While we're officially six months into the 2025 TV schedule, there are still a handful of TV cancellations from 2024 that I will never get over. NCIS: Hawai’i and Magnum P.I. are two of these. The series, both set and filmed in the Aloha State, ended after their respective third and fifth seasons last year, with Magnum actually canceled for the second time this time around. The axings still feel fresh to me, butnew footage has been posted of the abandoned studio lot in Hawaii, and it's very clear time has passed.

Jason Antoon, who portrayed cyber intelligence specialist Ernie Malik on the NCIS: Hawai'i spinoff, shared a video on X from outside Hawaii Film Studio in Honolulu, O’ahu. It's no longer bustling with projects, and it seems pretty abandoned. So much so that it’s empty and “full of weeds,” as Antoon himself confirmed.

The overgrown grass an empty feeling is heartbreaking, and it's sad seeing the studios aren’t bringing much entertainment work to the island anymore. That wasn't always the case; Hawaii Film Studio was also previously the home of Hawaii Five-0 and Lost, as well as several other films and shows.

Rising costs have plagued the entertainment industry in recent years. "Financials" were previously cited by CBS as a reason the decision was made, and it's probably getting more expensive to shoot in Hawaii, and budget cuts seemed like a probability even before the show was shut down.

NCIS: Hawai’i’s cancellation last year was a pretty big shock, especially since it was doing well for the Eye Network. Star Vanessa Lachey was blindsided by the cancelation, and Antoon ended up trolling CBS over the news. There had been some hope that CBS would change its mind, since there were campaigns and petitions from very upset fans, but that never happened. Now seeing the studio looking like a ghost town makes me sad all over again.

There was hope things could continue in Hawaii following the cancellations, thanks to Fox’s Rescue: HI-Surf, a lifeguard drama set on the North Shore of O’ahu. However, that series also got the boot in May, but only because it didn’t bring in the audience Fox was expecting. What really needs to happen is for a new show to take over the studio lot, one that is guaranteed to not only bring in jobs to the locals but one that will last, a rarity on network TV these days.

NCIS: Hawai’i and Magnum P.I. may be no longer, but the shows live on thanks to streaming. Hawai’i can be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription, while Magnum is available with an Amazon Prime subscription.

"We're all going to be cool like Fonzie" are the words that Jules Winfield (Samuel L. Jackson) says in Pulp Fiction. It's not random, of course, that he chose Henry Winkler's character from Happy Days to define cool. The Fonz remains one of, if not the coolest characters in television history, but he's hardly alone on the small screen for his coolness. This list includes many of those cool characters you could always see yourself being friends with.

Rico Tubbs - Miami Vice

Often on cop shows, you'll get one buttoned-up straight cop and one "cool" cop. On Miami Vice, that wasn't the case. Both detectives oozed '80s cool, but in very different ways. James "Sonny" Crockett (Don Johnson) was aloof most of the time, but cared when it mattered. Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs cared all the time, but played it off as pure cool.

Charlie Harper - Two And A Half Men

Charlie Sheen has been some wild ups and downs in his personal and professional life, but his character on Two and a Half Men has always been the definition of laid-back cool. Maybe too much, compared to the other characters around him. He does bring a great balance, though.

Bunk Moreland - The Wire

The Bunk, Bunk Moreland (Wendell Pierce), on The Wire, is well-dressed and as smooth as his silk ties. He's one of the best "murder police" in the Baltimore PD, and he never misses a trick. It's easy to understand why he's on this list.

Thomas Magnum - Magnum P.I.

There are a lot of cool TV detectives, but the top of the list has to be Thomas Magnum from Magnum P.I. He drives a Ferarri, he wears short shorts, and he's got some of the best facial hair in the game. The ladies want him, and the gentlemen want to be him. He's got all the game, and he gets to live on a giant estate in Hawaii. That's winning.

Carol Peletier - The Walking Dead

In the beginning of The Walking Dead, Carol Peletier didn't seem like much of a survivor. She suffered at the hands of an abusive husband and seemed well out of her depth when the zombie apocalypse started. She used everything she learned, though, and by the end, she wasn't just one of the baddest survivors on the show; she was also one of the coolest.

Barney Stinson - How I Met Your Mother

This one might be a little controversial because despite having a ton of amazing quotes and having a classic aloof nature, Barney Stintson is pretty swarmy. Of course, everyone has a friend like that, and almost everyone lets those friends get away with their bad behavior because they are so cool.

Sydney Bristow - Alias

Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) on Alias is the epitome of cool under pressure. She always knew what to do and was as capable as any spy in Hollywood history. She deserves a spot high on any list about cool characters.

Mrs. Maisel - The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Any woman in the 1950s who chooses to strike out on her own and take a chance like Midge Maisel should be cool in anyone's book. When she's as funny as Mrs. Maisel, it's an open-and-shut case. She's the coolest.

Chandler Bing - Friends

Chandler on Friends, played by the late Matthew Perry, isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it's hard to deny his coolness. Of all the friends, he's easily the coolest. There is an aloofness to him that lends itself to cool, and compared to Joey and Ross? It's not even a race, really, Chandler wins every time.

Michael Knight - Knight Rider

Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff) had a great perm, he wore an awesome Members-Only-looking leather coat, and he drove a Trans Am that talked to him. By any standard, that is cool. By the standards of the '80s? It was the top of the mountain. Everyone loves David Hasselhoff.

Fonzie - Happy Days

Here we are, at the coolest of the cool. Arthur Fonzarelli, or "The Fonz" or "Fonzie," if you like. He could do things like fix jukeboxes just by hitting them. He rode a motorcycle and wore a leather jacket. And he had that great hair! Plus, he's everyone's favorite person, including all the parents and authority figures. It just doesn't get cooler.

Al Swearengen - Deadwood

He's mean, he's nasty, and he makes an enemy out of everyone. Yet, for some undefinable reason, Al Swearengen (Ian McShane) is definitely cool. Maybe its his verboseness, or maybe it's his confidence, it's hard to pinpoint exactly. Even though he's a violent criminal, he's still really cool.

Daria - Daria

For an entire generation of disaffected teenagers in the 1990s, Daria on Daria summed up everything they were feeling. Unimpressed with the world, beaten down by modern life, and more interested in being sullen than anything else, Daria was everything a cool kid was in the '90s.

Daryl Dixon - The Walking Dead

Of all the characters on The Walking Dead, none were cooler than the cross-bow-wielding, motorcycle-riding, complete stud, Daryl Dixon. He was soft-spoken, but when he did speak, everyone listened. He didn't have to say much to be cool, he just had to be himself. He was always ready for a fight and always backed his friends. He's just the best.

Don Draper - Mad Men

The mid-20th Century produced a lot of "cool." Don Draper, who led the charge in culture, defines that cool. There are a million moments in Mad Men where Draper (Jon Hamm) proves just how cool he is. He may have been living a lie, but man it was a cool life!

Cosmo Kramer - Seinfeld

To paraphrase Jerry on Seinfeld, Kramer does nothing, falls backward into money, mooches food off your neighbors, and hooks up without dating. While actor Michael Richards has had a checkered career since starring on one of the best sitcoms of all time, his character on the show was always cool. He was the one we all wanted to be.

Fleabag - Fleabag

Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) is so cool, she doesn't even need a name. That's really saying something. She's smart, funny, cynical, and yeah, sometimes angry or mean, but most of the time, it's her biting wit that puts her on this list. There are a lot of people who strive to have that kind of wit, but very few ever do. Cool.

Sam Malone - Cheers

Anyone who owns a bar like Cheers is going to have to be on this list. He's loyal to his friends and regulars, he's an ex-pro athlete, and he never has problems dating beautiful women. He's also one of the funniest characters from one of the funniest sitcoms ever. We all want to be Sam, in some ways.

Face - The A-Team

Templeton "Face" Peck is the coolest character on The A-Team and usually the coolest under pressure, too. He's most likely to be the one that to go undercover because of it. He's also got some of the best lines on the show. Everyone on the team is cool in their own way, but Face takes the cake when it comes to real "coolness."

Mary Richards - The Mary Tyler Moore Show

She's gonna make it after all! Mary Richards oozes everything cool in all seven seasons of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She showed girls and women everywhere that they, too, could make it in the corporate world and in the news business, all while looking sheik and being insanely cool.

Spock - Star Trek

Of all the characters in the original Star Trek, Spock has to be the coolest, right? Bones seems like the most fun, and Kirk would be hilarious to hang out with, but Spock has them all beat. He's cool, calm, and collected at all times, and he has just even of a human side to make him real. He has all the facts, too, which is good for all those arguments in a bar, right?

Tyrion Lannister - Game Of Thrones

The list of "cool" Lannisters on Game of Thrones is a short list. It's a list of one, really, and that one is, of course, Tyrion. From the way he dances to his trial, or the way he stays as loyal as he can to people until the end, he's the one family member you can trust. Obviously he's also a lot of fun.

Columbo - Columbo

What can we say about Peter Falk's amazing character, Columbo, in the show of the same name? He plays the bumbling detective who actually knows exactly what is going on at all times. He doesn't put on airs, and he doesn't care what people think of him at first blush. In fact, his nonchalant nature is exactly what makes him so effective - and cool.

Sonny Crockett - Miami Vice

One half of the coolest '80s TV detectives, Sonny Crockett oozes cool. He drives exotic cars, looks great in a white suit and pastel shirts, and he is, in the end, Don Johnson. Don Johnson is as cool as his character, and it all comes across on the screen. With all the wild guest stars in Miami Vice history, he had to hold his own, and he more than did.

Lucy Ricardo - I Love Lucy

Lucy Ricardo was a television pioneer in every way. She not only had one of the first legitimately huge hits on the medium, she did it as a women. That only is enough to make her cool enough for this list. The fact that her character on I Love Lucy was a little goofy and a little batty only adds to the cool factor.

Buffy Summers - Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Talk about a character who became a role model for teenagers everywhere! The way Buffy Summers from Buffy The Vampire Slayer always handled herself made her formidable, but cool as heck while she was.

Lester Freamon - The Wire

"Cool Lester Smooth" is just one of Lester Freamon's nicknames on The Wire. He does have a certain tweed impertinence, but he's got all the answers. The show is too realistic to have a real Holmsian character, but Lester, played brilliantly by Clarke Peters, is as close as the show comes, and everyone knows that's cool. Plus, he looks out for his friends and has endless patience. Oodles of coolness.

Silvio Dante - The Sopranos

Every kingpin needs a trustworthy #2, and for Tony Soprano, that's his consiglieri, Silvio Dante. He is as loyal as it comes, and he does a mean Al Pacino impression. It helps that the character is played by a bona fide rock star, "Little" Steven Van Zandt from the E Street Band. Silvio was "peak cool" from the peak era of prestige TV.

Arya Stark - Game Of Thrones

Unlike the Lannisters in Game of Thrones, there are a lot of cool Starks. How can you pick just one among Ned, Robb, and all the rest? Well, really, it's easy. Arya is the coolest. In fact, she's pretty much the coolest character in the whole series, both on screen and in the books.

Sawyer - Lost

Okay we'll admit, Sawyer on Lost is often a jerk. But man, he's so cool sometimes. If you like bad boys, he's the ultimate bad boy and as we all know, bad boys are cool. It's just the way it goes. It's a fact. Plus, that hair... that hair is awesome.

Lisa Simpson - The Simpsons

This is a hill not a lot of Simpsons fans will die on, but those of us who will, will go down fighting. Lisa Simpson is the best. She's the best family member and the heart of the show's morality. If Lisa disapproves, you should do that thing. She's also really fun when she wants to be, even if some people disagree. Nerds are cool!

Wednesday Addams - Wednesday

Just like bad boys are always cool, bad girls are too. Wednesday Addams is as bad a girl can get, in the very best way. That means she's the coolest. The level of aloofness is frankly incredible and means she has to be on this list.

There are many secrets to Blue Bloods’ family dinner scenes, including the fact real silverware was not used, but less shocking is the fact family was super important on the CBS show before its 2024 cancellation. Selleck recently wrote a book highlighting major events in his career when this tidbit came up, and apparently being the lead of a TV series was not something the actor took lightly. In fact, he was cued in to the importance of leading from the top down thanks to some key words from famous actor James Garner (decades before his death in 2014).

Writing in his memoir You Never Know, Selleck discussed at length his Hollywood experiences, many of which are tied to his runs on popular shows like Magnum P.I. and Blue Bloods. The veteran actor said that it was after landing the Magnum role (there’s a reason he refuses to personally add the P.I.), that he learned one of the great Hollywood lessons about family. He wrote:

For years on Magnum P.I., Selleck says he took this role really seriously. When the show wrapped in 1988, it was partially the actor’s idea, as ratings were still high at the time. But they had a big, happy family wrap party featuring a sunset cruise on a catamaran, a fireworks show and custom t-shirts made for the crew and their families.

Things ended on a good note, and when he got his next gigantic network TV break decades later, the actor says he remembered what he’d learned from Garner, noting of the Eye Networks’ Blue Bloods:

At the time the book was written, Blue Bloods had yet to be canceled. However, Selleck did say keeping the famous family dinner scenes had been a bit of a fight he’d spearheaded before the show went into production.

He also waxed on about how popular the show was, sentiments he would express some time later when Selleck was trying to keep the Reagan family drama on the air. It didn’t work out, but hey, at least there are talks of a Blue Bloods spinoff of some sort happening. And if Tom Selleck has any say, that will likely focus in on family too.

You may have heard the story before: if things had gone differently, Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones might have been played by Tom Selleck instead of Harrison Ford. Ford addressed the Raiders of the Lost Ark outcome only last year, and Selleck himself wrote about it in his recent biography, You Never Know: A Memoir.

I happened to pick up the book on a sunny Sunday afternoon, and was surprised to find BTS stories about Selleck’s National Guard experience, as well as Hollywood tidbits about Mae West and the Lancer TV series the actor drily notes is only remembered thanks to a reference in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. But the one thing that stuck out really hard to me was how close Selleck was to playing the iconic Indiana Jones -- like really close, like to the point where Steven Spielberg told him he had the role.

He landed the role. He thought it was a sure thing. So what happened?

What Happened With Magnum P.I. And Indiana Jones, According To Tom Selleck

After auditioning with a young Sean Young (who didn’t ultimately land the movie either), Tom Selleck was offered the role. At the time, he looped in Spielberg and Lucas about a CBS pilot he’d shot called Magnum Initially it didn’t seem to be a big deal (the name change to P.I. came later), though the actor recalls he felt like he was in “the World Series of waits” while he awaited word about both the movie and the TV pilot moving forward.

The worst case scenario happened. While Selleck was in limbo, the two famous moviemen did keep the offer on the table for more than a month. Then Magnum P.I. continued moving forward and the head honcho at CBS Bob Daly flat out told the directors his new, shiny TV actor couldn’t say yes to both. He was worried Selleck would jump ship to the big screen, according to Selleck. The actor's own feelings on the matter?

That wasn’t the end of the story, however. Next came the longest Hollywood strike with the Screen Actors Guild. At the time. Selleck had just nabbed a “charming place” in Hawaii when it happened, but it did lead to some frustration over what had happened.

What Happened After Harrison Ford Was Cast As Indiana Jones

While Selleck was settling into life in Hawaii, Harrison Ford had landed the role of the whip-bearing hero Indiana Jones. Intriguingly, while the SAG strike affected most of the industry, Indiana Jones was allowed to work on the production during these tenuous times. The Magnum P.I. actor recalled in You Never Know the one moment in this saga that nearly got to him, but that he tried to have the right perspective on.

He said one day he was eating breakfast during the strike when he saw the headline: 'Spielberg to Finish Movie in Hawaii.' They'd work out a deal to film the movie in the midst of the strike when Selleck was off Magnum P.I. anyway. He wrestled with the frustration of the entire deal and wrote in his book he tried very hard to distract himself from losing the role, buying a surfboard (and surfing unsuccessfully) and more. He wrote of that time:

It took Tom Selleck a long time to really break into the industry. He was 35 when Magnum P.I. went to series and he said he struggled with fame when he broke big.

Still, it had its perks, as he later on went on to land big screen roles in Three Men and a Baby and had a storied TV career that included notable roles in Friends, Las Vegas and most recently Blue Bloods. (Not to mention the Jesse Stone movies, which Selleck would like to resurrect.) This led him to be able to buy and work on his famous avocado farm and more, even without the Indy money.

But it's hard to sometimes not look back and think about what could've, would've, should've been.

For every unnecessary reboot of a beloved movie, there seem to be just as many unnecessary reboots of a beloved TV series. While some would prove to be a welcome improvement on what came before, there are even more (including some successful ones) that we still feel we could have done without, given our continued enjoyment of what came before. We had almost too many examples to choose from while compiling this of TV shows that did not need to be rebooted.

Knight Rider (1982-1986)

Despite its cheesy moments, Knight Rider was one of the best '80s sci-fi TV shows, boasting one of David Hasselhoff's best performances in the role of Michael Knight – a government agent whose partner in fighting crime is an indestructible car powered by a sentient artificial intelligence called KITT (voice by William Daniels). In 2008, NBC aired a soft reboot, set in the same world but following a new protagonist (Justin Bruening as Mick Traceur) and a new KITT (voiced by Val Kilmer), which lacked the charisma, the fun, and much semblance of a brain, leading to its premature cancellation.

Charmed (1998-2006)

One of the best Shannen Doherty TV shows was Charmed, which starred her, Holly Marie Combs, and Alyssa Milano as three sisters who discover they are descended from witches. After The WB became The CW, despite no real demand, the network developed a reimagining starring Melonie Diaz, Madeleine Mantock, and Sarah Jeffery that managed to last four seasons, despite criticism for its one-dimensional characters and uninspired plotlines.

The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)

Creator and narrator Rod Serling's landmark horror anthology TV show, The Twilight Zone has been resurrected numerous times. However, neither the late '80s revival, nor the early 2000s version with Forest Whitaker, or even producer and narrator Jordan Peele's iteration achieved the same acclaim as as the chilling and thought-provoking classic.

Full House (1987-1995)

What made Full House successful despite its unimpressive critical reputation was a healthy dose of wholesomeness amidst its generic family comedy antics. Netflix's revival, Fuller House – which recycled the plot but made DJ (Candace Cameron Bure), Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin), and Kimmy (Andrea Barber) the leads – had a decent five-season run, despite being criticized for the same things, in addition to relying mostly on nostalgia.

The Bionic Woman (1976-1978)

Even with Battlestar Galactica producer David Eick involved, NBC's 2007 reboot of The Bionic Woman did not manage to be better, faster, or stronger, especially in the ratings. One would hope its cancellation after eight episodes teaches executives to avoid rebooting the series that star Lindsey Wagner's original sci-fi series was spun-off from The Six Million Dollar Man.

Jersey Shore (2009-2012)

For a while, it seemed like the entire world was talking about the cast of Jersey Shore, even if most of the discussions surrounding their boisterous behavior and debaucherous shenanigans were mocking and disdainful. Years after it seemed like the world had finally forgotten about this uproarious reality show, MTV debuted Jersey Shore Family Vacation in 2018.

That '70s Show (1998-2006)

A That '70s Show spin-off was first attempted in 2002 with That '80s Show, which had little to no connection to the original, potentially costing it a longer life and better reception. At least Netflix's That '90s Show – which sees Red (Kurtwood Smith) and Kitty's (Debra Jo Rupp) home overrun with a new batch of teens, including their granddaughter – can say it earned a decent following but not enough to last more than two seasons.

Gossip Girl (2007-2012)

If there was any reason to bring back Gossip Girl, it might have been to correct the widely disappointing series finale reveal that Dan Humphrey (Penn Badgley) was the eponymous blogger the entire time. Instead, Max's short-lived retread of the hit CW drama, running between 2021 and 2023, introduced a whole new cast and attempted to freshen up the material with the overcooked theme of teens' relationship with social media.

Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-2000)

The CW's 90210 was developed as a continuation of producer Aaron Spelling's primetime soap opera and even featured a few returning Beverly Hills, 90210 cast members to keep its promise. However, despite the fan service, the 2008-2013 series essentially recycled the plot of the original with a new ensemble of good-looking youths.

Roseanne (1988-1997)

While the series finale of Roseanne may have left some viewers disappointed, we wonder if that was really any reason to try again with a modern revival. Not to mention, the sitcom's 2018 reboot took a rough turn in its premiere run when its star, Roseanne Barr, was fired for a controversial tweet, leading ABC to kill off her character and rebrand the show as The Conners.

Charlie's Angels (1976-1981)

Originally starring Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, and Jaclyn Smith, Charlie's Angels would find success in the early 2000s on the big screen with two feature-length adaptations starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu. However, ABC's series reboot from 2011 with Annie Ilonzeh, Minka Kelly, and Rachael Taylor received universal disdain and lasted only eight episodes.

That's So Raven (2003-2007)

Years after launching her career on The Cosby Show, Raven-Symoné became the star of her own sitcom, That's So Raven, as a teen who can occasionally see the future. However, no one could predicted that, in 2017, Disney Channel would come out with Raven's Home – following the adult Raven Baxter as a single parent – which was a surprising success despite its unnecessary existence.

MacGyver (1985-1992)

CBS would produce a long list of reboots of its most popular crime dramas from yesteryear, including MacGyver, which would last a decent five seasons from 2016 to 2021. However, most would agree that the modern version with Lucas Till as a younger Mac does not quite hold a candle to the fun of the original, starring Richard Dean Anderson as an unimaginably resourceful secret agent.

Saved By The Bell (1989-1992)

Peacock's 2020 revival of NBC's hit coming-of-age sitcom, Saved By the Bell, while certainly unnecessary, was pretty well received during the short time it lasted. While The College Years could have been better, though, what really overstayed its welcome was The New Class, which replaced the entire cast, save Dennis Haskins as Mr. Belding and Dustin Diamond as Screech.

V (1984-1985)

The V franchise – an alien invasion story told over the course of two miniseries and one traditional series that lasted a season on NBC – would be reinterpreted for modern audiences on ABC in 2009. Of course, by then, the extraterrestrial visitors' true, malevolent intentions were no secret, leaving little room for suspense in the reboot.

Beauty And The Beast (1987-1990)

The classic French fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, Beauty and the Beast, was reimagined as a romantic contemporary drama in the late 1980s starring Ron Perlman and Linda Hamilton, the former of which won a Golden Globe for his performance. The CW's 2012 iteration with Kristin Kreuk and Jay Ryan would last a good while but did not capture the same magic as developer Ron Koslow's vision and, not to mention, did not bother to make the male lead particularly "beastly."

Roswell (1999-2002)

Based on Melinda Metz's book series, The WB's Roswell follows three young human/alien hybrids with special gifts living in the eponymous New Mexico town where an alleged UFO crash took place. A reimagining of the story, Roswell, New Mexico, ran for four seasons on The CW and was admired for its commentary on immigration, only to be overshadowed by criticism for being a retread of what came before.

Dallas (1978-1991)

In its prime, there were few series nearly as popular as Dallas, which is famous for having one of the most iconic cliffhangers in TV history by leaving viewers obsessed with the mystery of who shot J.R. Ewing for a summer. We cannot quite say the same about TNT's revival, which was canceled after 40 episodes in 2014.

Magnum P.I. (1980-1988)

The Jay Hernandez-led reboot of Magnum P.I. lasted an impressive five seasons (originally on CBS before moving to NBC). However, even critics and audiences who enjoyed it agree it was mostly a watered-down carbon copy of Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson's '80s classic starring Tom Selleck as the titular Hawaii-based private investigator.

Melrose Place (1992-1999)

The 2009 reboot of Melrose Place, which followed the dramatic lives of the eponymous L.A. apartment complex's residents, only lasted 18 episodes. We imagine this might be because it premiered in such close proximity to another CW drama based on a hit '90s show about young people with problems: the 90210 reboot.

Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1991-1996)

Starting off as an educational computer game in the mid-1980s, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? was later adapted into a hit game show and an animated series featuring Rita Moreno as the titular thief. With all due respect to the developers of Netflix's animated reboot, Carmen Sandiego, and Gina Rodriguez, who is great in the title role, we cannot help but feel that the property was already past its prime by this point.

24 (2001-2010)

The unique, real-time narrative structure of 24 and Kiefer Sutherland's engaging performance as Jack Bauer kept the drama going for eight seasons before bringing the reckless counter-terrorism agent back for the 2014 miniseries, 24: Live Another Day. Just two years later, Fox tried to continue the series as 24: Legacy, led by Corey Hawkins in a new role, which only lasted "12 hours."

DuckTales (1987-1990)

Perhaps we can understand wanting to introduce Huey, Dewey, and Louie to a new generation of viewers with a reboot of DuckTales, which aired on Disney XD from 2017 to 2021. However, we still prefer their triplets' original adventures with Uncle Scrooge, especially for its superior animation style.

Fantasy Island (1977-1984)

If we had a fantasy we would like to see come true, it would be that all reboots of Fantasy Island – set on a paradisiacal getaway where dreams magically come true – did not exist. Neither the 1998 series reimagining with Malcolm McDowell, nor Fox's sequel series with Roselyn Sánchez as Elena Roarke, or, especially, Blumhouse's darker feature adaptation managed to enchant critics and fans of the ABC original with Ricardo Montalbán as Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize's Tattoo.

Boy Meets World (1993-2000)

We would actually be willing to call Girl Meets World, which ran from 2014 to 2017, the best show that Disney Channel produced in years. Yet, when you really think about it, the sequel to Boy Meets World is mostly a reiteration of a lot of the same lessons we already learned in the original TGIF sitcom.

Heroes (2006-2010)

Despite a strong start and a relatively loyal following for much of its run, NBC's Heroes would quickly begin to lose steam as critics noted a steady decline in quality over time. The 2015 reboot Heroes: Reborn did not do much to help resurrect the franchise as it was not very well received and did not last more than one season.

The Odd Couple (1970-1975)

Inspired by the film based on Neil Simon's hilarious play, The Odd Couple, Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson's sitcom adaptation with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall worked quite well. However, after enough mismatched roommate/friend stories, CBS' reboot with Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon, despite lasting three seasons, felt a bit stale.

Dynasty (1981-1989)

Perhaps the most successful of The CW's string of primetime soap opera reboots was a reimagining of Esther and Richard Alan Shapiro's Dyanasty. Lasting five seasons and featuring a strong performance by Elizabeth Gillies as Fallon Carrington, the old "wealthy families fighting to retain power" schtick was not enough to win critics over.

The Magic School Bus (1994-1997)

In 2017, Netflix released The Magic School Bus Rides Again – a new take on the popular, educational animated show based on a series of books following an elementary school class on some epic field trips. SNL's Kate McKinnon is certainly an inspired choice to voice the new Ms. Frizzle but even she might agree she is no Lily Tomlin.

iCarly (2007-2012)

Considering how much the world of internet blogging had evolved since iCarly's original Nickelodeon run ended, we can understand why there was interest in bringing it back. Yet, we would argue that Paramount+'s reboot, which lasted from 2021 to 2023, suffered from hinging on Carly (Miranda Cosgrove) and Freddy's (Nathan Kress) romance following years of "will they, won't they" and the absence of Jennette McCurdy as Sam and Noah Munck's Gibby.

The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (1990-1996)

When a short film reimagining NBC's hit sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as a serious drama dropped in 2019, we can't deny we were intrigued. However, we never expected star Will Smith to actually help get a series adaptation off the ground, becoming Peacock's Bel-Air, which barely offers anything particularly new to the coming-of-age genre.

Frasier (1993-2004)

NBC's Frasier, starring Kelsey Grammer as his role from the Cheers cast, is a prime example of how to do a sitcom spin-off right. While Paramount+'s reboot would earn surprising critical acclaim, even its biggest fans might agree that we did not really need more than the 11 years we got of the eponymous psychiatrist's time in Seattle, especially without David Hyde Pierce and Jane Leeves.

Tom Selleck’s been preparing to say goodbye to Blue Bloods (which is returning for its final episodes amid the 2024 TV schedule). But, at the same time, he’s been looking back at his time on another show that changed his life -- Magnum P.I. Not long ago, Selleck admitted that he thought the original script was horrible, Now, he's getting real about disliking the fame he experienced during the early days of the action series.

While Tom Selleck had earned acting gigs prior to Magnum P.I., once he landed the hit show, his career and life took a different turn. He recently appeared on the Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast and told Ted Danson that he realized his life had changed after filming only a few episodes of Magnum, which was delayed due to the 1980 SAG-AFTRA strike.

The veteran actor went on to share how he felt once the show aired regularly. And it sounds like his newly earned notoriety wasn't all that easy on him:

A lack of privacy is commonly a downside to fame and, while those in the industry are aware of that before hitting it big, the stresses of being a public figure can still be rough. With that, many celebrities have been leaving Hollywood as of late for less busy locales. Even Tom Selleck has owned a ranch for decades, which allows him to get away from the hustle and bustle of Tinseltown.

The inability to enjoy his private life wasn't the only gripe Tom Selleck had with his early Magnum P.I. fame. Selleck was also subject to rumors pertaining to his private life. With that, the star had to become more thoughtful when taking part in interviews:

Still, it wasn't all bad, it seems. The now-79-year-old actor went on to explain that he was able to find solace in some way while filming the show in Hawai'i. And, in the process, his life began to imitate the art:

I can only imagine having to deal with the price of celebrity while trying to maintain a personal life. Nevertheless, I'm glad to hear that Tom Selleck was able to find some source of relief while filming Magnum P.I. One would also think that he's well adjusted to his status as a public figure at this point, given how skillfully carries himself.

As of right now, it's unclear if Tom Selleck will retire after Blue Bloods, as filming wrapped over the summer. For now, though, he doesn’t seem to have any plans. I wouldn't mind seeing him jump into another ongoing show after his CBS procedural ends. Whatever comes his way, though, I'd imagine that he'll continue to lean on the experiences he's had to continue navigating celebrity life.

Magnum P.I. fans can buy episodes of the show on Prime Video. Also, tune in for the final episodes of Blue Bloods, which kick off on CBS on October 18. In the meantime, catch up on past episodes by stremaing them with a Paramount+ subscription.

Spoilers ahead for the series premiere of Rescue: HI-Surf on Fox.

Once upon a time, not too long ago, multiple network TV shows were set in Hawaii. Even after the end of Hawaii Five-0 in 2020, NCIS: Hawai'i and Magnum P.I. kept the action going in the Aloha State as recently as spring 2024. Alas, those two were cancelled, but Fox's new Rescue: HI-Surf takes the action back in the 2024 TV schedule and I didn't quite get the Baywatch vibes I was expecting from the series premiere. As a fan of Magnum P.I., though, that's a good thing for me.

Magnum P.I. And NCIS: Hawai'i's Cancellations

Before diving into Fox's new show, let's first take a quick look back at the two Hawaii-set shows that were cancelled last season... and why that really isn't a sign of early doom for Rescue: Hi-Surf to discourage you from watching. Magnum P.I. was one of few shows that actually returned in fall 2023 with new episodes despite the WGA writers strike ands SAG-AFTRA actors strike, as those episodes had already been filmed before the strikes started.

The most recent fifth season was also the show's first on NBC after it was cancelled by CBS, but despite fan campaigns, the Jay Hernandez-starring project was cancelled for the second time and aired its finale back in January, just shy of the 100-episode milestone. At the time, it was reported that cast contracts were expiring and a decision about the show's future had to be made sooner rather than later; that decision just wasn't good news for fans.

As for NCIS: Hawai'i, the cancellation decision happened despite reported concessions from producers to significantly cut the budget for a fourth season. CBS Studios President David Stapf said over the summer that Hawai'i (as well as So Help Me Todd) "probably any other year" would have been renewed, but there wasn't room in the lineup for them.

So, since Magnum P.I. was presumably at least partly cancelled due to cast contract deadlines and Hawai'i was at least partly cancelled due to a packed CBS lineup, Fox's Rescue: HI-Surf seems to have everything going for it as the next show set in the Aloha State.

First Impression Of Rescue: HI-Surf

Technically, my very first impression of the new Fox show was months ago when I realized I wasn't a huge fan of typing out the title, but that didn't affect my viewing experience when I tuned into the pilot that aired on September 22. I was optimistic on the whole going in, title aside, as a fan of Magnum P.I. making the most of the Hawaii setting.

Plus, the venerable John Wells was on board as an executive producer, and his TV credits include two of my all-time favorite shows: ER and The West Wing. Throw in the 9-1-1-esque vibes from the promos, and I could see why Fox was giving Rescue: HI-Surf a special post-NFL doubleheader premiere time slot before moving to Mondays.

As it turns out, I wasn't wrong with getting the 9-1-1-esque vibes, and not just because leading lady Arielle Kebbel recurred on that show prior to its move to ABC. In fact, I think that Rescue: HI-Surf will pair well with 9-1-1: Lone Star on Monday nights. This is a first responder show, after all, with the focus on a crew of Hawaii lifeguards tasked with protecting the famously dangerous North Shore waters of Oahu.

It's clear enough in the pilot – complete with jabs at one of the characters for wanting to leave lifeguarding to become a firefighter – that this isn't a first responder show that spans the different categories like 9-1-1 and Lone Star, but there's plenty of action.

In fact, it's action-packed to the point that I found myself wondering more than once if Rescue: HI-Surf hired actors who were incredibly capable in the water or turned people who were incredibly capable in the water into actors. (For what it's worth, the main cast members do all have a number of credits prior to this series.)

It remains to be seen if the drama is enough to sustain a storyline beyond the few hooks in the premiere, but I'll be tuning in again at least to see the rescues. And if you're a Baywatch fan hoping for more of the same from this show... well, I've never watched much Baywatch, but I will say that the red bathing suits of Rescue: HI-Surf refreshingly seem a lot more function than fashion.

After the series premiere on September 22, you can catch new episodes of Rescue: HI-Surf on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Fox, following episodes from the final season of 9-1-1: Lone Star. You'll also be able to find the show streaming with a Hulu subscription moving forward.

So, let's imagine that you are a participant in a call-in radio show contest and, in order to receive the prize, you must sing a classic TV show theme song. Confident that you can win, you begin singing the lyrics exactly as you remember them, only to be told once are finished that you are completely wrong.

In this case, both you and the radio show host might actually be right, as it is nothing unusual for a series to change its theme music early on or in the middle of its run, for one reason or another. The following are some of the most notable examples in television history of TV shows with iconic theme songs that might not be their original theme songs.

I Dream Of Jeannie (1965-1970)

The original theme song for I Dream of Jeannie — starring Barbara Eden as the titular wish-granter who becomes a servant and, later, love interest to Larry Hagman's Captain Tony Nelson — is a perfectly catchy jazz tune. However, the more recognizable theme, which debuted in Season 2, is a far greater match to the sitcom's mystical elements.

Monk (2002-2009)

The original theme from USA's Monk was an instrumental by Jeff Beal that played over the opening credits for the first season and at different times throughout the series' eight-season run. From the second season on, the opening theme was Randy Newman's "It's a Jungle Out There," which has lyrics written directly from the perspective of the titular, OCD-ridden detective (played by Tony Shalhoub).

Yes, Dear (2000-2006)

For its first few seasons, Yes, Dear opened with a sort of, "jazzy beach-comber" piece by series composer Rick Marotta, which played over a clip of the cast — including Anthony Clark, Jean Louisa Kelly, Mike O'Malley, and Liza Snyder — struggling to have a fun vacation day. In the later seasons, the sitcom changed its opening titles sequence to a combination of live-action footage and child-like illustrations, accompanied by a modern punk tune by Bill Janovitz called "Family is Family."

Boy Meets World (1993-2000)

Boy Meets World changed its theme song multiple times throughout its seven-season run, with the original being an upbeat mix of synthesizer, traditional orchestrations, and even one moment that sounds recorded from a 1920s speakeasy. The last few seasons finally had an opener with more of a '90s alternative feel and lyrics that bore the hit TGIF favorite's themes of growing up and the importance of friendship.

The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)

Modern fans of the ultimate horror anthology TV show, The Twilight Zone, might be surprised to find out that its iconic, eerie theme song by Marius Constant only debuted in the second season. The series' first year boasted a very simple, non-melodic instrumental by Bernard Herrmann, which certainly allowed Rod Serling's narration to have most of the spotlight, at least.

Happy Days (1974-1984)

The famous Happy Days theme song — written by Norman Gimbel and Charles Fox and originally sung by Jimmy Haas — authentically sounds like a recording from the sitcom's in-universe era. However, for the first two seasons, it opened with an actual '50s pop classic: Bill Haley and the Comets' "Rock Around the Clock."

The King Of Queens (1998 - 2007)

"Baby All My Life I Will Be Driving Home to You" is a perfect choice as the theme song for The King of Queens, reflecting how Kevin James' Doug feels nearing the end of his work shift, longing to return home to his wife, Carrie (Leah Remini). However, the jazzy song by Billy Vera and the Beaters did not make its debut as the sitcom's opening tune until Season 2, following the first season's very brief opening sequence.

Magnum P.I. (1980-1988)

The first half of its premiere season, the original Magnum P.I., starring Tom Selleck as the titular, Hawaii-based private investigator, had some funky theme music that would have been perfect for a cop drama in the 1970s. Soon, however, the opening song would be replaced with a guitar-heavy jam more suited for the '80s crime show that it was.

The Partridge Family (1970-1974)

If you did not realize that The Partridge Family had two different theme songs, it might be because they had the exact same melody. However, the lyrics in "When We're Singing," which served as the theme during the musical sitcom's first year, are certainly not the same as the iconic "C'mon Get Happy."

Seinfeld (1989-1998)

The pilot episode of one of the all-time greatest sitcoms, Seinfeld, which was called The Seinfeld Chronicles then, was accompanied by a much more generic sitcom theme than Jonathan Wolff's iconically unique composition, which was added by Episode 2. Actually, the most intuitive fans of the NBC comedy might have noticed that Wolff would change the tune slightly for nearly every episode.

Family Matters (1989-1998)

Jesse Frederick, a composer of several iconic sitcom themes, writes and performs Family Matters' iconic opening number, "As Days Go By." However, for its first five episodes of the Perfect Strangers spin-off, Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" served as the sitcom's theme.

Simon & Simon (1981-1989)

During the first season of Simon & Simon, the theme song, The Thrasher Brothers' "Best of Friends," was more appropriate for a sitcom. The cop drama's second, more recognizable theme from composer Barry De Vorzon, which reflects its titular duo's mismatched nature by fusing saxophone with a Southern flair, is a better fit.

The Flintstones (1960-1966)

Even if you do not know all the lyrics, you surely know the melody of the theme song from one of the greatest animated TV shows of all time, The Flintstones, by Hoyt Curtin. However, the composer's original theme, which is called "Rise and Shine," does not contain any lyrics, nor a particularly memorable melody.

The Drew Carey Show (1995-2004)

Anyone familiar with The Drew Carey Show recognizes "Cleveland Rocks," by The Presidents of the United States of America, as the sitcom's theme. However, the first season's theme song was a rendition of "Moon Over Parma" sung by Carey and the second run switched to The Vogues' "Five O'Clock World." The eighth and ninth seasons would rotate between separate covers of all three songs.

That '70s Show (1998-2006)

The theme song for That '70s Show was always a cover of Big Star's "In the Street," but Season 1's rendition was different from the later seasons. The first was a cover by Todd Griffin, while the more recognizable version, used since Season 2, was performed by Cheap Trick.

Felicity (1998-2002)

For the first two seasons, Felicity — starring Keri Russell in the title role — opened with singer-songwriter Judith Owen's simply titled, “Felicity Theme.” The final two seasons featured a new theme by co-creator J.J. Abrams with Andrew Jarecki called "New Version of You."

Baywatch (1989-2001)

During its sole first season on NBC, Baywatch's theme song was Peter Cetera's "Save Me." When the drama about impossibly attractive lifeguards was revived in syndication in 1991, the theme was replaced with "I'm Always Here" by singer Jimi Jamison. Jamison is also famous as the frontman for Survivor, who performed one of the most iconic movie songs, "Eye of the Tiger" from Rocky III.

Starsky & Hutch (1975-1979)

Much like the buddy cop drama's first season, composer Lalo Schifrin's original theme music for Starsky & Hutch was quite dark and hard-edged. In the second season, it was replaced by Tom Scott's better-known theme, "Gotcha."

Beverly Hills 90210 (1990-2000)

The most recognizable opening credits sequence for Beverly Hills, 90210 featured scenes of the young cast having a fun day at the beach, accompanied by a fun rock piece by John E. Davis. However, during the first season, episodes opened with footage of a postal worker in Minnesota (where the Walshes originally lived) before transitioning into clips from the Golden State, with a warm New Wave mix playing over it.

In Living Color (1990-1994)

For the first two seasons of In Living Color, the beloved sketch comedy series used a self-titled theme by Heavy D and DJ Eddie F. Another theme song called “Cause That's the Way You Livin' When You're in Living Color,” which is also by Heavy D with The Boyz, was adopted as the opening music in the third season, until the original theme was reinstated in Season 5.

Ed (2000-2004)

"Next Year" from Foo Fighters' 1999 album, There Is Nothing Left to Lose, served as the theme song for NBC's Ed during its first season, until it was changed to Clem Snide's "Moment in the Sun." However, it would be changed back to "Next Year" for the final two seasons after some behind-the-scenes rumblings.

Walker, Texas Ranger (1993-2001)

Hit cop drama Walker, Texas Ranger has one of the most memorable theme songs of the time: "Eyes of the Ranger," which is performed by star Chuck Norris. However, the spoken word ballad would only first show up mid-way through the second season, replacing a decidedly cheesy instrumental composed by Tirk Wilder.

Blackadder (1982-1989)

Composed by Howard Goodall, the theme music for the premiere season of The Black Adder perfectly accompanies its Middle Ages setting. The subsequent three seasons would maintain the same melody but change the styles to reflect each season's new period setting, such as how the World War II-set final installment was constructed as a military march.

Remington Steele (1982-1987)

Henry Mancini's end title song from the spy series, Remington Steele — starring a pre-James Bond movies Pierce Brosnan — was actually the original main theme in its initial run. In Season 2, the composer made something more upbeat to be the new opening number.

Garfield And Friends (1988-1995)

Those who grew up with Garfield and Friends remember its upbeat theme song, called "We're Ready to Party." Yet, for its first two seasons, the animated series opened with a more Vaudevillian tune called "Friends Are There."

Cagney & Lacey (1981-1988)

The first season of the groundbreaking, female-led cop drama, Cagney & Lacey, used "Ain't That the Way," which is written by Michael Stull and performed by Marie Cain, as its theme music. It was replaced the following season with an instrumental by Bill Conti that kind of sounds more akin to a sitcom.

Big Love (2006-2011)

Originally, HBO's Big Love, which starred Bill Paxton as a polygamist juggling his relationships with three wives, used The Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" for its theme music. For its fourth and penultimate season, the song was replaced with "Home" by Engineers.

Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005)

The instantly recognizable Everybody Loves Raymond theme song by Rick Marotta would remain the outro music for the entire sitcom's run, but only played over the opening credits for the first two seasons. The sitcom adopted Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" for Seasons 3-5 and would use The Steve Miller Band's "Jungle Love" in its final two years.

The Leftovers (2014-2017)

The theme music for the first season of HBO's The Leftovers was an ominous orchestral piece, played over an animated oil painting illustrating what took place during the "Sudden Departure." Season 2 used Country singer Iris DeMent's "Let the Mystery Be," to reflect the change in setting to Jarden, Texas, while Season 3 used a different song for each episode, including the Perfect Strangers theme.

Bosom Buddies (1980-1982)

If you watched the Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari-led sitcom, Bosom Buddies, in its original two-season run, you recognize Billy Joel's "My Life" as its theme song. If you only caught it later in syndicated airings, you heard Stephanie Mills' "Shake Me Loose" over the credits instead.

Nash Bridges (1996-2001)

A noirish instrumental by Elia Cmíral served as the opener for Nash Bridges in its first season, until it was replaced with the funky, more modern pop song, "I've Got a Friend in You," from writer Eddie Jobson and performer Gigi MacKenzie. In Season 6, the Don Johnson-led cop drama would actually change its theme song again to a techno melody by Velton Ray Bunch.

The Cosby Show (1984-1992)

The Cosby Show changed its theme song to an entirely different style, and with a different title sequence to accompany it, for each season. Of course, Stu Gardner and Bill Cosby's melody would always remain the same.

As Tom Selleck prepares to say goodbye to Blue Bloods, the actor has been looking back on his long career, which spans several decades. One portion of his work that he’s really been reflecting on is his breakout (and Emmy-winning) role as Thomas Magnum in the original Magnum P.I. Thanks to his expanded fame as a result of the show, Selleck ultimately received much media attention and became the subject of rumors. And there was one piece of gossip that was apparently “bruising” for the actor.

Because celebrities are in the spotlight, that means they're prone to having their names come up in the rumor mill. That can either be good or bad for one's image or even both, depending on what the speculation is about. After Tom Selleck signed on to Magnum (despite the "horrible" pilot script), he and his ex-wife, former actress and model Jacqueline Ray, became the subject of a serious rumor involving their marriage. Selleck told The Telegraph what really happened and what it meant for his reputation:

I'd imagine that as a star, it's hard keeping your personal life private, given you're in the public eye. And, unfortunately, whether or not the Friends alum likes the term, it does “come with the territory.” Of course, that doesn't mean that rumors like the one he mentioned or others are fair, especially since it sounds like it was doing some damage to his mental health on top of the divorce. He and his former spouse were married for over 10 years, so one would think that that situation alone wasn't easy.

Luckily, it seems like Tom Selleck has managed to keep most of his personal life private over the years, and it might help that his ranch serves as a little getaway from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood. Selleck still deals with rumors from time to time, of course, such as whether he’d be retiring after Blue Bloods or reports that his ranch needed to be sold after his time working on the aforementioned show ended.

Aside from the rumors that cropped up as a result of Magnum P.I., the series still marks a time in its leading man's life that he looks back fondly on. Before he landed his long-running CBS family drama (which ends later this year), even the Jesse Stone star thought Magnum was the lucky part of his career. The vintage detective show may have come with some unwanted side effects, but it seems like the man who played the eponymous role has done well for himself since.

Right now, Tom Selleck has no interest in retiring after Blue Bloods ends its run on 2024 TV schedule and is even holding out hope that the will still be saved from cancellation. That aside, hopefully, he’ll able to find a little bit more private time with his family as time goes on. Many celebrities are leaving Hollywood these days for simpler surroundings and if Selleck keeps his ranch, that could be the perfect spot for him to relax and try to keep out of the limelight.

Through the upcoming NCIS spinoff, NCIS: Tony and Ziva, fans of the long-running procedural will finally be reunited with the fan-favorite special agents. This, of course, means Michael Weatherly’s Tony DiNozzo, who most recently made a surprise return in the Ducky tribute episode, will be back in full force. According to him, Tom Selleck’s Magnum P.I. actually played a big role in creating Tony, and now I can't wait to see that influence when his character returns for this new series.

While rewatching an episode of NCIS with Cote de Pablo for their podcast, Off Duty: An NCIS Rewatch, the two got to talking about one particular scene where the characters are at a crime scene, and Tony geeks out over finding an authentic Magnum P.I. Hawaiian shirt. Weatherly revealed just how important Magnum really is to Tony, and it makes a whole lot of sense:

Both NCIS and OG Magnum P.I. were created by Donald Bellisario, which is why there are frequent mentions of the show and other Bellisario projects on the long-running procedural. It’s nice to see some inspiration pulled from Magnum and references as well. The two are certainly similar in a lot of ways and not just because of their big kid personalities, as Weatherly pointed out:

That might be one of the best things about entertainment, is that it is a form of escape for people, no matter what they’re going through. Tony does make quite a lot of pop culture references, and it’s arguably one of the best things about him. It can be a serious moment at a crime scene, and he brings up how something is like a movie from several decades ago. Knowing that there’s a deeper reason why he does that makes it all the better, especially since the job can get pretty dark, even with Weatherly's BTS pranks:

It’s very likely that when NCIS: Tony and Ziva premieres for Paramount+ subscribers, the pop culture, movie and show references will not stop. It should also give him more reason to include many international references as well, which will be something to look forward to. The possibilities are endless for storylines and what will happen in the series as Tony, Ziva, and Tali are on the run across Europe, meaning the possibilities for references are endless.

It would be fun if there was another Magnum P.I. reference in Tony and Ziva since the series and Thomas Magnum mean a lot to Tony and his overall character. Fans will just have to tune in to the upcoming spinoff to see what happens.

While a premiere date has yet to be announced, now would be a good time to binge-watch the original Magnum to see where the inspiration for Tony came from and why it’s so important. Unfortunately, the show and the retro TV theme song that still slaps aren't streaming anywhere, but it can be purchased on apps such as Apple TV, Google Play, and Prime Video.

One of the main things classic mystery shows like Columbo and modern crime dramas like Sherlock have in common is that they center around not just good detectives, but incredibly intelligent investigators who find unique ways to solve crimes or other mysteries.

But who are the smartest detectives to ever grace the small screen? Well, let us solve that mystery for you as we break down a few dozen of the greatest of all time.

Inspector Columbo (Columbo)

“One more thing” is a phrase that viewers of Columbo loved to hear just as much as the show’s various criminals and bad players feared it. Peter Falk’s titular detective often put on the impression that he wasn’t putting it all together, but in that brain of his, he had it all figured out, which makes him seem even brighter.

Theo Kojak (Kojak)

Telly Savalas’ Theo Kojak wasn’t just a tough-as-nails, no-nonsense detective, he was also one who had the perfect mix of street and book smarts. Don’t let his iconic lollipop fool you, this NYPD investigator didn’t mess around one bit and could stand up to anyone and everyone both with his brawn and his brain.

Luther (Luther)

John Luther, played by Idris Elba throughout the duration of the BBC series’ run plus a Netflix movie, wasn’t necessarily a morally superior detective, but the high-ranking and embattled member of London’s SCU was the best when it came to solving crimes. He always had a plan, as well as one on the back burner when stuff eventually hit the fan.

Jimmy McNulty (The Wire)

Dominic West’s Jimmy McNulty, a character from The Wire who appeared in the most episodes, could have probably been Baltimore’s greatest police officer if he didn’t allow himself to get in the way. Despite his relationship issues, insubordination, and morally questionable decisions, he was a cop through and through and an extremely intelligent investigator.

Batman (Batman: The Animated Series) 

They don’t call Batman the world’s greatest detective for no reason. Throughout Batman: The Animated Series, the Caped Crusader gets to the bottom of a myriad of crimes, disappearances, and strange happenings in his tireless fight to clean the streets of Gotham and put no-gooders in Arkham.

Jessica Fletcher (Murder, She Wrote)

There are countless reasons why we miss Murder, She Wrote, but at the top of that list is the intelligence, warmth, and pure likeability of the series’ main character, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury). The idea of a mystery writer becoming a detective and solving all manner of crimes seems far-fetched, but the qualities listed above made Fletcher one of TV’s great criminal minds.

Rustin "Rust" Cohle (True Detective)

Do you think a big dummy could come up with something like “Time is a flat circle”? Nah, Rustin “Rust” Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) in True Detective’s first season is without a doubt one of the smartest detectives to ever take the screen. This guy spent decades getting to the bottom of what some thought was an unsolvable crime. Was he odd? Totally. Dumb? Not at all.

Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock)

There have been so many different Sherlock Holmes movies and TV shows over the years, but one of the best representations of the iconic detective is Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal in Sherlock. Though rude and hard to deal with at times, this remarkably talented sleuth with an unparalleled intellect was in a league of his own.

Adrian Monk (Monk)

Tony Shalhoub’s Adrian Monk could very well be one of the greatest TV detectives of all time, no matter how you cut it. Tasked with solving all kinds of unconventional cases, this private detective with obsessive-compulsive disorder and a range of other issues could do just about anything unless his various phobias got in the way.

James "Sonny" Crockett and Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs (Miami Vice)

James “Sonny” Crockett and Richard “Rico” Tubbs from Miami Vice were good detectives on their own, but together they were the best South Florida had to offer. Throughout the series, the due balanced their personal issues with those of the department all while getting to the bottom of some nasty crimes requiring both their brains.

Olivia Benson (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)

Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson has been a major force on Law and Order: SVU ever since the show’s debut back in 1999, and during that time, she’s been instrumental in solving some serious crimes. Though she can sometimes lose her cool, the detective-turned-commanding officer can get to the bottom of some perilous situations better than most.

Hercule Poirot (Agatha Christie's Poirot)

There have been some great portrayals of Hercule Poirot over the years, including David Suchet’s take on the famous character in Agatha Christie’s Poirot. Throughout the show’s 13 seasons, the legendary detective used his brains and wits to bring an end to all kinds of mysteries. And just when it looked like Poirot was about to be outdone, the mustached detective would pull off some trick and bring it home. 

Lennie Briscoe (Law & Order)

If there is one character from the original Law and Order series that folks remember the most (at least on the detective side of the show), it would have to be Jerry Orbach’s Lennie Briscoe. Despite his rough-and-tumble demeanor and hardened attitude, this homicide detective had no problem solving murders, even if he had to put someone in a corner.

Lester Freamon (The Wire)

Behind just about every great idea in The Wire was Clarke Peters’ Lester Freamon, an intelligent, wise, and loyal detective from the Baltimore Police Department. Though a bit prickly at times (aren’t they all?), Lester was essentially the father figure of the Major Crimes Unit and had decades of experience.

Frank Pembleton (Homicide: Life On The Street)

Frank Pembleton, played by the late, great Andre Braughter, was essentially the key member of the Homicide: Life on the Street ensemble cast and one of the smartest characters ever created by Tom Fontana and David Simon. Both eccentric and intelligent, the young detective constantly found new and unorthodox ways to go about murder investigations.

Veronica Mars (Veronica Mars)

Don’t let Veronica Mars’ (Kristen Bell) age make you think she’s not a capable, or smart, detective, as this crafty private eye is probably one of the best to ever do it on the small screen. Throughout the original Veronica Mars series, the film adaptation, and the revival series years later, this sleuth was wise beyond her years.

Jim Rockford (The Rockford Files)

On top of having a banger of a theme song, The Rockford Files also featured one of the best TV detectives with James Garner’s Jim Rockford. Brash, daring, and wildly smart, this private eye could hold his own both physically and mentally.

Bunk Moreland (The Wire)

Though prone to make mistakes and lapses in judgment alongside Jimmy McNulty, Bunk Moreland (Wendell Piere) was honestly one of the smartest and hardest-working detectives featured on The Wire. Plus, that one scene in “Old Cases” is perhaps one of the greatest TV moments of all time.

Virgil Tibbs (In The Heat Of The Night)

Taking over a role made famous by Sidney Poitier two decades earlier was no easy task, but Howard Rollins did a masterful job of playing Virgil Tibbs on In the Heat of the Night. Not only was he great when solving cases, but his mental chess with Carroll O’Connor’s Police Chief Bill Gillespie was about as good as it gets.

Dale Cooper (Twin Peaks)

Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) is technically an FBI special agent on Twin Peaks, but there’s no way we could make a list of the smartest TV detectives and not include the iconic character. His idiosyncrasies, his love of coffee and pie, and his inability to let things go all make Agent Cooper someone anyone would want investigating a case.

John Munch (Homicide: Life On The Street)

Richard Belzer’s John Munch is undeniably one of the most annoying detectives to ever grace the small screen, but part of that is because he’s also undeniably one of the smartest. Throughout Homicide: Life on the Street and Law and Order: SVU. 

Thomas Magnum (Magnum, P.I.)

Thomas Magnum is up there in the rankings of the best Tom Selleck characters, and it’s not just because he looked cool and kicked a lot of butt on Magnum, P.I. Behind the mustache, behind the cool shirts, behind the great cars there was a big brain, one who knew that nuns don’t work on Sundays.

Shawn Spencer (Psych)

Did Shawn Spencer (James Roday Rodriguez) actually have psychic abilities that allowed him to solve “unsolvable” crimes? It’s debatable. What isn’t though is the fact that this crime consultant was outrageously smart, had a photographic memory, and used unmatched observational skills to pull off some impressive feats.

Peter Burke (White Collar)

The more by-the-books and old-fashioned member of White Collar’s FBI White Collar Crime Unit, Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) is as smart as he is thorough in anything he does. He definitely takes a more no-nonsense approach to his day-to-day than Matt Bomer’s Neal Caffrey, which makes them a dynamic duo.

Kima Greggs (The Wire)

When talking about incredibly smart characters from The Wire, Kima Greggs (Sonja Sohn) is near the top of the list. Throughout the show’s five seasons, she constantly pushed herself to the next level, both physically and mentally. One of the most dedicated members of the show’s core unit, she was also one of the most articulate and methodical.

Stella Gibson (The Fall)

Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) from The Fall is not only one of the smartest TV detectives, she’s also one of the best. Her tactics in tracking down serial killer Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan) were both unorthodox and ahead of the curve, and it’s hard to imagine the killings would have stopped without her.

Sergeant Philip Fish (Barney Miller)

Though some will remember the late Abe Vigoda more from his portrayal of Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather, for the sake of this story we’re going to focus on his brilliant take on Sergeant Philip K. Fish on Barney Miller and the spinoff series, Fish. He didn’t appear in every episode of the classic sitcom, but the wise-cracking detective did make his mark on the series throughout its run. Grumpy, smart, seasoned, and hilarious, Fish knew how to solve a case while also making us laugh. 

Danny Reagan (Blue Bloods)

Whenever the conversation comes up about the Blue Bloods cast, it doesn’t take all that long before Donnie Wahlberg’s Danny Reagan enters the conversation. One of the major characters throughout the show’s historic run on CBS, this hard-nosed NYPD detective has both street smarts and keen police skills up his sleeve and is ready to use both whenever and wherever needed. If there’s a CBS detective you’d want on your case (or not covering it if you’re a perp), this would be the guy.

Gil Grissom (CSI)

Even though Gil Grissom (William Petersen) is technically a forensic entomologist and not a detective, he’s still a worthy addition to this list. For the first nine seasons of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Gil was the man of the CBS crime drama. With a high level of expertise, an unmatched intellect, and attention to detail, this Las Vegas-based investigator could solve just about anything that crossed his desk.

Patrick Jane (The Mentalist)

Simon Baker, who was great in George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead, was also superb in his portrayal of Patrick Jane on CBS’ The Mentalist. Jane, a psychic-turned-consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation, used his unique set of skills and mental abilities to help the CBI solve all kinds of murders, most of which couldn’t have been wrapped up if not for him.

Jim Brass (CSI)

Played by Paul Guilfoyle, Jim Brass was a dedicated Las Vegas Police detective who worked closely with the key team on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Though not soft on crime, Brass did play things by the book and preferred to use conversation and other non-violent police skills over more aggressive and violent methods. 

Spencer Reid (Criminal Minds)

Portrayed by Matthew Gray Gubler, Dr. Spencer Reid was a quirky and hyper-intelligent special agent who was crucial to the happenings of Criminal Minds. Though his personality rubbed some the wrong way, there’s no denying the fact that he was legitimately the smartest person in any given room.

For gearheads, cars and other vehicles are the real stars of some movies. Whether it's sweet vintage cars like those seen in movies like Dazed and Confused or highly customized one-offs like K.I.T.T. on Knight Rider, cars play a huge role in Hollywood history. 

K.I.T.T.

If you grew up in the '80s, you know what one car we have to include here. The talking supercomputer/Trans-Am driven by Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff) known simply as K.I.T.T. The "Knight Industries Two Thousand" car, voiced originally by William Daniels could do just about anything, and it's one of the few examples where the car truly was the star of a show. 

James Bond's DB5

Without question one of the most iconic cars in film history is the ultra-cool Aston Martin DB5 driven by James Bond. Audiences first saw the car in Goldfinger in 1964 and it has since appeared in Thunderball, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Casino Royale, Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time To Die. You simply can't separate the spy from his sportscar and while there are other very cool cars in other Bond flicks, the DB5 reigns supreme. 

Starsky And Hutch's Gran Torino

Nothing epitomizes '70s cool like the 1976 Ford Gran Torino driven by the police partners in Starsky and Hutch. There's nothing super special about it, it doesn't have machine guns or ejection seats, it's just cool. Fans of the show in the '70s argued over who they wanted to be, Starsky or Hutch, but everyone agreed they wanted to drive the Gran Torino. 

Ecto-1

Before the modifications made by the Ghostbusters, the 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Sentinel that became "Ecto-1" was pretty darn cool. After the modifications in the first Ghostbusters, it became the envy of kids all over the world. From the great siren to the logo on the side, to the ghost storage unit in the back, this is one cool station wagon. 

Batmobile

It's impossible to pick the coolest Batmobile. Throughout the years, every version of Batman has had his own version of the iconic car, and all of them are cool in their own way. Still, it's hard not to highlight the modified '59 Cadillac from the 1960s TV show. It's first among equals. 

Mr. Frye's Ferrari California

The 1961 Ferrari 250GT California. Less than a hundred were made, as Cameron (Alan Ruck) explains in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which might just be the coolest car in the world, on screen or off. While the cars in the movie were actually all replicas, it still has to be included here. Real 1961 Ferrari 250GT California Spyder's are insanely expensive too. One of the most famous has been owned by Hollywood star James Coburn and Former Top Gear host Chris Evans and is thought to be one of the most valuable cars in the world. 

Magnum's Ferrari 308 GTSi

Thomas Magnum is one of the coolest TV characters in history, so it makes sense that the star of Magnum, P.I., played by Tom Selleck, would drive a really cool car. "Robin 1" as it was known (named after the license plate), Magnum's Ferrari 308 was actually a few different 308s over the 8-year run of the show, but they were all super cool. 

The Mystery Machine

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! debuted in 1969, and in a fitting tribute to the era, the Scooby gang roamed around the country in a van painted in psychedelic colors, just like many of the hippies of the era. It's vaguely reminiscent of a VW Bus, of course, but The Mystery Machine is something all its own. 

Eleanor 

While "Eleanor" from Gone In 60 Seconds isn't a factory-perfect 1967 Mustang Shelby GT500, as it's portrayed in the movie, it's still one of the coolest cars ever, both in the movie and in real life. The car used in the movie was modified for filming, but that doesn't make it less awesome. 

The Bandit's Trans-Am

If you're going to bootleg stolen beer across state lines, you're going to need a fast car. The Bandit's Trans-Am in Smokey In The Bandit is maybe the most iconic car in movie history. Not only was it the first Trans-Am, but it's still the version you'd want to buy, a black T-top with a gold eagle. Admit it, you want one. 

Dom's Dodge Charger

If we're honest here, we could populate this entire list with nothing but cars from the Fast franchise. Instead, we've chosen one – Dom's black 1970 Dodge Charger – to represent the entire series. It's the muscliest muscle car that ever muscled with the beefy supercharger poking through the hood and equipped with a nitrous system, and it'll blow away anything else off the line. 

The Bluesmobile

The Bluesmobile, driven by the Blues brothers in the movie of the same name, might not look like much, but, as Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) says, "It's got a cop motor... cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks..." so it goes hard. You'll need to fix the lighter, though. 

Frank Bullitt's '68 Mustang

You simply can't talk about cool cars and Hollywood without talking about the late Steve McQueen. The actor was almost as famous for his love of cars as he was for his movies. Of course, at the top of the list of cars he drove in movies is the '68 Mustang he tears around San Francisco in in Bullitt. 

Pickford's Pontiac GTO

Dazed and Confused is chock full of amazing '70s cars, so we need to pick just one to represent them all. Wooderson's  (Matthew McConaughey) Chevy Chevelle SS might be the obvious pick here, but there isn't anything cooler than the opening notes of "Sweet Emotion" at the beginning of the movie as audiences see Pickford's (Shawn Andrews) 1970 Pontiac GTO cruising around the parking lot. 

The A-Team Van

Not every cool vehicle on TV is a car, either. Any child of the '80s will tell you they grew up dreaming about riding around in the black, grey, and red van that belonged to the crew of military misfits in The A-Team. While stock GMC Vandura's may not be all that cool, the paint job and other modifications make the A-Team's van special. 

Sonny Crockett's Ferrari Testarossa

Miami Vice was a show that could've filled up this list all by itself with all the cool cars that appeared, but none were more iconic than the Ferraris driven by Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson). We've included the Testarossa he drove in the latter seasons, not because it's cooler than the Daytona he drove early on, but because the Testarossas were actual Ferraris, whereas the Daytona was a replica built for the show and was actually a Corvette made to look like a Ferrari Daytona.  

The Bad Boys' Porsche 964

In the original Bad Boys, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence had the pleasure of driving a very cool Porsche 964. The sports car was actually owned by director Michael Bay, and eventually sold (after Bay sold it years ago) for over a million dollars. It's easy to understand why, as the Bad Boy franchise has only gotten more and more popular over the years. 

John Wick's Mustang

The beginning of the first John Wick is rough for the titular character, played by Keanu Reeves. He loses his wife, then the dog she gifted him before her death is murdered. He also has his wicked car, a '68 Mustang, stolen at the same time. Everything John Wick does after that is justified, including getting the car back, even after it gets trashed. 

Mad Max's Ford Falcon Interceptor

Talk about a movie franchise full of wild, cool cars, Mad Max is among the wildest. So, to represent the series, we're going with the O.G. car, Mel Gibson's Ford Falcon Interceptor in the original movie. It's the rat rod to end all rat rods and it's amazing. 

Mach Five

Perhaps the coolest race car in the universe is Speed Racer's Mach Five. It's legendary from the cartoon and has been part of all the various interactions of reboots, sequels, and the 2008 live-action version of Speed Racer. With the distinctive paint job and body style, it's simply the race car every kid wants. 

Blade's '68 Charger

1968 Mustangs are well represented in movies, and one of its biggest competitors, the '68 Dodge Charger is represented admirably in the Wesley Snipes Blade movies. It's the perfect car for the vampire killer and is as intimidating as a car can be. 

EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle

If you're not going to get a fast car to drive in a movie, how about a fully-armed recreational vehicle? That's what the guys in Stripes steal when they go into Czechoslovakia to rescue their big toe, Sgt. Hulka. The EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle is no simple camper, it's ready for war, even if the guys driving it aren't. 

Sebastian's Jaguar XK140 In Cruel Intentions

If you love classic cars, it doesn't get more elegant and classic than a 1956 Jaguar XK140 like Sebastian drives in Cruel Intentions. Sure, it's pretty annoying to watch an annoying spoiled brat drive it around, but it's hard not to stare in awe whenever it's on screen. It does fit for the character, even if we hate him for it. 

Thelma And Louise's Ford Thunderbird

A convertible 1966 Ford Thunderbird is what dreams are made of. It's a car that makes you feel invincible, just like it does for the titular characters in Thelma & Louise. If there's anything we would change, it's the tragic end for the car. While Thelma and Louise go out on their own terms, the poor Thunderbird doesn't, we don't think. 

Christine

Christine, the car in movie with the same name, is terrifying, sure. No one wants to deal with a car with a homicidal mind of its own. But is sure is sweet to look at. The red 1958 Plymouth Fury is definition of classic cool. So if you're willing to let the car take out an enemy or two, and you love  '50s Detroit steel, this is the car for you. Just don't get on her bad side. 

'66 Alfa Romeo Spider In The Graduate

The old hosts of Top Gear, who know a thing about cars, often insisted that if you'd never owned an Alfa Romero, you couldn't really consider yourself a motor head. Just one look at the '66 Alfa Romeo Spider in The Graduate, driven by Dustin Hoffman's character, and you'll almost certainly agree they have as much class and sophistication as a car get. 

Greased Lightning

"Greased Lightning" is arguably the best song in Grease and in no small part to the visuals of building one mean-looking drag racer named Greased Lightning. Systematic, hydromatic, ultramatic, and probably some other "madics" too.  The car itself looks kind of ridiculous, and none of the parts would actually work together, but no matter! It's still awesome. 

Doc Brown's Delorean

You knew we couldn't have this list without one of the most beloved cars (and time machines) in movie history. Doc Brown's time machine in Back To The Future is the only reason anyone in the world remembers or desires the short-lived DMC Delorean. It was a terrible car that looked like the future and drove like the past. It works perfectly for Doc's needs. 

Sonny Corleone's Lincoln Continental

It's definitely not bulletproof, but the '41 Lincoln Continental driven by Sonny Corleone in The Godfather is the epitome of what made the US car industry the envy of everyone in the '30s and '40s. Large and luxurious was the name of the name of the game in Detroit before World War II and the Continental was at the top of many lists for both. 

The Porsche 928 In Risky Business

Nothing says "1980s" more than a really cool Porsche, like the 928 in Risky Business. If you ask an '80s kid to draw the outline of a Porsche, there's a good chance they'll draw the 928 even without knowing what they are drawing. It's just a shame where it ended up. 

The Monkee's Pontiac GTO

Like the band and TV show, Pontiac GTO driven in The Monkees is over-the-top and ridiculous. It's like the designers watched the '60s on TV and made what they thought embodied them. Kind of like the whole show, despite being one of the shows on TV at the time. It's still pretty awesome though. 

Herbie The Love Bug

Herbie The Love Bug in the Herbie series is the anti-Christine. It's a car with a mind of its own, but it's only interested in doing good, not evil. That makes it every kid's favorite car and a big reason for the Volkswagon Beetle's enduring appeal. 

Tom Selleck may be known for Blue Bloods now, but that hasn’t stopped him from still looking back on his Magnum P.I. days. The 79-year-old actor was known for his famous mustache in the ‘80s and playing the titular character on the CBS crime drama. Even today, the retro TV theme song still slaps. However, the show wasn’t always a shoo-in for success, and Selleck got some wise advice from people close to him back in the day..

It's hard to imagine that a show that ran for eight seasons and spawned a reboot years later was ever in danger of not moving forward. While looking back at his long-running career with Esquire, Selleck admitted that the initial script for Magnum was actually pretty bad. Even Rockford Files star and close friend James Garner knew that something wasn’t right, as Selleck explained:

Being excited for a new role only to find out that the script isn’t what you thought it would be can’t be easy. Magnum P.I. was Selleck’s first major lead role on television, and Thomas Magnum being perfect evidently wouldn't have made for a perfect show in his eyes. He got some great advice from Garner, who would know a thing or two about leading a TV show thanks to Rockford Files:

Standing up for yourself can definitely be nerve-wracking no matter what's on the line, but Selleck had the support of a good friend. And it clearly worked out, so it’s a good thing Tom Selleck took James Garner’s advice. That doesn’t mean that he wasn’t still nervous about the whole situation, but his father offered another piece of great advice:

Considering Magnum P.I. wound up being a pretty successful series, it’s a good thing Selleck listened to his friend and his father. The show would have been pretty different had there not been any rewrites, and it’s very possible that Selleck wouldn't have been the star. Tom Selleck’s supposedly accidental career has not been so easy over the last few decades, but he’s clearly learned a lot over the years.

Whether or not Selleck retires following Blue Bloods, perhaps he will continue to share the advice he’s gotten and his own advice for years to come. Magnum P.I. was big for a reason, and it might not have happened without Selleck’s father or James Garner.

Tom Selleck may be preparing for the end of Blue Bloods on the 2024 TV schedule, but the actor is looking back at his time on another series. Before Jay Hernandez took up the Thomas Magnum mantle, Selleck donned his legendary mustache as the private investigator in the ‘80s. Even though Magnum P.I. is still big today, with both the original series and the reboot, Selleck has vowed to never call the series its actual name.

Magnum P.I. ran for eight seasons (162 episodes) from 1980 to 1988. Selleck looked back at his time on the series with Esquire, including when he first landed the drama. However, he admitted he hated the show’s title, and noted that he will always shorten it when he talks about it. He has a good reason, though, and I can’t say I blame him:

Of course, while P.I., in this case, does stand for private investigator, it can be taken out of context or have a different meaning, as the actor pointed out. 

While the show’s title is still very much Magnum P.I., it is frequently shortened to Magnum, and it works either way. It is nice that Selleck was very mindful of the usage of the abbreviation, and even though the title never changed, he seems very adamant about only saying Magnum until the end of time.

It does make me wonder why the show was never officially changed to Magnum, especially after Tom Selleck revealed how much he didn’t like it. It’s possible that it was just too late, or executives thought that Magnum P.I. flowed better than just the character's last name. Whatever the case, that didn’t seem to hinder Selleck’s decision to do the show, which is a good thing, because who knows how it would have turned out had he not portrayed the famous private investigator with that iconic mustache.

Meanwhile, the Magnum P.I. reboot officially ended earlier this year, much to fans’ dismay, and the 79-year-old actor never appeared on the reboot. Showrunner Eric Guggenheim admitted to TVLine that they had thought about it and thrown the idea around, but they never thought it was actually possible. Since Selleck was busy with Blue Bloods and Magnum filmed in Hawaii, it would have been hard to make it work, unfortunately. 

Magnum P.I. will always be an iconic show, whether you refer to it by its full title or just Magnum. Tom Selleck may no longer be Thomas Magnum, but it seems like he still holds the show very near and dear to his heart, especially since it was once the “lucky” part of his career before Blue Bloods.

It’s been almost a year since NBC axed Magnum P.I. after saving it from CBS, and the series ended earlier this year. As one of the many shows ending and/or canceled in 2024, it’s even more heartbreaking knowing that Magnum was just short of hitting 100 episodes. With the series finale in January, the Jay Hernandez-led reboot closed out its run at 96 episodes. However, fans are still hoping that things will change.

Just like when CBS canceled Magnum, fans were quick to hop on campaigns and petitions in an effort to save the reboot once again. Plenty of dedicated fans have taken to social media to get the word out about the cancellation and started a Change.org petition not long after the news broke. Even today, people are still trying to save the show by using #SaveMagnumPI on X (formerly known as Twitter). Whether they’re doing rewatches or simply spreading the word, fans are in desperate need of more. On top of all that, user SMargrey showed off a brand new billboard that fans put together:

Other fans posted about their favorite moments as they rewatched the show while using the hashtag and linking out to petitions to save it. Take MagnumPI_2018 for example:

Some, like harrowhughenden, posted about how happy they were when the reboot was saved the first time, and how thrilled they'd be if it happened again:

Trying to save Magnum is not all that fans have been doing. While the first four seasons are streaming on Amazon Freevee, the fifth and final season is not streaming anywhere. The latest episodes were initially available on Peacock as they premiered, but not long after the finale, they were all taken off. It means that Magnum P.I. is once again not available to stream in full anywhere. 

So, alongside #SaveMagnumPI, people are also posting to #MakeMagnumStreamable. It's possible that later down the line, Amazon will add Season 5 to Freevee, as it could take some time to get the rights to it, but for now, only the first four seasons are streaming.

Perhaps the only silver lining about Magnum P.I.’s cancellation is that the series didn’t end on any type of cliffhanger, but there were obviously still stories that needed to be told. Jay Hernandez got “totally honest” about the cancellation, revealing that he didn’t love how the show ended. He has been floating around ideas for a standalone film, which would be a great way to wrap up the series, even if it doesn’t necessarily continue the exact storylines. It would be nice to give Magnum a proper ending, no matter if it’s a film or even just a single episode. Clearly, the fans want it.

With the number of cancellations there are these days, there are always fan campaigns to save shows, even years after it’s ended. Since Magnum P.I. is a reboot, there’s always the possibility that another reboot will happen later down the line or the show as we know it could come back. More Magnum is not completely out of the question, especially if fans continue their campaigns. 

Even though it’s unclear if Magnum P.I. will ever be saved, what is clear is that fans are not going down without a fight. They will continue to post their hashtags, do rewatches, pay for billboards, and much, much more until it finally happens, even if it’s years from now. You never know what could happen.

Have you ever been asked to picture your favorite character from your favorite TV show, but no picture came to mind? There is actually no shame in admitting that because we don’t even know what many of our own favorite TV characters look like. Take a look back at some of the most iconic characters on television that we never got any screen time, or were, at least, kept partially hidden.

Charlie Townsend (Charlie's Angels)

On Charlie's Angels, the Angels never physically met their boss, Charlie Townsend, who was voiced by John Forsythe in the original series and the first two cinematic spin-offs. The reason the retired detective never revealed his appearance and only communicated by via intercom was out of protection for his agents.

Vera Peterson (Cheers)

At Cheers, everyone knew Norm Peterson (George Wendt), but no one knew his wife, Vera… or, at least, what she looked like. She was often mentioned on the long-running, Emmy-winning NBC sitcom, but was rarely seen with her accountant husband, save one time when she was covered by a pie accidentally thrown in her face by Sam (Ted Danson).

Bob Sacamano (Seinfeld)

Outside of the main four Seinfeld cast members, Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) had friends like Newman (Wayne Knight) and Mickey Abbott (Danny Woodburn). His one buddy we never met was Bob Sacamano, but the seminal sitcom dropped enough hints in conversation about his scheming behavior and terrible luck that he was just as memorable as the former two.

Stan Walker (Will & Grace)

For the first few seasons of Will & Grace, Karen Walker (Megan Mullally) was married to the wealthy Stanley, before his affair, imprisonment, and death hoax caused issues. We never actually saw what the man looked like -- save a few shots of his hands and feet and the outline of his silhouette — but we know he is a heavy-set toupee-wearer.

Danny Valladeo (The X-Files)

While investigating cases on The X-Files, Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) would reach out to an FBI agent named Danny. Fans have theorized that this Danny and another unseen character on the hit sci-fi show named Danny Bernstein are the same person, but creator Chris Carter has confirmed that this particular Danny’s last name is “Valladeo.”

Robin Masters (Magnum P.I.)

Even though some Magnum P.I. fans — and Tom Selleck’s titular private investigator himself — suspected John Hillerman's Johnathan Higgins was the real Robin Masters, the elusive novelist was officially billed as the voice of Orson Welles for six episodes. The character would be expanded in the Jay Hernandez-led modern reboot, in which he employs Magnum as a consultant, but still remains unseen.

Maris Crane (Frasier)

Originally, Frasier creators David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee wanted to, essentially, prank viewers of the Cheers spin-off into thinking Maris Crane was another Vera Peterson (Norm's unseen wife) before revealing her appearance later on. However, descriptions of Niles' (David Hyde Pierce) wife became so absurd over time that she was ultimately deemed impossible to cast and remained unseen for all 11 seasons.

Ercole "Eckley" DiMeo (The Sopranos)

Before Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) took over as the head of the DiMeo Family Mafia, the syndicate’s longtime leader was Ercole DiMeo, who was otherwise known as "Eckley.”Until he was portrayed by The Sopranos creator David Chase in the 2021 prequel movie, The Many Saints of Newark, Eckley was never seen on the original HBO series, due to his incarceration.

Debbie Wolowitz (The Big Bang Theory)

Howard Wolowitz's overprotective and overly loud mother, Debbie, was voiced by the late Carol Ann Susi on The Big Bang Theory cast. It was not until Pamela Adlon portrayed a younger version of the character on Young Sheldon that she made her first official on-screen appearance.

Lars Lindstrom (The Mary Tyler Moore Show)

On The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Mary’s self-absorbed friend, Phyllis (Academy Award nominee Cloris Leachman), and her dermatologist husband, Lars, were never seen together, despite being married for 15 years at the time the sitcom began. When Phyllis got her own self-titled spin-off in 1975, which lasted two seasons, we never got the chance to finally, officially meet her spouse as he had died by then.

Dr. Claw (Inspector Gadget)

Disney's live-action feature adaptation of Inspector Gadget reimagined the titular half-cop, half-machine’s arch-enemy as a man with an actual claw for a hand, played by Rupert Everett. In the animated series, Dr. Claw had both hands, but that was all we ever saw of the master criminal, who was originally voiced by Frank Welker.

Ugly Naked Guy (Friends)

For obvious reasons, viewers were never allowed a clear view of Monica (Courteney Cox) and Rachel's (Jennifer Aniston) neighbor from across the street whom, the Friends cast only referred to as "Ugly Naked Guy." We did, at least, see the back of his head when Ross (David Schwimmer) visited him in hopes of taking his apartment when he moved out.

Heather Sinclair (Degrassi: The Next Generation)

One of the most talked about students at the eponymous high school from Degrassi: The Next Generation was Heather Sinclair. However, despite her notoriety among her classmates, fans of the hit Canadian teen drama never had the chance to put a face to the name.

Cousin Jeffrey (Seinfeld)

Fans had the "pleasure" (in some cases, at least) of meeting many of Jerry Seinfeld's family members on Seinfeld, except for his cousin, Jeffrey. However, some might feel they know him quite well anyway with how often Uncle Leo (Len Lasser) talks about him "like he split the atom" and the main gang’s description of his horse-like face.

Wilson W. Wilson (Home Improvement)

This one is a special case because the Taylors’ next-door neighbor is never completely unseen. For no discernible reason, only the top half of Home Improvement cast member Earl Hindman's face was ever visible, with the bottom half typically hidden behind his fence.

Mrs. Columbo (Columbo)

Peter Falk's beloved, eponymous detective from Columbo spoke about his wife often but never bothered to show her in public, or at least to the camera. However, the role would be embodied by Kate Mulgrew in Mrs. Columbo — a spin-off most people have forgotten (or at least would prefer to), which is why we still count the character as unseen.

Juanita Beasley (The Andy Griffith Show)

Juanita Beasley is a woman whom Barney Fife (Don Knotts) took quite a liking to and would spend a lot of time chatting with over the phone. If only The Andy Griffith Show ever put a camera on her, we might have been able to see the appeal.

Erica (Bojack Horseman)

Many times on Netflix’s Bojack Horseman, Mr. Peanutbutter (Paul F. Tompkins) would shout off-screen toward someone named “Erica.” Based on what the Labrador Retriever has said about his friend on the acclaimed animated TV show, we know that she has lost a few appendages (but "has the right number of ears") and has been banned from Disneyland. Her true identity and supposedly bizarre appearance remain a mystery.

Adults (Peanuts)

You could say the shorts and TV specials based on Charles Schultz's Peanuts comic strip made up the ultimate children's program because the only people you saw were children. Of course, there were some adult characters — such as Charlie Brown's teacher, Miss Othmar — but they were largely kept offscreen and spoke in a language that could be described as the somber wail of a trombone.

Epstein's Mother (Welcome Back, Kotter)

On Welcome Back, Kotter, Juan Epstein (Robert Hegyes) often used notes to get out of homework assignments signed, "Epstein's Mother," whom, based on the lack of a first name provided, was likely not the one doing the actual signing. The truth may never be revealed since Epstein's real mother was never given a chance to show herself on the sitcom.

President Stuart Hughes (Veep)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Emmy-winning role as Vice President Selina Meyer might as well have been the Commander in Chief from the beginning of Veep. Her former superior, President Stuart Hughes, is never actually seen in the White House, which makes discussions of his irresponsibility all the more convincing.

Carlton (Rhoda)

When Valerie Harper's character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rhoda Morgenstern, got her own self-titled spin-off, she had a doorman named Carlton (voiced by series co-developer Lorenzo Music) who was almost exclusively heard through her building's intercom, save a few glimpses of his arm. The only time the character was fully visible was in a 1980 animated special that depicted his daily tasks.

Donald (Seinfeld)

In one of the best Seinfeld episodes, "The Bubble Boy," a visit to a fan of Jerry's with an immune deficiency ends in disaster when he and George (Jason Alexander) get in a fight over a Trivial Pursuit card misprint. Jon Hayman voiced the memorable one-episode role whose face was never revealed, even after his fight with George causes a puncture to his germ-free enclosure.

Dr. Herb and Diane Roberta Urkel (Family Matters)

After, almost literally, stealing the show from the rest of the Family Matters cast, Steve Urkel (Jaleel White) basically adopted the Winslows as his family. Despite his irritating antics, Urkel’s neighbors did seem more welcoming of the squeaky-voiced nerd's presence than his actual parents, Herb and Diane Roberta, who kept their distance even when their son married Laura (Kellie Shangyne Williams).

Sally Reardon (Felicity)

When Felicity Porter (Keri Russell) starts college, she keeps in touch with a friend from her hometown named Sally Reardon by exchanging tape recordings. Sally's voice was provided by Janeane Garofalo, but the comedian never showed up to play the very supportive and wisdom-spouting role on camera.

Nanny (Muppet Babies)

The most we ever saw of the woman who took care of the Muppets' infantile counterparts on Muppet Babies was her legs. At least Nanny (originally voiced by Barbara Billingsley) had a distinct fashion sense that made those appearances memorable.

Tino (My So-Called Life)

One of the coolest students at Liberty High School who never once made an appearance in class (or off campus) on My So-Called Life was Tino. Plenty of fascinating information was provided about the teen — from his wicked parties to his lead singer position in Jordan Catalano’s band, The Frozen Embryos — but the seminal ‘90s series ended too soon for his official reveal.

Mr. And Mrs. Gibbler (Full House)

The TGIF era was filled with characters who just sort of hung out at the central family's home more than their own, such as Andrea Barber's Kimmy Gibbler on Full House. Even when Kimmy got married in the finale of Netflix's Fuller House, giving us a chance to finally meet her mother and father, they never showed up.

Envelope Assistant (America's Funniest Home Videos)

In the original incarnation of America's Funniest Home Videos, the late Bob Saget was handed an envelope revealing that week's winner by someone who never showed more than their hand to the camera. The host would always be sure to make conversation with the Envelope Assistant by asking what their evening plans were or remarking about a recent change to their wardrobe or physicality.

Dr. Richard Nygard (Parks And Recreation)

Chris Traeger (played by Parks and Recreation cast member Rob Lowe) expresses such high praise for his therapist, Dr. Richard Nygard, that it almost seems to border on cultism. Or, perhaps, their close doctor-patient relationship just seems strange and mysterious because we never got to see the man throughout the hit mockumentary sitcom’s run.

The Gooch (Diff'rent Strokes)

On Diff'rent Strokes, Arnold (Gary Coleman) was tormented on multiple occasions by a kid known only as "The Gooch." The sitcom managed to paint the character as the stuff of legend — like how most youngsters may see their school bullies — by never actually revealing what he looked like.

Dr. Kahn (Salute Your Shorts)

On the classic Nickelodeon series, Salute Your Shorts, Dr. Kahn would frequently make announcements of a positive or disciplinary variety on a loudspeaker to the youngsters at Camp Anawanna. However, that was as far as our interaction would go with the camp director, voiced by series creator Steve Slavkin.

There is a part of us that still wishes we could have finally seen some of these classic TV characters (or seen them better, at least). Yet, in retrospect, it is their enigmatic presence that makes them so memorable.

Magnum P.I. has become the latest series to end, officially airing its two-hour finale on the 2024 TV schedule on January 3. The series fell short of the 100-episode milestone, but there's another milestone they didn't get. With a reboot of Tom Selleck’s popular drama from the ‘80s, you would think that the original Thomas Magnum would make a cameo, especially since the reboot was on the same network as Selleck’s Blue Bloods before its CBS cancellation. However, there’s a good reason why that never came to be.

While Magnum’s series finale was airing, Jay Hernandez, who took over the mantle as the titular private investigator but minus the iconic mustache, responded to fans on X, and he shouted out Selleck and the original series. With Hernandez acknowledging the original series and the man who brought Thomas Magnum to life, why didn’t the two ever work together on the reboot? Showrunner Eric Guggenheim told TVLine that they wanted to be realistic:

It definitely would have been fun to see Tom Selleck on Magnum P.I., even in just a brief cameo. However, it does make sense that they thought it wasn’t possible. Guggenheim didn't specify why they thought it wasn’t possible, but since Selleck is on Blue Bloods, which shoots in New York, and Magnum shot in Hawaii, it definitely would have been hard to get schedules to line up. That doesn’t mean that the actor didn’t give his blessing. Executive producer Peter Lenkov added:

Tom Selleck showing his support for the Magnum reboot is really sweet. Maybe since he wasn’t able to guest star in it, perhaps Jay Hernandez could guest star in Blue Bloods. It may not be the same, but it would be better than nothing. 

Since Blue Bloods is heading into its final season, you never know what could happen. The series is already bringing on familiar faces for the final batch of episodes, maybe Hernandez can be a random criminal the NYPD has to chase down or a detective visiting the Big Apple?

Even though Selleck didn’t appear on the Magnum reboot, the original series is still close to him. There was a Magnum P.I. reunion during Season 13 of Blue Bloods when Larry Manetti appeared on an episode as a grieving grandfather. Manetti starred in the original Magnum as bar owner Rick Wright, so to have the OG Thomas and Rick together again was a nice sight to see. Hopefully, one more reunion happens in the final season, whether it’s the original Magnum or reboot. 

Meanwhile, Magnum P.I.’s premature end didn’t fair too well with Hernandez. He shared on X that he didn’t love the ending, which can be watched with a Peacock subscription, and had floated the idea of a standalone film to wrap everything up. 

Whether or not that will actually happen is unknown, but it wouldn’t be the first time the series was saved. Crazier things have happened. If a film or extra episodes do happen, it would be the perfect way to get Tom Selleck on board. One can dream.

Spoilers for the Magnum P.I. series finale lie ahead!

It’s the end of an era following the series finale of Magnum P.I. A reboot of Tom Selleck’s action drama of the same name from the 1980s, the series received a second chance when NBC saved it from cancellation at CBS. However, just 10 episodes into the 20-episode fifth season, the network announced that it, too, would be pulling the plug on the Jay Hernandez-led show. The series finale brings the drama to a close after 96 episodes, which is just four episodes short of the 100-episode milestone. And, apparently, there was still a lot planned.

The show wrapped filming on its fifth season in April 2023, a month before the cancellation was even announced. Magnum fans were probably happy that the episode didn’t end with any big cliffhangers and instead, wrapped up with Rick and Suzy getting engaged. With that said though, it was definitely clear that there was still much more that could've been done with the characters. Showrunner Eric Guggenheim told TV Guide the plans he had for Season 6, and it makes me even sadder that we won’t be getting it:

There was so much more that could be done with a sixth season. Again, there is some sense of closure, but the fact that the stage was set for more stories is a bummer. Even Jay Hernandez has an idea for how to keep Magnum going, whether that's with more episodes or even a movie. From the sounds of it, the supposed sixth season would have definitely been intense, especially for Magnum and Higgins. Speaking of, following the couple’s pregnancy scare and kid discussion, Higgins thought Magnum was proposing to her after finding a ring, which turned out to be Rick’s. Guggenheim said that the two aren’t ready to get married just yet. 

Of course, there's more to consider than the potential storylines. If Magnum P.I. had continued beyond Season 5, the series would've hit 100 episode, which is a remarkable feat. 100 episodes is essentially the prime standard when it comes to TV syndication. Unfortunately, Guggenheim doesn’t see the show switching to any other platform or streamer permanently, at this point:

That’s not to say that the procedural definitely won’t get picked up somewhere else, as it’s still possible. It was saved before, and it could happen again. Of course, it should also be mentioned that over the years, we've seen other shows find new homes in multiple places throughout their runs. (I'm looking at Fox, Comedy Central and Hulu's Futurama).

Magnum P.I missing the 100-episode mark by just a few installments is truly a disappointment, and the same is true when you consider the massive amount of stories that are left on the table in the aftermath of the cancellation. Still, I suppose we should be grateful that the show did make a comeback. Let's hope that history can repeat itself so that we can get more of this entertaining show. In the meantime, stream the first four seasons on Freevee, and grab a Peacock subscription to access the fifth one.

Today, TV theme songs just don't have the same pop that they used to have. Back in the day, they had real style, and they almost told a whole story in the little time they had before the show started. You could make an entire mix tape of nothing but great themes and play it at a party and it would get the place jumping. Here are some of those great songs that still slap, all these years later. 

Magnum, PI

One of the best shows of the '80s deserved one of the best theme songs and Magnum, PI has one. Did you know the one we all love, written by theme song master Mike Post and jazz musician Pete Carpenter wasn't the original? The classic didn't actually become the theme until mid-way through the first season. The original one, written by Ian Freebairn-Smith wasn't bad, but the producers made a good call in changing it up. 

Barney Miller

A lot of classic themes start with a great bass line, but few have the style and pizazz of the line that starts the Barney Miller theme. Played by bassist Chuck Berghofer, for a theme written by Jack Elliott and Allyn Ferguson, it immediately immerses the viewer into the vibe of the show. A true classic. 

Welcome Back, Kotter

The theme to Welcome Back, Kotter, written by the lead singer of The Lovin' Spoonful, John B. Sebastian, was a huge hit in the summer of 1976. The song went all the way to #1 on the charts and remains a favorite to many. The show is mostly remembered for two things, helping launch the career of John Travolta, and the theme song. 

Sanford And Son

Leave it to a genius like Quincy Jones to compose one of the all-time great themes that is certainly to get you on your feet and dancing. The theme to Sanford and Son is a stone classic that has endured far longer than the show ever did. The show was great, but the theme is an all-timer. 

Dallas

Every Friday night when I was a kid, I was allowed to stay up to watch the intro to Dallas before bedtime. I loved the song so much that while I had no idea what the show was about, I still needed to hear the theme every weekend. Written by composer Jerrold Immel, the song is a perfect blend of late '70s disco and '80s synth. 

Good Times

The late, great Norman Lear produced a slew of classic TV shows in the '70s and '80s, and most of them had great theme songs. Take, for example, the theme to Good Times. Written by Dave Grusin and the team of Alan and Marilyn Bergman, and performed by the duo of Jim Gilstrap and Blinky Williams, the song sets the perfect tone for the show. 

CHiPs

For a kid in the 1980s, there was nothing cooler than CHiPs. The intro, with the California highway patrolmen on their bikes and the big brass sound and funky bass line of the theme, written by John Parker, signaled the upcoming hour of police excitement perfectly. 

Knight Rider

Composer Stu Phillips did a ton of TV score work, but by far his most remembered piece is that futuristic, funky theme to Knight Rider, which he co-wrote with series creator Glen A. Larson. Decades later, the tune continues to live on in songs like "Turn It Up (Remix) / Fire It Up" by Busta Rhymes and "I-E-A-I-A-I-O" by System of a Down. 

Starsky & Hutch

The theme to Starsky & Hutch changed over the years. The original, in the first seasons, isn't remembered at all, but the theme from the rest of the seasons, though altered a bit over the years, is still beloved. Written by saxophonist (and former member of The Blues Brothers) Tom Scott, it is as '70s as a song can get and matches the show's aesthetic brilliantly. 

Charlie's Angels

No TV show has ever been cooler than Charlie's Angels. Its legacy is so great that a small franchise of Charlie's Angels movies emerged decades after it went off the air. The theme, composed by theme music legend Jack Elliott, oozes the same cool that the show did with its smooth jazz sound. 

Hill Street Blues

Nobody has a resume for writing TV hit songs like Mike Post. The composer scored multiple Top 40 hits in the '70s and '80s and even a couple that landed in the top 10. The Hill Street Blues theme was one, reaching #10 on the Billboard charts in 1981.  

Miami Vice

Musician and composer Jan Hammer is a legend in the jazz world. In the broader world, he's known mostly for his brilliant theme song to Miami Vice. The song hit #1 on the charts in 1985 and scored Hammer two Grammys for "Best Instrumental Composition" and "Best Pop Instrumental Performance." Truly one of the all-time greats. 

What's Happening!!

Henry Mancini wrote more than 20 TV theme songs and contributed to dozens of movie soundtracks. One of his best is also one of his most underappreciated, the theme to What's Happening!!. It couldn't be more different than his most well-known songs, like the theme to The Pink Panther, but the whimsical number fits the vibe of the show perfectly. 

L.A. Law

Mike Post wrote a banger when he composed the stylish theme song to the ultra-stylish L.A. Law in the 1980s. It's based around a steady beat and a sax intro that is guaranteed to get stuck in your head after just one listen. It's a show you should check out if you love Suits and has great theme music. 

227

One of the more underrated shows of the '80s was 227. Because it flies so far under the radar in modern times, so does its excellent theme song, called "No Place Like Home." Written by Ray Colcord and performed by the star of the show, the great Marla Gibbs, it deserves to be better remembered. 

Cheers

No list like this would be complete without the theme to Cheers. Truly an old-time banger, and a song that is a sure-fire way to get a great sing-a-long going. Co-written by Gary Portnoy and Lucy Hart-Angelo, "Everybody Knows Your Name" (which Portnoy also performed) had a longer version of the theme that was a minor hit on the charts and won an Emmy. 

The Rockford Files

Mike Post is the unofficial champion of TV theme song composers and one of his best is the super-'70s sounding theme to the James Garner show The Rockford Files. It defines the way theme songs sounded in that era and it's just perfect for the show. 

The Muppet Show

There isn't a more perfect theme song to match a show's vibe than the theme to The Muppet Show. It's bold and bombastic, smart and funny... it's everything you expect from a theme co-written by the legendary Jim Henson (along with composer Sam Pottle). It's time to raise the curtain. 

One Day At A Time

Songwriter Jeff Barry has written or co-written dozens of hit songs, working out of the famous Brill Building in New York. He also co-wrote the theme to One Day At A Time alongside his wife and writing partner Nancy. It's no surprise the song is so great and matches the hit show so well. The tune, called "This Is It" is so good, it was used again (sung by Gloria Estefan) for the rebooted version of One Day At A Time.

The Dukes Of Hazzard

There is plenty of controversy surrounding The Dukes Of Hazzard, like the Confederate flag on the roof of a car named after a Confederate general, but there should be no controversy surrounding its theme song. Written and performed by country legend Waylon Jennings, "The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)," was a #1 hit on the country charts, and now, all these years later, a true classic. 

Three's Company

The theme to Three's Company asks us to "come and knock on (their) door," and that's exactly what everyone did during the show's run. It's that iconic guitar lick that leads into the verse that really slaps, though. Composer Joe Raposo nailed that. 

The Jeffersons

Admit it, as soon as you saw this you immediately started singing "Well, we're moving on up!" Everyone loves the theme to The Jeffersons. Everyone. While the comedy in and of itself is one of the best sitcoms in television history (even if the show never even hit 100 episodes), the theme song has taken on a life of its own. 

WKRP In Cincinnati

A TV show about a fictional rock radio station better have a great theme song, and WKRP In Cincinnati definitely does. Evoking what it's like to "live on the air in Cincinnati," the song, written by Tom Wells and show creator Hugh Wilson, features one of the best bass lines in TV history. 

Diff'rent Strokes

For many in Gen X, there is no bigger show in their collective memories than Diff'rent Strokes and the theme song is a major reason why. Not only was the show on weekly on NBC, it was in syndication for years. The theme, written by Alan Thicke (yes, that Alan Thicke), Al Burton, and Gloria Loring, told the whole backstory of the show perfectly each time it was on. 

Full House

Composer Jesse Frederick was the go-to guy for theme songs for the series that were part of ABC's TGIF lineup, including Family Matters and Step by Step, but his masterpiece is the theme to Full House. Frederick performed the original version, and Carly Rae Jepson was brought in to record the version used in the Netflix reboot Fuller House, which wrapped up after five seasons in 2020. 

Airwolf

Airwolf is pure 1980s and that extends to the theme song, which is a synth-driven banger by composer Sylvester Levay. Levay was also quintessential '80s, scoring or co-scoring soundtracks for movies like Cobra, Scarface, Flashdance, and many more. 

Night Court

Bass lines play an important role in TV theme songs, especially the ones that slap hard. Nothing slaps harder, literally, than the theme to Night Court. It's no surprise it was composed by Jack Elliott, who is also responsible for the funky themes to Barney Miller and Charlie's Angels.

Hawaii Five-O

One can't hear the Hawaii Five-O theme song and not immediately think of surf and sand. The song evokes the spirit of the show (both the original and the reboot) like few others do. Written by Morton Stevens, it's been reworked and recorded by different artists over the years, but its core is the same. Those drums! 

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

The Mary Tyler Moore Show was all about female empowerment and that goes double for the theme song, written by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Sonny Curtis. The chorus is an anthem; "You're gonna make it after all!" says everything a viewer needs to know about the show. Add in Mary Tyler Moore's hat toss at the end and you've got a pure classic. 

Mission: Impossible

Composer Lalo Schifrin won a Grammy for his original version of the Mission: Impossible theme song in 1967, and the song has lived on and on for decades since. It's been re-recorded, remixed, sampled, and covered countless times over the years, including for the movie franchise starring Tom Cruise, of course. 

Speed Racer

The theme to the original 1960s version of Speed Racer has all the drama and excitement that the anime show brought into homes every day for decades in American syndication. The melody was written by Nobuyoshi Koshibe for the Japanese version, with the American lyrics written by producer Peter Fernandez, who was responsible for bringing the show to the U.S. 

Fish

Jack Elliott has written some of the best TV themes of all time, so it makes sense that while the Barney Miller spinoff Fish, starring Abe Vigoda, only lasted 35 episodes, the theme still lives on in the minds of fans. It is even referenced (appropriately) by the band Phish in their song "Wombat."

For some shows, it's hard to imagine a different theme, like how The Office almost had a completely different one. It just wouldn't be the same.  The '90s and beyond have had some great ones, but there is nothing like those retro themes that really slap like those from the '70s and '80s. 

Magnum P.I. has come to an end on NBC in the 2024 TV season after five seasons, despite fan efforts at a rescue and leading man Jay Hernandez pitching an idea for how the show could continue. While any show almost hitting 100 episodes is impressive in this day and age, the 2018 reboot didn't last quite as long as the original series that starred Tom Selleck as the title character for eight seasons. With his show concluding, Hernandez gave a shout out to Selleck that puts a spin on his whole journey as Thomas Magnum. 

Jay Hernandez took to X (formerly known as Twitter) while the series finale was airing on NBC to interact with fans. In response to one who said that they never thought they'd be interested in a reboot of the iconic Tom Selleck series, Hernandez shared:

For all the people who had doubts about a reboot of the show that starred Tom Selleck, it turns out that even Jay Hernandez didn't expect that he'd ever be interested in stepping up as the next Thomas Magnum! Fortunately for fans, he did indeed give it a shot for four seasons on CBS and then one final season on NBC. Even without the Tom Selleck mustache! 

NBC gave the show a solid sendoff by airing two episodes of Magnum P.I. action back-to-back on January 3, both of which are available streaming now with a Peacock Premium subscription. The finale does seem to be the end of the road for the series, although I for one would love to see Hernandez's idea of a standalone movie come together. 

If Tom Selleck is any example, a starring role on Magnum P.I. can lead to a long and successful career on the small screen. The actor spoke about never expecting to get as "lucky again" as he was with Magnum running for eight seasons and nearly 200 episodes on CBS. As any fan of Blue Bloods can attest, the Hawaii-set show certainly wasn't the end of his time in long-running TV shows! 

While Blue Bloods is confirmed to end after the upcoming Season 14, the final credits will roll after nearly 300 episodes with Tom Selleck as Commissioner Frank Reagan. His plans for after Blue Bloods reportedly include retirement rather than pursuing another drama with the potential to run for hundreds of episodes. Fans of both Blue Bloods and the original Magnum P.I. got a treat back in the spring, when Selleck's former Magnum co-star Larry Manetti arrived on the CBS drama as a guest star.

And in a fun twist, you can actually revisit both versions of Magnum P.I. streaming on the same platform now. The first four seasons of Jay Hernandez's show are available streaming on Amazon Freevee for free with ads, and all eight seasons of Tom Selleck's show are on the same service. For more of Selleck, you can find Blue Bloods with a Paramount+ subscription.

Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS ahead for the series finale of Magnum P.I. on NBC.

Sadly, Magnum P.I. has come to an end for the second time, as NBC's rescue following CBS' cancellation only lasted for a single season. As promised by showrunner Eric Guggenheim, the series finale didn't end on a life-or-death cliffhanger and the characters were happy together by the time the final credits rolled. Still, now that Jay Hernandez has shared his honest thoughts on the cancellation, I think plenty of fans (myself included) will agree with him.

How The Series Finale Finished The Story

Called "The Big Squeeze," the series finale was the second of two episodes that aired on January 3, and it featured the return of Patrick Fabian as Sam Bedrosian for the first time since his debut in Episode 16 when he became Magnum and Higgins' (Perdita Weeks) new nemesis. Bedrosian proceeded to blackmail them with a recording of them breaking the law in the penultimate episode, and they had to find a way to close the case without being burned in the process. 

It was probably a sign that fans should prepare for a heavy episode when the shenanigans over Higgins discovering what she thought was an engagement ring intended for her were resolved early in the episode. Her panicked attempt to avoid Magnum was calmed when he told her that the ring in his dresser was Rick's (Zachary Knighton) and intended for Suzy (Betsy Phillips) after their romantic payoff earlier in Season 5. Throw in T.C. (Stephen Hill) getting ready to expand Island Hoppers and Kumu (Amy Hill) buying into La Mariana, and the finale had a pretty happy ending for the supporting players, if not quite closure.

Magnum and Higgins' futures were less certain, as there was no saying what blowback they'd face from their decision regarding Bedrosian. Their final scene was sweet, however, as Magnum reassured Higgins that he knew who she was when they got together and wasn't upset at her reaction to the proposal confusion. She confessed that if the day comes when he does propose, she'll say yes.

Was it a perfect ending for me? Not quite, but that's largely because it was abrupt and I'd been looking forward to Bedrosian as the new nemesis ever since Jay Hernandez previewed him to CinemaBlend back in the spring of 2023. At the time, the actor suggested that the troublesome new character could cause problems "even further into the show as a whole if we get picked up for the sixth season." Plus, how am I supposed to ever want less of Magnum and Higgins together?! Oh, what might have been!

Jay Hernandez's Idea For Continuing Magnum P.I.

The leading man had been quiet about the cancellation of Magnum P.I. ever since the sad news broke over the summer, even as other stars spoke out. Finally, just in time for the last-ever episode, Hernandez took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to reveal an idea that he'd pitched for a way the show could continue even though it didn't get the Season 6 renewal. He wrote:

Jay Hernandez admitted to not loving that the show ended "how it did," and I can admit that I absolutely love the idea of a standalone film to follow up on the series finale. A second rescue for a sixth season seemed increasingly unlikely after some comments from showrunner Eric Guggenheim, but why not a one-off movie to tie off some loose ends and give a more ceremonious ending than "The Big Squeeze" delivered? If NBC's Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist could do it, why not Magnum P.I.?!

Okay, yes, I know that Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and Magnum P.I. are extremely different shows, but I think the idea of a standalone Magnum movie is going to be on my mind for the foreseeable future after Hernandez shared the idea. I don't know that it's particularly likely, but it is nice to see more of the star's passion for the project. Plus, fans can enjoy his kind words of gratitude for their dedication. 

I certainly can't say what the odds are of Magnum P.I. ever returning in any form, but I'm going to take a little bit of heart from Eric Guggenheim's response to TVLine when asked about what his ideal series finale would have looked like. He simply said:

Am I grasping at straws to read anything about Magnum P.I. having a future that the showrunner doesn't want to spoil into that sentence? Perhaps, but there's no harm in speculating now that the NBC run has ended and the 2024 TV schedule will continue without Magnum, Higgins, and the rest. Only time will tell if Jay Hernandez's idea for a standalone movie comes to anything. 

For now, you can always revisit the first four seasons streaming via Amazon Freevee and the fifth season via Peacock Premium subscription.

Magnum P.I. has had a wilder ride on network television than most shows. The Jay Hernandez-led series started on CBS in a shared universe with Hawaii Five-0, survived COVID production complications, was cancelled by the original network, picked up by NBC, and then cancelled again. While fans have held out hope for a second rescue, the end is nigh just a few days into the beginning of the 2024 TV schedule. Now, stars are opening up with their thoughts on the show getting the axe and ending with the Season 5 finale.

The drama was cancelled over the summer, after the beginning of the WGA writers strike and shortly before the beginning of the SAG-AFTRA actors strike. In the immediate aftermath of the sad news, the writers shared a message about the remaining ten episodes, and leading lady Perdita Weeks commented on riding off into the sunset. Now, with just two episodes left before the final credits roll, actors have shared further thoughts. 

Zachary Knighton, who has played Rick throughout all five seasons of Magnum P.I. and two episodes of Hawaii Five-0, spoke with TV Insider about his time on the show: 

Magnum P.I. premiered on CBS in 2018, when Hawaii Five-0 debuted what turned out to be its penultimate season. The shows joined forces for a crossover two-parter that aired in early 2020, just months before COVID production shutdowns across the entertainment industry and the series finale of Five-0. Magnum only ran for 16 episodes in Season 3, and was cancelled by CBS following Season 4. The Season 5 rescue by NBC happened when it seemed that all hope was lost. According to Zachary Knighton, Season 5 was time for the show to end. He explained:

Knighton's comments fit with what showrunner Eric Guggenheim teased in the fall about the Season 5 finale not ending on a cliffhanger, which were certainly more comforting than his words about whether a Season 6 could happen. Filming on the fifth season actually finished prior to the actors' strike, earning the final ten episodes a place in NBC's otherwise fairly empty fall TV lineup.

After five seasons of playing Juliet Higgins opposite Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum, Perdita Weeks described the show ending as "bittersweet," then elaborated:

Magnum and Higgins sharing a kiss was an exciting way to end the fourth season and set up a fifth full of Miggy love, and the characters' romance has been relatively smooth-sailing, complete with talk of having kids. Many shows tend to create drama for established couples as the seasons continue, however, so at least Magnum P.I. seems set to go out on a high note for the duo. Perdita Weeks previously teased "good news" on the way for the characters. But where does she envision Higgins after the final credits roll? The actress shared:

Hey, as long as visiting Paris wouldn't involve a dangerous return to MI6, why not? Zachary Knighton also shared his thoughts on a potential future for him as Rick following the end of Magnum. He said:

Rick actually got some major resolution to an ongoing storyline already in Season 5, when his back-and-forth situation with Suzy turned into a healthy romance. T.C.'s story seems very open after he recovered from his injury; sign me up for a T.C.-centric show with Stephen Hill reprising his role! 

For now, fans can look forward to the final two episodes of Magnum P.I.. NBC is airing them back-to-back for a big finale night, although it remains to be seen if the two are connected or just two standalone episodes airing in a row. You can also revisit earlier episodes of the series, with the first four seasons streaming on Freevee and the full fifth so far with a Peacock Premium subscription.

The end is sadly nigh for Magnum P.I., with the fan-favorite show concluding in the 2024 TV schedule with a grand total of two remaining episodes from the fifth and final season. The Jay Hernandez-led drama was cancelled back in June 2023, when the WGA writers strike and SAG-AFTRA actors strike were still months away from ending, and viewer efforts for a second rescue haven't resulted in a Season 6 renewal. Now, NBC has announced how the show is getting a bigger-than-expected finale night in the new year. 

While it can be seen as a fun way to celebrate Magnum, Higgins, and the rest on their way out, I can't help but be reminded of the odd and abrupt ending of another cancelled NBC drama in 2023. 

How NBC Is Saying Goodbye To Magnum P.I.

Magnum P.I. may have two episodes left, but they won't air over two weeks in 2024. The final pair of episodes will both air on Wednesday, January 3 on NBC, starting with the first at 9 p.m. ET and continuing with the second at 10 p.m. ET. With the three shows of One Chicago retaking Wednesday nights on January 17, it seemed likely that Magnum P.I. would air its penultimate episode on January 3 and its series finale on January 10. Instead, the network is apparently giving the show a farewell with two episodes in a row. 

But the last two episodes airing back-to-back doesn't mean that fans are in for a two-part adventure for Magnum and Co. in the new year. In fact, the announcement of two episodes airing on the same night didn't make me excited for a big night of Magnum P.I. action or sad all over again that it's ending, but rather made me think back to another cancelled drama and its double feature finale. Yes, I'm thinking back to New Amsterdam. 

Why I'm Flashing Back To New Amsterdam

New Amsterdam's similarities to Magnum P.I. from a plot perspective may be few and far between, but how NBC is ending Jay Hernandez's show is definitely a lot like the swan song for Ryan Eggold's in early 2023. New Amsterdam was a medical drama that ran for five seasons, with The Blacklist alum Eggold as leading man. The show ended back in January when the network aired its final two episodes back-to-back. It wasn't truly a two-part finale event, however, as the executive producers confirmed to CinemaBlend shortly before the end when I asked if the plan was always for a two-episode finale. They said:

• David Schulner: "No. That's why they're completely different episodes."
• Peter Horton: "That's a scheduling issue for NBC. That wasn't a creative choice."

Now, New Amsterdam ending with two completely different episodes on one night certainly doesn't mean that the exact same thing will happen with Magnum P.I. a year later, but Magnum isn't a show known for multi-parters either on NBC or from its CBS days. Plus, the show hadn't yet been cancelled when the end of Season 5 was written and then filmed. I'm guessing that the final two episodes will be two almost entirely separate episodes. 

And that's not necessarily a bad thing! I thought that New Amsterdam stuck the landing with its series finale twist (available streaming now with a Peacock Premium subscription), and Perdita Weeks already previewed some "good news" on the way before the final credits roll on Magnum P.I. Fans can also be happy about showrunner Eric Guggenheim's comments about how the series finale will end, even if his words about the odds of a Season 6 save aren't as optimistic.

Whether or not Magnum P.I.'s final two episodes will be entirely separate a la New Amsterdam remains to be seen, but at least the holiday hiatus won't be too long. Magnum P.I. returns to NBC for the very last time on Wednesday, January 3 at 9 p.m. ET. You can revisit the first four seasons streaming via Freevee, and the full fifth season so far via Peacock.

Magnum P.I. is quickly approaching the end of Season 5B after the planned premiere in the 2024 TV season was changed to fall 2023. Unfortunately for fans, the Season 5 finale will also be the series finale, and only three episodes are left before the final credits roll. Perdita Weeks, who directed the episode that airs on December 13 as well as played Juliet Higgins across all five seasons, opened up about what's still on the way, including some "very good news."

The show was cancelled for the second time back in June, before the second half of Season 5 even debuted in the 2023 TV schedule. At the time, there was no guarantee that Magnum P.I. wasn't going to end on a painful cliffhanger, and Jay Hernandez had been optimistic about the show reaching the 100-episode milestone in a sixth season when speaking to CinemaBlend. Based on what Perdita Weeks previewed to TVLine, there are still reasons for fans to be optimistic, even if the clock is ticking. She said:

Bumps in the road are pretty much the norm for Magnum and Higgins, but fans can take some comfort in Weeks' comments about good news and a happy ending. Her comments echo what showrunner Eric Guggenheim previously said about the series finale, when he noted that he thinks the ending is satisfying and he didn't want to conclude on a cliffhanger. The actress didn't confirm if the "very good news" could be an engagement for one of the three happy couples of the show, but she also didn't deny it! 

Magnum P.I. has shown Magnum and Higgins looking ahead to a future with kids in it, so I wouldn't be surprised if they take a big step forward in the series finale. Especially after a recent episode beautifully answered a Miggy question! Perdita Weeks went on to share how she thinks fans will be feeling about the finale:

According to the showrunner earlier in the fall, Magnum P.I. wasn't being shopped around for a second rescue, after NBC stepped in to save the Jay Hernandez drama after CBS gave it the axe in 2022. So, fans can take some solace in the fact that Perdita Weeks was pleased with where everybody ends up at the end of the finale, even if those stories won't continue into a sixth season. 

Personally, I still wish that there was more time to explore Sam Bedrosian, the new bad guy played by Better Call Saul's Patrick Fabian who fits the description from Jay Hernandez of a problematic character who could stick around in the long run. With three episodes remaining, there's certainly not a lot of time left. 

The next new episode of Magnum P.I. is called "Extracurricular Activities" and airs on Wednesday, December 13 at 9 p.m. ET as Perdita Weeks' directorial debut. You can also revisit earlier episodes of the drama streaming, with Season 5 available via Peacock Premium subscription and Seasons 1-4 with Amazon Freevee.

Warning: major spoilers ahead for Episode 17 of Magnum P.I. Season 5, called "Consciousness of Guilt."

The fifth season of Magnum P.I. has dealt with a number of changes to the status quo from the four seasons that aired on CBS, with NBC able to fully explore the Magnum/Higgins romance in the 2023 TV schedule. Their story has progressed to the point of discussing having kids together someday, and "Consciousness of Guilt" addressed a question I've been wondering about the good ship Miggy. Alas, I just can't get it out of my head that the show is ending within a few episodes, and I think I'd enjoy it more if I could.

In the latest episode, Higgins realized that in comparison to Rick and Suzy, who are building a new life together with their daughter, and T.C. and Mahina after getting back together, she and Magnum might spend too much time together. After all, they're partners in their work as private investigators and most of their on-screen free time is spent together. The pair were even living on the same property from the jump! Magnum didn't seem to have the same concern, but agreed to spend the day apart, with Higgins helping Jin and Magnum lending a hand to Katsumoto elsewhere. 

By the end of the hour, even though she got to enjoy telling Magnum a story about her day that he didn't already know, Higgins realized that they definitely don't spend too much time together, and "Consciousness of Guilt" ended with the pair going even stronger than ever. Admittedly, the question of whether Magnum and Higgins were spending too much time together wasn't so pressing that it made my list of major final season questions that need answers, but it has been on my mind. 

And this episode debunking the idea that the show needs to split them up more often would normally make me very optimistic for the future beyond what's available streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription and what is left to air in the fifth season. I just can't forget that this was Episode 17 out of 20, and the cancellation from NBC means that the series is just a few episodes shy of the final credits rolling. Magnum and Higgins made some great forward progress this week; it just won't advance too much further with only three episodes left. 

Of course, a second rescue of the series hasn't been definitively ruled out yet, and fans have held out hope particularly in the wake of the first four seasons streaming on Freevee. Still, showrunner Eric Guggenheim's comments about Magnum P.I. not being shopped around aren't too encouraging, although he did reveal that the fifth season will not end on a painful cliffhanger. 

Personally, my dream is still for NBC (or any other outlet) to bring the show back for at least a four-episode mini season. If the Season 5 finale truly is the end, then Magnum P.I. will have concluded after 96 episodes. It would just be a shame for the show to get so close to the 100-episode milestone, only to fall short by four! Even a little bit of good news would undoubtedly help me forget the cancellation a bit more, and go along with the ride of the final three episodes. 

Magnum P.I. isn't out of episodes in 2023 just yet, as the next will air on Wednesday, December 13 in the usual 9 p.m. ET time slot. Chicago Fire will return to 9 p.m. ET on Wednesdays in mid-January once the 2024 TV schedule kicks off.

In the modern world of streaming, ratings don't really mean what they used to mean for most TV shows. Looking back, it's incredible how many people were tuning in for some of these famous shows' episodes with the highest ratings, so let's dig in and see what kind of numbers they drew. Warning: this story contains spoilers. 

ER - "Ambush" 

At its peak in the mid-1990s, ER was the most popular show on TV. It comes as no surprise that its highest-rated episode fits right in the middle of it. Episode 1 of Season 3, titled "Ambush" drew a whopping 42.71 million viewers, one of the highest-rated dramas of all time. 

The West Wing - "In The Shadow of Two Gunman" 

The West Wing is considered by many to be one of the best television shows of all time, especially the first four seasons. The Season 1 cliffhanger was of shots fired at President Bartlett (Martin Sheen) and 25.05 million people tuned in to the Season 2 premiere "In The Shadow Of Two Gunman" to see what happened. 

Breaking Bad - "Felina" 

By the time Breaking Bad came around, ratings numbers were completely different. With the dawn first of cable TV, then of streaming, TV shows didn't draw the same number of viewers network shows did at their peak. Still, the highest-rated episode was still watched by a respectable 10.28 million watchers. The episode was of course the series finale, "Felina." 

Better Call Saul - "Uno"

The Breaking Bad spinoff, Better Call Saul benefited from its connection to the hit AMC show, and when it debuted in 2016, the first episode drew its highest ratings through its run, 2.57 million viewers. 

Atlanta - "The Big Bang"

Looking at the numbers for Atlanta you can see how things have changed in the television landscape. The critically acclaimed show was very popular, but its numbers are dwarfed by older shows. The most-watched episode of the Donald Glover-driven show was the premiere with 1.08 million people tuning in. 

The Sopranos - "For All Debts Public and Private" 

This one is a bit of a surprise. The finale of The Sopranos was a huge deal and it felt like everyone in the world was tuning in. It is not, however, the highest-rated episode for the series. That distinction belongs to Episode 1 of Season 4, "For All Debts Public and Private." The show's peak reached 13.43 million people, which is really impressive for a pay channel.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - "Ch-Ch-Changes" 

For the first seven seasons of its run on CBS, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation completely dominated the ratings for dramatic shows. It regularly drew 20-25 million viewers every week. It reached its apex with Episode 8 of Season 5 when 31.46 million viewers tuned in to  "Ch-Ch-Changes."

The Office - "Pilot" 

The Office remains one of the most beloved sitcoms ever. You might expect episodes like Pam and Jim's wedding to crush it ratings-wise, but it was actually the pilot episode, way back in 2005 that takes the title, with 11.23 million people. 

Roots - Final Episode

Okay, this is fudging a little bit. Roots was really a mini-series, not a regular show, but it's impossible not to include it because the ratings were so insane. It's estimated that 100 million people watched the final episode on PBS in 1977. 36.36 million TV sets were tuned in, which was 71% of the total TV viewership in its timeslot. 1 in 4 TVs in the whole country were tuned to Roots.

Lost - "Man of Science, Man of Faith" 

Lost took the TV world by storm when it debuted in 2004. By the end of Season 1, fans were glued to their sets every week. 23.47 million of those fans tuned in for the first episode of Season 2, "Man of Science, Man of Faith" to find out what was in the hatch. 

Magnum, P.I. - "Resolutions" 

Thomas Magnum has had an enduring legacy on TV, first with Tom Selleck in the role, and then with Jay Hernandez in the recent reboot of Magnum, P.I. In the original show's run, the ratings were generally good, though they fell off as the years went on. Still, the series finale showed just how popular the show was when, according to the fansite MagnumMania, the final episode drew 50.7 million viewers, ranking it 5th all-time for a single episode. 

This Is Us - "A Father's Advice"

While network shows have generally seen ratings decline over recent years, NBC's This Is Us bucked the trend and brought back the idea of "must see TV." The tear-jerker regularly drew high ratings throughout its 6 seasons run, peaking at 12.94 fans tuning in for Season 2, Episode 1 titled "A Father's Advice". 

The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air - "Just Say Yo"

Will Smith was just getting started on his acting career when The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air first aired in 1990. Two and a half seasons later, it was clear how popular he'd become when Episode 19 of Season 3, "Just Say Yo," found 30.6 million people tuning in to watch the hijinks of Will and Carlton making some bad decisions about some pills. 

Mad Men - "Person to Person" 

AMC's Mad Men stayed remarkably consistent through its entire seven season run. The ratings didn't fall off a cliff like so many shows do at some point. Sure, it's a more modern show, so the ratings aren't through the roof like the pre-cable era, but still 3.29 people watched as the series came to a close in Episode 14 of Season 6, called "Person to Person" when Don Draper finally seems human at the end. 

Dallas - "Who Done It" 

"Who shot J.R.?" was more than just a TV catchphrase. For the entire summer of 1980, people everywhere were asking the same question.  J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) getting shot at the end of Season 3 of Dallas remains to this day the most famous cliffhanger in TV history. Episode 1 of Season 4 reflects just what a huge deal it was when 61% of the TVs in the country tuned in to find out who did it, which translated to 38 million people at the time. The show dragged it out of course, and the ratings peaked for Episode 4 of that season when we all learned who actually did it. An astounding 76% of all the TVs in America were tuned to CBS for the episode "Who Done It." 53 million people. Just nuts. 

The Simpsons - "Bart Gets An F" 

The Simpsons holds a lot of TV records, as you would expect for a show that's been on since the first George Bush was President. Surprisingly, its highest-rated episode came very early on in its run. Season 2, Episode 1 "Bart Gets An F" remains the highest rating the show's ever gotten, with 33.6 million viewers. It's a classic episode, but you'd think something like "Who Shot Mr. Burns" would have eclipsed it, but nope. 

Seinfeld - "The Finale" 

It will come as no surprise that Seinfeld is responsible for one of the highest-rated episodes of all time. The final episode of the show, simply called "The Finale" drew an unbelievable 76.26 million viewers. Those are numbers that we will likely never see again with the diversification of viewer habits. It is simply amazing. 

The Wire - "Port in a Storm" 

While The Wire is often ranked at the top, or very near the top of the greatest TV shows of all time, it had pretty modest ratings during its original run. Fans at the time were always worried that HBO was going to cancel the beloved show. The show hit its ratings peak in Season 2, with Episode 12 "Port In A Storm" which sees the demise of Frank Sobotka, with 4.48 million fans tuning in. 

Succession - "With Open Eyes" 

HBO has a knack for churning out hit after hit and Succession is no exception. What's different is how people consume those hits these days. With the rise of streaming, ratings on HBO don't come close to what they used to be and that's reflected in Succession's highest-rated episode, the series finale, "With Open Eyes," only garnering 800k viewers. No doubt that number was much higher on the MAX streaming platform, and it was met with widespread critical acclaim. 

House - "One Day, One Room" 

For seven seasons on Fox, House was among the network's most popular shows. Episodes like when Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) was shot and others garnered high ratings, but the highest ratings came when it was revealed if House would beat the drug charges against him in Season 3, Episode 4, "One Day, One Room."

M*A*S*H - "Goodbye, Farewell, Amen" 

Here it is. The granddaddy of them all. The series finale of M*A*S*H, a show that famously ran for 5 times as many years as the actual Korean conflict lasted, was a television event that will never come close to being matched. The episode, titled "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" drew an insane 105 million viewers. It was at the time, and remained for years, the highest-rated TV show of all time. It wasn't until 2010 that even a Super Bowl surpassed it.  

Gossip Girl - "The Dark Night" 

Gossip Girl has a big place in the hearts of its fans and its highest rated episode, "The Dark Night" in Season 2 reflects that as it's usually ranked as one of the best shows of the series. The episode drew 3.73 million fans to the screen

The Walking Dead - "No Sanctuary" 

AMC had another huge hit on their hands with The Walking Dead. The show, especially in its early seasons, drew enormous ratings. The show was also the master at cliffhangers, so it's not surprising that one of the biggest, with our heroes locked in a train car at the end of Season 4 would be resolved with the highest-rated show of the series, Episode 1 of Season 5, which drew 17.29 million watchers. 

Cheers

Like so many shows in the '80s and '90s, it was the finale of Cheers that scored huge numbers. The final episode, appropriately named "One For The Road," was watched by 80 million people in the U.S., ranking among the highest-rated shows ever. Many in Gen X can remember where they were when Sam (Ted Danson) turned the lights off in Cheers for the final time. 

Game of Thrones - "The Iron Throne" 

In a rare example of streaming likely helping a TV show's ratings, Game of Thrones' viewership numbers steadily climbed as the show moved along, culminating in the 13.61 million people that tuned in to HBO to watch the finale. While critics and fans had mixed reviews of the ending, you can't argue with the numbers. 

Full House - "Happy Birthday, Babies" 

The legacy of Full House is huge. Millions of fans still love the show enough that it was brought back decades after it ended with Fuller House. The family is still one of the most loved in TV history, so the episode "Happy Birthday, Babies" in Season 5, when Becky gives birth to Nicky and Alex, is unsurprisingly the most-watched episode, with 35.7 million people tuning in. 

Friends - "The Last One" 

You will not be shocked to learn that the series finale of Friends, "The Last One," is one of the most-watched shows of all time. The ratings juggernaut saved its best for last with 52.2 million fans watching as the show came to a close. It's good enough for 5th all-time, among TV finales. 

Grey’s Anatomy - "It's The End Of The World" 

Full disclosure here, the highest rated episode of Grey’s Anatomy had a little help, as the Season 2 ep aired directly after a Super Bowl. The result was a monster viewership of 38.1 million people. The show has always been very successful and its ratings are regularly among the highest on TV, but it's hard to imagine it ever topping that number. 

Yellowstone - "One Hundred Years Is Nothing" 

The newest show on this list is Paramount's Yellowstone. The Kevin Costner-led show started modestly, but over its first five seasons, it's grown into a powerhouse. The Season 5 premiere is the cherry on top of John Dutton's cake as he got sworn in as governor of Montana with 9.4 million people watching. 

The Cosby Show - Series finale

Like many of its fellow sitcoms, The Cosby Show's final episode was its peak, with 44.4 million viewers. A huge show that will never be seen the same way ever again, but worth mentioning on this list. 

Family Matters - "Life of the Party" 

The enduring legacy of Family Matters is the character Steve Urkel, played by Jaleel White, so it's only appropriate that the highest rated episode was in Season 2 when Urkel taught everyone how to do "The Urkel" dance. 30.9 people danced along at home. 

Arrow - "The Scientist" 

Arrow had a long run, lasting seven seasons, and it kept its ratings remarkably consistent, at least until the last couple of seasons. The high water mark for the superhero show was 3.24 million viewers for the Season 3 episode, "The Scientist."

If you're wondering what program has the highest ratings of all time, it's not a Super Bowl, though eight Super Bowls are in the top 10. The highest-rated TV broadcast of all time was the Moon landing in 1969 with somewhere in the neighborhood of 125 million people watching on all three networks, in total. A small step for a man, a giant leap in TV viewership. 

Warning: spoilers ahead for Episode 16 of Magnum P.I. Season 5, called "Run With the Devil."

Magnum P.I. returned from a brief break for an episode that put Magnum and Higgins on the case of an Amish teenage girl who had come to Hawaii, only to go missing. Over the course of the investigation, they learned that young Hannah was not entirely who her younger brother Saul thought. Magnum and Higgins ultimately ran afoul of Sam Bedrosian, played by Better Call Saul's Patrick Fabian. He wasn't the main character of "Run With the Devil," but he was featured enough that I suspect Bedrosian is the character that Jay Hernandez previewed months ago... and I'm sad all over again that Magnum P.I. was cancelled. 

Bedrosian was introduced as the boss of a "private equity group," but Magnum and Higgins quickly made it clear that they believed he had a very, very, very dark side. While they said they didn't care if he was involved in the murders of a bunch of criminals because they just wanted to find Hannah, he wasn't the way to find her. Ultimately, Bedrosian's men kidnapped Saul to try and get Magnum and Higgins to get back the $250,000 that was stolen for him, but they managed to kidnap Bedrosian instead to make a trade for Saul. In a parting shot, Bedrosian told them they'd "have to answer this," to which Magnum said that they'd be seeing him.

The episode ended without any closure for Bedrosian clearly developing a grudge against our heroes, but I still might not have thought that he'd have a recurring role on Magnum P.I. if not for what Jay Hernandez told CinemaBlend back in the spring. I spoke with the star about the midseason finale in April, and at the time, he previewed a character who was going to cause problems in the second half of Season 5. He said: 

If you've been reading CinemaBlend's Magnum P.I. coverage over the past few months, you may know that I've been wondering since before the fall premiere when this new character would be introduced. I certainly expected it to be sooner than when there were only four full episodes remaining of the entire series, but getting Patrick Fabian to play the character makes his debut worth the wait.

Jay Hernandez's comment that the character could be part of the show in the long run if NBC renewed for a sixth season just makes me wish all over again that the show could be saved for the second time. That seems unlikely at this point, particularly in light of what showrunner Eric Guggenheim said about a future beyond Season 5. 

But how could I not wish that there would be time for Bedrosian to return and potentially become a full-fledged big bad beyond the few remaining episodes? Even the Magnum P.I. writers account on X was hyping Patrick Fabian's arrival:

For now, I'll just hold out hope to see a bit more of Patrick Fabian as Bedrosian before the final credits roll on Magnum P.I. with Episode 20 of Season 5, and be happy that I finally know who Jay Hernandez was teasing all those months ago. The showrunner has already previewed that the finale won't end on a painful cliffhanger, but my money is on some stories still having very open endings. Fans can also revisit the full fifth season so far streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription and the first four seasons via Freevee.

Magnum P.I. only just returned in the 2023 TV schedule in October, and the show is quickly running out of episodes of the fifth and final season. In fact, after going off the air for an extra week due to NBC scheduling, a grand total of five episodes are left before the final credits roll. So, as I spent a Wednesday night without seeing Thomas Magnum, Juliet Higgins, and the rest in action, I realized that there are still several questions that need answers before the end. 

In fact, a number of those questions were ones that I was already asking following the nerve-wracking Season 5 spring finale and ahead of the Season 5B premiere. I had no fewer than nine, and while some have been answered – like whether Rick and Suzy would get back together – and others are no longer relevant, I'm still waiting on several of the others after some recent twists. So, let's look at the questions that are running out of time to be resolved!

What New Character Was Jay Hernandez Talking About?

When I spoke with leading man Jay Hernandez back in the spring prior to the recently-resolved SAG-AFTRA strike, he previewed something mysterious for the second half of Season 5: a character who comes into Magnum's life and "is going to be causing him a lot of problems for a number of episodes." At my count, there are only five episodes left and no character who I think fits Hernandez's tease, so I ask again: who is this character who is supposed to cause problems?!

How Much Will T.C. Recover?

Technically, I was wondering about whether Stephen Hill's character would ever walk again when I first starting wondering about Season 5B, but I think there's still the question of how much he'll recover emotionally as well as phsyically. Mahina broke up with him in the most recent episode as a result of his behavior after he was hospitalized, and it'll somewhat defy belief if he's really 100% physically recovered. I just want to know if T.C. will get a happy ending, dang it!

Will Higgins Be Pregnant?

The possibility of a bun in the oven for Higgins was teased in the promos for Season 5B. While I had my doubts that Magnum P.I. would start the fall season with such a huge change for the character, the resolution of the pregnancy scare story very much left the door open for her and Magnum to start a family. Then, they had a very important conversation about kids not too long after. I didn't think Higgins would be pregnant to start Season 5B, but I'm ready to seriously consider if she will be in the series finale... or at least, if she and Magnum will decide to start trying.

Will Magnum P.I. Be Rescued For The Second Time?

A question that has undoubtedly been on the minds of many Magnum P.I. fans ever since the news of the cancellation is whether the permanent end truly is in sight this time. After all, the show was cancelled by CBS before being saved by NBC; could another save be in store? Well, showrunner Eric Guggenheim's comments aren't too promising on that front, although he did also preview that the fifth season isn't going to end on a cliffhanger. Still, another rescue hasn't been ruled out. 

Personally, my dream is for the show to be renewed for at least a four-episode mini sixth season so that Magnum P.I. can hit the 100-episode milestone instead of ending forever at a total of 96. When I spoke with Jay Hernandez in the spring, he was optimistic about making it to 100, but that was unfortunately before the WGA writers strike and SAG-AFTRA actors strike put the entertainment industry on hold. Is this likely? Maybe not, but I'll just hold onto hope until I know otherwise. 

For now, we can only wait and see if these questions that I'm still asking will be answered before the very end. Magnum P.I. returns to NBC's 9 p.m. ET time slot on Wednesdays with a new episode on November 15, and you can revisit the first four seasons streaming on Freevee and the fifth streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription. 

Quantum Leap and Magnum P.I. were two of relatively few scripted shows that returned in the fall of the 2023 TV schedule, with both shows completing a number of new episodes before the WGA writers strike and SAG-AFTRA actors strike shut down production on the small screen. That was good news for fans of those series (although Magnum P.I. fans also got news of the cancellation), but both will be off the air on November 8. Fortunately, NBC has already revealed when they'll be back with new episodes, and the wait won't be too long. 

Quantum Leap and Magnum P.I. usually air at 8 p.m. ET and 9 p.m. ET, respectively, followed by a One Chicago repeat on NBC's Wednesday nights. On November 8, the Republican Presidential Debate will take over primetime on the network, leaving no room for the two shows or another Chicago P.D. repeat. The break will fortunately only last for one extra week, however. Both Quantum Leap and Magnum P.I. will return with new episodes on Wednesday, November 15 in their usual time slots. 

And NBC has already released descriptions for the new episodes that will air on November 15, which will hopefully be worth the wait for fans who weren't exactly hoping for the Republican Presidential Debate instead of Raymond Lee as Ben Song and/or Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum. To start the night, Quantum Leap will head back to the middle of the 20th century, per NBC's description:

The new episode of Quantum Leap is called "Secret History," and Ben clearly has a big task ahead of him. Whether that will involve more screentime for Ernie Hudson's Magic after his recent storyline remains to be seen, and there are still questions about new Season 2 threats to the program. 

Thomas Magnum is facing a different kind of challenge with the new episode of Magnum P.I. on November 15, called "Run with the Devil." NBC's description previews: 

Well, an Amish boy in Hawai'i with a case is certainly something that Magnum and Higgins haven't encountered before in nearly 100 episodes of Magnum P.I.! It'll be interesting to see if T.C. is interested in Rick's attempts to find him a date in the wake of his breakup with Mahina, but at least his recovery from the spring finale cliffhanger seems to be going well!

Whether or not you watch NBC on November 8, you can find both Quantum Leap and Magnum P.I. back in their regular 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. time slots on November 15. You can also revisit earlier episodes of both shows streaming now with a Peacock Premium subscription.

Warning: spoilers ahead for Episode 15 of Magnum P.I. Season 5, called "The Retrieval."

Only five episodes of Magnum P.I. are left in the 2023 TV schedule after the events of "The Retrieval," which means that it's time to look at every plot twist as something that will need to pay off before the end of the season or never be paid off at all. While it seems safe to say that Jin's hijinks with T.C. and his former partner in crime aren't going to have lasting repercussions for the series finale, Magnum and Higgins had another conversation about kids this week that I think fans need to take very seriously. Time is running out, after all!

It was no surprise that kids were on Magnum and Higgins' minds in this episode, as their search for a missing person led to a search for stolen embryos that represented families' final hopes for a biological child. They even went undercover as a married couple pretending to be considering parenthood to gain access to a clinic's computer. This led to a discussion about really having kids together, and they've seemingly moved on from considering starting a family to planning on it. 

The origin of their serious conversation was actually played more for laughs than anything else, with Higgins telling the family planner that she intended strict discipline for her children, while Magnum was planning on being more lenient and easygoing. While they were technically playing undercover characters, he checked in with her after to see if she was serious, prompting her to remind him that she's English and went to boarding school. They revisited the topic later, debating boarding school vs. public school, and Magnum cracked a joke about wanting five kids... but she's only slotted for the first two.

Higgins didn't find it quite as funny as I did from Jay Hernandez's delivery, and they finally were both serious at the end of "The Retrieval" to address their approaches to potential parenthood. She noted that they had "wildly different" thoughts on raising kids, and love isn't always enough. Magnum responded:

First of all, can I just say that Thomas Magnum has been crushing it with his mature speeches to Higgins in Season 5B? Of course, they don't actually have "plenty of time to sweat the big stuff" on screen considering that only a handful of episodes are left, and they started joking about her piano teacher right after the speech, so those conversations about actively trying for a baby aren't happening just yet. Still, the show set up that the two aren't kidding around when it comes to starting a family. 

And I think we really need to take this seriously as viewers running out of episodes for two reasons. First, the fall premiere of Season 5 (available streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription now) involved a pregnancy scare that led to the first "I love you" exchange and the pair actually putting some thought into having kids. Second, showrunner Eric Guggenheim shared that he thinks the Season 5 finale is "quite satisfying" and he "didn't want to end on a cliffhanger" but rather "wanted to play it safe."

For me, those two factors point toward a baby bombshell of some kind in the last episode. Whether that would be as simple as the good ship Miggy deciding to start trying for a baby or as big as a reveal that Higgins is pregnant, I really think that the show has set this story up to be paid off before the end of the season. I know I'm taking it seriously, and I think my fellow fans should as well! I still want to know who Jay Hernandez was referring to when he previewed a character who will cause Magnum problems, though. 

For now, there are still five episodes left unless Magnum P.I. is miraculously rescued for the second time, and you can find them on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. I'd still love for the network or another platform to order at least another four installments so that the show could hit the 100-episode milestone, but I'll settle for a solid ending with the Season 5 finale at this point! 

Spoilers ahead for Episode 14 of Magnum P.I. Season 5, called "Night Has a Thousand Eyes."

The fifth and sadly final season of Magnum P.I. is quickly running out of episodes in the 2023 TV schedule, and "Night Has a Thousand Eyes" ended on Higgins and T.C. talking about the future at La Mariana. While the future of the show currently consists of the six remaining installments that were already filmed prior to the beginnings of the WGA writers strike and SAG-AFTRA actors strike, Higgy's words combined with what Jay Hernandez previously told CinemaBlend inspired me about how I really want Thomas Magnum's story to (realistically) end. 

"Night Has a Thousand Eyes" was rough for both Higgins and T.C., with the former benched after failing her P.I. license renewal exam and the latter discovering that neglecting Mahina during his hospital stay wasn't something he could fix now that he was on the road to recovery. The two ended up at the bar at La Mariana together, with Higgins reassuring T.C. that there was no right way to deal with what he went through, although he acknowledged that he handled it the wrong way. She told him:

Now, Perdita Weeks' character may have dropped those lines while trying to make T.C. feel better in the wake of a breakup, but they also sound pretty good to me in the wake of Magnum P.I. being cancelled over the summer. Fans have been hoping and campaigning for another rescue, like how NBC stepped in to save the show after CBS cancelled it following Season 4. That hasn't happened so far, and showrunner Eric Guggenheim's comments weren't too promising. But Higgins talking about the future in "Night Has a Thousand Eyes" reminded me of a milestone that I'd so love to see Magnum P.I. hit.

Season 5 of Magnum P.I. is airing in two blocks of ten episodes, with the second airing this fall after the first aired back in the spring (and is currently streaming for Peacock Premium subscribers). That means the show will conclude with a series finale that also happens to be Episode 96, and I can't be the only one who thinks it's a shame that Magnum's adventures will end for good just four episodes shy of the 100-episode milestone.  

So, an order for a four-episode mini sixth season that could be billed as a finale event would reach that 100-episode mark and be a fitting way to end the series, if it has to end. When I spoke with Jay Hernandez following the spring finale back in April before the cancellation news, he even shared his thoughts on possibly hitting that milestone. He said:

Is it too much to hope for that Magnum P.I. could get just enough episodes after the Season 5 finale to reach 100 episodes? Probably, especially since Hernandez shared those thoughts before the strikes began. Still, FX recently announced a bonus three-part finale event for Archer, which just ended; could NBC or another platform make a similar move for Thomas Magnum? Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist got a bonus special on Roku after it was cancelled, as an example from NBC! 

Regardless of whether fans will be lucky enough to get more of Magnum P.I. beyond the Season 5 finale, the showrunner did already tease that it's not going to end on a painful cliffhanger. Six episodes are still remaining before the final credits roll, so be sure to keep tuning in to NBC on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET to see what's next. You can also revisit earlier episodes of Season 5 streaming on Peacock and the first four seasons streaming via Freevee. 

The second half of Magnum P.I. Season 5 kicked off this fall as one of few scripted shows with new episodes in the 2023 TV schedule due to the SAG-AFTRA strike and WGA strike. This was good news for fans after NBC’s initial announcement that the show would return in midseason 2024, but there was some major bad news as well: Jay Hernandez’s show had been cancelled for the second time. Now, showrunner Eric Guggenheim has weighed in on whether a second rescue could be on the way. 

Magnum P.I. originally aired on CBS before being cancelled after four seasons, and then was revived by NBC for Season 5 after a strong fan campaign. So, is there a chance that Jay Hernandez and Co. could portray their characters on a third network or platform? Speaking with TVLine, Eric Guggenheim shared:

While the showrunner didn’t definitively say that the Season 5 finale will absolutely be the end of Magnum P.I., the future doesn't seem too bright for Magnum, Higgins, and the rest of the found family. Guggenheim certainly has a point about how it’s a “normal occurrence” for shows to be cancelled and then saved nowadays, but being cancelled twice and then rescued twice isn’t exactly the norm. 

The full series so far is currently streaming on two platforms, with the current fifth season so far available for those with Peacock Premium subscriptions and the first four seasons streaming on Freevee. It seems safe to say that Peacock isn’t going to revive the show that was just axed from NBC. Freevee seems like the more likely bet, but the showrunner’s comments suggest that fans shouldn’t get their hopes too high.  

It’s worth noting that Eric Guggenheim previously previewed that the show isn’t going to end on a cliffhanger because he wanted to “play it safe.” There will evidently be some unresolved storylines, which leaves me wondering about the character who Jay Hernandez teased to CinemaBlend. The star previewed somebody who would be “causing [Magnum] a lot of problems for a number of episodes and even further… if we get picked up for the sixth season.”

It’s possible that the character was revealed (albeit not introduced in the flesh) in the most recent episode, when Magnum finally explained that he was sending money to the P.I. he worked with as a kid. For now, we can only wait and speculate for what the show has in store in its remaining seven episodes. The X account (formerly known as Twitter) of the Magnum P.I. writers has been showing support for the fan movement for a Season 6 rescue, including reposting messages like this: 

For now, you can find new episodes of Magnum P.I.’s fifth and (currently) final season on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC, following new episodes of Quantum Leap and ahead of the latest One Chicago rerun. While there's no guarantee of a Season 6, some extra eyes watching live couldn't hurt! 

Spoilers ahead for Episode 13 of Magnum P.I. Season 5, called “Appetite for Danger.”

Magnum P.I. is running out of episodes as the fifth and final season continues, and the stakes were high for Magnum and Higgins in “Appetite for Danger,” although Katsumoto had fun going undercover as a chef. The case of the week had the duo digging up dirty little secrets and leaping into action to save the day as per usual, but a subplot also had Higgins digging for one of Magnum’s secrets: what he does with his money. She finally got her answer and it’s an intriguing reveal, but I find myself wondering if there’s time to really explore the story in the remaining episodes.\. 

A running joke of Magnum P.I. has of course been Jay Hernandez’s character accepting absurd cases pro bono (to Higgins’ exasperation) and asking favors that everybody knows he’ll never repay, but Higgins established in “Appetite for Danger” that he makes good money now. What started as an offhand question turned into her needling him for answers off and on throughout the episode. He seemed increasingly frustrated and wanted her to let it go, but she didn’t push so hard that it started a fight. 

They ended up on the same page in the final minutes, when Higgins started hinting about how he spends his money again. Magnum finally understood where she was coming from when she admitted that she wanted to know because she thought there weren’t any secrets between them anymore. That was enough for him to open up, and he explained: 

Potential relationship crisis averted! I have to say that it’s been great to see the healthy communication between Magnum and Higgins in Season 5, especially after some of his actions in the spring finale and the duo's “I love you” exchange in the fall premiere. Plus, he wasn’t doing anything wrong or underhanded in keeping the secret, so the reveal was a nice way to end the episode. 

The reveal also makes me ask if it was a one-off topic for “Appetite for Danger” or a set-up for a story that will continue to unfold in Season 5. For better or worse, he didn’t specifically say why he’s sending money now when he wasn’t before, or what kind of contact that he’s had with the P.I. he used to work with. Plus, with every passing episode, I wonder more and more about what Jay Hernandez previewed to CinemaBlend following the spring finale: 

If this was meant to be the very beginning of a storyline, I have to wonder if Magnum P.I. will have time to resolve it. Only seven episodes are left of the series, and showrunner Eric Guggenheim previewed that there will be some unresolved stories that would have been addressed in a sixth season. At the same time, he also shared that he wanted to play it safe with the finale and not end on a cliffhanger. 

That answers one of the questions I was asking ahead of Season 5B, but doesn’t really clarify whether there’s more to come from Magnum sending money to an old acquaintance. I’m pretty optimistic, whether the story will continue or not. The fall premiere did a great job of handling Higgins’ pregnancy scare, and I truly didn’t think that the show could resolve Rick and Suzy’s romantic storyline as neatly as it did. 

You can keep tuning in to the remaining new episodes on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC, and revisit earlier installments of Season 5 streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription. For some more viewing options this fall, be sure to check out our 2023 TV schedule.

Warning: spoilers ahead for Episode 12 of Magnum P.I. Season 5, called "Three Bridges."

Magnum P.I. got off to a relatively lighthearted start in "Three Bridges" thanks to Magnum and Higgins attempting to repo a stingray – as in, the fish and not the car! The episode became a lot more serious when they ended up on the case of a friend of Kumu's who'd had her life savings stolen as part of a trafficking operation, while T.C. struggled with his recovery. "Three Bridges" did make the time to give Rick a development that has been a long time coming: romantic payoff with Suzy!

Whether or not Rick would get a happy ending with Suzy was one the questions that I really wanted answered in the final ten episodes of Season 5, and Magnum P.I. didn't make me wait for too long. While actors Zachary Knighton and Betsy Phillips are married in real life, Suzy has avoided a romantic relationship with Rick even after conceiving and giving birth to their daughter, Joy. Rick decided to delete the video with his love confession in the spring finale, and the introduction of Piper in the fall premiere seemed to be setting up a new love interest for him. 

And all of Rick's friends were on board with him moving on from Suzy and going on a date with Piper, since it seemed that there was no hope of a romantic future with the mother of his child. It was clear where Rick's heart truly lay, though. This time, he didn't just decide to hide his feelings from Suzy, but decided to shoot his shot in one last grand gesture. Instead of arriving at Piper's place, he dropped by Suzy's to give her this speech: 

Suzy of course said that he shouldn't go on the date, because how could she not after that speech?! "She's not you" is almost verbatim to a line that Indiana Jones said to Marion in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which was one of the better moments in that bizarre movie. 

Plus, I've read (and watched) Pride and Prejudice enough times that "If you still feel the same way, I promise I will never mention it again" had me thinking back to Mr. Darcy's iconic second proposal that included "One word from you will silence me on this subject forever." I was already rooting for Rick and Suzy get get together, but I was 100% sold once Rick had me flashing back to Indiana Jones and Jane Austen. 

Do I also hope that Rick gave Piper a call or a text so that he didn't just stand her up? Sure, but I'm mostly just hoping that Magnum P.I. keeps Rick and Suzy going strong for the next eight episodes. The show was cancelled over the summer, meaning that the second half of Season 5 is the end unless Magnum and Co. are rescued from cancellation for the second time. My fingers are crossed that the "will-they-won't-they" story between these two is over, and any romantic plots for them in the rest of Season 5B will concern a happy ending. 

I'm optimistic about that at this point, not least because the main romance of the series is between Magnum and Higgins, and I don't expect their love story to fade into the background just because she isn't actually pregnant. They did say "I love you" to each other, after all! Plus, Magnum P.I. has never been a show about romance, so I'm feeling pretty good about Rick and Suzy going strong in the background. Showrunner Eric Guggenheim dropped some promising comments about the series finale later this year. 

For now, keep tuning in to NBC on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET for the remaining episodes of Magnum P.I. in the 2023 TV schedule. You can revisit earlier episodes of the fifth season streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription, and the first four seasons streaming with Freevee.

Much of the 2023 TV schedule has been drastically changed because of the strikes, but Magnum P.I. is one of the few scripted shows that had episodes to air this fall. The CBS-turned-NBC drama wrapped filming on its fifth season in the spring, and the back half of the season was bumped up from midseason to help fill the depleted primetime lineup. With the final episodes of the Jay Hernandez-led reboot currently airing, fans are likely concerned about being left with a cliffhanger that would never get solved. Luckily, that may not be anything to worry about. 

There have been more than a few cliffhangers throughout Magnum P.I.’s five-season run, with some taking place in-season and some cropping up at seasons' conclusions. When NBC canceled Magnum, the cast and crew had already wrapped filming the final eps, obviously without the foreknowledge that those would close out these characters' stories. However, that doesn't mean the creative team left things off with any overarching mysteries or unresolved storylines, as showrunner Eric Guggenheim had this to say to TVLine:

Knowing that there won’t be a cliffhanger at the end of the finale will be able to give fans some breathing room. It’s always heartbreaking when a show gets canceled, though time has proven that fans' fond opinions for certain shows can sour if the ending was botched or left open-ended. It's certainly still sad to consider that Eric Guggenheim & Co. had the possibility of being canceled in the back of their minds while planning out the Magnum P.I. finale, so that they could make sure not to close things out in an unsatisfying way. But their efforts will hopefully be rewarded in the long run. 

That said, by leaving a few dangling minor story threads, the showrunner made it that much easier for another network to step up and continue the Hawaii-set drama if it was so desired. Which probably won't happen, but it was fan fervor that sparked the NBC renewal in the first place, so nothing seems impossible.

Even without a cliffhanger, the episode still doesn't fully represent the ideal way Guggenheim would have wanted to plot out the show's swan song, and not being able to fully give Magnum, Higgins, and others proper endings has to be disappointing. But while such bow-tying endings aren't happening, the showrunner did have some good news about the upcoming episode:

Considering the season already had quite the cliffhanger when the team and Robin’s Nest got ambushed, it would be pretty harsh to put fans through yet another cliffhanger so soon, not to mention one that wouldn’t even get resolved. So as much as the Magnum P.I. cancellation bummed out the cast and crew, as well as the fanbase, the focus can now shift to celebrating the time left to be shared with these beloved characters, even if we still have questions that need to be answered in Magnum’s final episodes.

Tune in on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC to see what happens in these final episodes of Magnum P.I. Season 5 can also be streamed with a Peacock subscription.

Spoilers ahead for the Season 5 fall premiere of Magnum P.I., called "Hit and Run."

Jay Hernandez and Perdita Weeks are back in primetime thanks to the fall premiere of Magnum P.I., which put Magnum and Higgins on the case of saving a 12-year-old girl from a hitman...after being recruited by a different hitman who turned down the job. Kids were the theme of the episode for the duo, as Magnum learned that Higgins might be pregnant while they were focused on finding young Anna. The possible pregnancy was teased in the promos for Season 5B, and arguably even foreshadowed as far back as Season 3. The resolution in "Hit and Run" was so spot on that I'm sad all over again about the show being cancelled. 

Magnum P.I. fortunately didn't make fans wait too long to deliver on the pregnancy tease, with Higgins telling Magnum that she's "late" early in the episode and the two discussing it in short bursts throughout. Higgins seemed determined not to give away any personal feelings about the idea, but clearly not crossing her fingers that her blood test would come back positive for pregnancy. Magnum's heart was more on his sleeve, with Higgins calling him out for hearing notes of excitement and worry in his voice. 

Both acknowledged that things would have to change in their dangerous job if she did have a bun in the oven. Considering that she scuffled with a hitman (and didn't exactly win) shortly after dropping the possible pregnancy news, it's safe to say that their investigations would have to go very differently if she had to start avoiding fights.

I wasn't shocked by the reveal at the end of the fall premiere that Higgins is not pregnant, but I love how the show handled the storyline so much that I wish we had more than nine episodes left to potentially revisit it. Both characters acted completely like the adults they are, and Magnum didn't try to push her about anything... even if he did gently poke fun at her by the end for avoiding talking about the results. 

Plus, the pregnancy scare led to them having an important conversation. Higgins expressed her relief, which didn't come as a surprise. Magnum's feelings were a little more complicated, as he tried to explain why he would have been happy if she was pregnant but is also happy even though she isn't. This confession is what led to him finally dropping the "I love you" that was hyped in the previews, and Higgins said that she loved him too. 

I'd say that it was always unlikely that Magnum P.I. would start the fall season with a pregnancy reveal, but this feels like a storyline that was set up to be revisited down the line in a season or series finale. While I won't rule it out for the end of Season 5, the show was cancelled after filming had already wrapped. If – and this is a very big "if" – the plan was ever to end the series with a pregnancy reveal, there may just not have been time to set it up. 

If it seems strange that I'm going on at length about a storyline that ultimately isn't unfolding this fall, it's because I'm normally not too enthusiastic about pregnancy storylines in action-packed or procedural shows, but this really worked. Really, kudos to Magnum P.I. for winning me over on this one. Plus, Magnum and Higgins having their mature reactions to the scare in the same episode as the T.C. storyline with Kumu and Shamy was a great reminder of how resilient the found family of Magnum P.I. really is. I'm really going to miss it.

On the whole, "Hit and Run" was a great showcase for Magnum and Higgins' relationship as well as the bonds between the rest of the major characters. So, regardless of whether the pregnancy storyline will ever be revisited, it was a strong way to start the second half of what is sadly now the final season in the 2023 TV schedule. You can always revisit the first half of Season 5 streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription, as well as the first four seasons streaming via Freevee.

Magnum P.I. is just days away from returning for the second half of its fifth season on October 4, to follow up on the spring finale that aired all the way back in April. Fans of the Jay Hernandez-led show have had a wild ride over the months since, with Season 5B initially being announced for midseason 2024, then the show being cancelled, and then Season 5B being switched to premiering in fall 2023. After some big reveals from the spring finale and teases in the previews for the new episodes, I have some questions that need answers before the final credits roll. 

Of course, there are plenty of questions from over the course of the whole series, but I'm going to focus on the events of Season 5, because there's already plenty to wonder about from just this year! 

Will Magnum Be Less Reckless?

Magnum, T.C., and Rick were the targets of an assassination plot for the first half of Season 5, but Magnum didn't really take the threat seriously until it was too late, despite Higgins urging him to be more cautious. While all three did survive the first half of the season and the bad guys were taken down, Childs was killed and T.C. was shot before they finally won the day. But Magnum seems back to his usual shenanigans in the previews for Season 5B, so will the events of the spring finale inspire him to be any less reckless? 

Will T.C. Walk Again?

While T.C. survived his gunshot wounds despite being touch-and-go in the spring finale, he wasn't going to just bounce back. The Island Hoppers owner learned that he might never walk again, and an early look at the Season 5 premiere suggested that he's still learning to deal with his new normal. It is worth noting that his doctor didn't say that he'd never walk again. 

In fact, the doctor said that there's a "good chance" T.C. will regain mobility with the right treatment and physical therapy due to swelling around the spinal cord. So, how much will T.C. ultimately be able to recover from his injuries? Magnum P.I. Season 5 was finished before news of the cancellation, so it's possible that his recovery story won't be over, but I'm invested!

Will Rick Get A Happy Ending With Suzy?

Rick is in a tricky situation with Suzy as of the end of Season 5A. While she is the mother of his child and they have a solid friendship as co-parents, he has wanted a romantic relationship for some time, and he took a step forward in the spring finale when he thought he was going to die. He recorded an emotional cell phone video for Suzy and Joy saying that not confessing his feelings to Suzy was his only regret, but deleted it once he survived. 

Magnum saw the video, though, so could he encourage Rick to confess his feelings to Suzy? Only the new episodes will tell, but at least the actors have a happy ending in real life! Zachary Knighton and Betsy Phillips have been married since 2018. 

What New Character Is Causing Magnum Problems?

The spring finale ended without too many specific clues about what would be in store in Season 5B, but star Jay Hernandez dropped a tease in an interview with CinemaBlend that previewed a troublesome character on the way. While he avoided dropping major spoilers when we spoke, he did say this:

At the time, Magnum P.I. had not yet been cancelled, and Hernandez also spoke about potentially writing an episode if the show returned for Season 6. All we know about this new character based on his comments is that they'll be causing a lot of trouble, and I'm guessing that doesn't mean lighthearted shenanigans like the trouble caused by Jin. So, who is this person, and what kinds of problems are ahead?

Will Katsumoto Get A Partner?

Katsumoto spent a decent chunk of Season 5A out of the HPD after his actions at the end of Season 4, and he was replaced by Detective Childs. While Magnum and Co. did eventually warm up to Childs, he was tragically killed off in an explosion in the penultimate episode in the spring. This was after Katsumoto was reinstated to HPD, however, which raises the question: will Katsumoto get a new partner, and Magnum P.I. get another cop? 

After Lia and Childs, we can't rule out another key character in the police department, although it's at least safe to say that any newcomer wouldn't be a love interest for Magnum, who is on the verge of dropping an "I love you" to Higgins.

Is Higgins Pregnant?

While this technically didn't happen in the first half of Season 5, the first look at the second half hinted at a possible pregnancy for Higgins, as she dropped those two fateful words: "I'm late." As most fans probably know, in TV land, those two words mean that a character may have a bun in the oven, so: is she actually pregnant? Personally, I'm guessing that it's a scare, but one that leads to an important conversation between Magnum and Higgins. Still, we can only speculate for now. It's not like Magnum P.I. hasn't gone in some surprising directions with these two before, and there was a Season 3 episode that included some baby foreshadowing.

Will Robin Masters Appear?

The elusive Robin Masters is an important character on Magnum P.I., but he has remained completely off-screen for all four and a half seasons that have aired so far. His money and generosity have come in handy, and his books have allowed for some fun reenactments for the cast – described by Jay Hernandez as "so ridiculous" – without him playing an active part in the series. In the original Magnum P.I. starring Tom Selleck, Robin Masters was heard but never seen. Could the CBS-turned-NBC reboot feature the man himself before the end?

Will It End In A Cliffhanger?

Unfortunately, Magnum P.I. was cancelled during the hiatus between the two halves of Season 5, so the team won't be able to pick up where the fifth season finale ends. That raises the question: will it end in a cliffhanger that will never be resolved, or was the Season 5 finale planned in a way that it could work as a series finale, just in case? 

The Season 4 finale ended on some unanswered questions, but not what I would call a killer cliffhanger. If fans are lucky, there will be some degree of closure by the end of Season 5's finale episode. Or, if fans are really lucky, something better could happen, which brings us to...

Could Magnum P.I. Still Get A Season 6?

Considering that Magnum P.I. has already been cancelled and then rescued once before, it's hard not to hope that there's still a chance for a sixth season. Fans have been campaigning on social media for NBC to reverse its decision to cancel, and the first four seasons arriving on Freevee suggested that streamer as an alternative to hope for. At this point, however, Season 6 is not on the way, but that doesn't fans can't keep asking and hoping. 

For now, you can plan on checking out the return of Magnum P.I. in the 2023 TV schedule on Wednesday, October 4 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. If you want to revisit the first half of Season 5 to for a refresher before the fall premiere, you can find every episode of the fifth season so far streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription.

The return of Magnum P.I. is quickly approaching, and the teases of what's on the way have promised some big developments for Magnum and Higgins in particular, including an "I love you" that's been a long time coming. The second half of Season 5 will also bring back something that hasn't been featured since the show moved from CBS to NBC: Jay Hernandez playing Magnum playing the White Knight in a reenactment of a Robin Masters story. Before the Season 5 fall premiere will air with the returns of the White Knight and T.R. Belle, let's look back at what Hernandez told CinemaBlend about filming those "so ridiculous" reenactments.

I spoke with the star of Magnum P.I. earlier this year for the spring finale that was quite eventful (to say the least), prior to the WGA writers strike and SAG-AFTRA actors strike. While he was weighing in about the show possibly hitting the 100-episode milestone with a Season 6, I asked for his thoughts on playing the White Knight for the over-the-top and always funny reenactments of Robin Masters' books. Hernandez laughed and responded:

It's safe to say that the reenactments do not get stale, because the normal rules of Magnum P.I. – or, for instance, the rules of gravity and physics – just don't apply when it comes to the adventures of the White Knight and T.R. Belle, the latter of whom is Robin Masters' character based on Higgins. That's more true than ever in the scene that will open the second half of Season 5, according to the fun sneak peek on TVLine, although this one is technically Jin putting his own spin on the characters. 

Interestingly, the clip also mentions T.C.'s friends paying him visits, which suggests that not a whole lot of time has passed since the spring finale left him injured to the point of potentially never walking again. Whether he'll recover beyond the initial prognosis by his doctor remains to be seen, and is just one of several questions to consider in the upcoming ten episodes. 

And sadly, those upcoming ten episodes will be the last of Magnum P.I., unless NBC reverses its decision to cancel or the show is rescued for the second time by another outlet. The first four seasons are available streaming on Freevee now, so perhaps fans can hope for a future there, if anywhere other than its current Season 5 network. Personally, I'm hoping that any platform brings it back for at least a shortened sixth season, since ending with Season 5 puts it just two episodes shy of hitting 100 episodes. The fifth season so far is streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription.

For now, though, fans can look forward to what's ahead with the second half of Season 5 on NBC, which will include at least a pregnancy scare for Higgins and Magnum. Magnum P.I. is also one of few returning scripted dramas that will be able to air new episodes this fall, as production on most other returning scripted shows was unable to start due to the strikes. The Jay Hernandez show had already finished filming Season 5 before the shutdowns began. Tune in to NBC on Wednesday, October 4 at 9 p.m. ET in the 2023 TV schedule for the fall premiere of Magnum P.I. Season 5!

Magnum P.I. is finally on the verge of returning with new episodes in the 2023 TV schedule for the first time since the complicated midseason finale back in the spring. After the first footage for the second half of Season 5 teased a possible pregnancy for Higgins, a new clip shows Jay Hernandez's Thomas Magnum saying those three little words to Perdita Weeks' Juliet Higgins: "I love you." The show's social media account is hyping his confession, and fellow NBC shows like Chicago Fire and Law & Order: SVU are getting in on the action.

While the context of Magnum saying "I love you" isn't clear yet (and it looks like it's part of a different scene than when Higgins says that she's "late" in the teaser), he's clearly sincere and doesn't try to take it back, and even wants to make sure that she doesn't feel pressured to reciprocate. Check out the clip and the message from Magnum P.I. to fans:

Look at Magnum, being all sweet with Higgins when there are still weeks to wait before we can see the full scene! If you ask me, Higgins looks like she's on the verge of saying it back to him, but given that Magnum doesn't know that she was hallucinating him about to propose, I can see why he wouldn't 100% expect to hear her to say "I love you" in response right away. After all, Juliet Higgins is known for many things, but having an easy time expressing her emotions isn't one of them! 

I'm not the only one struck by the sweetness of the scene, and I'm not even referring to all the other fans who reacted on X (formerly known as Twitter). The One Chicago account posted a clip of Violet and Hawkins from Chicago Fire, which is pretty cute but hopefully not a sign that Magnum/Higgins are headed for tragedy like Hawkami were! Take a look, below the Magnum post:

The Magnum P.I. account responded with "she's so real for that," and Chicago Fire wasn't the only series in the nine-show Wolf Entertainment TV universe to react. Law & Order: SVU responded with "We loooove a good romance," which of course can't refer to Benson and Stabler while they remain friends. No, SVU was comparing Rollins and Carisi to Miggins! Check it out: 

Rollins and Carisi getting together at the end of Season 22 is as touching now as it was when the episode aired back in 2021, so who can blame the Magnum P.I. account for responding "so do we" about loving a good romance? And for Magnum/Higgins fans who never watched SVU, take solace in the fact that they got together after just four seasons instead of seven like Rollisi! 

And hey, given that Rollins and Carisi tied the knot in 2022-2023 TV season, it's not as tragic a comparison as the one to Violet and Hawkins. The official NBC Entertainment account got in on the fun as well, with a This Is Us suggestion:

Alas, Jack and Rebecca's love story has been told from start to finish thanks to This Is Us coming to an end back in 2022, and I doubt that any fan of the Pearson family saga would disagree with the Magnum P.I. account's description of it as "an iconic moment." Their story had a bittersweet ending, and I think it's safe to say that the Jay Hernandez-led show isn't going the same exact route. 

Luckily, the weeks are counting down before we find out. While SVU and Chicago Fire are available streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription and This Is Us via Hulu subscription, only Magnum P.I. will be back with new episodes this fall. The second half of the fifth and final season will premiere on Wednesday, October 4 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. 

The second half of Magnum P.I.'s fifth and now final season is on the way in just a matter of weeks, and the first look at what's on the way indicates that fans are in for as much action and adventure as ever... and perhaps a twist that neither Thomas Magnum (Jay Hernandez) nor Juliet Higgins (Perdita Weeks) were ready for. In a first teaser at what's on the way, Higgins drops what looks like some very big news on Magnum, and I'm extremely curious about what's going on with his reaction.

Technically nobody utters the word "pregnant" or "pregnancy" in the clip, and most of the footage is action-packed (and some of it recycled from previous seasons) rather than emotional, but... well, "I'm late" only means one thing in TV talk, and it's not being tardy for plans! Take a look:

Now that's what I call a teaser! Just days after the first four seasons of Magnum P.I. finally arrived on a streaming service, NBC released a promo that may make plenty of fans the most excited they've been since the sad news of the cancellation. Most of the 30-second teaser was full of action, with a good old fashioned one-liner to indicate that Magnum wasn't totally changed by the end of the midseason finale. Throw in a Miggy kiss, and that seemed like plenty for a teaser... but it ends on what looks like a quiet moment between Magnum and Higgins in which she drops those two big words: "I'm late." 

Magnum's voiceover of "And when you least expect it, everything could change" is certainly true if Higgins truly is pregnant! Her delivery of the "I'm late" seems like she expected him to understand right away what she's trying to imply, and the camera cuts over to his reaction extremely briefly... as in, not even a full second of the promo's runtime before the end. And I would call that a great hook for when Magnum P.I. returns on October 4! Fortunately, the Magnum P.I. social media account posted a longer version of that particular scene, including a (slightly) longer reaction from Jay Hernandez: 

Apparently, Magnum's immediate reaction is "Oh, okay," and I can't blame him for that! A little bit of banter about her being tardy for a client meeting turned into a bombshell for him, and I'm guessing that this is not the most ideal timing for the discussion! I certainly hope that we get to see Higgins' reaction to realizing that she's late if we're going to get Magnum's, since this is obviously huge for her. Plus, even if she's not pregnant – and I'm inclined to guess that she's not – surely this will lead to an important conversation between the two, right?

So what will his reaction be after the "Oh, okay" and how is she feeling about potentially being pregnant? Well, a Season 3 episode featured them playing parents to a baby that was left with them on a case, with some jokes about Magnum slipping into Dad mode while Higgins wasn't exactly overwhelmed with maternal instincts. That was well before Magnum and Higgins even became a couple, let alone were facing a possible unplanned pregnancy, but now may be the time to revisit that episode during the wait for the fall return! 

Luckily, NBC moved the second half of Season 5 from an intended midseason 2024 premiere to a fall premiere in the 2023 TV premiere schedule, with Magnum P.I. as a rare show that already had episodes finished when the WGA writers strike and SAG-AFTRA actors strike began. Magnum P.I. returns on Wednesday, October 4 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC, in the time slot usually filled by Chicago Fire. 

Magnum P.I. has had a wild ride on the small screen since its premiere back in 2018, and not even because it's a reboot of the Tom Selleck original. Originally airing on CBS, the Jay Hernandez-led drama was cancelled after four seasons before being rescued by NBC for a fifth. Season 5 has been available streaming for viewers with a Peacock Premium subscription since the episodes began airing on NBC, but Seasons 1 - 4 haven't been available as part of any streaming plan lately. Now, that's finally about to change, and I've already picked the early episode I'm streaming first.

How To Stream Magnum P.I.

The first four seasons of Magnum P.I. will be available streaming on on Amazon's Freevee starting on Friday, September 1, according to TVLine. While Freevee isn't a streamer of a similar size to Netflix, Hulu, or Prime Video, the Amazon service is free and offers some of the best free movies online and TV shows online, including originals like Jury Duty. 

So, even though fans won't be able to watch every episode of Magnum P.I. (which totals almost 100) on the same streamer, every season will soon be available between Freevee and Peacock. The remaining episodes of Season 5 will go to Peacock when the show returns in the 2023 TV schedule, and those will sadly be the last of the series, short of a second rescue. NBC cancelled Magnum P.I. back in June. 

We can always hope that the first four seasons arriving on Freevee could be a sign that the cost-free Amazon streaming service could save Magnum for a second time, but that's only speculation at this point. What I do know for sure is which episode I'm going to revisit first once Seasons 1 - 4 arrive on September 1. 

The First Episode To Rewatch

There are plenty of great episodes in the first four seasons of Magnum P.I., including some standouts that led to Magnum and Higgins getting together at the very end of Season 4. Of course, the most logical way to revisit the series might be by starting at the beginning all over again. That said, I'm 100% going to skip ahead to what might be my favorite episode of the series: Episode 19 of Season 1, called "Blood in the Water."

I won't spoil every detail of the episode here in case anybody wants to watch it for the first time or rewatch after forgetting some of the particulars since it aired in 2019, but it involves Magnum and Higgins being "yacht-jacked" out at sea after she's shot in the arm. The pair – who aren't even officially partners at this point – have to figure out how to survive both being stranded in the ocean with Higgins bleeding profusely and the threat of the yacht-jackers returning. Take a look at the promo: 

Not only does this episode have a great plot, but I see it as the first instance of Magnum and Higgins truly bonding beyond banter and setting up their future official partnership. Plus, it's just visually impressive to see Jay Hernandez and Perdita Weeks turning in performances while neck-deep in water. While I'm not sure what camera tricks were used to make it look like they were truly alone out in the middle of the ocean, they certainly worked on me! 

You can check out "Blood in the Water" (or any other episode from the first four seasons) on Freevee starting on September 1, or revisit any Season 5 episode up to the spring finale with some of what Jay Hernandez described as Magnum's "hard to swallow" actions with Peacock. With the second half of Season 5 premiering on NBC on October 4, now is a great time for some blasts to the past!

Normally, this is the time of year when television fans start to get excited about their favorite shows returning to the air and joining some new programming for the fall season. Unfortunately, the 2023 TV premiere dates are going to be quite a bit light when it comes to new content from returning series in the fall (along with brand new scripted programming), because of the WGA writers strike, which began in May, and the SAG-AFTRA strike, which started on July 14. But, it looks like even though Magnum P.I. is canceled, it's going to be extremely important on the fall schedule.

What’s Going On With Magnum P.I. And The NBC Schedule? 

As long-time TV watchers know, most shows that begin in the fall wrap up in the spring of the following year, and in the summer the writer’s rooms usually begin to reconvene to start work on the next season. Seeing as how the writers were on strike this year, it means that a lot of scripted content is on hold for the foreseeable future. However, NBC just announced its fall premiere dates, and it looks like the recently re-canceled Magnum P.I. is going to help the network when it comes to new content as it’s one of the few scripted shows that will debut brand new episodes before the end of the year.

The Jay Hernandez and Perdita Weeks (who shared a sweet post about riding off into the sunset)-starring show will return to NBC on Wednesday, October 4 to bring viewers Season 5B, with all new episodes streaming the next day to those with a Peacock subscription. 

It will be joined on the fall schedule by the return of Quantum Leap for Season 2 and Transplant Season 3. We’ll also see two new scripted dramas, The Irrational (with Law & Order franchise actor Jesse L. Martin) and Found (starring Shameless cast member Shanola Hampton and Saved by the Bell’s Mark-Paul Gosselaar). These shows had either completed filming (like Magnum) by the beginning of the writer’s strike or completed enough for the network to launch them in the fall.

The Irrational is based on the book, “Predictably Irrational,” and will follow Alec Mercer (Martin), a famed professor of behavioral science, as he and his team consult on major cases involving big players in law enforcement, the corporate world, and government, while going on “unexpected journeys to solve illogical puzzles and perplexing mysteries.” Meanwhile, Found sees a P.R. specialist, who was once one of the many missing people of color whose cases aren’t publicized enough, use her own team to help figure out what happened to other missing persons, while “hiding a chilling secret.”

As with other linear networks, the rest of the schedule will be filled out by reality shows and other unscripted content, like the post-Blake Shelton The Voice Season 24. Here’s a look at when returning and new shows will be ready for your eager eyeballs (all times in EST):

Monday, Sept. 25
The Voice (8-10 p.m.)
The Irrational (10-11 p.m.)

Wednesday, Sept. 27
America’s Got Talent - Season Finale (9-11 p.m.) 

Thursday, Sept. 28
People’s Choice Country Awards (8-10 p.m.)

Friday, Sept. 29
Dateline NBC (9-11 p.m)

Tuesday, Oct. 3
Found (10-11 p.m.)

Wednesday, Oct. 4
Quantum Leap (9-10 p.m.)
Magnum P.I. (10-11 p.m.)

Thursday, Oct. 5
Transplant (9-10 p.m.)

Friday, Nov. 3
The Wall (8-9 p.m.)

Why This Is A Big Deal For The 2023 TV Schedule

Over the last few weeks, we've gotten a glimpse at what fall TV is offering and its been a bit grim. CBS is going to be re-airing episodes of fan favorites like Yellowstone, which is good news for people who love the series or have never been able to watch it, but is not exactly new content. In addition, Fox is really going hard on Gordon Ramsay projects. (Though I was surprised to see that Next Level Chef is being kept for midseason; it's the show's normal slot but given the dearth of new content, fall seemed like it could be a good fit...) 

Meanwhile, ABC's got a lot of reality fodder coming in fall 2023 too from Dancing With The Stars to Judge Steve Harvey.

So Magnum P.I., along with Quantum Leap and these newbie scripted shows are really going to be the only major offerings that network TV is putting out this fall, at least outside of unscripted fare -- which is still watchable content, of course. NBC is really the only network that had enough of a backlog of finished projects to offer both, and I'm interested to see if that puts them ahead of the pack when TV is finally back. 

To me, with only five scripted shows able to bring new episodes to audiences soon, there’s no doubt that the decision to move Magnum P.I. to the 2023 fall TV schedule was a good one that should help bring people back to NBC for some great new content in just a few months. 

Magnum P.I. has had a wild ride over the past year, going from being cancelled by CBS to rescued by NBC for Season 5 to then cancelled again by NBC. The axe from NBC came when there was still half a season left to air, however, so fans still have new episodes to look forward to. Now, the network has released a fall TV schedule updated to account for the WGA writers strike, and there’s some great news for fans of Thomas Magnum and Co. that leads me to wonder if there’s still a chance at a second rescue and renewal for Season 6. 

When Magnum P.I. Will Be Back

NBC previously announced that Magnum P.I. would return with the second half of Season 5 in 2024 with a midseason premiere, meaning that fans would have to wait the better part of a year after the spring finale to see what would happen next. Even though star Jay Hernandez dropped some clues about problems ahead for the ohana, there wasn’t much of a silver lining to the news of how long we’d have to wait! 

The new fall TV schedule will bring Magnum P.I. back much earlier than midseason 2024, as Magnum, Higgins, and the rest will return to primetime on Wednesday, October 4 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC. One Chicago fans will notice that this means Magnum P.I. taking over the time slot traditionally held by Chicago P.D.. The former CBS show previously aired on Sunday nights after the move to NBC. 

Unlike Magnum, none of the shows of One Chicago ended the 2022-2023 TV season with episodes already banked for the 2023-2024 season, so Voight and Co. won’t be back on Wednesday nights with new cases until after the WGA and SAG strikes can be resolved. Magnum P.I. will follow new episodes of Quantum Leap, which was able to start filming for Season 2 back in the spring. 

Is There Hope For Season 6?

Now, Magnum P.I. returning earlier than expected due to NBC having a shortage of programming normally wouldn’t strike me as a sign that the show could be un-cancelled for the second time. After all, why wouldn’t the network simply air everything scripted it has left when nothing new is being produced? No, the reason why I’m speculating again about Season 6 (and the chance to hit the 100-episode milestone) is due to the Magnum P.I. writers on Twitter. 

Although the writers of course can’t write any new scripts until the end of the WGA strike, the Magnum P.I. Writers account on Twitter has left the door open for a sixth season. Is that door open just a crack? Sure, but I’ll take it! In response to the question of whether the fall return date could help a revival, the account simply posted a “thinking” emoji. Then, when another fan on Twitter followed up for more info, the writers tweeted:

This of course isn’t a sign to start planning viewing parties for Season 6 and count on the show having a future beyond the Season 5 finale, but it also doesn’t rule out Magnum P.I. being resurrected for the second time. During a time of waiting, hoping, and rewatching the first half of Season 5 with a Peacock subscription, I’ll take any glimmer of good news!

So, at the very least, we can all plan on checking out the fall premiere of Magnum P.I. on Wednesday, October 4 in Chicago P.D.’s usual 10 p.m. ET time slot. The TV pickings are slimmer than usual in the 2023 TV premiere schedule due to the strikes, but there are still some options to be found!

Not even a year after it was rescued, NBC canceled the drama Magnum P.I. at the midpoint of Season 5. While star Jay Hernandez previously shared with CinemaBlend how optimistic he was about the show’s future and hitting 100 episodes, it's now seemingly set to end a few episodes short of the milestone. Now his on-screen better half Perdita Weeks, has shared a sweet post following the heartbreaking news.

Magnum P.I.’s cancellation comes at a time when Magnum and Higgins’ relationship was just getting started following their big kiss in the Season 4 finale. After the final 10 episodes of Season 5 air, that will be it for the duo as they ride off into the sunset as Perdita Weeks said in a sweet post on her Instagram:

Perdita Weeks is one of many involved with Magnum P.I. to share a message about the show and how much it means to her. Even the writers have gone on the record to share a message to the fans and their Magnum Ohana, noting how proud they are of the cast, crew, and everyone else involved. It’s clear that the second cancellation for Magnum P.I. is a tough one, as another save is probably unlikely. 

While NBC saving Magnum P.I. gave fans some time to breathe, especially after their weeks of campaigns to save the procedural last year, it was unknown how long the show would last on NBC. There was always the hope that the show would go on for as long as it needed to, at least so that the stories would wrap up nicely. Magnum P.I. wrapped filming on Season 5 back in April, and while it’s possible some storylines were wrapped up, there’s also the possibility that there will still be many unfinished plots because they didn't know they wouldn't be getting a Season 6. 

As of now, Season 5B of Magnum P.I. isn’t set to be part of the 2023 TV schedule. It is being held off for midseason. However, due to the ongoing WGA writers’ strike, NBC could move it up to the fall since all episodes have been filmed. It would be an easy way to fill the schedule, but then that would also mean fans will have less time to prepare for the end of Magnum P.I. So, it’s definitely a win-lose situation, however, you may look at it.

It's going to be sad to say goodbye to Magnum P.I., knowing that there will be many more stories left to be told. At the very least, hopefully, there will still be some type of closure, but fans will just have to wait and see. In the meantime, though, the first 10 episodes of Season 5 are streaming with a Peacock subscription.

By now, most Indiana Jones fans know that Harrison Ford wasn’t the original choice to play everyone’s favorite adventurous archeologist. The role was originally meant for Blue Blood’s Tom Selleck. Ford has shared the story multiple times but to my knowledge has never given Selleck a shout-out publicly… until recently. 

The Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny star was promoting the latest film in the franchise when he chose to acknowledge Selleck at the Taormina Film Festival in Italy. While the Three Men and a Baby star had to drop out due to his Magnum P.I. schedule, Ford was the (next) obvious choice, having worked with George Lucas on the Star Wars franchise. Years after scoring the Indiana Jones role, the Oscar nominee finally thanked Tom Selleck for letting the part go in a panel (via Deadline).

Harrison Ford seemed genuinely thankful that Tom Selleck was too busy to tackle the Indy role, which makes sense, given how significant the character is in cinematic history. After playing Han Solo for multiple years, Ford had a few hits and misses in the intermediate, including Apocalypse Now and The Frisco Kid. So, getting another franchise role was the right fit at the time. Of course, he made the role his own, but I'm happy to see him shout out the actor who almost was, here.

With the first choice now off the table, Ford mentioned he got called up to play the beloved role. The Indy actor revealed how he got notified about getting the role after Selleck turned it down.

George Lucas and Steven Spielberg wasted no time slotting Ford right into the iconic role. Becoming Indiana Jones wasn’t easy as he was Spielberg’s first choice, but not necessarily Lucas'. The Star Wars impresario’s apprehension made sense, having worked with the Hollywood A-lister on multiple movies since American Graffiti. 

The Blade Runner star has spoken ill about some of Lucas' other projects in the past, though he has always credited the latter for his career. These days, fans might have trouble envisioning anyone else -- much less Tom Selleck -- trekking across different continents hunting down mysterious treasures. Ford took the role and ran with it, raking in millions at the worldwide box office across multiple movies over four decades.

Moviegoers will get to see Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones again when Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny hits the 2023 movie schedule on June 30. Before the latest installment appears in cinemas, watch the first four Indiana Jones adventures by streaming them through Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video. 

Close to a year after saving it from its CBS cancellation, NBC has given Magnum P.I. the boot. The network recently announced that it has canceled the action drama, meaning that the upcoming second half of Season 5 will be its last hurrah. Lead actor Jay Hernandez previously told CinemaBlend how optimistic he was about the show getting a renewal and hitting 100 episodes, and one would think that fans are surely sad now that such a thing doesn't seem to be in the cards. On that note, the writers shared a sweet message for their Magnum Ohana.

In the midst of the ongoing WGA writers’ strike, the Magnum P.I. writers' room still took to Twitter following the news of the show’s second cancellation. The message, which seems to have been penned by co-creator Eric Guggenheim, was short but sweet. In it, he thanked those responsible for the show’s solid run:

This latest cancellation news is a tough pill to swallow but, like Eric Guggenheim said, all things must come to an end (even if it is premature, in my eyes). The circumstances aside though, it sounds like these final 10 episodes will be seriously action-packed. The episodes have reportedly completed filming, and one would hope that they provide some sort of closure. At the very least, even if all of the storylines aren't resolved, let's pray there isn't a blatant cliffhanger of any kind on the horizon.

Magnum P.I. wasn’t on our list of possible 2023 cancellations, as the notion of NBC cancelling it so soon seemed somewhat unlikely early on. The procedural was saved after weeks of campaigns by both fans and the cast, and many were excited when the show found new life at another network. Even after the show returned for Season 5, there were still questions to consider, though. One of the biggest was just how long Jay Hernandez would want to do Magnum. Sadly though, it now seems the leading man won't be retiring the character on his own terms.

As it stands, NBC has confirmed when Season 5 is returning, and it won't be until at least midseason 2024. Though the writers strike and its impact on the industry could shake things up a bit. There's always a chance that the network decides to air the supposedly filmed episodes this fall to help compensate for the lack of content. I'm sure fans would love to see those sooner rather than later. All in all, though I'm sad that the show is ending, it's lovely to see fans rally around it and the writers' room show them love for doing so.

While you're waiting for the final episodes of Magnum P.I., check out the first 10 episodes of Season 5, which are streaming with a Peacock subscription. And of course, check out CinemaBlend's 2023 TV schedule for more small-screen offerings.

The wild ride of Magnum P.I. renewals has come to an end, after the series started out on CBS, was cancelled, then rescued by NBC for Season 5 in the 2023 TV schedule, and now cancelled for a second time. While the cast, led by star Jay Hernandez, reprised their roles for the network switch, Magnum and Co.'s second life in primetime would only last for one season. The news also comes after Hernandez opened up to CinemaBlend earlier this year about what he really loves about his show, which fans now know will end after five seasons. 

Magnum P.I.'s Cancellation

Although NBC originally ordered a fifth and sixth season of ten episodes each in 2022 when rescuing Magnum P.I. from CBS' cancellation, that was changed to a 20-episode Season 5. Ten of those episodes are still months away from airing, so Magnum getting the axe over summer hiatus doesn't mean that fans have seen the last of Jay Hernandez, Perdita Weeks, and the rest of the cast in their roles. There is still more to look forward to.

The cancellation news breaking now is likely due to cast options expiring on June 30, according to Deadline, meaning that a decision had to be made sooner rather than later about whether to continue Magnum P.I. into Season 6. The network has decided to cancel rather than renew before the second half of Season 5 or extend the cast's options. Sadly, the cancellation means that Magnum P.I. will end just shy of hitting the 100-episode milestone. 

Speaking with CinemaBlend ahead of the spring finale, Hernandez was optimistic about a renewal to reach 100 episodes, but the WGA writers strike began shortly after and meant uncertain futures across scripted television. NBC previously announced that Season 5B would premiere in midseason of the 2023-2024 TV season. Given that those episodes were filmed before the writers strike, it seems unlikely that 5B will have to be delayed past early 2024. As for what the star said he loves about the show, keep reading! 

What Jay Hernandez Loves About The Show

Timed to the action-packed spring finale of the fifth season that set up some problems for Magnum and Co. in the upcoming second half, Jay Hernandez spoke with CinemaBlend. It was in the wake of the debut of the second episode of Magnum P.I. that he directed, which took Perdita Weeks' Higgins into some uncharted territory. 

During the interview, I asked the star what it was like for him to tackle an episode as a director while also portraying Thomas Magnum. Hernandez responded to say that directing is "just something I really, really, really love doing," and he couldn't "wait to get a chance to do it next season." He also shared that he'd be interested in writing an episode since he knows "the types of stories that we like to tell on Magnum" and "I feel like it would be pretty straightforward" to write for his own show. 

When the discussion turned to the subject of action and flashback sequences, Jay Hernandez was quick to say that he loved tackling those as well. He told CinemaBlend: 

Jay Hernandez went on to say that the flashbacks he loves "just further fill out the character for the audience," noting that this applies for T.C., Rick, and "even Nuzo" as well as his own character. He also shared that there was an idea of "doing a whole flashback mission for one of the episodes next season" if they got the opportunity to do it, and was even interested in directing it. Sadly, short of Magnum P.I. being rescued for the second time, that episode won't happen. 

Since the star never comes across as anything less than enthusiastic about the show, there are undoubtedly plenty more elements of Magnum P.I. that he loves but we just didn't have time to get into in our interview earlier this year. Still, in light of the cancellation, his mentions of hopes for hitting 100 episodes as well as loving to direct and do flashbacks make it even more unfortunate that a sixth season isn't on the way. 

At least fans can count on ten more episodes, and hope that the already-filmed Season 5 finale ends in a way that works as a series finale as well! My fingers are definitely going to be crossed for a happily-ever-after for Magnum and Higgins. And who knows? Maybe a second rescue isn't totally impossible when there are a lot of streamers out there! During the wait for Magnum P.I. to return in 2024, you can always revisit all ten episodes of Season 5A streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription.

Fans of the original Magnum P.I. and CBS’ long-running procedural Blue Bloods were in for a treat, as the long-awaited reunion between the OG Magnum and Rick Wright actors finally happened back in April. Tom Selleck and his former co-star Larry Manetti reunited on Blue Bloods when Manetti guest-starred in the Season 13 installment “Family Matters” — which is itself a former TV show with a lead character who's a cop — and now the actor is revealing just how Blue Bloods pulled it off. 

Larry Manetti portrayed the bar-owning Rick Wright on the original Magnum P.I. from 1980 to 1988 for the show’s eight-season run, and the actor spoke to Parade about what it was like getting to work with his longtime friend and former co-star Tom Selleck again. He shared it’s been in the making for a long time, saying:

Knowing that the Magnum P.I. reunion was on the planning board for a couple of years definitely made the wait worth it, even if it wasn't necessarily a game-changer on the screen. Because unfortunately, while it was great seeing the two TV veterans on the same show again, fans didn’t get to see them actually act together in the same scene, as Manetti’s Sam Velucci never crossed paths with Selleck’s Frank Reagan, at least not on screen. However, this does give the writers a good excuse to bring back Sam, perhaps in the future of the renewed-for-Season 14 Blue Bloods, depending on how the story flows. 

It was first announced in February by Donnie Wahlberg that a classic Magnum reunion was coming to Blue Bloods for Tom Selleck, and while it was unknown then just what was involved in the guest appearance, the NKOTB member did reveal that it was in a guest capacity and not just a set visit. The announcement was enough to make any fan excited, whether or not they watched the original Magnum P.I., and when it finally did happen in the April 21 episode, it was definitely great, if not ideal.

With Blue Bloods closing in on 300 episodes and beyond, Tom Selleck previously opened up about how he thought Magnum P.I. would be the “lucky” part of his career, but with the CBS family cop drama gearing up for its 14th season, his perspective has changed. However, it seems like Magnum P.I. will always be a big part of his life, especially since he wanted to have Larry Manetti on the show, even if they didn’t get to share a scene together on Blue Bloods.

The original iteration of Magnum P.I. ended over three decades ago, but the series is still proving that it’s staying close to people, and that’s not even including the CBS-turned-NBC reboot. Back in 2017, almost 50 guys dressed as Magnum during a baseball game, and were thrown out for catcalling. People just can’t get enough of Magnum’s iconic mustache, whether it’s watching it or wearing it themselves.

Hopefully, more Magnum reunions happen on Blue Bloods, and hopefully, they include Selleck and Manetti actually being in the same scene together. In the meantime, though, all 13 seasons of Blue Bloods are available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription, while all eight seasons of Magnum P.I. are available for free on Amazon Freevee. And don't forget to check out the 2023 TV schedule to see when all your other favorite (and new) shows will be returning to the small screen.

Magnum P.I. wrapped the first half of its fifth season back in April with a spring finale that forced Magnum to deal with some of his hard-to-swallow actions while T.C. was gravely injured and Rick was on the run. As star Jay Hernandez had previewed beforehand, it was a complicated episode that fans were right to be nervous about. Fortunately, it didn’t end on a life-or-death cliffhanger when fans had no idea of when the show would return. Now, NBC has confirmed when to expect the second half of Season 5, to go along with Hernandez’s thoughts on writing an episode of the show. 

Would Jay Hernandez Ever Write An Episode?

Jay Hernandez spoke with CinemaBlend ahead of the Season 5 spring finale, shortly after the trippy episode he directed aired on NBC. That was of course before the 2023 WGA writers strike began and put the future of scripted television on hold, and the actor addressed whether he’d be interested in penning an episode of Magnum P.I. one day. Hernandez said:

As Hernandez previously noted, he’s in almost every scene of the show and already directed more than one episode, so who could possibly know Magnum P.I. better after five seasons than him? Add in his experience in writing feature scripts, and it sounds like an episode written by him isn’t out of the realm of possibility someday if the series is renewed for Season 6 to hit a major milestone. The star continued:

The future of scripted television is uncertain at this point in light of the writers strike, the last of which lasted for 100 days. That said, members of the cast (including Zach Knighton on Instagram) were celebrating a wrap on Season 5 back in April, so it seems safe to say that filming has concluded, and the final stages of production can be finished without the strike forcing a halt. And that leads us to…

When Season 5 Is Coming Back

In the midst of spring finale season, NBC has released the fall TV schedule for new and returning shows. Although it’s much too soon for precise dates, we now know which will return in the fall and which will be back in midseason. Unfortunately for Magnum P.I. fans, the Jay Hernandez-led series won’t be back until 2024. 

It’s not altogether shocking after NBC premiered the show as part of its midseason lineup in the 2022-2023 TV season, but a hiatus presumably lasting the better part of a year is still bound to be a bummer for fans everywhere. Still, considering that Magnum P.I. was cancelled by CBS in May of last year, a return with any new episodes at all is still good news. Plus, the first ten episodes of Season 5 are available streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription.

Also returning to NBC in midseason are Law & Order: Organized Crime, La Brea, Lopez vs. Lopez (which recently set up Season 2 with its first season finale), the latest America’s Got Talent spinoff, and Canadian medical drama Transplant after its previous finale in July 2022. Only time will tell when exactly the shows will premiere; in the case of Magnum P.I., hopefully it will be earlier rather than later in the new year.

The first half of Magnum P.I.’s fifth season came to an action-packed ending with the midseason finale that involved some tough realizations for Magnum himself ahead of new problems for when the show returns. Originally, Magnum P.I. was rescued by NBC for a fifth and sixth season after being cancelled by CBS, but that has since changed into one longer Season 5. For now, there’s no confirmation of whether or not a Season 6 will happen, and star Jay Hernandez recently spoke with CinemaBlend about the future of the series and the 100-episode milestone that it’s approaching. 

As of the spring finale on April 23, a total of 86 episodes of Magnum P.I. have aired. When speaking about the spring finale, Jay Hernandez acknowledged that he’d “shot almost a hundred episodes of television” thanks to the show. When I noted to the actor/director that the show would be very close to hitting 100 episodes by the end of Season 5, he shared:

It’s too soon to say if NBC will officially give the order for a Season 6 that would give Magnum P.I. enough episodes to hit 100, but Jay Hernandez at least seems optimistic! As he noted, running long enough to reach that milestone isn’t something that every show manages, let alone one that had to deal with COVID production challenges and then survive a cancellation from its original network.

It’s worth noting that NBC renewed all of its other ongoing dramas for the 2023-2024 TV season (with the three Law & Order and three One Chicago shows in one swoop), so there’s certainly no recent trend of the network cancelling its dramas en masse. Official news about whether or not Season 6 happens just may be a ways off, with half of Season 5 still to go. 

That said, Jay Hernandez shared an idea for a specific kind of episode that could happen if Magnum P.I. returns for Season 6. When speaking to the action sequences of the show, he noted that he loves doing the flashbacks and “it’s so much fun to shoot” scenes that feel “a little different than the, quote unquote, case of the week.” The actor continued:

If a sixth season of Magnum P.I. happens to take Magnum, Higgins, and the rest to that 100-episode milestone, then fans could be in for an episode made up entirely of a flashback. The flashes to the past have been part of the series from the start, and featured in the spring finale in some key ways to explain why Rick was kidnapped while T.C. and Magnum were targeted for assassination. 

So, Season 6 could deliver a flashback episode that would bring Jay Hernandez back as a director after his latest turn behind the camera for a trippy Higgins episode, but what about another reenactment of a scene from one of Robin Masters’ books? I posed that question to the star, who laughed and replied: 

Thomas Magnum is presumably never going to parachute from outer space even if the show runs for much longer than Jay Hernandez previously indicated, but it’s hard to rule out much of anything if Magnum P.I. revisits the adventures of the White Knight! Whether or not fans see another reenactment of a Robin Masters book from the cast of the show, Hernandez once again touched on the fact that the show has almost hit 100 episodes. 

For now, fans can always revisit the first half of Magnum P.I. Season 5 streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription during the wait for the show to return. In the meantime, there are also plenty of other shows on the way in our 2023 TV premiere schedule.