pair digs deeper. Aided by a guilt-ridden turncoat bookkeeper (Jane Alexander) and the vital if cryptic guidance of Woodward's mystery source, Deep Throat (Hal Holbrook), Woodward and Bernstein "follow the money" all the way to the top of the Nixon administration. Despite Deep Throat's warnings that their lives are in danger, and the reluctance of older Post editors, Woodward and Bernstein are determined to get out the story of the crime and its presidential cover-up. Once Bradlee is convinced, the final teletype impassively taps out the historically explosive results. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story, the Galactica is again attacked by a fleet of Cylon fighters. The crew's only hope of escape is through a space corridor past the ice planet Arcta--which is guarded by a Cylon pulsar cannon. Commander Adama (Lorne Greene) is ultimately forced to place the future of his space vessel in the hards of an army of criminals, led by Adama's son Apollo (Richard Hatch) and Apollo's best friend Starbuck (Richard Hatch). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This mystery from the Tales of the Gold Monkey series involves a WW II pilot and his one-eyed pooch. The master and his visually-impaired pup go to the South Pacific in search of an ancient golden idol. They are assisted by a shady German. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Marcia Wallace (The Bob Newhart Show) is cast as professional fitness trainer Barbara Terranova, who can only afford to pay private eye Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck) for one day's service. Thus it is that Magnum is faced with the formidable task of locating Barbara's missing fiance--who has been targeted for murder!--within 24 hours. Fortunately, Magnum is able to work out a "barter" deal with Barbara, who agrees to train him for the upcoming "Ironman Triatholon" in exchange for a few extra days' detective work; unfortunately, Barbara is a VERY strict taskmaster (or is that taskmistress?), This is the final episode of Magnum, P.I.'s first season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Marion Hammond (Wendy Girard) engages the services of P.I. Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck) to locate her missing archaeologist father. While hunting for ancient sunken relics, Dr. Hammond was lost in the Nihoa Channel, which the local natives regard as sacred--and cursed. As usual, Magnum is not told the whole story by his client, and as a result stands a good chance of becoming just as "lost" as Hammond, and just as "cursed" as the Channel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the opening two-part episode of Magnum, P.I. (originally telecast as a single two-hour "TV movie"), Hawaii-based private detective and former Naval Intelligence officer Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck) is already comfortably installed as head of security at the lavish estate of wealthy mystery writer Robin Masters, and well into his genially adversarial relationship with Jonathan Higgins (John Hillerman), the never-seen Masters' snobbish manservant. Despite his cushy surroundings, Magnum isn't averse to accepting "outside" assignments--nor is he immune to trouble being thrust upon him unexpectedly. That's what happens on this occasion, when Magnum's old Vietnam buddy Dan Cook (Allen Williams) turns up dead, with ten bags of cocaine in his stomach. Refusing to believe the offical report that Cook was involved in a drug-smuggling ring, Magnum conducts his own investigation, despite being warned off on several occasions by the authorities--and sure enough, he uncovers a frameup and a widespread conspiracy! Featured in the guest cast is ex-Playboy playmater Lillian Muller, here billed as "Yuliis Ruval." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Though a murdered Magnum (Tom Selleck) was seen wandering off to Heaven in the final episode of Magnum, P.I.'s seventh season, the public demanded the return of both the character and the series. Thus, Season Eight begins with Magnum still in a coma, the result of a violent shootout. In this state, the detective has an out-of-body experience, in which he is guided Heavenward by his old friend "Mac" MacReynolds (Jeff MacKay, who plays a dual role in this episode). Fortunately, he awakens to find himself back in the "real" world--whereupon he grimly sets out to find the surviving member of the criminal trio who nearly caused him to cash in his chips. Featured in small but significant roles are series star Tom Selleck's mother Martha Selleck and son Kevin Selleck. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While playing a video game called "Dungeon Master", Magnum manages to mess up the computerized security system at Robin's Nest. Enter security expert Krista Villaroch (Jenny Agutter), who is hired to get the system up and running in time for a jewelry exhibit being held at the estate. The capricious Magnum dares Krista to test out the system with a phony heist--little realizing (at first) that she is actually the daughter of infamous jewel thief Doc Villaroch (Cesar Romero), who despite his advanced age is far from retired! This episode was written by actress Deborah Pratt, then the wife of Magnum, P.I. executive producer Donald P. Bellisario. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of a two-part story (originally telecast as a single two-hour "TV Movie"), Magnum (Tom Selleck) is convinced that he has seen Michelle (Marta DuBois), the woman whom he married in Vietnam during the war--and who had been reported killed in an explosion. His efforts to find out if Michelle is indeed still alive are stonewalled by the US Government, whose representatives--including his frequent associate Mac (Jeff MacKay)--are clearly hiding something. In the midst of this intrigue, Magnum is called back to active duty (with a promotion) and hauled before a military hearing to testify about his old unit in 'Nam...but what is REALLY going on here? Lance LeGault makes his first appearance as Magnum's perennial nemesis Col. Buck Greene. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Laura Frasier (Rebecca Holden), the new singer at the Kamehameha Club, claims to have clairvoyant powers. Her latest premonition is that her fiance Eric Tobin (Francisco Lagueruela), reported MIA in Vietnam way back in 1972, is still alive. Investigating, Magnum (Tom Selleck) discovers that Eric was once a member of the top-secret Delta Section, which had been up to no good during the war--and whose surviving members have apparently engaged the services of a professional sharpshooter to make certain that Eric never reveals Delta's sordid secrets. Jeff MacKay makes his first series appearances as Magnum's Navy pal "Mac" MacReynolds, while Lance LeGault, seen in later episodes as Magnum's perennial nemesis Col. Buck Greene, is here cast as John W. Newton. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Two warring Mexican crime families have one thing in common: They both want Magnum (Tom Selleck) dead. This is because a "friend" who has been impersonating Magnum has taken it upon himself to blackmail one of the crime bosses. Needless to say, this turn of events seriously compromises Magnum's efforts to get a pilot's license--and the consequences are even worse for his pal T.C. (Roger E. Mosley)! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Magnum, P.I. wraps up its eight-year run with a two-part final episode (originally telecast in a single two-hour timeslot). In Part One, Magnum returns to his home town for a family reunion, where his paternal grandfather (Howard Duff) offers to reinstate him as a Naval officer. But before Magnum can say "yes" or "no", he is summoned back to Hawaii by former girlfriend Linda Lee Ellison (Patrice Martinez), who insists that someone is stalking her. Upon his return, Magnum receives some startling information about his daughter Lily, whom he had presumed to be dead. Meanwhile, Rick (Larry Manetti) nervously prepares to marry the estimable Cleo Mitchell (Phyllis Davis). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Magnum (Tom Selleck) is reunited with journalist Kate Sullivan (Tyne Daly), whom he'd met while she was covering the Vietnam war. At the moment, Kate has been assigned to interview a visiting dignitary from the Jororo Islands. . .or at least that's what she claims. As the story unfolds, it becomes obvious that Kate is more interested in securing the "inside story" on cross-dressing international assassin David Bannister (Christopher Morley)--whose own current assignment is to assassinate the man from Jororo! This episode was deemed strong enough to warrant a followup, "Jororo Farewell," which aired two seasons later. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide