The original Magnum, P.I., which was on our screens from 1980 all the way through to 1988, became famous for a number of reasons. Firstly, it turned Tom Selleck into one of the biggest stars on TV (which he used to make a name for himself in film, including 1987’s biggest hit, Three Men and a Baby). The Hawaiian backdrop aside, it was the star’s charm that ensured viewers would continue to come back week after week. The character of Higgins, played by John Hillerman, was also one of the show’s more endearing qualities as Magnum’s feisty and snooty foil. Add all of that up and that’s why the show was able to stay in cruise control as a “case of the week” procedural for eight long years.
Unenviable task
The new lead, Jay Hernandez (Crazy/Beautiful, Hostel) may lack the charisma of Selleck but that was always an unenviable task. Fortunately for them, CBS doesn’t need that to be the case in modern TV. At one time, shows revolved around how much the audience liked the guy solving the crimes, but a placeholder is now all that’s needed. Although to be fair, while he may not be Tom Selleck, Hernandez is more than a mere placeholder.
The original Magnum, P.I. followed the end of Hawaii Five-0 to make use of the set. So it’s fitting that reboots of both shows will be on air together. There’s clearly something about Hawaii that draws fans. We all love the idea of paradise, especially those of us who live in cities, and Hawaii to many is the ultimate tropical getaway. A Hawaiian beach party is always popular, as is paying a visit to a tiki bar. In fact, we seem to love Hawaiian-themed anything, such as video games like Hawaii High: Mystery of the Tiki and Aloha! Cluster Pays. The latter is available from Party Casino and even offers 120 spins for new players taking a browse on Bonus.ca and needing their Hawaiian fix. So is it any wonder then that these shows appeal to us, added in with the excitement of the good guys chasing the bad guys. Of course, the main question on everybody’s lips is “how did this particular good guy do in the pilot episode?”
Standard fare
The pilot is your typical standard action fare, with a known director (in this case Justin Lin of Fast and the Furious fame), a large budget, and a personal case involving a murdered friend who we’ll likely never hear from in the show again. If you’re a fan of the original, you’ll be familiar with the main character’s friends: Rick and T.C. They’re back – T.C. still with the chopper and Rick still connected to seemingly everyone on the island.
The Magnum P.I. reboot stays true to the snappy spirit of the original. Without a Tom Selleck in place who can convey a certain level of charisma, it will have to rely on other elements to step up if it wishes to be on air for even half as long as the 80s classic. We’ll have to wait and see if it succeeds in that or not. For now, however, the popcorn procedural fits right into the CBS lineup.