MacGyver was an hour-long drama show in the 1980s and 1990s on American television. It focused on the adventures of the title character as he used his wits, heavily populated with science and technology, to get himself out of tricky situations. While the science and tech weren’t always accurate (thanks, MythBusters), the show was certainly a positive representation of science and engineering.
The show’s creator, Lee David Zlotoff, is behind an effort to create an updated program inspired by MacGyver and focusing on a female engineer. The Next MacGyver officially launches on Thursday, February 19, with an event in Washington, D.C. A partnership between The MacGyver Foundation, the University of Southern California Vitterbi Engineering School, and the National Academy of Engineering, The Next MacGyver is a crowdsourced effort to develop a television program focused on a female engineer. The launch event will include Mr. Zlotoff, Anthony Zuiker (creator of the CSI television franchise), U.S. Chief Technology Officer Megan Smith, and Lori McCreary (creator of Madam Secretary).
Now a big brainstorming session in a nice building does not guarantee a commitment from a network for a television show. USC has already shot a pitch video for the show, but specifics are few and far between. Hopefully this Thursday’s event can rectify that. It will be webcast, in case you can’t be there in person.
Pasco Phronesis 