Talk:MacGyver in popular culture

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In the media[edit]

This section has to be cleaned up. I knew that this section was a problem when this article used to be a section of the main MacGyver article, so I decided to take a look at it. I don't think that every reference to MacGyver's name or every reference to a MacGyverism should be listed here as there are far too many trivial ones, none of the ones listed had citation, and some of them are so far from the main article that you really have to wonder if it's relevant beyond the one time the reference was used.

An obvious acception to this is The Simpsons for the amount of referneces they make, and the fact that Richard Dean Anderson actually appeared in an episode. Another acception is Stargate because of the relation to Richard Dean Anderson in SG-1.

I think it should be limited to direct appearances by Richard Dean Anderson in character or out of character, as well as references that have a cultural impact. Remember that this is an article on "popular culture", which implies that the mainstream popular media was aware of it. Those obscure references shouldn't cut it.

I removed references to Beavis and Butt-head, Mallrats, My Fellow Americans, Chuck, Chick-fil-A, and Eleventh Hour. As they were little more than references to "MacGyver" by name, or references that were extremely obscure as far as the Chik-fil-A calendar goes.--Poet Talk 16:21, 22 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I added a reference to the XKCD comic "MacGyver Gets Lazy". It's difficult to gauge cultural impact without resorting to fairly subjective assessments, but I point to "Inspired activities", "Translations", and "Awards and recognition" of XKCD as partial support. This particular comic (so far as I am aware) seems to be the best-known instance of MacGyver in the medium. Also, the concept of the "MacGyverism" is the basis of the comic, and the degree of laziness is illustrated in both the cop-out of trying to make the "solution" seem clever and in the willingness to use a gun for its designed purpose-- something the "real" MacGyver would have gone to great lengths to avoid! Spotstubes (talk) 19:15, 8 June 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I undid the removal (13:39, 26 February 2013) of the XKCD reference. Is there some reason why it is unacceptable? If there is, I'd appreciate a comment here. Spotstubes (talk) 22:44, 10 April 2013 (UTC)[reply]

"Also on Stargate SG-1, in the pilot episode "Children of the Gods", Samantha Carter says, "it took us fifteen years and three supercomputers to MacGyver a system for the gate on Earth."" - Having just watched the episode in question, Samantha Carter's actual quote is "it took us fifteen years and three supercomputers to jerry-rig a control system for the gate on Earth.". MacGyver is not mentioned. Now this might just be because of version differences. The one I watched was from the DVD boxset, and as far as I can tell, is the "Final Cut" version. Anyone who knows more on this? Hufterkruk (talk) 01:58, 4 June 2014 (UTC)[reply]

FYI: Mythbusters Episode "MacGyver Myths"[edit]

FYI: the Mythbusters added on to MacGyver's plans for the ultraligth. his ultra light was flat but they made thiers like an air foil. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Dockofusa (talk • contribs) 21:17, 12 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

"possible to develop a roll of film using orange juice as an acid and ammonia as an alkaline fixer" - actually, the orange juice would act as a reducing agent (reducing Ag+ ions to metallic silver), and ammonia is indeed a fixer - but it being alkaline has nothing to do with it. Just a little chemical commentary. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 89.76.108.143 (talk) 18:58, 24 May 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Potato Cannon[edit]

"Another implied, but not tested, tactic was creating a potato cannon using hairspray as a fuel, a camp stove as the ignition, and PVC pipe as the mortar. The hair spray does, in fact, provide enough propulsion to launch a potato a considerable distance, when placed in a properly constructed and sealed PVC launching tube. By using a piezo-electric ignition system, such as the type commonly used in camping stoves, this would provide a very effective potato launcher."

Can someone who knows about the show please confirm that this isn't just stealth vandalism? —Preceding unsigned comment added by LewisWasGenius (talk • contribs) 13:10, 11 October 2010 (UTC)[reply]