{"id":8470,"date":"2015-12-15T13:40:56","date_gmt":"2015-12-15T18:40:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/?p=8470"},"modified":"2015-12-15T13:40:56","modified_gmt":"2015-12-15T18:40:56","slug":"magnum-p-tom-selleck-celebrates-35th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hardwoodandhollywood.com\/pop-culture-spin\/2015\/12\/15\/magnum-p-tom-selleck-celebrates-35th-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Magnum, P.I.’ with Tom Selleck Celebrates its 35th Anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"magnumpi\"<\/a>This year marks the 35th anniversary of CBS\u2019 hit show, Magnum, P.I<\/em>. The cast included Tom Selleck, Larry Manetti, John Hillerman, and Roger E. Mosley. The series ran from December 11, 1980 to May 8, 1988. The plot of the show revolved around private investigator Thomas Magnum, a former Navy SEAL, working in Hawaii all while living in the guesthouse on a posh estate. Magnum is assisted by Rick Wright (Manetti) and T.C. (Mosley) and rides around the island in a Ferrari 308 GTS. Since it is the 35th anniversary of Magnum, P.I.<\/em>, let\u2019s discuss 10 things you perhaps didn’t know about the show.<\/p>\n

Fact #1<\/strong>
\nIconic actor\/director Orson Welles played a major role in the show as he was the voice of Rob Masters, Magnum\u2019s friend and author who owns the lavish estate where Magnum resides.<\/p>\n

Fact #2<\/strong>
\nFrank Sinatra, Ol\u2019 Blue Eyes, guest starred on the Season 7 episode \u201cLaura\u201d where he was a retired NYPD detective who seeks Magnum\u2019s help in locating his granddaughter\u2019s killers. The guest-starring role on the show was Sinatra\u2019s idea (this was his final screen appearance). The appearance was a ratings\u00a0success and Sinatra had intended on returning to the show since he enjoyed working with Selleck so much.<\/p>\n

Fact #3<\/strong>
\nAngela Lansbury saved Magnum from possible cancellation. Magnum, P.I.<\/em>\u2019s rating were down as it was up against The Cosby Show<\/em>. So CBS moved Magnum, P.I.<\/em> to Wednesday where it was up against ABC\u2019s Dynasty<\/em>. In order to boost ratings, a crossover episode was planned with Murder, She Wrote<\/em>. Lansbury\u2019s Jessica Fletcher traveled to Hawaii to assist Magnum who had been accused of murdering a hitman. The conclusion took place on Murder, She Wrote. This proved successful and increased Magnum, P.I.\u2019s<\/em> ratings.<\/p>\n

Fact #4<\/strong>
\nTom Selleck has always supported the idea of a big-screen movie of Magnum, P.I.<\/em> and even worked with Tom Clancy – also a fan of the show – on a series of Magnum, P.I.<\/em> movies. The project never got off the ground as Universal, who owns the rights, went through three different ownership changes during the developmental stage.<\/p>\n

Fact #5<\/strong>
\nThe estate used as Robin\u2019s Nest in the show was sold for $8.7 million dollars to Chicago businessman Marty Nesbitt, a close personal friend of President Barack Obama and the chairman of the Barack Obama Foundation.<\/p>\n

Fact #6<\/strong>
\nCHiPs<\/em>\u2019 Robert Pine, father of Star Trek<\/em>\u2019s Chris Pine, played Thomas Magnum\u2019s father in flashbacks.<\/p>\n

Fact #7<\/strong>
\nLarry Manetti, who played Rick Wright, wrote a memoir about filming the series in Hawaii. Recently, he returned to his old stomping grounds with a recurring role on Hawaii Five-O<\/em>, playing Nicky \u201cThe Kid\u201d Demarco, a lounge singer and a nightclub owner.<\/p>\n

Fact #8<\/strong>
\nJames Garner is to be thanked for Tom Selleck being Magnum. Selleck has said one of the reasons he took on the role is because he enjoyed his recurring role as rival private eye Lance White on The Rockford Files<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Fact #9<\/strong>
\nYou can have a Magnum-esque vacation in Hawaii for $300 a night. For that amount, you can rent a suite that is advertised to be next to the estate where Magnum, P.I.<\/em> was filmed.<\/p>\n

Fact #10<\/strong>
\nTom Selleck was almost Indiana Jones. George Lucas offered Selleck the role, however CBS wouldn\u2019t allow him time off to film Raiders of the Lost Ark<\/em>. He did get to play an Indiana Jones-esque character in Season 8 when he is asked to find an ancient scroll and dons a costume including a Jones-type hat and a bullwhip.<\/p>\n

Magnum\u2019s red Hawaiian shirt or red Ferrari 308 GTS are referenced in today\u2019s society and an ideal for men who are close to retirement as it is viewed as relaxed attire. Tom Selleck can be seen on television today as New York City Police Department\u2019s Police Commissioner Frank Reagan on\u00a0the CBS series\u00a0Blue Bloods<\/em> (the same station that premiered Magnum, P.I.<\/em> 35 years ago).<\/p>\n