As Season Three of MacGyver comes to a close, Creator, Executive Producer, and Showrunner Peter Lenkov and Location Manager Mac Gordon take some time to share cool, exclusive behind-the-scenes memories with mytakeontv.

My Take on TV (MTOTV):  Since the series is filmed in Georgia, particularly in Atlanta, which locations in the area are particularly memorable to you that have seemed especially “fitting” for certain scripts?  

Peter Lenkov (PL):  Well, they all offer such great memories, for various reasons.  Most of all, I’m getting to do such a fun show in such a great state.  But I think our pilot locations have the fondest memories.  It was the first time I had shot in Atlanta and loved exploring the city through our storytelling.

MTOTV:  Mac, would you maybe expand on that a bit and, as location manager, name a few stand-out locations in the Atlanta area where memorable scenes have been shot?  It doesn’t necessarily have to be this season.

Mac Gordon (MG):  Well, every week is a challenge.  We once turned Marietta Town Square into Amsterdam.  We’ve blown up a truck/car in downtown Atlanta a couple of times.  Recently, we filmed at a Georgia Power training area to appear we were high atop a power line tower.  We’ve shot at the Fox Theatre, an iconic building.  Also, we built an entire African village (twice) in a rundown warehouse complex.  We’ve had at least three abandoned villages set in Russia or Turkey or Azerbaijan.

MTOTV:  Wow, pretty exciting stuff.  Let me take it a bit further and ask you, what has been the most difficult scripted location to find in the series thus far?

MG:  That would have to be Afghanistan Villages.  We’ve had this several times.  But, I would add French Catacombs, anything with a desert, a Turkish castle, and the International Seed Vault in Norway.

MTOTV:  Cool.  And Peter, just one more question for you.  I have to ask, as one of the EP’s, how hands-on is Henry Winkler?  How often do you get a chance to work with him, if any, on set?  

PL:  Because of his acting schedule, he usually only gets to set once a season, but he does spend a lot of time with me in editing. He is truly invaluable as a creative partner. 

Lucas Till stars as MacGyer, and the series airs on Friday nights at 8 on CBS, and was recently renewed for season 4!