“Tom Selleck Opens Up About Magnum P.I.’s Title in New Memoir”
Tom Selleck Reflects on Magnum, P.I. Title in New Memoir
“Magnum, P.I.” was a major success in the 1980s, marking Tom Selleck’s breakout role in Hollywood. In his new memoir, You Never Know, Selleck reveals a surprising detail about his feelings on the show’s title.
According to TVLine, Selleck explains that the show, created by Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson, was originally going to be called just Magnum. The lead character was initially named Harry Magnum, but due to concerns that it was too similar to Clint Eastwood’s “Dirty Harry” from Magnum Force, CBS and Bellisario decided to rename the series Magnum, P.I. to reflect the private investigator aspect of the character.
Selleck admits in his memoir that he disliked the new title, calling it “a shitty title” because, during his brief stay in Hawaii, he learned that “P.I.” was a derogatory term for “Philippine Islander.” Despite this, the original title Magnum was revived for syndication in 1986 to distinguish reruns from new episodes. Co-authored with Ellis Henican, You Never Know was published in May 2024 by Dey Street Books. The memoir also delves into Selleck’s relationships with a range of celebrities, from Frank Sinatra to Carol Burnett, and offers a special tribute to his mentor James Garner from The Rockford Files. The latter part of the book focuses heavily on Magnum, P.I. and Selleck’s near-casting as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Magnum, P.I. Reboot and Recent Developments
Magnum, P.I., which aired on CBS from December 1980 to May 1988, ran for eight seasons and 162 episodes. It followed Selleck’s character, a former Navy SEAL turned private investigator in Oahu, Hawaii. A reboot of the series, starring Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum, premiered on CBS 30 years later. After four seasons, the reboot was canceled by CBS in May 2022, but NBC picked it up for a fifth season. This final season, consisting of 20 episodes split into two batches, concluded in January 2024 after a total of 96 episodes.
Blue Bloods: The End of an Era
Selleck is currently starring in another CBS series, Blue Bloods, which is set to return for the second half of its fourteenth and final season this fall. Created by Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess, Blue Bloods focuses on the Reagan family, a Catholic, Irish-American clan with a law enforcement legacy. Selleck plays New York City Police Commissioner Frank Reagan.
In November 2023, CBS announced that Blue Bloods would end after its fourteenth season. Selleck responded to the news with a statement expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to work on a show that highlighted both the importance of family and the dedication of law enforcement professionals. He thanked CBS Studios, the network, and the fans who supported the show over its impressive run of 275 episodes.
