Several TV shows have greatly influenced people all around the world, and MacGyver is certainly one of them. Created by Lee David Zlotoff and produced by Henry Winkler and John Rich, this 1980s classic starring Richard Dean Anderson was one of the most well-known TV shows of the decade. It deserves every bit of that popularity because it is a series filled with captivating adventure and unforgettable characters.

MacGyver, which ran from 1985 to 1992, is about a secret agent named MacGyver who is often sent on missions related to national security. In the end he always winds up in unfortunate situations, generally involving an escape from armed villains. However, he has a unique way of solving problems: using ordinary objects to improvise a way to get out of difficult circumstances. His usual sidekicks are his Swiss army knife and a roll of duct tape that he always keeps in his pocket. Examples of his creative solutions include building a telescope out of a newspaper, a magnifying lens, and a watch and using a hockey game ticket to disable the detonating mechanism in a bomb. His extensive knowledge of physics and chemistry also proves to be useful in many episodes.

Thanks to the popularity of the show, “MacGyvering” became a commonly used verb meaning to make or repair an object in an improvised or inventive way, using whatever items are at hand. MacGyver, which is rated PG, is family-friendly, allowing all seven seasons of this action and suspense-filled show to be enjoyed by most ages. Some families may also appreciate the fact that MacGyver refuses to use guns to resolve conflicts.

Although the focus of the show is the lead character “MacGyvering” his way out of situations, less MacGyvering happens in the later seasons. These seasons also have less action and simpler plots than those of the first seasons. Regardless, most episodes are enjoyable to watch and include everything a great action/adventure show needs.

No matter how many decades go by, the mark MacGyver made on both popular culture and individual fans’ lives will continue to stand the test of time.