“Tom Selleck Rejects the Name of His Iconic Show Over Racial Concerns”

Tom Selleck has revealed that he has never used the official title of his most famous show, “Magnum P.I.,” because it makes him uncomfortable.

The 79-year-old Hollywood icon, known for his roles in hit films like Three Men and a Baby and the long-running TV series Blue Bloods, starred in the CBI drama Magnum P.I. for eight seasons from 1980 to 1988. Despite its popularity, Selleck has consistently avoided using the show’s title.

In a recent appearance at 92NY in Los Angeles, where he was promoting his new memoir You Never Know, Selleck discussed his aversion to the show’s name with actress Bridget Moynahan. He explained that the show’s original title was changed, which left him feeling uneasy.

Selleck recounted that when the show was picked up, the actors went on strike, and the studio decided to rename the show to Magnum P.I.. He expressed his dismay, saying, “Don [Bellisario, co-creator, writer, director, and producer] called me and said the studio wanted to change the title to Magnum P.I. I asked, ‘That’s a horrible title. Where did they get that idea?’ It turned out that Glen Larson’s script had the character named Harry Magnum.”

Selleck suggested that the new title had potentially problematic connotations. He explained, “While living in Hawaii during the strike, I learned that ‘PI’ could be a derogatory term for a Filipino. I asked, ‘Do they know that?’ It’s not the worst thing in the world, but it’s slang.”

Despite the official title being Magnum P.I., Selleck has never referred to the show by that name, saying, “I refused. My record is spotless.” He encouraged others to follow suit, stating, “I never call it Magnum P.I. – and if you want to change the way you refer to the show, I’d be very, very happy.”

Selleck’s portrayal of Thomas Magnum on the show became iconic, but he initially resisted the role before being convinced by the producers. Reflecting on the offer, he said, “They kind of weaselled their way in. Don made it really easy and said, ‘What do you want to do?’ I said I wanted to do something like Rockford Files. I want him to have flaws. That’s the most interesting thing I find in any character. He said, ‘Say no more.’ And about two weeks later, I got to read the best two-hour movie script I’d ever had.”

Following the success of Magnum P.I., Selleck went on to appear as Richard Burke on Friends and spent over a decade portraying Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods.