An unusual concept and a quietly charismatic leading man, Richard Dean Anderson, helped make this action-adventure show a fan favorite that lasted seven seasons and became a hit all over again in syndication. Anderson played Angus MacGyver, a resourceful undercover operative assigned to important missions by a top-secret government agency disguised as a think tank. MacGyver is unique among modern heroes because of his personality traits and his approach to perilous situations: Deeply committed and principled, he eschews weapons and relies on his encyclopedic knowledge of practical science to extricate himself from difficult situations. The resourceful MacGyver can employ anything at hand; in the pilot episode, for example, he uses chocolate as a sealant. A household fan, a car battery, chewing gum -- in MacGyver's hands just about any normal, everyday item can become a valuable tool. Although he appears in the pilot in a supporting role, veteran character actor Dana Elcar later turned up as Peter Thornton, MacGyver's nominal boss. He first appears in "Nightmares," a midseason installment that's one of the better shows among the 22 collected in this box set. "Every Time She Smiles," another top-notch episode, introduces garrulous artist Penny Parker (Teri Hatcher), who became a recurring character and a terrific foil for the lead. "Trumbo's World," set in Brazil, borrows not only its premise but also a sizable chunk of footage from the 1954 feature film The Naked Jungle. A change of pace from the usual cloak-and-dagger stories, this episode pits Mac and an etymologist friend against a horde of killer ants that threaten to overrun a jungle compound. "The Assassin," which finds MacGyver impersonating a hired killer, brings Season 1 to a suspenseful end. These early installments in the series display terrific ingenuity on the part of the writers, who were repeatedly challenged to come up with miraculous feats their hero could perform using ordinary items. Anderson deserves a great deal of credit for making the series' protagonist a likable and believable guy, and his fans will be delighted with this nicely packaged collection. Ed Hulse