Hawaii-based ‘Magnum P.I.’ back on the case Sunday

He’s fought crime syndicates, worldwide killers and a fair proportion of artful criminals. And now, personal eye Thomas Magnum has overcome the demise knell of community cancellation.

On Sunday, “Magnum P.I.,” which is about and shot in Hawaii, returns for a fifth season with back-to-back episodes, 9 months after it was abruptly canceled by CBS.

The crime drama stars Jay Hernandez in a reboot of the function made well-known by Tom Selleck within the Nineteen Eighties. It carried out properly within the scores on Friday nights, however CBS pulled the plug in Could after it did not agree on licensing charges with the studio.

“We have been all shocked, however we’ve been on this enterprise,” stated actress Amy Hill, who performs Kumu, a Hawaiian cultural skilled, in an interview with Spectrum Information. The sequence additionally stars Zachary Knighton (Rick), Stephen Hill (T.C.), and Tim Kang (Det. Katsumoto).

Now, the procedural has a brand new house at NBC – and a brand new lease on life.

NBC introduced final summer season it had picked up the sequence for 20 episodes ­– and presumably extra if it performs properly within the scores. The present strikes to Sunday nights on NBC, with new episodes accessible on the Peacock streaming service the following day.

“Magnum P.I. involves us with a passionate fanbase already in place that we intend to nourish,” Susan Rovner, chairman of leisure content material at NBCUniversal, stated in a press launch.

NBC has put lots of muscle behind advertising the present with advertisements, social media takeovers and forged interviews. The present’s principal characters, Magnum and Juliet Higgins (portrayed by British actress Perdita Weeks), are gracing the quilt of the present concern of TV Information Journal.

“It’s a rebirth, however on the similar token, there have been lots of people, I feel, who didn’t even actually realize it existed,” Hill stated.

“As a result of once we got here on to start with, we have been just like the stepsister of ‘Hawaii 5-0,’ and all of the vitality was placed on  ‘Hawaii 5-0.’ Then that received canceled, and so they put a bit bit extra vitality into us. However then ‘NCIS: Hawai’i’ got here on board, and it was like, oh, by no means thoughts, and so they put all their eggs in that,” Hill added.

Fan outcry

The shock renewal got here largely after an enormous fan outcry over the cancellation. In a present of help, viewers all over the world pitched in to pay for a billboard in New York’s Instances Sq. to attempt to save the sequence.

“They simply actually went to bat for us,” Hill stated. “And I’ve by no means skilled something like that. It was actually heartwarming to say that individuals actually cared about this present.”

Producers have teased some modifications are in retailer for Magnum and Higgins this season. The 2 characters have battled sexual pressure because the starting of the sequence, and on the finish of final season, they lastly gave in to their emotions with a passionate kiss. Promos for the brand new sequence promise a a lot steamier, “sexier” relationship.

“We have lived in these characters for therefore lengthy that we really feel like we all know them intimately—and we do—and generally we get stuff, scenes or moments the place it is like, ‘Huh, I did not suppose it was going to be like that, however alright, let’s do it! Let’s go on this route!’” Hernandez advised TV Information.

Hawaiian setting

Past the character dynamics, one side that resonates with followers is its escapism, transporting viewers every week to Hawaii’s lush, tropical island paradise. The Hawaiian locale can also be vital to the forged and crew.

Hill moved to Hawaii full-time throughout the third season, and most of the forged members keep houses and vehicles on Oahu. 

“I imagine that each one of us discover that residing right here has introduced us nearer to our personal non secular selves,” she stated.   

The present is a boon to the native financial system, using greater than 180 native island residents within the crews, together with make-up artists, costume designers, stuntpersons and extras.

(Picture courtesy of Zack Dougan/NBC)

Finally, Hill hopes that viewers comply with “Magnum” to its new house, so the present can proceed for a few years to return.

“There’s so many tales to inform and so many issues to discover on this island and in relationships, and we do take pleasure in one another’s firm,” she stated.