"Magnum, P.I." (1980) TV series 1980-1988

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Creators:

Donald P. Bellisario
Glen A. Larson

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Release Date:

11 December 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

The adventures of a Hawaii based private investigator.

Plot Keywords:

Estate | Hawaii | Ferrari | Private Investigator | Helicopter

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 7 wins & 31 nominations

Cast

Tom Selleck	...	Magnum (162 episodes, 1980-1988)
John Hillerman	...	Higgins / ... (162 episodes, 1980-1988)
Roger E. Mosley	...	TC / ... (161 episodes, 1980-1988)
Larry Manetti	...	Rick / ... (161 episodes, 1980-1988)

Runtime:

60 min (164 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M (some episodes) | Singapore:PG | Australia:PG (some episodes) | USA:Not Rated (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Anderson Estate, 41-505 Kalanianaole Highway, Waimanalo, O'ahu, Hawaii, USA

Company:

Belisarius Productions

Trivia:

Higgins has four illegitimate siblings: his brother, Father Paddy McGuinness, an Irish priest; Soo Ling, a half-Chinese sister; a half-brother from his father's side, Elmo Ziller, a rodeo owner from Texas; and a half-brother from his father's side, Don Louis Mongueo, a royal heir to the throne of Costa De Rosa in South America.

Quotes:

Orville 'Rick' Wright: [Rick is trying to pay Higgins] Here, for your inconvenience.
Jonathan Quayle Higgins III: [Refusing it] I don't accept tips.
Theodore 'TC' Calvin: I'll bet you don't give 'em either.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Family Guy: Three Kings (#7.15)" (2009)

I know what you're thinking...

...that I would bash this show. Well I can't. How could one forget Magnum's psychic link when he went to England or when he gets stranded on the island that doesn't welcome visitors or the all time worst one: the Ivan and Cookie episode. Ugh, for years just saying "cookie" with a Russian accent would make me laugh. Yeah, the episodes that were marked serious were pretty bad but the light-hearted ones more than made up the difference. Magnum's trip to L.A., the treasure hunt, Higgins and Magnum's feud, Magnum as a hotel detective, the P.I. award that didn't matter to him because he wanted to solve the murder of the French detective that he didn't even like, were great stories. That last episode was particularly good as a lot of the more fun guest stars of the past participated. Candy Clark's Leslie should get special mention as the best of all the guest stars as the hooker that means well but doesn't listen to anyone. As for the regular cast: all good, although Larry Manetti sometimes came across a little amateurish. But this would have meant nothing if the main star wasn't any good. And Tom Selleck was good. He makes me believe that Magnum can look at a video of T.C.'s kidnapped daughter and figure out where she is being held from the reflection of an apartment building in the glass behind her. Yes, Tom Selleck's performance is what makes me watch Magnum P.I. whenever I get the chance.