Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Narrator: ON THIS ICON-SHATTERING 100th EPISODE,
IT'S US VERSUS HIM.
Jamie: THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MacGYVER WITH A MUSTACHE ON HIM.
IT LOOKS A LITTLE LIKE YOU.
"MYTHBUSTERS" TAKES ON MacGYVER
IN A QUEST FOR TRUTH, JUSTICE, AND A HALF-DECENT HAIRCUT.
MacGYVER'S BEEN MYTHBUSTERS' SOUL BROTHER SINCE WE STARTED.
Narrator: THE MAN WHO COULD SURELY BUILD A PARTICLE ACCELERATOR
FROM OLD UNDERPANTS AND CHEWING GUM
IS FINALLY BEING PUT TO THE TEST.
WE'RE RESTAGING THE STUNTS EVERYONE TOOK FOR GRANTED
BACK IN THE '80s...
LIKE BLOWING A HOLE IN A WALL
WITH JUST ONE GRAM OF PURE SODIUM.
THIS IS FOR LOVE, MONEY, AND SCIENCE.
Narrator: WE'LL BUILD AND TRY TO FLY A FULL-SCALE BAMBOO AIRPLANE
TO SEE IF MacGYVER REALLY COULD HAVE FLOWN
AN INJURED HOSTAGE TO SAFETY.
HERE IT COMES!
THEN JAMIE AND ADAM FACE THE ULTIMATE MAC CHALLENGE
BLINDFOLDED.
BE SMART, BOYS. DON'T TRY TO ESCAPE.
IT'S A FOUR-PART BATTLE OF WITS BETWEEN OUR BOYS,
THE CLOCK, TWO HYSTERICAL HENCHMAN,
AND THE TV LEGEND THAT IS MacGYVER.
WHO ARE THE MYTHBUSTERS?
ADAM SAVAGE...
SMELLS LIKE SCIENCE.
...AND JAMIE HYNEMAN.
BETWEEN THEM, MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF SPECIAL-EFFECTS EXPERIENCE.
ARISE, MY SON!
JOINING THEM -- GRANT IMAHARA...
WARNING.
...TORY BELLECI...
THIS SEEMS LIKE A REALLY STUPID IDEA.
...AND KARI BYRON.
THAT IS MESSED UP!
Narrator: THEY DON'T JUST TELL THE MYTHS...
WOW, I CAN FEEL THE PRESSURE.
Narrator: ...THEY PUT THEM TO THE TEST.
THE MOMENT IS FINALLY HERE.
INDEED IT IS.
IT'S THE "MYTHBUSTERS" MacGYVER SPECIAL.
IT'S TIME TO TAKE THE ANTICS OF ONE ANGUS MacGYVER,
PLACE HIM UNDER THE "MYTHBUSTERS" MICROSCOPE,
AND SEPARATE FACT FROM FICTION.
ARE YOU READY?
THE FANS BEGGED FOR IT, SO WE'RE DOING IT --
MAC VERSUS THE MYTHBUSTERS.
HE'S ONE OF THE BOYS' ALL-TIME HEROES,
BUT THERE COMES A TIME
WHEN THE STUDENT MUST CHALLENGE THE MASTER.
ASK ME WHY I'M SWINGING THIS BOTTLE AROUND.
OKAY, WHY ARE YOU SWINGING THIS BATTLE AROUND?
THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE VERY FIRST
MacGYVER MYTH WE'RE ACTUALLY TESTING,
WHICH WE'RE CALLING "SODIUM JAIL BREAK."
IN THIS EPISODE, MAC NEEDS A HOLE IN A WALL IN A HURRY.
KNOWING THAT ALKALINE METALS REACT VIOLENTLY WITH WATER,
HE PACKS PURE SODIUM INSIDE A GELCAP
AND DROPS IT IN A BOTTLE FILLED WITH WATER.
THE CAPSULE WORKS LIKE A FUSE.
BY THE TIME IT DISSOLVES, MAC AND HIS SPECIAL NEW FRIEND
HAVE TIME TO DUCK AND COVER.
IT'S ALL VERY CLEVER, BUT WOULD IT REALLY WORK?
JUST TO BE SAFE, THEY WHEEL IN A MOBILE SEE-THROUGH LABORATORY
FOR THE SMALL-SCALE TESTS.
Adam: WELL, I PULLED OUT THE "BIRDS IN A TRUCK" TRUCK.
IT'S GOT THE WHOLE CLEAR SIDE.
I'M GONNA PARK THAT OUTSIDE JAMIE'S SHOP.
Narrator: WITH JAMIE'S SCOUTING LOCATIONS
FOR THE FULL-SCALE TEST,
TORY VOLUNTEERS TO HELP ADAM BUILD THE TEST RIG.
WITH A PULLEY, A WEIGHT,
A BOWL OF WATER,
AND A GLASS VIAL OF METAL SODIUM,
ADAM HOPES TO TEST THE EXPLOSIVE POTENTIAL
WITHOUT BRINGING THE HOUSE DOWN.
THEY'RE USING AN OPEN BOWL OF WATER, NOT A SEALED BOTTLE.
SO, IF THERE'S ANY TRUTH TO THIS AT ALL,
WE SHOULD GET THE SHOW WITHOUT THE SHRAPNEL.
Adam: I'LL CUT THAT STRING, BREAK THE GLASS THE SODIUM'S IN,
RELEASE IT INTO THE WATER, AND SHOW US WHAT HAPPENS.
Narrator: PURE SODIUM IS SO VOLATILE,
IT COULD EVEN REACT WITH MOISTURE IN THE AIR,
SO BETTER SAFE THAN SINGED.
[ LAUGHS ]
Adam: THAT'S WHY I AM SO WELL PROTECTED
FROM ANY KIND OF SPLASH BACK, TOXICITY, ANYTHING.
NOTHING CAN GET INSIDE MY SUIT.
AND WITH THE FACE SHIELD ON, I THINK I'M PROPERLY PROTECTED.
Narrator: GIANT BANANA NUMBER TWO REDUCES THE RISK
BY PAINTING THE TRAY WITH MINERAL OIL.
THIS GASOLINE BY-PRODUCT
STOPS ALKALI METALS FROM REACTING WITH ATMOSPHERIC WATER.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE A COOKING SHOW, EXCEPT IT'LL KILL YOU.
OKAY, SO, NOW IT'S SITTING ON THE MINERAL OIL.
EVERYONE, EYES OPEN. THIS IS FOR REAL.
THIS IS SCARY.
THE SODIUM METAL CUTS JUST LIKE BUTTER.
LOOK AT THAT!
WHOA!
THAT IS FAR-OUT.
SO THAT -- OH, MY GOSH.
THAT'S JUST METAL.
TWO SMALL SLICES MAKE ONE THIN GRAM.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT MacGYVER USED TO BLOW A HOLE IN A WALL.
ONE GRAM OF SODIUM. IT LOOKS SO INNOCUOUS.
THAT'S PART OF TABLE SALT, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.
I'LL SEE YOU AT THE SHIELD.
BE CAREFUL.
HEY, ADAM'S MIDDLE NAME IS "CAREFUL."
THEN AGAIN, HIS LAST NAME IS -- WELL, LET'S GET ON WITH IT.
THEY'LL DO THIS TEST TWICE --
FIRST WITH THE VIAL SITTING ON TOP OF THE WATER.
SO, THIS IS SODIUM SURFACE TEST IN 3...2...1.
Tory: WA-WA.
NO, NO. IT'S GONNA TAKE A SECOND.
[ LAUGHS ]
[ Laughing ] THAT WAS COOL!
Adam: IT WASN'T A SINGLE REACTION.
IT WAS LIKE A "POW, POW, POW,"
WHICH ACTUALLY LENDS CREDENCE TO THE "MacGYVER" CLIP
IN WHICH THERE ARE TWO BANGS, NOT JUST ONE.
Narrator: BUT WILL THIS BANZAI 4th OF JULY
EVER BE BIG ENOUGH TO BLOW A MAN-SIZED HOLE
THROUGH SOLID MASONRY?
THE BOYS REPEAT THE TEST
WITH A SODIUM VIAL IMMERSED IN WATER.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THE SCIENCE,
BEING UNDER THE WATER IS PROBABLY GONNA BE LESS OF A REACTION
THAN BEING ON TOP OF THE WATER.
INTERESTING.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S FIND OUT.
THIS IS SODIUM UNDERWATER IN 3...2...1.
THAT LOOKS LIKE IT WORKED.
YEAH.
WHOA!
YEAH.
YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF ADAM EVER GETS TIRED OF BEING WRONG.
MacGYVER GOT IT RIGHT, AND THAT'S A GOOD ENOUGH RESULT
FOR JAMIE TO CALL IN THE CONTRACTORS.
OKAY, YOU GUYS ARE GONNA BUILD A WALL.
WE'RE GONNA BLOW IT UP, BUT DO A GOOD JOB ANYWAY.
LET'S GO.
THE SCENERY GOES UP IN SHORT TIME,
AND THE STAGEHANDS AWAIT THE STAR'S BROWN-CARPET ENTRANCE.
TODAY THE PART OF MacGYVER WILL BE PLAYED BY BUSTER,
ONCE JAMIE'S MADE HIM DECENT.
BUT PANTS DON'T ALWAYS MAKE THE MAN.
IN THIS CASE, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE HAIR.
Jamie: THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MacGYVER WITH A MUSTACHE ON IT.
IT LOOKS A LITTLE LIKE YOU.
OKAY.
NOW, HE BURIED THE JAR IN THE SAND, RIGHT?
YEAH, BUT HE KIND OF DID THIS, AND THEN HE DID THIS.
THAT KIND OF THING.
SO WE JUST NEED A COUPLE MORE BAGS THAT ARE CUT OPEN
TO MAKE THIS LOOK KIND OF GOOD.
THEY'VE REPLICATED THE SCENE AS BEST THEY CAN,
BUT ADAM'S ADDED A MAGNET TO THE TRIGGER
SO THE BOYS CAN BE SURE THEY'RE SAFE BEHIND THE BLAST SCREEN.
Adam: I PUT A LITTLE TINY BIT OF METAL THAT WILL BE IN THIS PILL
IN ADDITION TO THE SODIUM.
IT'S ACTUALLY FERROUS, WHICH MEANS IT WILL BE MAGNETIZED.
I'LL PREP THE SODIUM LIKE THIS. I'LL FILL THE BOTTLE WITH WATER.
WHEN WE'RE JUST ABOUT READY TO GO,
I WILL CAREFULLY -- EVER SO CAREFULLY --
SCREW THIS DOWN ON TOP,
RETREAT TO BEHIND THE SAFETY SHIELD...
Narrator: THEN PULL THE MAGNET OFF THE SCREW CAP,
DROPPING THE PILL IN THE WATER,
AND HOPEFULLY PROVING YOU CAN TRUST EVERYTHING YOU SEE ON TV.
PICTURE THIS -- MAC G. IS STUCK ON A COLOMBIAN BUILDING SITE.
BAD GUYS ARE APPROACHING FAST.
HE HAS TO ESCAPE. WHAT DOES HE DO?
THE ONLY THINGS AROUND HIM --
BAMBOO, DUCT TAPE, GARBAGE BAGS, CEMENT MIXER.
WHAT, NO CARS?
CONVENIENTLY, NO CARS.
Tory: ALL RIGHT. WHAT DOES HE DO?
ISN'T IT OBVIOUS? HE BUILDS AN ULTRALIGHT.
Narrator: GIVEN THE RIGHT MATERIALS,
THERE'S ALMOST NO END TO MacGYVER'S INGENUITY.
IMPRISONED AND SURROUNDED,
THERE'S JUST ONE WAY TO GET THE GUY WITH A BROKEN LEG
TO FREEDOM...
SCRATCH-BUILD A TWO-MAN AIRPLANE.
IT REALLY FLIES!
OF COURSE!
THEY'VE SEEN HOW MAC DID IT,
BUT IT'S WORTH GIVING SOME REAL ULTRALIGHTS THE ONCE-OVER.
Grant: I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE THE RIGHT STUFF.
I JUST HOPE WE DON'T HAVE THE WRONG STUFF.
Narrator: GRANT'S CHECKING OUT THE ENGINE, THE PROPELLER,
AND THE CONTROL SURFACES.
IN OTHER WORDS, ANY COMPONENT THAT MOVES.
AS FOR KARI...
Kari: MY RESPONSIBILITY IN BUILDING THE ULTRALIGHT
IS GOING TO BE THE WINGS.
SO, I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN THE SHAPE OF THEM
AND TO SEE HOW THEY COMPARE TO THE MacGYVER ULTRALIGHT.
Narrator: TORY'S JOB IS TO STUDY THE METAL FRAME,
THEN BUILD HIS OWN VERSION FROM BAMBOO.
BUT THE MacGYVER LEGEND LOOMS LARGE.
Tory: I GOT MAD LOVE FOR MacGYVER.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN WATCHING HIM SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID.
AND TO TRY TO BUILD THE THINGS THAT HE DID,
I'M NOT WORTHY.
AND I HOPE I DON'T DISAPPOINT.
GARBAGE BAGS AND DUCT TAPE? I MEAN, REALLY?
Narrator: WELL, THAT'S THE MacGYVER BLUEPRINT,
AND THEY'RE STUCK WITH IT.
AND LET'S REMEMBER THAT SOMEONE, SOMETIME
NEEDS TO FLY THIS HOMEMADE AIRPLANE.
IT'S TIME FOR SOME MILE-HIGH RESEARCH.
Kari: PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO LOCATE YOUR EMERGENCY EXITS,
KEEPING IN MIND THE EMERGENCY EXITS MAY BE BEHIND YOU.
Narrator: ONE BY ONE, KARI, GRANT, TORY,
AND THEIR INSTRUCTOR PILOTS TAKE TO THE AIR.
EVEN BY MYTHBUSTERS' LOFTY STANDARDS,
THIS IS THE THRILL OF A LIFETIME.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE PILOT.
THESE FRAMES ARE MADE FROM HIGH-GRADE ALUMINUM, NOT BAMBOO.
THE WINGS ARE MADE FROM NYLON, NOT TRASH BAGS.
AND THE ENGINES ARE RATED AT 65 HORSEPOWER,
SEVEN TIMES MORE POWERFUL
THAN THE MOTOR MAC SWIPED FROM A CEMENT MIXER.
OH, MY GOD.
ARE THEY SCARED YET? YOU BETCHA.
[ LAUGHTER ]
THAT IS COOL!
THREE PERFECT THREE-POINT LANDINGS.
OH, MY GOSH.
BUT THEY KNOW THIS IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS.
OUR INTREPID COPILOTS CAN BET ALL THEIR FREQUENT-FLIER POINTS
THAT THEIR MacGYVER KNOCKOFF WON'T BE QUITE SO RELIABLE.
Kari: I THINK IF I'VE LEARNED ANYTHING TODAY,
IT'S THAT THIS IS A VERY MASTERFUL PIECE OF EQUIPMENT,
AND I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN BUILD SOMETHING IN FOUR HOURS
THAT'S GOING TO DO THE SAME THING.
Narrator: THERE'S NO WAY ANYONE CAN BUILD
A FULL-SIZE WORKING AIRPLANE IN FOUR HOURS.
MORE LIKE FOUR DAYS.
STILL, THE MYTHBUSTERS HAVE ALL THEY NEED
TO BUILD THIS BABY MacGYVER STYLE.
Tory: I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GONNA FLY,
BUT IT'S DEFINITELY GONNA STAY TOGETHER.
I THINK WE SHOULD START BUILDING EVERYTHING OUT OF BAMBOO AND DUCT TAPE.
Narrator: KARI'S CONCERNED THAT MacGYVER'S WINGS LOOK TOO FLAT,
NOT THE CLASSIC AIRFOIL SHAPE
THAT MAKES POWERED FLIGHT POSSIBLE.
SHE'S ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THE SHEER SIZE OF MAC'S REAR END.
Kari: EVERYTHING I'M BUILDING
IS COMPLETELY BASED ON THE MEASUREMENTS
THAT MacGYVER CALLS OUT.
THE 9'x6' TAILPIECES LOOK RIDICULOUS.
SO IN THE SPIRIT OF MacGYVER-ISM AND TO MAKE THIS REALLY WORK
AND GIVE THIS ANY CHANCE OF FLYING,
I'M GOING TO SLIGHTLY TWEAK THE DIMENSIONS
AND MAKE THEM PROPORTIONAL TO AN ACTUAL ULTRALIGHT.
Narrator: MEANTIME, GRANT'S FOUND HIMSELF A PUNY,
9-HORSEPOWER CEMENT-MIXER ENGINE,
JUST LIKE THE ONE MAC USED...
YEAH!
...AND FITTED A WOODEN PROPELLER.
AT THE VERY LEAST, THIS MINI MOTOR NEEDS TO BE STRONG ENOUGH
TO PUSH THE PLANE ALONG THE GROUND TOWARDS THE CLIFF.
THAT LOOKS REALLY DANGEROUS.
AND THAT'S WORTH TESTING ON A PURPOSE-BUILT, FULLY-CREWED
GO-KART.
Grant: HOW AM I GONNA STOP IT?
[ LAUGHS ] I DON'T KNOW.
I HADN'T REALLY THOUGHT OF STOPPING IT.
UM...PROBABLY WE'RE GOING TO GO
WITH THE FRED FLINTSTONE BREAK TECHNIQUE,
WHICH IS WE ALL PUT OUT OUR FEET AND TRY AND SLOW IT DOWN.
Tory: IF THAT PROP BREAKS, A PIECE OF WOOD GOES FLYING
AND HITS SOMEBODY,
SOMEONE CAN BE SERIOUSLY INJURED.
LET'S TRY IT.
Narrator: GRANT SIGNS ON AS SUPERCARGO
SO THEIR TOTAL WEIGHT IS CLOSE TO A REAL ULTRALIGHT.
THAT'S AROUND 450 POUNDS.
HERE WE GO!
YAH!
[ ALL CHEERING ]
Narrator: STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW,
BUT IN TAKEOFF TERMS,
IT'S SLOWER THAN OSCAR NIGHT.
TIME TO REASSESS THEIR POWER TO WEIGHT
TO ALTITUDE WHATCHAMACALLIT BACK IN THE SHOP.
Grant: I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH HORSEPOWER
TO GENERATE LIFT.
BUT WE DO HAVE ENOUGH TO CONTROL OUR DECENT.
Narrator: AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
HERE AT "MYTHBUSTERS,"
CONTROLLED DECENT ROUGHLY TRANSLATES TO
"A CRASH IN SLOW-MOTION."
BUT MAC FACED THE SAME PROBLEM.
THE CEMENT MIXER ENGINE WAS TOO SMALL TO GET HIM AIRBORNE.
BUT ONCE THE PLANE DROPPED OFF THE CLIFF,
IT DID SUSTAIN FLIGHT.
IT'S AN ADDED INCENTIVE TO MAKE SURE THIS TRASH-BAG TRICYCLE
CAN AT LEAST GLIDE TO SAFETY.
THE ONLY THING TO BECOME UNHINGED? ME.
Narrator: AND SO FAR, IT ALL SEEMS TO BE WORKING.
THE TAPE AND WIRE CONNECTIONS ARE HOLDING FAST,
AND THE MOVING PARTS ARE, WELL, MOVING.
Tory: I WAS A LITTLE UNSURE ABOUT
THE WHOLE BAMBOO AND DUCT TAPE CONSTRUCTION,
BUT AFTER PUTTING SOME OF THIS TOGETHER
AND SEEING HOW STURDY IT IS,
I'M FEELING LIKE IT'S GONNA BE STRONG ENOUGH
TO HOLD UP THOSE WINGS.
Narrator: BUT WILL THE WINGS WORK?
TA-DA!
PERFECT. BEAUTIFUL. I LOVE IT. IT'S GONNA WORK.
KARI'S BENT SOME SKINNY BAMBOO TO MAKE AN AIRFOIL,
BUT NOW SHE'S HAD A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE.
CALL IT BUILDER'S REMORSE.
I HAVE A FEELING [LAUGHS]
THIS THING IS GOING TO PLUMMET TO THE GROUND LIKE A ROCK.
[ LAUGHS ]
I WENT FROM TOTALLY OPTIMISTIC TO A LITTLE SKETCHY.
Narrator: TORY'S CONFIDENT ENOUGH
TO SET THAT FRONT BARROW WHEEL ON THE FRAME...
WHILE KARI BEGINS THE LONG AND LABORIOUS TASK
OF TAPING ALL THAT PLASTIC TO THE BAMBOO FRAME.
FINALLY, TORY BOLTS ON THE TINY ENGINE.
Tory: PERFECT.
Narrator: THE BUILD HAS TAKEN THREE-AND-A-BIT DAYS,
NOT FOUR HOURS,
SO THAT'S ONE PART OF THIS "MacGYVER" MYTH
WELL AND TRULY BUSTED.
THEN THERE'S THAT AWKWARD PAUSE
WHEN SOMEONE REALLY SHOULD OFFER TO FLY THE DARN THING.
NO ONE DOES, AND YOU CAN'T BLAME THEM.
SO GRANT RIGS UP AN RC UNIT.
MacGYVER WAS USING HIS FEET TO STEER THE RUDDER,
BUT SINCE NONE OF US ARE GONNA BE ABLE TO FLY IT,
I'VE GOT THIS RADIO-CONTROL SYSTEM HERE,
AND SO I MOVE THE STICK, IT MOVES THE SERVO,
AND THESE LINES PULL ON THE RUDDER,
MOVING THAT BACK AND FORTH.
Narrator: THIS IS A RARE MOMENT IN "MYTHBUSTERS" HISTORY.
THE WHOLE BUILD HAS GONE OFF WITHOUT A HITCH.
IT'S NOT THAT HEAVY.
THAT'S GOOD.
NOW ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS MAKE IT FLY.
Tory: MacGYVER'S GONNA BE SO PROUD OF US.
Narrator: ADAM AND JAMIE ARE TESTING AN EXPLOSIVE MacGYVER MYTH...
...THAT ONE GRAM OF REACTIVE SODIUM METAL
PACKED IN A PILL AND DROPPED IN WATER
COULD BLOW THROUGH A WALL.
3, 2, 1.
THEY HUDDLE BEHIND THE BLAST SHIELD,
WAITING FOR THAT GELCAP TO DISSOLVE
SO THE SODIUM HITS THE H2O.
IN LESS THAN A MINUTE, WE SHOULD SEE SOMETHING.
50 SECONDS. SHOULD HAPPEN ANY SECOND NOW.
ISN'T IT ALWAYS LIKE THIS? 110.
SO WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO IF IT DOESN'T BLOW UP?
I SAY WE, YOU KNOW, WAIT THE REQUISITE 20 MINUTES
AND THEN APPROACH IT VERY CAUTIOUSLY.
AFTER HALF AN HOUR, THERE'S NOTHING DOING.
SO JAMIE RENTS OUT
THE LATEST IN THIS SEASON'S LINE OF BOMB SUITS.
FEEL LIKE I'M READY TO GO OUT CLUBBING.
[ LAUGHS ]
ONE SMALL STEP FOR A MAN,
ONE GIANT CHANCE FOR ADAM TO SULLY THE MOMENT.
IT'S NOT DISSIMILAR FROM HOW JAMIE WAS DRESSED
WHEN HE FIRST CAME TO EARTH.
ODDS ARE THE REACTION HAS OCCURRED
BUT WASN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO BREAK THE BOTTLE.
ADAM'S ALREADY RUN SOME TIME TRIALS
TO SEE JUST HOW LONG IT TAKES A CAP TO DISSOLVE IN WATER.
HE FILLED THIS ONE WITH RED PEPPER.
Adam: WHAT WE FOUND ON THE SHOW
IS THAT ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN
IS NOTHING.
Narrator: AND NOTHING IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
Adam: WE'RE AT ALMOST HALF AN HOUR,
AND MY GELCAP STILL HAS NOT DISSOLVED.
THAT'S GONNA BE A LONG TIME FOR US TO WAIT OUT ON THE SITE,
SO I'M GONNA TRY A SECOND BOTTLE FULL OF HOT TAP WATER.
Narrator: AND THAT DID THE TRICK.
JUST 90 SECONDS LATER, CATASTROPHIC CAPSULE FAILURE.
IT'S JUST ABOUT TO FAIL. THERE IT GOES.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: THEY ALSO USED HOT WATER ON THE BOMB SITE,
SO SURELY JAMIE'S IN NO DANGER FROM A DELAYED REACTION.
STILL, BEST POLICY IS A QUICK PROD
WITH A HAZMAT-APPROVED POKING BROOM.
IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE ADAM GETS THE ALL-CLEAR.
Adam: WELL, IT CERTAINLY LOOKS LIKE SOME REACTION HAS HAPPENED.
I DON'T SEE ANY SODIUM, AND WE PUT IT IN THERE.
SO THE REACTION HAPPENED WITHOUT BREAKING THE BOTTLE.
Narrator: SADLY, THIS IS JUST WHAT THEY PREDICTED.
Jamie: WE SAW A REACTION IN THE LAB, AND IT LOOKS GOOD,
BUT A LOT OF TIMES, A LITTLE SMOKE,
A LITTLE POP, OR A LITTLE POOF
IS -- YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE BARK THAN BITE.
MacGYVER'S POPULARITY AND OUR KINSHIP WITH HIM
RESTS ON HIM USING WHAT WAS AT HAND
TO DO UNCONVENTIONAL THINGS.
IN THIS TEST, WE REPLICATED EXACTLY
WHAT WE SAW IN THE "MacGYVER" EPISODE.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR MacGYVER,
IT DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK IN REAL LIFE
LIKE IT DID ON THE SHOW.
Narrator: SORRY, MAC, BUT ONE GRAM OF PURE SODIUM
WON'T BLOW A HOLE THROUGH TOILET PAPER,
AND WE'VE STILL GOT A WALL TO DESTROY.
Jamie: SO, WHAT ARE WE DOING?
WELL, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO BLOW ANOTHER HOLE IN THE WALL,
EXCEPT I'M GONNA USE A LOT MORE SODIUM AND A MUCH BIGGER PILL.
IS THAT FOR A HORSE?
IT IS, IN FACT, FOR A HORSE.
ADAM PACKS HIS HORSE PILL WITH 100 GRAMS OF SODIUM METAL.
THAT'S A LOT OF SODIUM.
IF THERE'S ANY TRUTH TO THE TV MYTH,
THIS SHOULD SETTLE THINGS ONCE AND FOR ALL.
Adam: IT'S A DANGEROUS AMOUNT OF SODIUM TO PUT IN WATER,
SO I'M EXPECTING BIG THINGS FROM THIS.
Narrator: AREN'T WE ALL? AND...
2, 1.
I HATE THIS! NOTHING'S HAPPENING.
4 1/2 MINUTES LATER...
THE PILL FINALLY POPS.
THE POINT OF FAILURE WAS, OF COURSE, THAT WE --
TWO EXPLOSIONS.
STILL BARELY ENOUGH TO UNCAP THE BOTTLE.
LOOK, THAT'S WHAT'S LEFT OF THE GELATIN CAPSULE.
THAT WAS AN EXPLOSION,
BUT THIS IS NOT A HIGH EXPLOSIVE.
BUT ADAM AND TORY PRETESTED ANOTHER ALKALINE METAL
THAT'S EVEN MORE VOLATILE THAN SODIUM.
IT'S CALLED POTASSIUM.
AND 3, 2, 1!
HEY! THAT WAS A GOOD ONE!
IT'S STILL GOING.
WHOA!
YEE-HAW! THAT WAS THE BEST ONE SO FAR!
POTASSIUM DEFINITELY GIVES A BIGGER *** THAN SODIUM,
SO HOW CAN WE RESIST A FIELD TEST?
AND OUR PLAN IS TO INTRODUCE POTASSIUM,
WHICH IS FAR MORE REACTIVE THAN SODIUM,
INTO WATER IN A METAL PIPE.
BOOM!
Jamie: WHEN WE DID THE THING WITH THE SODIUM,
WE USED A CHUNK ABOUT THE SIZE OF MY THUMB.
THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA BE USING A BUNCH OF POTASSIUM,
ABOUT THIS MUCH.
THE METAL PIPE IS SEALED AT THE BACK, AND IT'S GOT A LIP UP HERE.
IT'S GONNA HOLD WATER UP TO THIS LINE.
IN THE BACK HERE WILL BE TWO JARS, EACH GLASS,
EACH FILLED WITH 250 GRAMS OF POTASSIUM.
UP HERE IN THESE PIPES WILL BE A WEIGHT.
THERE WILL BE A PIN HERE,
WHICH WE'LL PULL FROM BEHIND THE BLAST SHIELD,
DROPPING THE WEIGHT ONTO THE BOTTLE, BREAKING IT,
RELEASING THE POTASSIUM INTO THE WATER,
AND DIRECTING ALL THE ENERGY OUT THE FRONT THROUGH OUR WALL,
HOPEFULLY.
Narrator: THAT'S 500 GRAMS OF PURE POTASSIUM.
THE MAC MYTH WAS ONE GRAM OF LESS-REACTIVE SODIUM.
NOW HE'S PUSHING THE MORTAR UP AGAINST THE WALL
SO THAT THE ONLY PLACE THE ENERGY CAN GO
IS RIGHT AT THAT WALL.
Narrator: MacGYVER NEVER HAD IT SO GOOD.
THIS IS FOR LOVE, MONEY, AND SCIENCE, 500 GRAMS OF POTASSIUM.
3, 2, 1!
WOW!
WELL, THAT DIDN'T MAKE US WAIT.
IT'S A GREAT SHOW,
BUT THE WALL HASN'T BUDGED.
MacGYVER, MY BROTHER, MY COMPADRE,
WE -- WE HAVE TO TAKE HIM DOWN ON THIS ONE.
Narrator: WE'VE SIDESTEPPED THIS RESULT FOR FAR TOO LONG.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY BUSTED.
BUT JAMIE AND ADAM STILL HAVE A WALL TO BRING DOWN.
Jamie: WE CAME HERE TO GET A HOLE IN THE WALL,
AND DARN IT, WE'RE GONNA GET A HOLE IN THE WALL.
WHEN IN DOUBT -- C-4.
THE GREAT THING ABOUT WORKING WITH J.D.
IS WHEN WE SAID WE WANT A HOLE IN THE WALL,
ALL HE SAYS IS, "HOW BIG?"
Narrator: J.D. ROLLS OUT THE WIRE AND SETS THE CHARGE.
THIS IS HOW YOU UNBUILD A WALL.
3, 2, 1!
Jamie: OH, THAT WHOLE WALL WENT AWAY.
I THINK THE WALL MIGHT BE GONE.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
Narrator: THE WALL IS RUBBLE,
BUT BUSTER MacGYVER IS STILL SITTING PRETTY.
IT KNOCKED MacGYVER'S MULLET RIGHT OFF HIS HEAD.
BUT NOT THE 'STACHE.
IT'S PRETTY DEFINITIVE WHAT IT TAKES THROUGH A WALL...
...AND THE ALKALI METALS JUST AIN'T IT.
J.D.: SO, HOW DID MacGYVER DO?
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I LOVE ABOUT HIM, IS HIS BASIC PREMISE
THAT ALKALI METALS ARE REACTIVE WITH WATER IS SOUND.
BUT THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN USE THEM TO BLOW A HOLE IN THE WALL?
TOTALLY BUSTED.
BUSTED.
Narrator: IN THIS, OUR 100th EPISODE,
TORY, KARI, AND GRANT HAVE FINISHED
ONE OF THE GREAT BACKYARD BUILDS OF ALL TIME.
THEY'VE MADE THEIR OWN AIRPLANE...
I'M NOT FLYING ECONOMY ANYMORE.
...IN TRIBUTE TO KINDRED SPIRIT ANGUS MacGYVER.
NOW THEY NEED A PLACE TO LAUNCH IT.
AND TEICHERT AGGREGATES
HAS GRACIOUSLY SUPPLIED THE RUNWAY AND THE CLIFF.
THIS IS A WORKING QUARRY,
A QUARRY THAT HAS ONE PERFECTLY PERILOUS 150-FOOT DROP.
Kari: I AM ELATED.
I CANNOT BELIEVE WE FOUND SUCH A PERFECT LOCATION --
A FLAT ROAD TO A SHEER DROP-OFF JUST LIKE IN THE MacGYVER CLIP.
SO EXCITED TO FINALLY DO THIS MYTH.
THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE MYTH TO DO.
Narrator: THE PLANE WAS TOO BIG TO TRANSPORT WHOLE,
SO THEY'LL PIECE IT TOGETHER ON SITE.
THIS IS GONNA BE FUN!
KARI AND TORY HAVE SENSIBLY OFFERED THEIR RIDES
TO A PAIR OF ROOKIES.
THERE WE GO.
BUT AS THEY START ATTACHING THOSE TWO MASSIVE WINGS,
CRACKS ARE STARTING TO SHOW.
EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE, I HEAR, LIKE, THIS LOUD CRACK.
WITH THE ADDED WEIGHT OF THE WINGS,
SOME OF THE BAMBOO RODS START SPLITTING DOWN THE MIDDLE.
THIS IS CATASTROPHE IN THE MAKING.
Kari: THE LONGER WE HAVE THE WINGS ON HERE
WITH ALL OF THIS STRESS,
THE MORE CRACKING WE'RE HAVING.
THIS NEEDS TO GO OFF A CLIFF VERY, VERY, VERY SOON.
Narrator: IN A DESPERATE EFFORT TO STAUNCH THE SPLIT,
THEY FIT GUY-WIRES ABOVE AND BELOW TO SUPPORT THE WINGS.
Tory: WHAT I THINK IS GONNA HAPPEN IS,
WE'RE GONNA LOWER THE WINGS
AND THEY'RE GONNA STAY WHERE THEY'RE AT RIGHT NOW
AND THIS THING'S GONNA FLY.
THAT'S WHAT I'M HOPING FOR.
Narrator: IT'S AN ENGINEERING PRINCIPLE THAT GOES WAY BACK
TO THE WRIGHT BROTHERS.
NOW FOR THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
3...2...1.
[ CREAKING ]
[ LAUGHS ]
THEY'RE STAYING WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO STAY!
IT'S NOT CRACKING.
AND THEY'RE HOLDING THE WINGS UP.
I THINK --
[ SCREAMS ]
THAT LOOKS GOOD.
Narrator: SO, THEY'RE ALMOST READY TO PUSH THIS THING
OFF A CLIFF AS HIGH AS A 15-STORY BUILDING.
MacGYVER WOULD BE PROUD AS PUNCH.
Kari: WELCOME TO MYTHBUST AIR.
WE'RE PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE A 100% CRASH RATE.
I'M SURE YOU REMEMBER "BRACE POSITION."
I'M SCARRED FOR LIFE.
THEN WE HAD "JET TAXI"
WHERE A SMALL AIRCRAFT GOT BLOWN BY A 747 ENGINE
100 FEET DOWN A RUNWAY END OVER END.
THIS MIGHT BE THE FIRST MYTHBUST AIR SAFE LANDING.
OR IT MIGHT NOT.
Narrator: OKAY, WE ALL KNOW
THAT HISTORY IS OFTEN MORE INSTRUCTIVE THAN INSPIRATIONAL.
AND THAT PROMPTS GRANT TO ONE LAST TRY.
WHERE ARE THE SEAT BELTS?
WITH KARI AND TORY AS HUMAN BALLAST,
HE'LL TEST THE ENGINE ONE MORE TIME.
GRANT CHECKS HIS REMOTE RESPONSES.
MacGYVER TO TOWER, ARE WE FREE FOR TAKEOFF?
CLEAR PROP!
WE'RE GONNA DIE.
HOLD ON TIGHT.
THIS COULD BE REALLY GOOD OR REALLY, REALLY BAD.
Narrator: IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY THEY'LL TAKE OFF,
BUT THEY ARE READY TO ROLL.
I KNOW!
IT'S WORKING!
12 SECONDS LATER, GRANT CUTS THE ENGINE.
IT'S A TOTAL SUCCESS.
[ LAUGHS ]
YOU DID IT!
WE WEREN'T GOING FAST ENOUGH TO GET LIFT,
BUT IF WE GET GOING FAST ENOUGH TO GET OFF THAT CLIFF,
WE MIGHT ACTUALLY GET FLIGHT.
OH, MY GOD!
WE MacGYVERED IT! WE MacGYVERED IT!
Narrator: THEY SURE DID.
NOW BUSTER AND HIS PARTNER IN PAIN GET TAPED INTO THE COCKPIT.
THERE WE GO.
NICE.
WE'RE JUST MINUTES AWAY FROM THE LAUNCH.
HOPES ARE HIGH, BUT PREDICTIONS ARE PREDICTABLY MIXED.
Grant: I ACTUALLY THINK THERE IS A FAIR CHANCE
THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET SOME SORT OF SUSTAINED FLIGHT.
I THINK THIS THING IS GONNA GO DOWN THE RUNWAY,
GET TO THE EDGE OF THE CLIFF, GO OFF,
BUT I'M AFRAID IT'S JUST GONNA FALL FLAT AND CRASH.
I HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH
BETWEEN IT'S GONNA FLY AND IT'S NOT GONNA FLY.
Narrator: THAT'S A DEFINITE MAYBE FROM KARI
AND A FAIR ASSESSMENT OF THEIR CHANCES.
TORY STARTS THE ENGINE, REMOVES THE CHOCKS,
AND RUNS FOR COVER.
Kari: RUN, RUN!
FOUR DAYS' WORK AND MacGYVER'S REPUTATION
WILL BE JUNKED OR JUSTIFIED IN THE NEXT FIVE SECONDS.
Tory: OH!
WHOA!
THAT WAS SICK! IT ALMOST HAD FLIGHT!
IT WENT LIKE THIS.
IT JUST WASN'T FAST ENOUGH.
YOU KNOW WHAT, THOUGH? THAT DID WAY BETTER THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA DO.
IT ACTUALLY KIND OF GLIDED DOWN TILL IT CRASHED.
Narrator: IF THAT'S A GLIDE, I'D HATE TO SEE A PLUMMET.
THERE WAS JUST ENOUGH POWER TO KEEP THE THREE WHEELS AIRBORNE,
BUT THE TAIL LOOKED MORE LIKE A VERTICAL PLOW.
ON A BRIGHTER NOTE, MAC'S PASSENGER
WOULD HAVE FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT HIS BROKEN LEG.
I THINK MacGYVER AND HIS BAMBOO ULTRALIGHT IS BUSTED.
SADLY BUT TRUE. BUSTED.
NOW, WHO'S GONNA GO GET ALL THAT STUFF?
[ LAUGHTER ]
WELL, YOU MAKE THE MESS, YOU CLEAN IT UP.
OH!
IT'S AN UGLY ENDING,
BUT THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN A WHOLE LOT WORSE.
THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THEY ALL CONSIDERED
FLYING THE PLANE THEMSELVES.
GOOD NEWS. I FOUND THE BLACK BOX.
IT SAYS WE CRASHED.
BUT KARI'S DETERMINED
TO SERVE THIS DISASTER SUNNY-SIDE UP.
Kari: THE WINGS DIDN'T FALL APART.
THE FRAME BASICALLY STAYED TOGETHER.
ALL OF THE ELEMENTS WORKED.
IT'S JUST IT WASN'T MEANT TO FLY.
Narrator: SO TRUE AND SO, SO BUSTED.
SO, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT?
WELL, THE OTHER TEAM SENT US THIS DISK
AND SAID WE HAVE TO WATCH IT.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, JAMIE AND ADAM,
WE'VE COME UP WITH A FEW CHALLENGES FOR YOU TWO TO DO
TO SEE IF YOU GUYS ARE UNDERCOVER MacGYVERS.
Grant: YOU'RE GONNA NEED ALL OF YOUR INGENUITY
AND EXPERIENCE FOR THIS ONE,
AND WE'RE NOT GONNA TELL YOU THE CHALLENGES.
'CAUSE MacGYVER NEVER KNEW THE CHALLENGES, EITHER.
SO, ALL YOU GET TO DO IS THINK ON YOUR FEET
AND USE WHATEVER YOU HAVE AROUND YOU.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT MacGYVER DOES.
WORKS FOR ME.
THIS TIME, THE MYTHBUSTERS' ROLES ARE REVERSED.
THEY WON'T CONTEST THE MYTHS, THEY'LL DEFEND THEM,
REACHING DEEP INSIDE TO FIND THEIR INNER MacGYVER.
IT'S A CUNNING FOUR-TIERED CHALLENGE
THAT BEGINS WITH A BREAKOUT
AND ENDS, HOPEFULLY, WITH A HELICOPTER RESCUE
FROM THIS MAKESHIFT ENEMY CAMPSITE.
BUT THE VILLAINS AREN'T HOME RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE BUILDING THE JAIL
THAT ADAM AND JAMIE HAVE TO ESCAPE FROM.
NOW, I VOTED FOR THE ISLAND WITH THE VOLCANO IN THE MIDDLE,
BUT APPARENTLY THAT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE.
Narrator: NO KIDDING.
BUT THIS TWO-ROOM PREFAB PRISON
IS VERY MacGYVER.
NOW, YOU CAN HAVE YOUR OWN EVIL LAIR IN A MATTER OF HOURS
WITH OUR INSTANT EVIL LAIR KIT.
IT'S SO EASY.
Narrator: AND THE FIRST CHALLENGE
IS TO GET FROM ROOM ONE TO ROOM TWO.
Grant: NOW, WHAT MacGYVER DID WAS SMASHED THE LIGHT BULBS
AND USED THE FILAMENTS TO PICK THE LOCK.
HE DID IT IN 52 SECONDS.
WE'RE GIVING THE BOYS ONE HOUR.
THE ONLY THING I KNOW AT THIS POINT IS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE
PUT IN SOME SORT OF SITUATION THAT WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT
AND DEAL WITH.
THAT'S IT.
I KNOW ABSOLUTELY ZILCH
ABOUT WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO ENCOUNTER.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO, YOU SPIES. WE'VE GOT YOU.
Narrator: OUT HERE, THE PEOPLE ARE REAL,
THE PROBLEMS ARE REAL, AND SO IS THE CONTRABAND.
MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT HIDING ANY TOOLS.
Grant: ALL RIGHT.
WHAT'S HE GOT UP -- ON THE SIDE --
HE'S GOT A WHOLE METAL WORKSHOP DOWN HERE.
OH, MY GOSH. THIS GUY'S GOT FREAKING EVERYTHING.
HE'S GOT A -- LOOK AT THIS.
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? RAMBO?
Narrator: WELL, YOU CAN'T BLAME A GUY FOR TRYING.
LOOK AT THAT! LOOK AT THAT!
THEN AGAIN, MAYBE YOU CAN BLAME A GUY FOR TRYING.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO TOUCH THE BERET.
Narrator: STOPPING JUST SHORT OF A CAVITY SEARCH,
IT'S TIME TO WRAP THINGS UP.
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU'RE MESSING WITH, HUH?
A COUPLE OF AMATEURS?
BE SMART, BOYS. DON'T TRY TO ESCAPE.
LOCK THE DOOR, OKAY?
WITH CAMERAS AND WALKIE-TALKIES IN PLACE,
TORY AND GRANT CALL THE SHOTS FROM THEIR BAD-GUY VAN.
YOU HAVE ONE HOUR TO GET OUT OF THE ROOM.
Grant: OH, GOOD ROPE TYING.
SHUT UP!
WELL, LET'S SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT.
AND THERE'S WORSE NEWS TO COME FOR THE VILLAINS IN THE VAN.
IT'S TAKEN JAMIE TWO SECONDS FLAT
TO GET HIS FIRST BRIGHT IDEA.
WE'VE GOT TO USE THE FILAMENTS FROM THESE LIGHT BULBS
TO PICK THAT LOCK.
Adam: THE ISSUE IS GOING TO BE
OF BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY INSERT THIS IN AND PUSH UP THE PINS.
THIS WIRE IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE TOO FAT, I THINK.
Jamie: YOU COULD USE ONE BOOT AGAINST THE OTHER
IF YOU TOOK YOUR SHOES OFF.
YES, THAT'S TRUE.
Tory: LOOK AT THAT.
HE'S USING THE STEEL TOE IN HIS BOOT AS A HAMMER AND ANVIL
TO FLATTEN THE FILAMENT SO IT WILL FIT INTO THE KEYHOLE.
MIND IF I TAKE A STAB AT THIS?
GO FOR IT.
ADAM'S GOT THE FILAMENTS, AND HE HAS LOCKPICK EXPERIENCE.
SHOULD WE JUST PUMP IN THE NERVE GAS NOW?
THERE'S NO NEED TO PLAY ROUGH JUST YET.
OUR TWO MOCK MacGYVERS
MIGHT WELL HAVE REMEMBERED THE LIGHT-BULB STUNT FROM TV.
THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM SMART,
AND IT SURE DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN PICK THIS LOCK.
YOU WANT TO GIVE IT A SHOT?
AFTER A FEW MINUTES, ADAM HANDS OVER TO JAMIE.
Grant: CURRENTLY, THEY'RE AT 12 MINUTES.
IT TOOK MacGYVER 52 SECONDS.
IT SEEMS THAT THE FILAMENTS
ARE A LITTLE BIT TOO BIG TO FIT IN THE LOCK.
IT'S STARTING TO GET INTO THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THIS LOCK.
Narrator: AND THIS IS ONE DEEPLY TROUBLED DOORKNOB.
THE DOCTORS TALK TACTICS.
ANY OF THESE TUMBLERS HAVE TO GO UP OR DOWN, RIGHT?
EVERYTHING HAS TO GO UP. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HOW MUCH.
OH, OKAY.
THEY SWAP AGAIN, HOPING ADAM'S MISSPENT YOUTH
MIGHT FINALLY PROVE AN ASSET.
Grant: I LIKE THAT THEY'RE TAG-TEAMING.
WHEN ONE GETS TIRED, THEN THE OTHER ONE PICKS UP.
BUT TIME IS FAST RUNNING OUT.
10 MINUTES LEFT.
TELL YOU WHAT. IF I GET IT TO TURN, I'M KICKING THE DOOR DOWN.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE ADAM CAN AFFORD TO SPARE
THOSE STEEL CAPS.
I GOT IT.
NO WAY.
THAT'S A SUCCESSFUL PICK.
LET'S HOPE I'M TURNING IT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
[ LAUGHS ]
WAY TO GO THERE, BUDDY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
Narrator: CHALLENGE NUMBER ONE -- NO CHALLENGE AT ALL.
I GOT TO SAY I AM SUFFERING RIGHT NOW FROM THE SIN OF PRIDE.
I TAUGHT MYSELF HOW TO PICK LOCKS WHEN I WAS 17,
AND THE KEY TURNED OUT TO BE JAMIE MENTIONING THAT I COULD
USE MY TWO STEEL TOES OF MY BOOTS AS A HAMMER.
Narrator: AND THERE'S A NICE BIT OF SYMMETRY
BETWEEN MAC'S EFFORTS AND THE MYTHBUSTERS'.
MacGYVER DID IT IN 52 SECONDS.
ADAM DID IT IN 52 MINUTES.
THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT MacGYVER IS FICTIONAL AND ADAM IS REAL.
THAT'S AMAZING.
IS THIS ANOTHER ONE WE HAVE TO BREAK OUT OF?
NOW, THE SECOND TEST, THEY HAVE TO DEVELOP A ROLL OF FILM
WITH DIRECTIONS TO THE CAMP WITH ONLY ORANGE JUICE AND AMMONIA.
ARE THEY GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT?
I HIGHLY DOUBT IT.
Narrator: THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH MORE
IN THIS PRETEND PANTRY THAN JUST O.J. AND AMMONIA.
THE BOYS HAVE TO CHOOSE TWO COMMON KITCHEN LIQUIDS
THAT ALSO WORK AS FILM DEVELOPERS AND FIXERS.
THEY'RE WELCOME TO DRINK THE REST.
THAT WAS OUT ALL NIGHT.
EW.
HOW GOOD IS YOUR FILM CHEMISTRY?
WELL, I SEE THERE'S BAKING SODA OVER THERE.
WE'VE GOT SOME BASIC CHEMICALS. WE GOT SOMETHING THAT'S ACIDIC.
HE'S GOING FOR THE ORANGE JUICE.
WE'VE GOT AMMONIA? YES. THERE'S AMMONIA.
OH, HE'S ALREADY GOT THE AMMONIA!
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE GONNA NEED A DARKROOM.
GARBAGE BAGS OUGHT TO DO THAT.
OH, THAT WAS EASY.
WHY DIDN'T WE JUST GIVE THEM A DARKROOM?
BECAUSE THAT WOULD ALSO BE FAR TOO EXPENSIVE
AND NOT NEARLY AS MUCH FUN.
THE QUESTION IS, WHAT'S THE CHEMISTRY OF DEVELOPING FILM?
NOW, HERE'S A MOMENT YOU'LL WANT TO SAVOR.
TURNS OUT ADAM ONCE HAD A JOB AS A FILM PROCESSOR.
I'VE USED FILM CHEMICALS.
HE KNOWS THEY'LL NEED ACIDS AND BASES,
BUT HE CAN'T RECALL WHICH ONE IS THE DEVELOPER.
ARE THEY ALKALINE?
NO, THEY'RE ACIDIC
'CAUSE YOU HAVE TO WEAR RUBBER GLOVES TO DEVELOP FILM.
WELL, ALKALINE WOULD CAUSE THAT REACTION, AS WELL.
YEAH.
THEIR FIRST BEST GUESS
IS A BATH IN BAKING SODA WITH A WATER RINSE.
ALL RIGHT, I'VE GOT THE FILM. IT'S IN MY HAND.
I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO TEAR THAT, ARE YOU?
WHEN I WAS A FILM PROJECTIONIST, I BELIEVE YOU CAN.
HOLD ON. YEP.
YES, YOU HEARD RIGHT.
ADAM ALSO WORKED AS A PROJECTIONIST,
AND A FAT LOT OF GOOD THAT'S DOING.
I'M DIPPING IT INTO THE SOLUTION NOW,
AND I'M MOVING IT AROUND INSIDE THE BAKING-SODA SLURRY.
I WISH I REMEMBERED HIGH-SCHOOL CHEMISTRY.
THERE'S A PHRASE YOU'D NEVER HEAR FROM MacGYVER.
AND HE'D PROBABLY GIVE THE FILM
MORE THAN TWO MINUTES TO DEVELOP.
IS THAT JUST THE LEADER?
YEAH, IT IS, BUT I SHOULD BE GETTING SOMETHING OFF OF IT,
AND I'M NOT.
THE NEXT SOLUTION IS GIVING A FEW FRAMES OF FILM
THE OLD DOUBLE DIP.
FIRST AMMONIA, THEN BAKING SODA.
THEY HAVEN'T EVEN CONSIDERED THE WINE, THE COFFEE, OR THE O.J.
JAMIE'S OPTED TO STIR THE AMMONIA WITH HIS FINGER.
WELL, HIS HAND IS SYNTHETIC.
THIS STRANGE BREW IS ALSO A DEAD LOSS.
NOTHING.
NO REACTION.
I DON'T SEE ANY SECRET PLANS.
Grant: THE UNFORTUNATE THING
IS THAT THEY'VE GOT LESS THAN HALF AN HOUR LEFT,
AND BY OUR ESTIMATE,
IT SHOULD TAKE 10 MINUTES IN THE DEVELOPER
BEFORE YOU THEN WASH IT AND FIX IT.
THEY ARE RUNNING REALLY SHORT ON TIME.
TO PROPERLY DEVELOP THOSE CAMPSITE DIRECTIONS
INSIDE THE ALLOTTED HOUR,
THEY NEED TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE RIGHT NOW.
ADAM DIGS DEEP TO REMEMBER DETAILS FROM THE OLD DAYS.
Adam: THERE WAS A COUPLE OF CHEMICAL BATHS,
AND THEN YOU'D RINSE THE THING OFF IN WATER.
I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE CHEMICAL BATHS WERE,
BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS A THREE-STEP PROCESS.
ONE BATH, THEN THE SECOND BATH, THEN THE RINSE.
DID THEY JUST FIGURE THAT OUT?
DANG IT! HOW DO THEY KNOW?
WELL, MAYBE THEY DON'T.
WITH 12 MINUTES REMAINING,
ADAM AND JAMIE CUT THE FILM ROLL IN TWO,
SOAKING ONE HALF IN AMMONIA AND THE OTHER IN ORANGE JUICE.
Jamie: WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, SO WE'RE HEDGING OUR BETS.
WE'VE GOT HALF THE FILM IN AN ACID.
WE'VE GOT HALF THE FILM IN A BASE.
TIME IS ALMOST UP,
SO THEY'LL DUNK EACH ROLL OF FILM IN THE ALTERNATE BOWL
TO ARREST ANY POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT.
I'M GONNA PULL THE FILM FROM ONE AND PUT IT IN THE OTHER
AND VICE VERSA.
THE O.J.-TO-AMMONIA SHUFFLE MIGHT WORK
SO LONG AS THEY DON'T LET THE LIGHT IN TOO SOON.
YOU WANT TO POUR SOME WATER IN TWO OF THOSE COFFEE CUPS FOR ME?
WE GOT NOTHING.
NOTHING.
Grant: THEY CAN'T JUST WASH IT IN WATER.
ALL RIGHT, YOU GUYS.
It's been an hour, and you haven't done it.
I'm sorry, but you fail.
[ Evil laughter ]
AT LEAST THEY'RE HAVING FUN.
YOU GUYS WERE CLOSE, THOUGH, IN DEVELOPING THAT FILM.
THE WAY YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IT,
YOU STICK IT IN THE ORANGE JUICE FOR 10 MINUTES
AND THEN YOU PUT IT IN THE AMMONIA AS A FIXER.
But you've got to keep it all in the bag the entire time.
If it gets exposed to any light, it doesn't work.
THE ONE THING THAT WE DIDN'T TRY.
ADAM KNOWS THAT ULTIMATE SUCCESS
ALL DEPENDS ON JUST WHERE YOUR HEAD'S AT.
OR AT LEAST WHAT'S IN IT.
THE PROBLEM WITH ME IS THAT I KNOW ALL THE LYRICS
FROM EVERY SONG FROM THE '70s
AND THERE'S NO MORE ROOM IN HERE.
Narrator: ADAM AND JAMIE ARE HALFWAY THROUGH
THEIR FOUR-PART MacGYVER CHALLENGE.
SO FAR, THE GOOD GUYS AND THE BAD GUYS
ARE ALL SQUARED UP AT ONE APIECE.
JUST SO THIS GREAT ESCAPE DOESN'T COME TO A GRINDING HALT,
TORY AND GRANT DELIVER THE VITAL CAMPSITE DIRECTIONS
OUR MacGYVER WANNABES FAILED TO FIND ON THE FILM.
DUDE...IT'S A CLUE.
ALL RIGHT, YOU HAVE ONE HOUR TO COMPLETE YOUR TASK, BOYS.
DON'T FORGET YOUR COMPASS, AND DON'T GET LOST.
WELL, YOU NEED TO MAKE A COMPASS, DON'T WE?
I THINK WE DO.
Narrator: RIGHT ON, JAMIE.
THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO MAKE A COMPASS
IS A MAGNETIZED PIECE OF METAL.
ADAM WASTES NO TIME BUILDING AN ELECTROMAGNET
FROM BATTERIES, TAPE, AND INSULATED WIRE.
JAMIE HAS TAKEN APART THE CHEESE GRATER,
AND ADAM IS USING THAT TO SHAVE OFF THE INSULATION.
TRULY INSPIRED.
THE BOYS KNOW THEY CAN MAGNETIZE A PAPER CLIP
BY REPEATEDLY PASSING IT OVER ANOTHER LARGE MAGNET.
Tory: THEY'RE ACTING LIKE THEY'VE DONE THIS BEFORE.
THEY MIGHT HAVE.
I THINK THEY MAY HAVE.
Jamie: I THINK THIS IS ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO MAGNETIZE IT.
I'M PRETTY SURE IT WILL WORK.
OHH, THAT'S STARTING TO HEAT UP.
OH, RIGHT, YEAH. 'CAUSE I'M SHORT-CIRCUITING.
DAMN IT!
THAT'S A VERY GOOD SIGN.
ONCE THE CLIP IS STUCK IN A CORK AND FLOATED IN WATER,
IT SHOULD POINT MAGNETIC NORTH.
AND IT DOES.
[ LAUGHS ] NICE!
Adam: WE WERE ABLE TO WRAP WIRE AROUND THE SCREW
AND ATTACH IT TO THE BATTERIES.
AND WHEN YOU DO THAT WITH ELECTRICITY,
RUN IT THROUGH A WIRE THAT'S WRAPPED AROUND
AN IRON OR METAL CORE, YOU GET A MAGNET.
AND THAT PUPPY POINTED NORTH REALLY NICE AND TRUE.
THEY'RE GONNA SEE OUR SURVEILLANCE VAN. LET'S GO!
OUR COVER'S BLOWN!
LET'S GO, LET'S GO, LET'S GO!
Narrator: GRANT AND TORY SEE THE GOOD GUYS ARE OFF AND RUNNING,
SO THEY FOLLOW SUIT.
42, 43, 44.
DO WE NEED A SNIPER RIFLE?
WE MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE THEM OUT.
THAT'S NORTH. THAT'S WEST.
WE WANT TO GO NORTHWEST, WHICH IS -- WA-PA! -- THAT WAY.
200 PACES.
Narrator: THE COMPASS SEEMS TO BE WORKING,
AND SO FAR, OUR LIKELY LADS ARE WELL INSIDE THE TIME LIMIT.
WHILE THE SCOUNDRELS PRACTICE THEIR SEMAPHORE,
ADAM, JAMIE, AND THEIR ENTOURAGE
ARE MORE OR LESS HEADED FOR HOME.
200.
OKAY, THIS IS 200 PACES NORTHWEST,
AND THERE'S NOTHING HERE.
NO SECRET COMPARTMENT.
HOWEVER, A CURSORY GLANCE AROUND SHOWS A TARP OVER THERE.
I THINK THAT IS OUR SECRET CAMPSITE.
OHH!
SEEMS THE COMPASS ISN'T PERFECT, BUT IT'S GOOD ENOUGH.
WE FOUND THE SECRET CAMPSITE
WITH A MECHANICAL COMPASS WE MADE OURSELVES.
Narrator: IT'S HARD TO MISS A BLUE TENT IN A GREEN FIELD.
SO, IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES,
IT'S 2-1 TO THE MacGYVER GOOD GUYS.
Grant: CONGRATULATIONS, YOU GUYS.
YOU MADE THE COMPASS, AND YOU FOUND OUR CAMPSITE.
You completed test number three.
And now it's on to test number four.
THERE'S NO WAY THEY'RE GONNA PASS THIS LAST ONE.
WE'VE GOT TO SIGNAL THIS PLANE --
THIS HELICOPTER, AT 3:00.
IN TRUE MacGYVER STYLE,
ADAM AND JAMIE HAVE TO CONTRIVE SOME SORT OF RESCUE SIGNAL
THAT FLIES AT LEAST 100 FEET HIGH,
AND THEY CAN ONLY USE WHAT THEY FIND IN THE CAMPSITE.
GRANT AND TORY HAVE ALREADY PLANTED ALL THE FIXINGS
FOR A POTATO CANNON.
THE FUEL IS HAIRSPRAY, IGNITION COMES FROM THE CAMP STOVE,
POTATOES ARE PLENTIFUL,
AND PVC PIPE SHOULD MAKE A PERFECT MORTAR.
I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY STANDARD BACKYARD THING TO DO.
AT LEAST, I IMAGINE, WHAT STANDARD BACKYARD THINGS TO DO
WOULD BE FOR ADAM AND JAMIE.
Narrator: CLEARLY, GRANT'S NEVER SEEN JAMIE'S BACKYARD.
HE'S THINKING WAY OUTSIDE THE SQUARE.
THE MAIN THING THAT HITS ME IS THAT IT'S WINDY
AND THERE'S THE COMPONENTS FOR A KITE HERE,
A RATHER LARGE ONE, EVEN.
IT'S THE LAST THING THE BAD GUYS EXPECTED.
Grant: THAT'S A KITE.
THEY'RE BUILDING A BIG, GIANT KITE.
THAT WASN'T THE PLAN, BUT I LIKE IT.
THERE'S THE TAIL.
YEAH, I THINK THEY'RE USING THE ORIGINAL ROPE
WE TIED THEM UP WITH FOR A TAIL.
BUILDING THE KITE TAKES NO TIME AT ALL.
BUT GETTING IT UP IS SUCKING AWAY THE MINUTES.
YEAH.
WATCH OUT!
NO, NO, NO.
MAKE IT UPRIGHT!
Tory: JAMIE IS TRYING TO HOLD IT IN PLACE TO CATCH SOME AIR,
BUT IT'S JUST A BIG SAIL OUT THERE.
THEY ONLY HAVE 10 MINUTES LEFT.
THEY HAVE THEIR KITE BUILT,
BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE GROUND.
TIME IS RUNNING OUT. I HOPE THEY GET IT UP.
OH, MY GOD! IT'S UP!
COME ON!
GO DOWN. COME ON!
Narrator: GRANT'S NOT SURE WHICH SIDE HE'S BATTING FOR,
BUT TORY'S DETERMINED TO BE THERE FOR THE KILL.
ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA GO GET IN THE CHOPPER.
IF THEY CAN'T GET THAT UP TO 100 FEET AND I DON'T SEE IT IN THE CHOPPER,
I'M NOT RESCUING THEM.
ALL RIGHT.
AND WE GOT LIFTOFF.
JAMIE AND ADAM HAVE ONE LAST SHOT
AT A MIRACULOUS MacGYVER-ESQUE RESCUE.
WE GOT LIKE TWO MINUTES TO GO. YOU READY FOR ANOTHER FLIGHT?
YEAH. WE GOT TO GET IT UP THERE.
Jamie: GOT TO BE OVER THERE.
Adam: GOING THIS WAY DOESN'T HELP.
Tory: RIGHT NOW THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH THE KITE.
IT'S STILL ON THE GROUND.
THEY NEED TO GET IT TO AT LEAST 100 FEET.
Narrator: NONE TOO SOON, IT'S AIRBORNE.
IT'S AT ABOUT 20 FEET.
HEY, HEY!
[ LAUGHS ] IT'S UP!
Narrator: FINALLY, RIGHT ON TIME,
THE TENT KITE FLIES JUST AS HIGH AS THE CHOPPER.
YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M GONNA CALL IT.
THAT'S -- THERE IT IS. THERE'S THE SIGNAL.
THAT KITE HAS REACHED 100 FEET.
WE'VE SEEN THE SIGNAL.
LET'S LAND THIS CHOPPER AND RESCUE OUR BOYS.
THAT WAS IT! THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO!
I HOPE THEY SAW US!
Narrator: THEY DID SEE YOU.
AND GOOD SPORTS THAT THEY ARE, THEY DON'T WANT TO KILL YOU.
HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?
YOU DID IT! GOOD JOB, YOU GUYS.
AWESOME!
GET OUT OF HERE.
GET TO THE CHOPPER!
WE WERE JUST ABOUT 100 FEET,
AND THE KITE WAS RIGHT THERE NEXT TO US.
I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY GOT IT UP THAT HIGH.
WE WERE TRYING TO DIRECT THEM TO MAKE A POTATO GUN,
AND THEY WENT AROUND THE BACK SIDE
AND MADE A KITE, AND THEY SIGNALED THE CHOPPER.
THOSE GUYS ARE GOOD. THEY ARE GOOD.
MacGYVER 1, MYTHBUSTERS 3.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: BUT A WIN FOR THE BOYS
REALLY IS A VICTORY FOR MacGYVER, AS WELL.
WE FINALLY PROVED THAT SOME OF MAC'S EXPLOITS
AREN'T SO FARFETCHED.
AND FOR ONCE IN THIS, OUR 100th EPISODE,
WE CAN SAFELY SAY YOU CAN TRY THIS AT HOME.
JUST BE REAL CAREFUL WITH THE HELICOPTER.
JAMIE, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY FANS HAVE E-MAILED US
ABOUT DOING A MacGYVER EPISODE.
[ As Jamie ] YEAH, WE TAKE FAN REQUESTS VERY SERIOUSLY.
[ Normal voice ] YOU'RE RIGHT! SO SERIOUSLY, IN FACT,
WE'RE DOING ANOTHER VIEWER SPECIAL --
ALL MYTHS OF YOUR IDEAS.
[ As Jamie ] SO, IF YOU'VE GOT AN IDEA YOU WANT US TO TRY,
LON ON TO www.discovery.com/mythbusters
AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU'D LIKE US TO TEST ON THE SHOW.