--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Truthfully, in the beginning [of…" description: "\"Truthfully, in the beginning [of MacGyver] this could have gone either way, and as it turned out there was a version that was done wrong, which I'm not..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/lucas-till-4507_chance_truthfully-in-the-beginning-of-macgyver_63774.png" --- # Truthfully, in the beginning \[of MacGyver\] this could have… ![“Truthfully, in the beginning [of MacGyver] this could have gone either way, and as it turned out there was a version that was done wrong, which I'm not even going to get into. It was a pretty good idea and I liked where it was going, but then we got a chance to restart with Peter Lenkov [as…” quote by Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/lucas-till-4507_chance_truthfully-in-the-beginning-of-macgyver_63774.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/lucas-till-4507_chance_truthfully-in-the-beginning-of-macgyver_63774.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66a/lucas-till-4507_chance_truthfully-in-the-beginning-of-macgyver_63774.png) > “Truthfully, in the beginning \[of MacGyver\] this could have gone either way, and as it turned out there was a version that was done wrong, which I'm not even going to get into. It was a pretty good idea and I liked where it was going, but then we got a chance to restart with Peter Lenkov \[as executive producer/showrunner\], who brought his vision to it. I remember reading his pilot script and it was just so exciting that I started hopping around my room.” [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on a TV show's early development, noting a misstep that was later corrected by a new showrunner whose vision revived the project. **In simple terms:** A production pivot revived a stalled series. Key Takeaway Leadership can transform a flawed concept. Themes creative process leadership vision revival media production Mood anticipation excitement Type industry anecdote personal reflection When to use this quote - TV show pitch meetings - script revisions - showrunner changes - production setbacks Key Concepts pilot development executive production creative direction Practical Applications - evaluating new leadership - reassessing project direction Questions to Reflect On - What signals indicate a project needs new leadership? - How does a showrunner's vision reshape a series? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [Good ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-ideas/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Macgyver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/macgyver/) [Pilot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilot/) [Pilots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilots/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [ I will say this: basically there in \[MacGyver\] was an idea and it was executed with a bunch of different things in mind, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-will-say-this-basically-there-in-macgyver-was-an-idea-and-it-was/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [ Actually there were \[ in MacGyver\] a lot of things about the original that focused on the character, but not too many people seem… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/actually-there-were-in-macgyver-a-lot-of-things-about-the-original/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [ The original plan was that James Wan would direct the pilot \[of MacGyver \] but it didn't work out, and then it did, which… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/the-original-plan-was-that-james-wan-would-direct-the-pilot-of/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [Havok ended a chapter of my life and I get to start a new one with MacGyver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/havok-ended-a-chapter-of-my-life-and-i-get-to-start-a-new-one-with/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [We called my dad MacGyver when I was a kid, and I learned a lot from him. He just enjoys problem solving in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/we-called-my-dad-macgyver-when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-learned-a-lot-from/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [This MacGyver is a twentysomething agent who, rather than operating on his own, is part of a team engaged in high-risk missions that take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/this-macgyver-is-a-twentysomething-agent-who-rather-than-operating-on/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [ How can you sustain life? \[Dan\] Fogelman is magic, and I think the other scripts of his that I've read for this show specifically… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-ventimiglia/how-can-you-sustain-life-dan-fogelman-is-magic-and-i-think-the-other/) [Milo Ventimiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-ventimiglia/) > [When The Walking Dead officially got greenlit, Frank Darabont called me up and said, "My passion project just got off the ground. There's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/when-the-walking-dead-officially-got-greenlit-frank-darabont-called/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [“Originally, in my pilot script, I had named my character Mira. But Kevin Reilly told me to change it to Mindy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/originally-in-my-pilot-script-i-had-named-my-character-mira-but-kevin/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [Reading the pilot script, it was written in a very clear way, like the feel of the show, the mockumentary. And Mitch wrote it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cera/reading-the-pilot-script-it-was-written-in-a-very-clear-way-like-the/) [Michael Cera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cera/) > [For 'Orphan Black,' all I got was the pilot script, and that was enough for me. I was daydreaming about this part. I kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-gavaris/for-orphan-black-all-i-got-was-the-pilot-script-and-that-was-enough/) [Jordan Gavaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-gavaris/) > [ The original pilot script \[ of "Mary and Jane"\], we literally just wrote for fun. It was, let's just do this. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-elfont/the-original-pilot-script-of-mary-and-jane-we-literally-just-wrote/) [Harry Elfont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-elfont/) > [I never got into 'MacGyver,' but 'All the President's Men' and 'The Conversation' were big for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-never-got-into-macgyver-but-all-the-president-s-men-and-the/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [Sometimes no matter how well you prepare, no matter how conservative your decision making, no matter how few Y chromosomes are along on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-houston/sometimes-no-matter-how-well-you-prepare-no-matter-how-conservative/) [Pam Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-houston/) > [ I've always been a fan of \[Mary Elizabeth Winstead's\]. She gets to do some fun action-y stuff she brings this gritty swashbuckle to. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-trachtenberg/i-ve-always-been-a-fan-of-mary-elizabeth-winstead-s-she-gets-to-do/) [Dan Trachtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-trachtenberg/) ## More by Lucas Till > [I don't want to have anything to do with that: just the fame without personal respect for your privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-don-t-want-to-have-anything-to-do-with-that-just-the-fame-without/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [Arent people supposed to do movies so that they can get girls?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/arent-people-supposed-to-do-movies-so-that-they-can-get-girls/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [I want to do the best job I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-want-to-do-the-best-job-i-can/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [On the first one, X-Men: First Class, it would be James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult and I. I'd basically inhale, there would be a red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/on-the-first-one-x-men-first-class-it-would-be-james-mcavoy-nicholas/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [The show is called 'MacGyver,' and I've got to be there every day. There are probably a lot of girls out there watching the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/the-show-is-called-macgyver-and-i-ve-got-to-be-there-every-day-there/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [See, it's kind of like James Bond. There's a new James Bond every couple of years. Maybe I can do the new 'MacGyver' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/see-it-s-kind-of-like-james-bond-there-s-a-new-james-bond-every/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [I've kind of been in a video game, I've kind of been an action figure. It was actually a Barbie doll, so that's why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-ve-kind-of-been-in-a-video-game-i-ve-kind-of-been-an-action-figure/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [I'm a 'Fast & Furious' fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-m-a-fast-furious-fan/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [I want to be relatable. I want to be the guy that people root for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-want-to-be-relatable-i-want-to-be-the-guy-that-people-root-for/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [I was a small kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-was-a-small-kid/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [I don't think that 'Hannah' garnered a whole lot of respect from certain people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-don-t-think-that-hannah-garnered-a-whole-lot-of-respect-from/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [That one was stunt heavy. 'Monster Trucks' was a lot of stunts. I got to do some insane stunts they should've never let me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/that-one-was-stunt-heavy-monster-trucks-was-a-lot-of-stunts-i-got-to/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [Growing up, I'd watch 'Rambo' or 'Commando,' and so many action heroes were these huge guys with six-pack abs. It almost became a novelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/growing-up-i-d-watch-rambo-or-commando-and-so-many-action-heroes-were/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [When you say 'Monster Trucks,' people don't think monsters inside of trucks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/when-you-say-monster-trucks-people-don-t-think-monsters-inside-of/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [Money is cool, but being proud of yourself is something that's so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/money-is-cool-but-being-proud-of-yourself-is-something-that-s-so-rare/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) [Explore all 110 Lucas Till quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) ## More Chance quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Love changes people, for better or for worse. You could look at it as a chance for you to change. The best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-changes-people-for-better-or-for-worse-you-could-look-at-it-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's not who, it's when”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-taubas/it-s-not-who-it-s-when/) Alejandro Taubas > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [If you’re worrying about the past, you’ve got a good chance of screwing up the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-a-tullman/if-you-re-worrying-about-the-past-you-ve-got-a-good-chance-of/) [Howard A. Tullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-a-tullman/) > [To be successful, one must take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/to-be-successful-one-must-take-chances/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) [Browse all 12,460 Chance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Truthfully, in the beginning [of MacGyver] this could have gone either way, and as it turned out there was a version that was done wrong, which I'm not even going to get into. It was a pretty good idea and I liked where it was going, but then we got a chance to restart with Peter Lenkov [as executive producer/showrunner], who brought his vision to it. 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